I got the talking-to when I got home, reminding me of my station. My protests didn’t matter, the fact he’d touched me didn’t matter. It was one of the few times I hated being a wolf and the hierarchal bullshit we had to deal with.
“You will be marrying Jerome, and that’s the end of the discussion.”
I was trapped, and I knew it. The bloodline of a wolf was all that mattered. I’d be Jerome’s good little wolf, taking care of his home, being available for sex when he wanted it. If he opted to have children, I’d be the one caring for them, while still meeting his needs. This whole thing was such crap.
“So I have no choice?”
Mom put a hand on my cheek. “Honey, be proud of who you are. This will help pack cohesion as we merge with them. The wedding will take place when you both reach the age of majority, twenty-one. There will be a pack gathering away from the town where we can all run and celebrate.”
Except I wouldn’t be celebrating. I’d be stuck taking care of my future husband.
Any actual life I thought I would have? It was over now.My parents had informed me all my decisions would be made for me. My life would belong to others.
I wanted to cry.
If only there was a way I could get out of this.
“The courtship will begin this weekend. Jerome will be taking you out for dinner. He wants you to wear the clothes he’s sending over.”
“So I can’t evendressmyself?” I sniped.
Dad rolled his eyes. “You know that’s not how it works. We’ve been telling you since you were little, because we didn’t want you to get your hopes up. It doesn’t matter who you marry. You’re an Omega, and that supersedes all of our choices. We wanted you to marry for love. To have a family of your own. We have no more say in this than you do. I wish there was another option, but there isn’t. John is our leader, and he’s made his decision.”
“So let him find some other Omega!” I cried.
Dad put his hand on mine, while Mom snaked her arms around my chest and wrapped me in a hug. “You’re the only Omega in our pack. Youknowthis. If it would help, either of us would gladly step up just so you could have a normal life.”
And that was what hurt the most. I was being petulant, even though I knew they’d do anything within their power to help me.
I let out a heavy sigh. “No, I understand. I love you both.”
“We love you too,” Mom said into my hair. “Hopefully you’ll fall in love with Jerome, and he’ll make you as happy as your father makes me.”
I guess weirder things had happened.
Oh, and pigs might fly.
I waited outside the restaurant, my stomach churning.
All I knew about Jerome Donnelly was that his family was wealthy. Enough that if our packs merged, they’d be bailing us out of the hole we were sliding into. That explained a lot. I knew nothing about the guy himself. Still, my parents wouldn’t let me marry an asshole, right?
Right?
When a sleek black car pulled up, I held my breath as the passenger door opened. I knew better than to judge a book by its cover—Kip, remember?—but I prayed they’d chosen someone even reasonably good-looking.
When I saw Jerome, my heart stuttered. When I heard the way he talked to his driver, then the doorman, my heart died.
Fuck.
He looked me up and down. “So you’re Mason.” He inclined his head toward the restaurant’s interior.
Not one for small talk, obviously.
We were seated, and before I could even glance at the menu, he’d ordered for both of us. Peking Duck cooked medium with roasted carrots and veggies over white rice. Fish meunière, scalloped potatoes, and a leafy green salad. I’d wanted the rib eye. But being an Omega meant accepting what I was given, so I tamped down on my annoyance. Then he started talking, and one thing became crystal clear to me.
I hated Jerome with the fiery passion of a thousand suns. Maybe even more.
He was whiny, obnoxious, and so fucking rude. I tried to be a good date, honestly. I sat quietly while he told me all about himself, in nauseating detail. He was rude to the server, berating her for stupid things like a water spot on his knife.
