“Yes. You’re an omega. You have needs. Your alphas are here to meet those needs. Those three overzealous, overbearing alphaholes out there are clueless.”
“They’re not clueless,” I said defensively.
A slow smile spread across Jewel’s face. “It’s cute seeing you defend them. Why didn’t you tell them what you needed? Why didn’t you tell them to back the fuck off?”
I paused, my thoughts tangled in my mind. Why hadn’t I spoken up?
“I didn’t want to be a nuisance,” I finally said.
“So you’re content to be passive? Let them make all the decisions for you?”
I frowned. “That’s not what I said.”
“Of course, alphas know what’s best for helpless little omegas.”
Anger flared through me, and I clenched my fists. “That’s not true.”
“Ahh, so youdohave some fight in you,” Jewel said with satisfaction. “After how Luc described you, I didn’t expect you to be quite so pathetic.”
“I’m not pathetic,” I said without much confidence. Jewel just arched a single, disbelieving eyebrow.
“You know Luc?” I asked.
“I know everyone,” she said smugly, looking down at her perfectly manicured black nails. “He told me about this pain in the ass omega who convinced him to run an illegal self-defense class. And here you are, deferring to your new alphas at every turn. It’s weak.”
My cheeks heated in embarrassment. “You don’t know anything about me. You don’t know what I’ve been through.”
“Oh, please. Do you think you’re the only one who’s had a hard life? That you’re the only one the Designation Government has harmed?”
I inhaled a sharp breath as it clicked. Jewel’s odd scent, the almost artificial edge to it… had the government done something to try and change it?
“I’m sorry,” I said softly, blinking away the tears threatening to form.
Jewel snorted. “No one in this room is at fault for the shit they did to us. But you’re letting them win if you stop fighting.”
I wanted to protest what she was saying, but part of me recognized the truth in her words.
“Don’t you understand why the Designation Government is so fucking terrified of omegas?” she continued. “It’s because you rule alphas without even trying. Our biology pushes us to care for omegas, to do whatever we can to meet their needs and protect them. That doesn’t mean we’re mind readers. The three alphas plastered to the door are decent men. But that doesn’t mean they’re going to get everything right. They’re still men, after all.”
My lips quirked.
“If you want to stay on the sidelines and let your alphas make all the decisions for you, be my guest. But something tells me it’s not going to go well for any of you. Those three need to learn to listen. You need to learn to speak up.”
Her stern gaze was hypnotizing, and I found myself nodding. I had gotten so used to people seeing me as weak that I had started seeing myself that way, too.
“Now, I’ve left some things in the living room for you. Anything you don’t like, bring it back to the store. I’m going to go so you can get rid of my horrific stench.”
Her tone didn’t betray her emotions, but my heart clenched at her self-deprecating statement. How many times had I said or thought even worse things about myself?
“Your scent isn’t horrible,” I said.
Jewel arched her eyebrows. “You don’t need to lie to me, omega.”
“I’m not,” I insisted. “There’s a little artificial edge to it… almost metallic? But it’s not bad. And mostly, you smell like springtime. I like it… just not in my room.”
For the briefest moment, Jewel’s impenetrable mask fell. She looked stunned, as if she couldn’t quite digest what I’d said.
“You’re welcome at my shop anytime, Josie,” she said, her voice almost tender. And then she strode out of the room without a second glance.
