I shuddered. In the rare circumstance an omega didn’t have a pack for her heat, the government would select a group of alphas to stand in. I would rather die than allow that to happen.
Amirah continued, “I’ll reach out to the pack we have in mind. Typically, omegas are encouraged to have interviews at pack homes so they can see the house and the nest. It also allows the pack to court the omega and show her they can provide for her. That’s not an option for you, unfortunately. We think another reason they’ve decided to have you do your interviews here is so the director, your mother, and your pack fathers can listen in.”
“They’re going to be listening?” I asked. “How am I supposed to have a real conversation with any of the packs?”
“You’ll have to be very careful with what you say,” Clementine said. “Nothing about this is ideal, especially with how soon your heat is coming.”
“Is there…” I paused, afraid to ask my question. I took a deep breath and continued. “Is there any way to get me out of Luna to Sol?”
Amirah and Clementine exchanged a sad look.
“Unfortunately, no,” Amirah answered. “We have, at times, been able to do that. But our current connection in Sol was just arrested. Even if that hadn’t happened, your parents are too influential for us to risk it. There’s a high likelihood they would find you, which would jeopardize the entire movement.”
I had known that leaving wasn’t a real option, but hearing it confirmed sent a dagger through my chest. A few tears escaped down my face.
“I really am sorry. For what it’s worth, I’ve been bonded with my pack for almost twenty years. They are incredibly supportive, and I love them deeply. I know it doesn’t change the complete injustice of your current situation, but I am hopeful that the pack I have in mind will be a good fit. I can tell you they are kind and respectful. Also, we will not be abandoning you after your interviews tomorrow. You’re part of the Alliance now, and we’ll support you however we can going forward.”
Amirah reached across the coffee table to grasp my hand, giving it a gentle squeeze before drawing back. I appreciated her straightforward attitude. Having grown up in a pack where manipulation and political games were the norm, the transparency she offered me was a relief.
“Alright, Josie, do I have your agreement? If everything goes to plan, you’ll have two interviews tomorrow. The first with the pack your parents have selected, and the second with the pack we’ve chosen for you. You’ll make your choice at the end of the two interviews.”
I didn’t know what to say. I wasn’t okay with any of this, but I also knew Amirah had presented me with the best option I could hope for. So I nodded in agreement and thanked her.
I stood to follow Amirah when Clementine said, “Wait, will you stay here and fill out this questionnaire? We give prospective packs these questionnaires from the omega to get to know them before the courting process. Since you don’t have a courting process, they’ll get this questionnaire tomorrow before the interviews.”
I groaned internally, wanting nothing more than to return to my bed and call Sam. Clementine must have gathered my reluctance.
“I’m sorry. I know it sucks, but it’s part of my job.” She bit her lip, looking vulnerable, before striding over to a corner cabinet and pulling out a bottle of rosé. She held it out to me with a hopeful glimmer in her eye. “Maybe alcohol will make it better?”
I raised an eyebrow. The stress of the past few days broke down my normal defenses. I was tired of keeping everyone at arm’s length. I needed an ally... and maybe even a friend. Idefinitelyneeded alcohol. At my nod, Clementine beamed and uncorked the bottle, pouring us each a generous glass.
* * *
Iwas drunk. Like suuuuuper drunk. I reached for the box of cookies on the coffee table and accidentally knocked it over. I lunged to catch it and ended up falling off the couch, hitting the floor with a graceless thump. I giggled as I crawled towards the box and fished out a chocolate chip cookie.
“Oh my god, you are suuuuch a lightweight,” Clementine said, pouring herself another glass of wine.
“Don’t pretend you’re not drunk, too,” I said in what I thought was a normal volume but came out as more of a shout.
“I am not brunk!” Clementine slurred.
I laughed harder, curling up and clutching my stomach as tears streamed down my face. “You are sooo brunk!”
Clementine joined in and for a few moments, the only sound I could hear was our laughter. This moment felt like the long summer days I spent with Sam when we were kids, escaping our homes and getting into trouble.
“Okay, okay, we have to finish this questionnaire,” she said, wiping her eyes.
“Why do these alphas even deserve to know anything about me? I know nothing about them,” I whined.
“Well,” Clementine said slowly, a mischievous gleam entering her eyes, “No one said you had to give them the correct information.”
“You mean lie?” I gasped.
Clementine raised her eyebrows at me suggestively. “If they want to know these things about you, they should have to figure it out.”
“You are a genius.”
Clementine wiggled happily in her seat while I pulled another cookie out of the box.
