I appreciate his reference to scientific studies that apply to everyone, not just omegas. I’ve read that research too, so I know that statistically people perform better when they feel safe.
My pared-down lifestyle doesn’t bother me, but he’s right that I’ve never lived like they do. At the academy, there were all kinds of shops just a short walk from campus, and the city was less than an hour away.
Icouldget a few more things, just in case.
“Let us take you shopping now, and after you’ve settled in at the station, we can get whatever else you need,” Orion says.
“If you’re sure there’s time, I could pick up a few things before we go,” I say.
“Of course, we have plenty of time. We’ll get you anything you need, Hestia,” he says.
A shiver goes down my spine at the way he says my name, like a caress.
Orion helps me into the front seat of his SUV. I’ll allow it just this once, letting him hoist me into their too-tall vehicle, but they better not be this chivalrous all the time.
Cato slides in as Orion starts the car, their scents mixing into a sweet, minty cocoa.
I feel eyes on me as we leave the inn, and look back to find Cato staring, a secret smile on his face.
I don’t know what his deal is and I’m too flustered to figure it out.
I turn around and ignore his strange behavior.
Chapter 5
Hestia
Istare out my window at the mountains, the tall peaks covered in snow. The view is so different from what I’m used to.
Below, Starsfalls glows in the darkness. The snow is falling heavier now, but I can just make out the lights of other towns in Arcandale Valley.
I’ve been watching the scenery change since we left Starsfalls, mountains growing ever closer as Orion drives us to the station.
Although, even if the view hadn’t captivated me so thoroughly, I’d be staring out the window regardless, a welcome distraction from the car ride.
It’s silent except for the radio playing some folksy holiday music.
I know Cato is going to be watching me if I turn around. He hasn’t taken his eyes off me since we met.
I didn’t realize it at first, but he followed me around while I shopped, like a cat tracking you for…whatever reason that makes sense to his little cat instincts. But with Cato, I have no idea what he’s thinking. Is he watching me because he thinks I’m strange? Because he thinks I’m an omega that needs protection? A third, secret reason?
I got the sense Cato doesn’t treat every trainee like this based on the few interactions I caught between him and his packmates. Whatever they said didn’t stop him from tracking me though. I tried talking to him, but everything Cato said felt like he was teasing me, a smile on his face all the while.
So, talking to him is out, and I’m too nervous to make small talk with Orion.
That leaves me alone with my thoughts, and all I can think about isthem.
No one has gone shopping for me since I was a kid, so it was especially strange to have my new bosses helping me find clothes and bedding and other things.
To be fair, they didn’t pick things outforme, but at every store we visited, Orion found a salesperson and asked them to find me things. All I had to do was tell the salesperson the styles I like along with my size, and they whisked me away.
I ended up with overflowing carts everywhere we went.
I tried to put things back, but all of my teammates kept encouraging me to get more and more.
I don’t think I needed to get quite that much, but if they feel so strongly about it, then I figured I’d go along with it.
I did argue about paying for myself, but I lost that debate too. Every time I got near the register, my teammates were there ahead of me. When I protested, Orion just kept saying it was part of the station’s budget for personal supplies. That’s not something I remember learning about in my classes on station management, but I suppose it’s possible I overlooked what counted as “supplies.”
