Page 42 of Claiming Their Omega

My pulse is racing so fast I feel like I might pass out, but I like it. I want more of it.

I finally swallow, the whiskey burning all the way down, and Hendrix presses his mouth to mine, his tongue sliding between my lips as if to chase the taste. I make a surprised hum as people around us whistle and clap.

Hendrix pulls back, smirking. “Best whiskey I’ve ever had.”

“Me too,” I whisper, staring up at him.

He brushes his thumb over my lip, and I literally whimper. My breath is shaky. I realize I’m clinging to him to stay upright.

That was the hottest moment of my life. All I want to do is climb him like a tree, spread my legs and beg him to do more, and to do other things to me—things that I think would get us thrown out of the bar.

“All right, all right,” Jesse huffs at everyone in the bar, putting his hands up protectively. “There’s nothing more to see here, ya miscreants, get back to your own shit.”

“I think I need another drink,” Hendrix notes, looking down at his empty glass. “Some pretty little darlin’ drank all of mine.”

I glare at him playfully, even though my legs are still wobbly. “Just for that, I’m buying.”

I march over to the bar, Hendrix’s laugh following me the whole way.

We find seats again after I bring fresh drinks back for us, and the men keep chatting. After a bit, I start to mingle around the bar a little, seeing a few familiar faces and catching up with people I haven’t seen in years. There are some women here from school that I remember, and I chat with them too. There’s another Omega from my year, and I remember when she presented during the senior play. I felt terrible for her, thinking that discovering she was an Omega in front of an audience must be a bit awkward and embarrassing.

Of course, I didn’t know then that I’d be presenting as an Omega as well, and late, which is even more awkward.

I eventually go up to the bar to get a glass of water, downing it. I enjoyed the alcohol but I don’t want to get dehydrated or be too drunk.

“Oh my goodness!” A feminine voice exclaims from behind me. “Is that… Grace Whitmore?”

I wince internally as I recognize the voice, but I refuse to let anything show on my face as I turn around and see Maybelle Parker standing in front of me.

Great.

She looks as beautiful and poised as ever, her long gorgeous auburn hair cascading down her shoulders and perfectly framing her face, gently curling without being unruly. Those icy blue eyes starred in my nightmares when I was a kid.

Maybelle wasn’t just the girl that ruled the school when I was a teenager, she was also my worst bully.

She’s still beautiful, still dressed perfectly, still smiling at me with that smug self-confidence like she owns the room. She realized she was an Omega fairly early, during her junior year, and it seemed like every guy in school had a thing for her. She was the type of girl that people treated like a queen, and she made me feel like a nobody.

“It is you!” Maybelle grabs my hands and squeezes them like we’re old friends. “I wondered! You looked so out of place I thought you had to be someone from out of town—which I suppose you are now, in a way. But it’s really you!”

I smile, although I think it looks more like a grimace. “Hello, Maybelle. How are you?”

“Oh, fabulous, as always. My goodness. I think when you left we all thought that would be the last of you, but now you’re back. And an Omega. With these four Alphas, of all the Alphas in the country!”

“Ah, well. It was just… interesting timing.” It’s pretty obvious she’s not happy that I’m with these four Alphas, when I could’ve gone back to New York City and had someone there. I can feel heat crawling up my cheeks that isn’t arousal but embarrassment.

Maybelle laughs, light and fluttery like a swarm of butterflies. I clench my teeth. I really hate how perfect she is. Or, rather, how perfect she presents. I don’t think someone who’s actually perfect would bully someone else.

“Of course, of course. I didn’t know that an Omega could present that late,” Maybelle says. “I wonder how you’re finding it.”

“It’s certainly interesting.”

“Mmm. I must imagine it’s like all those old people who try to get a new job late in life, trying to learn on computers and fancy new phones! You must know all about that with your grandmother.”

My jaw clenches. “My grandmother’s sharp as a tack.”

“Of course, I never meant to imply she wasn’t.” Maybelle’s eyes go wide. “But you know what I mean. I’m shocked you managed to snag such great Alphas considering.”

“Well, it was an interesting situation.” I don’t want to go into details. I don’t want to lie to Maybelle. Not because I respect her, but I don’t want to tell her something because whatever I do, she’ll spread it around.

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