I drop my hair, scalp tingling, and hold my hands in front of me. “I’m not having any symptoms. At least not yet.”
My Omega tries to object but once again I shut her down.
Gods, what’s wrong with her? It’s got to be the stress that’s triggering this overreaction. Not having my suppressants is bad but I shouldn’t be whining at the idea of not having symptoms. Especially since I did take that last suppressant yesterday.
We’re fine, I assure her and myself. Another godforsaken whine rises in my throat and I swallow it.Fuck! Like I said, my Omega has been high-strung, but in general she’s always been sensitive; it’s part of what makes me a great actor. But I’m not going to let anything ruin this for me, especially my biology.
We can make it through this, and then I’ll let her—and let’s be honest, me—have what we want. Time off. Touch. Big fat knots ruining us. Maybe instead of a run-of-the-mill heat clinic, I’ll splurge and go to the fancy one in Malibu other Omegaactors rave about with very experienced and attractive Alphas. I’m getting a nice paycheck from this gig so I could afford it. I heard they even have different themed nests with the best sheets money can buy.
“Do you want me to get the tea anyway?” Sadie asks.
I blink and clear my throat. My little train of thought there was very, very bad. Another second thinking about knots and nests, and I would have been perfuming, or worse yet, making a mess of my underwear with slick. Hair and makeup have already taken care of me, so I wouldn’t have been able to shower, and the last thing I need is to be smelling like ripe and ready to pick strawberry fields in front of everyone on set. Including my very attractive Alpha costar, Jett Quinn, who the entire world has a crush on, me included.
“Yes, please,” I answer Sadie. I may not be in pre-heat but maybe the tea will calm my Omega. “And no matter how much I ask for sweets, don’t get me any,” I say just before I request ice cream. “Also, no caffeine. Those two things can bring on a heat faster.” Caffeine already isn’t great for an Omega’s sensitive system, adding it in plus the comfort of sugar would be not good.
“Do you want me to get you anything else?”
I wrack my brain for other ideas that could keep my system calm and ensure I make it through this shoot without incident.
“Oh! Get some of that extra strength de-scenting spray and deodorant. I’ll spray my clothes and layer it over my scent glands.”
“Okay.”
I snap my fingers. “Oh! And that neutralizer spray, the kind you can shoot up your nose.”
Sadie scrunches her nose at the same time I do. That stuff is disgusting. Doctors use it because their jobs involve saving lives, they can’t risk their biology taking over when someone good-smelling walks in. I don’t know any actors who use it. I never have. But I’ve also never completely blocked my scent withsprays and deodorants before, either. It’s not a common thing to do.
“I know it’s gross, but I think it’s for the best. If my Omega even thinks one of those Alphas or Betas on set smells good, it could bring on my heat faster. That’s the last thing I need.”
Sadie agrees and makes notes on her phone before looking back up at me, her brow furrowed. “You said you just took your last suppressant yesterday, right?”
“Yeah, but as you probably know with your Omega sisters, if someone is scent-sympathetic or gods forbid scent-matched with my Omega, I could perfume or worse yet, have a heat spike. Without the suppressant in my system daily, there will be nothing to stop that from happening. And if that happens, I’m screwed. They would kick me off the set so none of the Alphas go into rut and I’d lose my job, more jobs in the future too.”
She nods. “I understand. There’s a store down the road. I can get everything now and be back before you go on set.”
I give her a genuine smile, a bit calmer now that I have a plan, even if my Omega thinks said plan is dumb. Especially hiding my ability to smell and my scent from potential matches or even a rare scent match. Finding your scent-matched mate or mates is an Omega’s dream come true, but that’s not going to happen. Not only is it rare, but I don’t have time to pack up and settle down. I have my future career to think about. A career where I’m more than just the curvy Omega that was on the hit young adult vampire showKnot Hollows. Instead, I’m a respected film actor. One that wins Oscars.
My Omega protests in frustration at my choices, but this is how it has to be. Not only for my career, but for everyone’s safety. When I got this job I assured production I was on suppressants. Biology can be a bitch, and an Omega going into heat, even pre-heat, on set with Alphas present is a liability. Alphas are also required to provide proof they’re on rut blockers. Unfortunately, even with that it’s dangerous foran unbonded Omega to be in an enclosed space with them if said Omega isn’t on suppressants or anywhere close to heat.
Gods, maybe this idea is stupid. But when I think of leaving set, of giving up this opportunity of a lifetime, it physically pains me.
No, I can do this. I can deny my biological instincts. It will be okay.
“Are you sure you’re good?”
“Yes, thanks for doing all this, Sadie. And sorry again for yelling at you.”
“It’s okay. I know how important this job is to you and I can’t imagine how stressful this must be.”
I wring my hands and look around at the trailer. It’s the nicest one I’ve been in, spacious, stocked full of food and drinks. It’s fit for the lead of a big-budget romantic comedy. Which is what I am.
“This could be it, Sadie. This role could change everything.”
While I’m best known for playing a vampire named Genevive onKnot Hollowsin my twenties, I’ve had other roles since the show went off the air five years ago. Unfortunately, I’ve been pigeonholed so most of them are similar gigs or small character spots on TV. I make a decent living but I’ve always wanted to be more. To make my way into film and be taken seriously by all my peers.
This part of Juliette inKnotting Hillcould do that. Plus, alongside starring opposite of Jett, I’m going to work with the leading studio in the business, Genesis Studios. They’re producing the best content out there right now, and Pack Quinn who own and operate it, are Jett’s pack. From the knowledge I have of them, they all met in film school and bonded into a pack, then created their studio.
A pack without an Omega…
