“Yeah, of course. Although I’m not sure you should be biking in the dark. And where’s your helmet?”
His fingers brushed against mine as I took hold of the handlebars. His touch was electric, shooting sparks of arousal down my stomach and into my core for the first time in ages.
“I’ll be fine.” I kept my voice light as I got back on the bike.
I needed to get away from him, needed to get back home and crash in my bed, but for some reason, I stayed where I was. I wished he would remove his helmet so I could see his face.
“If you’re sure,” the alpha said, sounding skeptical.
“I am. Thanks for stopping.”
I forced myself to start pedaling before I did anything stupid. I’d had enough of that tonight. But I couldn’t stop myself from glancing back over my shoulder as I biked away. I expected the alpha to leave right away, but he was still standing in the spot where I left him.
“Get a helmet!” he shouted at me.
I turned back around and, against my will, found a smile on my lips.
3
WESTIN
Isquinted as I headed up the steps to the capitol building. The sun was too fucking bright and this was way too many stairs first thing in the morning.
My pain had subsided by the time I woke, but I was left feeling groggy and weak, like I was hungover. It had taken me twice as long as usual to bike here, and now these stairs would end me.
“Westin!”
I turned to see my friend Josie jogging up the steps with one of her alphas, Theo.
“Good, I’m glad I’m not the only one running late.” She panted slightly as she caught up to me. “Why do we always have these meetings at eight in the morning? Some of us would be content to never witness the sunrise.”
Theo’s lips twitched as he gazed down at his omega with a sickening amount of affection. I hated myself for feeling jealous. Josie and I had grown close this past year, and I was so happy she’d found an amazing pack. But seeing her so happy just highlighted my own loneliness.
“Maybe we can convince them to hold them later in the day,” I said, straining to keep a smile on my face as I took the last few stairs.
“That’s a great idea. This is all about omega rights, andIwould like the right to sleep in.”
Josie kept up a steady stream of conversation as we walked to the large boardroom we used for the Omega Rights Committee meetings. We’d been meeting for the past year, working to repeal all the anti-omega laws the Designation Government had put in place. We didn’t have any real political power, but we could give our comments and suggestions on proposed bills.
Theo stopped at the door where a group of alphas were lined up after dropping off their omegas. We had a strict no-alpha rule in our meetings.
Josie held the door open for me and I entered the room, slumping down in the closest available chair before my legs gave out.
“Do you want me to get you a bagel or something?” Josie asked, her brow slightly furrowed as she looked me over.
“No, thanks.” I softened my forehead and unclenched my jaw to make myself appear relaxed.
Josie headed to the food table and I did my best to keep my breathing even as my stomach churned with nausea. The room was filled with happy noise and chatter. The fact that all of us omegas could be in a room together, talking freely, was night and day from the world we’d lived in for so long.
Poppy gave me a wave from the other side of the table, which I returned with a genuine smile. She was one of the most vibrant and extroverted people I’d ever known, and her input always kept these meetings interesting. We’d met briefly during my horrific time at the Designation Academy, and then we’d connected again at the secret self-defense classes Josie had organized while the Designation Government was still in power.Poppy was sitting next to Charlie, who was bonded with Luc, our self-defense teacher. I couldn’t stop myself from smiling when I saw her new purple wheelchair. She’d been waiting for it for ages.
“It’s packed today.” Josie sat down beside me and slid a cup of coffee my way.
“Thanks,” I said, wrapping my hands around the mug and letting the heat center me. I took a sip of the coffee, feeling fragile. If today’s meeting wasn’t so important, I would have skipped it.
“Is this seat taken?”
My breath hitched at the soft, deep voice. I looked up, my eyes landing on a man who could only be described as beautiful, with bright blue eyes and tan skin. He was wearing a deep blue suit without a tie, the top two buttons of his white shirt left open. Pieces of his brown hair fell messily over his face, and his sharp jaw was covered with a neatly trimmed beard. He fiddled with his jacket and grinned.
