Beta Love cleared his voice, eyes flicking up to the mounted camera as if he’d just realized his outburst might have been seen.
Had that camera been there before?I wondered absently. I couldn’t recall.
The ornery lab Beta closed his eyes and took a few breaths, seeming to forcibly calm himself down before speaking again. “Yes, well. The Institute has now implemented new protocols for difficult Omegas. There won’t be another cat situation, I can assure you. So, water under the proverbial bridge."
I didn’t know what to say. Part of me worried my actions were going to make the next Omega’s life hell, but honestly… I wouldn’t change it. Josie was safe and with me. That was all that mattered.
“Take her to beautification now. I have what I need.” Beta Love suddenly blurted. He didn’t give the instructions to anyone in particular,yet all four female Betas marched over as if he was the leader of their little army.
I didn’t stand, though I knew it was expected. Eventually, one of the Beta women took me by the elbow. She flinched as Josie made her disapproval obvious with a sharp, angry hiss.
“I’ll get up on my own,” I muttered, pulling Josie against my chest.
I scooted off the patient phlebotomy bench, reaching behind me with one free hand to assess how badly the robe had torn as I stood up. The back seam had given way when the Beta had yanked, but the tear was positioned at my lower back. That was fine; I wasn’t horribly exposed.
Impatiently, the women moved and manipulated me back into the center of their stoic cage. I functioned robotically, shifting into place like an already well-trained rat. I just, didn’t have any fight left. Talk of genetic panels, and pups, and other hapless Omegas suffering for my behavior swirled around in my head. It was exhausting.No, I was suddenly exhausted.
Before we could leave, Beta Love moved to block the exist and our little procession. His eyes bored into me as he spoke coldly.
"Miss Fortune, your past doesn’t matter anymore. No one cares if your daddy used to be somebody. I suggest you remember that, and work on having a more compliant attitude. Our clients aren’t the type of Alphas to deal with a flawed product."
“I didn’t ask for your advice,” I said, lifting my chin defiantly. “And,” I swallowed, steeling myself, “I’m not a damn product.”
As if backing me up, Josie hissed and swatted a paw in Beta Love’s direction. He took a step back instinctively. What a wimp.
“Are you really scared of an itty-bitty kitten?” I lifted an eyebrow, purposefully hoisting Josie away from my body and a little closer to Beta Love number two.
“That cat," Beta Love mumbled, his gaze flashing down to Josie and then back up to my face. He backed away further. “Because of your stubborn refusal to see the reality of your situation, you’re going to push things too far. Clients have been known to change their minds about accommodations.” The side of his mouth quirked,as if he suddenly found something amusing. “What I wouldn’t give to see you forced into submission. Omegas are only useful,” he leaned forward, despite Josie swatting at him, and he lowered his voice to a harsh whisper, “afterthey’ve been broken.”
“That a threat?” Instantly, I stopped using Josie to intimidate the Beta tech. I clutched her close to my chest. “Are you allowed to say that kind of thing to me?”
He straightened his posture, studying his nails casually. “Firstly, that was a warning, not a threat. Secondly, there is nothing in my contract that requires I speak nicely to Eros… products.” He turned his back on me, leaving me to sputter fruitlessly at the use of that damn word again—product.
The female Betas walling me in didn’t give me time to think of a comeback. They started shuffling me out of the lab. I hoped I never had to see Beta Love’s stupid face again.
We pushed out into the hallway, formation strictly in place, the well-oiled machine chugging along. Part of me wondered if these four had served in the military; their synchronization was damn near perfect. I let my mind wonder as we shuffled through the floor fourteen maze. Soon we left behind areas I recognized, passing through several security protected doors as we traveled. We walked endlessly, until I thought we must be near our location, but the hive of Beta women showed no indication of stopping. I almost screamed when we turned a corner and came face-to-face with Beta Love. Had we just walked in an endless, weaving loop and arrived right back at the damn lab?
I opened my mouth to say something snotty, but then I clocked the pale pink suit and the small white rose pinned to the lapel. And this Beta Love was smiling broadly. The ceiling here was different too. Painted a soothing, soft sky blue. I glanced down at my feet, finding tiny clouds dotting the hall floor. Definitely not the lab area. Definitely not the jackass Beta Love of the lab.
“Miss Fortune, I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see you!” He strode forward, slipping between the Beta women in front of me until he could clamp his hands around my shoulder and give them a gentlesqueeze. Everything about Beta Love number one was softer and kinder than Beta Love number two.
“Your brother wasn’t so happy to see me.” I shrugged.
“Yes, well, my brother is prone to grudges.” He cocked his head to the side. “Don’t let him get to you, not when your whole life is about to change for the better.”
“Not exactly how your brother made it seem,” I muttered, thinking about how his visually identical sibling had painted a picture of submission, pups, and possibly losing Josie.
“He’s a pessimist!” Beta Love crowed, pushing his arm through mine and tugging me forward. The Beta women protested but were completely ignored. “You should have seen him as a child. Always half-empty cups and perpetual gloom.”
I noted as we moved, swifter and more erratically now with the four women scurrying behind us, that Josie didn’t react badly to Beta Love number one. She was calm and collected, taking in our surroundings.
Before I knew it, we were standing in front of double glass doors, beyond which seemed to be a resort worthy spa. The entrance opened and perfume-laced air gusted out. Lavender, lilac, baby powder. I was tugged inside and quickly found myself in a salon seat staring at a triple mirror. Beta Love, who was standing before me, leaned over and pushed my hair behind my ears. His eyes sparkled and his grin widened.
“This is the best part,” he promised. “You’ll truly feel like a new woman. And,” he waggled his eyebrows, “I oversaw your travel wardrobe. It... is...sublime.” He drew out the last three words for effect, seeming overly pleased with himself.
Beta Love disappeared and the room flooded with Betas, male and female, wearing navy blue with paler blue trim which matched the spa ceiling. A younger woman with short, manicured nails tried to whisk Josie out of my arms.
“No,” I said, pulling Josie to my chest. “She stays with me.”
