“Yep. We’re bringing Eloise with us for this.” Ric replied, not looking up from his phone. I opened my mouth to argue but Ric cut me off.
“I am vetoing you here Leon. We need to make it look like we are trying to incorporate Eloise into our pack or the academy will chop off our balls. Also, the Worthington’s are famous for their ‘traditional values’,” the alpha held up his fingers in air quotes, “So us having an omega will warm Atticus Worthinton to our cause better than you sniping at him for backing out of our deal.”
“I have to agree with Ric on this one.” Dominic chimed in and I turned my attention to the newest member of our pack. He normally didn’t give an opinion on anything, choosing instead to wait for me to make a decision. I was worried about how quickly Eloise was becoming embedded into our pack. I had avoided her the entire first week that she’d lived in our home but Owen and Ric had eaten with her every meal that they could. I even caught Gage leaving a basket of new blankets in front of her door this morning. But Ric did have a point. Our first priority was getting our account back and Eloise could help us get it.
“Fine. Dominic, Gage you guys start digging through our employee files—figure out who has been hired in the last year or so and start narrowing down who our mole could be. Ric, call Madeline and see if she can help get Eloise outfitted for the gala.”
With their tasks given to them, my pack left the office except for Owen who was busy typing away at his computer. I needed to find this mole and find them fast. Volkov had been a thorn in my family’s side since before I was born, it was far past time to squash him under my boot.
13
“Gala?” I looked from Ric to Owen incredulously. They had come home from work and found me sitting in the living room working on homework. They’d plopped down on either side of me, their arms brushing against mine and causing my inner omega to purr.
The past week had been one of the most fun of my life. Owen and Ric had taken me to the pier and the zoo, eating something different every night. I almost felt guilty for enjoying myself so much but had been working to push those feelings down. Never in my life had I gotten to justgoplaces. At the Academy our outings all had a purpose: to show us off to potential packs or to gain donations. Even when I lived at home with my parents we’d been too poor to go anywhere.
“Yes, there is a charity gala tomorrow that we could really use your help with.” Ric brushed my hair over my shoulder which caused shivers to run down my spine and I, without thinking about it, leaned into his touch. I had quickly learned that Ric was a toucher. It was never inappropriate but he would brush my hair off of my shoulder or hold my hand when we were out. I should enforce a boundary about it… but I didn’t really want to. In fact I couldn’t help but lean into Ric’s touch like a cat looking for scratches.
“I don’t know how much help I’d be at your gala.” I confessed looking down at my hands which were folded over my now closed laptop.
“You grew up at the Omega Academy Eloise,” Owen chimed in, reaching for my hand and giving a squeeze, “Which means that you’ve got all of the etiquette training that you probably will ever need.”
This was true. I had gone through thirteen years of education—longer than most omegas at the academy. But all that really meant that I was an expert at bullshitting. My motto was: fake it till you make it. I was worried that that wouldn’t be enough to go to an actual charity function without being surrounded by fellow omegas to take the attention off of me.
“The Worthingtons are a very traditional family,” Ric continued, “Just your presence will help us out more than you could ever know.”
I nibbled on my lower lip, thinking it over. On one hand I was worried about giving off the wrong impression to those around me about my place in Pack Russo. Despite my quickly growing affection for half of Pack Russo I was still standing firm on my ‘no-pack until I find Link’ stance. But I also know that I have been treated well by the pack members. They’d fed me and taken me to places that I’d never been to despite living in San Francisco for over a decade.
Finally, with a sigh I looked at Owen who looked hopeful and at Ric who already seemed to know my answer by the slowly growing grin on his face.
“Okay, but what am I going to wear?”
“Out of the way brother, I have seen you and I know you. I want to greet the gorgeous omega in your kitchen.” My first impression of Madeline Zhao was that she was a bundle of energy just waiting to be let free. She had burst into the Russo house while we all ate breakfast, well all of us but Leon who had eaten earlier in the morning and headed to the office to get work done before the gala later on tonight.
“Hello to you too, Madeline.” Ric gave his sister a peck on the cheek which she waved off as she came to stand in front of me at the dining room table. I had a bowl of corn flakes and my laptop in front of me and I was wearing a pair of sweatpants and an oversized t-shirt. My brown hair was thrown haphazardly up in a bun. I was definitely far from gorgeous at the moment but I appreciated the sentiment.
“Look at those eyes,” Madeline gushed anyways as she pulled me to my feet and circled around me with a perusing look, “And she’s definitely a dancer, look at how gorgeous her figure is.” My shirt was pulled tight to my body so my full figure could be seen.
Ric apologized with his eyes from over his sister’s shoulder as she fussed over me and I just smiled, shaking my head. I was used to being poked and prodded, SFOFA’s on-staff tailor was brutal with her manicured nails so compared to that this was nothing.
“Hi, I’m Eloise.” I introduced myself, holding out my hand to the beta.
“Hello! I’m Madeline and I’m a hugger.” the younger woman said as she enveloped me in a tight hug that rocked back and forth. I was immediately charmed by her. Once she released me she moved to give Gage and Owen big hugs and Dominic a high five and I could see the clear affection between them.
Madeline was a bit taller than I was and was on the thinner side like me. She had the smoothest, healthiest skin that I’d ever seen, that was the color of someone who was used to getting a lot of sunshine, a warm tan. Her brown eyes, the color of lightly roasted chestnuts, were embellished with a wing liner and what looked like a bit of sparkly gold eyeshadow that made her dark eyes stand out. High cheekbones and a thin chin and lips that were painted a warm nude and she had a mass of silky dark hair that was cut into a long bob that brushed just past her shoulders in silky black waves. She was dressed for the summer despite the foggy weather outside, a cheerful white smocked sundress that had little pale blue flowers all over it and a pair of cork wedges completed her look. She was adorable and I was immediately at ease with her presence.
“We’ve got a ton of work to do boys,” Madeline slid her hand into mine and began to tug me towards the door, “So y’all better be ready to bring us drinks and snacks all day.”
“Aye aye captain,” Owen said with a mock salute that made everyone, even quiet Gage, laugh.
“Now come on, Eloise—though I heard you like to be called Ellie—can I call you Ellie?” Madeline talked a million miles a minute as she dragged me up the stairs and into my bedroom.
“Where’s your mattress?” She asked as she entered the room and stared at the empty bed frame.
“In the closet and yes you can call me Ellie.” I replied, answering her earlier question.
“Ooh, I’ve never seen an omega’s nest before.” She peeked inside the open doorway but didn’t approach any further which I appreciated. I got pretty prickly when someone I didn’t know very well encroached on my nest.
Madeline headed for the open bedroom door and called down, “Okay boys you can bring up the clothing rack!”
