It was imperative to ensure my goals and make every sacrifice worth it.
With more confident hands, I put the finishing touches on a few pieces of jewellery he had gifted me to wear. A blood red pendant necklace, a ring and matching stud earrings.
White for purity. Red in honour of the rose, the greatest expression of love. I couldn’t wait for him to see me in this new dress.
Twirling once, then again for a last-minute check, I felt ready to go.
Even though we now lived together, I still felt giddy going on a date with the Omega who led us all. I was, after all, still an Outer Ringer at heart, no matter how different my life looked now.
Truthfully, I had never expected to be in this position at all. The part where I lived with him and developed a relationship with him, yes, that was all planned. But the part of me that enjoyed his company and his affections? That was not.
The feelings of stress that accompanied that sort of realisation were like a lead weight in my gut. I knew Raya hated him for the life his rulings had condemned her to. It was the life she never got to choose.
But I understood the Omega having gotten to know him, someone who was so deeply in pain from his past that he was willing to go great lengths to protect the safety of Omegas and the Haven. I spied around the room, at all the luxurious frills and fabrics, their softness. It made me forget about what life was like in the Outer Ring. That is, until I went home each visit. Then, I remembered. I always left feeling guilty.
I knew Raya wished for something grander. It’s why she spent so much time staring at the stars, wishing so desperately for more, even if it was just in her imagination.
That’s what made us so different from each other. I was very much willing to sacrifice a lot to give others the gift of something more. A fuller life.
The Haven itself was a good solution to a hostile outer world. It just needed some work, and I had the vision and drive to see it through.
A light knock at the door interrupted my musings as I reached over and pulled it open with a coy smile, raking my eyes down the male’s body just as he did mine.
A show of appreciation.
Tonight, he wore a blood-red suit with a crisp white shirt underneath, the top buttons loose, and polished black shoes. His green eyes shimmered beneath two perfectly arched brows, and his hair was slicked back, not even a single stray hair in sight. Like me, his hands were adorned with thick golden bands of jewellery, a lavish show of his wealth.
Satisfaction warmed my chest as I stepped forward. He looked good, so damn good, and I was lucky he had chosen me, even luckier that, in many ways, we were alike. We were both visionaries, seeking to lead and initiate change in our respective causes. We also were both acutely aware of the power that beauty held and therefore took pride in our appearances.
His bejewelled fingers gently reached out and grabbed the bottom of my chin, tilting my face left and right as he admired me.
“Beautiful, my Rose.”
Butterflies took flight in my stomach. I relished in his admiration and sought it often.
He used his other hand to wrap his warm fingers around my own, to lift my hand towards his lips for a sweet, gentle kiss. He was always courteous with me, respectful, though the desire in his expression when he looked at me was ever present. But it was the feel of his lips against my skin and the flush of his cheeks that ultimately made me smile.
I stepped up into him, breathing in his decadent, sweet scent as he wrapped his arms around my lower back, tipping his head down towards mine, capturing my lips with his own.
His kisses were always soft and exploratory, as if he was always seeking to understand and know more of me, though there were only a few things left to give. He always left me wanting more of moments like this.
“I have a surprise for you,” he murmured when he pulled back, the minty freshness of his toothpaste wafting over me.
I looked up at him, our mouths still close as his lips pulled back into a warm smile.
“Show me,” I requested, a hint of demand lacing my tone. I was eager to see.
He shot me a bemused look and then stepped back, still holding my hand delicately in his own as he held his other arm out to guide me forward.
“As you command.” His eyebrows danced with his amusement. My heart leapt at his words, my eyes locking with his in an assessing gaze. Already, I felt good about this night, excited, giddy, and hopeful.
Together, we walked over to the elevator, and he hit the up button. My excitement intensified. I kept my face cool and impassive, trying not to give anything away despite my absolute shock. I was never allowed to go to any other level than the one I now lived on. It was this or ground. Nothing else, though I often wondered what else this building contained.
But this moment, with his hand in mine as we stood waiting, signified progress. My main goal was to change things in the Haven, to get my family inside the hedge amongst the Omegas so they had access to a better life. Then, I would progress to working on the Inner Ring being accessible to Alphas so they could gain better paying jobs, better healthcare and education, all to build a more cohesive city. In the future, I didn’t want there to be any rings dictating status or class in our city.
One step at a time. A new level to access was a great sign.
We stepped inside together as the elevator dinged, and he pulled me towards him, his hand delicately capturing my head, his lips meeting mine expertly. I heard him push the button as he continued to gently tangle his tongue with mine, my own hands sliding up and around his neck.