Huh. There was so much we still didn’t know about each other. But that was part of the fun. And I had Mrs. K to make sure his favorite treats were included on the dessert table–like those chocolate orange pastries he’d fed me at the science dinner.
“Did Spencer and Elaris have a party?” I finally asked softly.
She nodded. “I wasn’t there, but according to his mother, who I do speak to sometimes, it was exactly what you’d think a couple of university students would have when left to their own devices.”
An upscale rager? “Sounds fun.”
“You’re good for him.” Mrs. K smiled at me. “He… he told me about you.”
“I know.” I bit my lower lip.
“Grace, I hope you know how much I appreciate you asking about Demitra,” she added. “Also, I’m glad you’re going to move forward with Elaris’ research. You’re going to save lives. Not just those who are illegal. If you crack the push, you’re going to bring hope to so many.”
“How so?” Thepushreferred to the degrees between designations, and that's why the illegal street drug that made betas omegas was calledMega-Push,though the legal version was called something else.
Her eyes went wide. “Oh, yes. You didn’t grow up with designations. Sometimes people are born with ones that just don’t fit who they are, if that makes sense.”
“Oh, like with gender.” It made perfect sense.
“Exactly. Only you can receive gender affirming care easily. Designation affirming care, not so much.” Her look saddened.
I sucked in a breath. “Because they only have something that changes betas to omegas.”
“Yes, and even though there’s a legal version, it’s still a process to be permitted to use it–and you have to have the right genetic markers,” she explained. “But there’s nothing tohelp betas or omegas who should be alphas, or the other way around. Not to mention all the others. Like iotas actually have larger percentages of designation dysmorphia than others, not that anyone pays attention to them.”
Iotas. I think they were the ones that didn’t have or smell scents and pheromones and didn’t respond to barks.
“I don’t understand why there’s so much fear surrounding the idea of giving people control over their own designation. Shouldn’t people feel comfortable in their own bodies? Also, it would be nice for people not to lose their families. My birth mother didn’t know she wasn’t an alpha. Most of the family was executed.” I looked away. It was just so sad.
“It is. I don’t remember you, but Demitra talked little about that part of her work unless she really needed my help. She was trying to protect me and the children if they ever came for her.” She patted my hand.
“That makes sense. Um, I have a sister who gave me an omega lily, and she was talking about mythology. Who’s the patron Greek goddess of omegas?” I suppose I could just look it up.
“Hestia, the goddess of the home. Hera, as well. Artemis, too, though she’s more their protector, going after alphas who dare lay a hand on them. It would be nice to have omega lilies at your party.”
Those all made perfect sense to me, especially Artemis, who I knew as a protector of women and girls.
“You know, there’s a temple of Artemis that is still quite active. Many young omegas in Greece visit there. You should have Spencer take you, though he’ll have to wait with the other alphas in the welcome center. They have an amazing library. I was allowed there once. Sometimes they’ll permit betas to do research in their archives.” Her look went wistful.
“Oh, that sounds amazing. What’s your field of study?” I asked.
“I worked in the university office. It’s how we met. Demitra tried to convince me to let her meet with the Dean. When the children were young, I worked for a school. When they grew up and two of them moved to this continent, it made sense to take Spencer’s job offer here. I’m close enough to them to visit often but not so much that I’m the overbearing mother,” she laughed. “The one back in Greece is quite content there, and I see her when I can. But I digress.”
The look on her face made me think there was more to her story.
“I was trying to help one of Demitra’s students before she tried something rash, like going into the forest and invoking the wrath of Artemis. It’s a bit of a joke, Dear. In mythology, Artemis would sometimes turn alphas into omegas as punishment, though more often it was deer or a tree,” she said.
“Oh, I see. So, you were doing research at the temple to see if there was anything you could do to help her? She was a female alpha?” I asked.
Mrs. K nodded. “Yes, one that should have been an omega. I couldn’t find anything helpful. No one has anything helpful.”
The pain in her voice broke my heart.
“We’ll do what we can, not that it’s my area of expertise,” I promised.
“It’s not his either, but with the support of you two, who knows what’s possible? Now, I should probably get back to work. Let me know what else you need,” she added, in a clear dismissal.
“Thanks, Mrs. K.” I stood, my stomach aching. Yeah, I should go back to work, too.
