Nothing can or will stop us when we start a hunt. And it might amuse us for a while, which is always a bonus.
Bonnie
Iam the apple of my father’s eye; I know it. I have wanted for nothing and have had a perfectly normal, if spoiled, life. In his eyes, I am the omega he raised to be strong and good, a daughter he can be proud of, someone to carry his legacy.
My mother taught me strength and wisdom. She’s the one who wove intricate ribbons of white and pale pink in my blond hair. The pure white dress is over the top with all its frills and excess, but the moment I’d seen it, I’d known this was the dress I had to wear to meet them. She has paid for it and cried when she first saw me wearing it.
My father had teared up when I’d asked for the dress and explained why. Now I’m wearing it, looking like a virginal sacrifice, going to them pure and ready for the future.
When I had looked into a mirror, I’d seen a girl who looked pretty, who was so excited that her cheeks shone pink. Over the last few weeks, my joy spread throughout my family, and I wouldn’t have stopped it if I could. My thoughts were of them. Only them.
I couldn’t see anything else. Today, I can’t see anything but the future.
I bite my bottom lip, trying not to squeal.
Nothing could possibly ruin this day. It’s one I’ve dreamed of for forever. Today, I will meet my scent matches. I’ll go to them, and we’ll fall in love. It’s all worked out. We’re going to be happy forever.
My head is so filled with fantasies that I’m having trouble being here and existing in this moment. My fingers tremble, and the butterflies in my stomach flutter endlessly.
What will they be like? Where will we live? How many kids do they want? We’ll hold a private bonding ceremony with just family and friends. Will we have a party after?
I inhale and slide a hand across my stomach, trying to calm the nerves. Somehow, hours have passed, and the cold of the night has me shivering and wishing I’d taken the shawl Mum offered.
The street lights are bright, and the roar of the city traffic is a thunder that I don’t know if I will get used to. The city doesn’t smell nice, it’s a combination of alpha, beta, and omega scents, petrol, rubbish, and decay.
“Bonnie, are you sure about this?” My father murmurs, shuffling his muscled body closer to mine, so he can glare at the crowd in front of us. They are all jostling and fighting to get closer, waiting for people to walk off the red carpet, just like we are. “We can just leave; no one has to know. They aren’t good enough for you.”
My heart twists. “No one will ever be good enough,” we say at the same time.
He chuckles and pulls me into a one-armed hug, kissing my hair. “That’s right. They won’t be.”
I squeeze his hand. He’s always been far too overprotective of me. But he’s still handsome, distinguished. I always wanted to find an alpha like my father. Fate has gifted me four. This is my future, and I am not afraid.
I inhale and fidget with my dress. “No, Dad. This is perfect. You have given me everything I could ever want. I am strong and happy, and I will make them happy. Trust me, everything is going to work out just fine.”
His wide and happy grin never ceases to light up the darkest parts of my heart.
A twinge of something streaks through me at my words. Uncertainty? Unease?
My mother blows me a kiss and dabs at her eye from where she leans against the car. She’s never liked crowds. I never did find out why; it’s just part of who she is. Perhaps it’s because I have such an amazing family that I got this idea in myhead. I’ve had one thought in my mind since I first emerged as an omega; find my scent matches so I can have a family like my parents have created.
I want a love like theirs.
I can see it in my head, like it was straight out of a romance movie. Three weeks ago, I was walking into a large restaurant with a friend, going for coffee after we’d been shopping, when I smelled them. I was struck blind, wordless, helpless. I followed that scent and found them, but before I could announce myself, they were gone again, getting into a blacked-out car and driving away.
I’ve stalked the restaurant and its social media account. I’d looked everywhere until, two days ago, I found them by chance. They are the sons of four founding members of the Alphawise Company. Surprisingly, it’s a company that specialises in technology advancements that help omegas and alphas deal with their natures, creating things like suppressants, scent-neutralizing patches, and spray misters to deodorize large spaces.
The fact that they are contributing to society is such an impressive manner just made me so proud. I’d stared at the article and dabbed at my eyes while my whole future changed in an instant.
They are rich, and their names are well known in society. There were a lot of stories of them getting caught with omegas, but though I hadn’t liked that, I realised we all have a past. That was before me.
Now, there will be a future for us. Everything will be different.
I’m wearing my favourite new dress, and I’ve been dieting for the last two days. I look amazing. For the first time, I feel a little bit daunted. What if they want to whisk me away? Should I go with them? Should I play it cool?
People shout and laugh. I edge through the crowd, letting Dad push them all aside. They’re at the only public event I can find. A viewing of a movie that I don’t give a shit about.
The crowd heaves and shoves back at us, but my dad promised me he would get me to them. He never breaks his promises. We keep moving forward. Even when someone screams in my face, tears running down her cheek, screaming for Baby Tonalien, the actress, I don’t falter.
