Page 27 of Claiming Their Omega

Instead, I pick out a nice light pink strapless dress with a flared skirt that’ll show off my legs. I’m petite, so I have to be careful picking out dresses that won’t be too much fabric and overwhelm me.

Unfortunately, I do think I look pretty. I wish that I could look pretty for some other event, like a work party or a presentation for an author that I’ve helped get a good publishing deal. Something that celebrates my ambition and career. Not going to a place where I feel like a cow for sale.

The other Omegas all look lovely too, and I feel a weird twinge of jealousy. I’m sure now that the four Alphas won’t be here. There’s no reason for them to stick their necks out so far for me, even if I am their best friend’s sister. And if they were here, they’d probably choose one of these other taller, curvier Omegas.

Still, I hold my head up high as we’re all lined up and put in our places. I’m not going to let anyone see that I’m feeling insecure. It’s ridiculous for me to feel like I won’t be chosen. That’s what I want, after all, for nobody to choose me. Or, well, for someone to choose me who will understand this is just a charade until I figure a way to get back to my old life. I can’t do that so easily if I’m stuck living in this ORD facility for another month.

We each take a turn walking down the stage like models at a fashion show, the bright lights practically blinding. This is so demeaning. Everyone else is excited to take a turn and twirl and I just want to roll my eyes.

When it’s my turn, I walk slowly in measured steps down the raised platform, as I was instructed. Not taking too long, but also giving the Alphas in the room a good chance to look at me and assess me.

Yeah, right. You can’t assess anything about someone from just looking at them, other than how pretty you think the person is. This is beyond ridiculous.

I never thought much about Omegas and their roles in society, how their lives went, until now that I am one. Now I wonder who the heck thought this was a good system or a good idea. I want to speak to whoever’s in charge of this ridiculous nonsense.

My thoughts come to a screeching halt like a train with the brakes pulled as I reach the end of the walkway, to the circular podium where I’m supposed to slowly turn. The lights make it hard to see, but I recognize one of the faces in the crowd.

My heart stops.

It’s William.

It takes everything in me to keep my expression neutral. I don’t want him to realize I’ve seen him. But my heart picks up again and starts to race.

I can’t believe he’s here. If he’s here, instead of back in New York, and at this Omega presentation, it can only mean one thing: he’s here for me.

I can’t believe it. The asshole cheated on me and now he wants to put a bid on me? My blood feels like it’s boiling as I seethe inside. I want to hop down from the podium in front of him, demand that he explain just who he thinks he is, then slap him.

He probably thinks that he can have me because I’m an Omega. Because I won’t have any other choice. William’s never stood in the way of my career so long as I’ve also made time to be his date at events and dinners. He knows how much that career and my work means to me. He knows me well enough to have guessed that I can’t be happy about all this.

You don’t make a deal with the devil, but unfortunately, William is the devil I know, and the devil who knows what I want and might be willing to offer it to me.

Still, the fact that he’s here and probably going to bid on me after all this just makes me want to curl up and die that much more. As if I didn’t hate being an Omega enough already, now my cheating ex is back to try to legally claim me by putting in a bid just because he can.

If he’s the only one who bids on me, then I know I’ll be pressured to at least try a courtship with him. It’s the Omega’s choice! The Omega has the final say! Yeah, right. As if the staff won’t get annoyed at me for turning my nose up at every Alpha who tries to bid on me.

I finish my turn as the announcer explains my personality, likes and dislikes, hobbies, and basically presents as pleasing a picture as possible of what I’m like as a person so that the Alphas in the room will have an idea if I’ll be a good fit, personality-wise.

The announcer should add in things like wouldn’t date a cheating scumbag if her life depended on it, and will put her career before any Alpha no matter how handsome you are.

I don’t think that would go over well, though.

My heart sinks as I see William writing something down in the little packets they give all the Alphas. Each page has an Omega on them and you can write down what you’re bidding for when you turn it in to the officials. Obviously it’s only fair if you know what others are bidding as well so you can out-bid someone if you need to and aren’t flying blind, but I don’t know how that part works, I won’t be there for it.

All I know is William is trying to bid on me, and I want to throw up.

I can see a few other Alphas scribbling as well. I wonder how much they’re asking for me and if they realize what they’re getting into. I’ve heard of some Alphas bidding on multiple Omegas, just to increase the chances of getting one. They don’t like any particular Omega that much above the others, so it’s a numbers game.

Makes me feel even more like a piece of meat.

I’ve just turned to head back down the aisle, my heart between my feet, when the doors open at the back of the room. The sound and movement makes me glance back instinctively.

I have to hold in a gasp.

Jesse strides in, with Hendrix, Easton, and Cade following him. They all have determined looks on their faces.

Relief floods me so fast and hard that my legs nearly give out. They can only be here for one reason. I asked them to, and they decided to help me.

I could cry, honestly.

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