Page 262 of Omega for the Pack

“Hello,” I said, my voice coming out in a squeak. My hand was shaking as I shook the first one’s hand. He was the biggest of the pack, with short brown hair and a mole on his cheek.

“Hello. The beautiful Jade,” he said, his voice silky smooth, and my heart beat faster. He had chocolate brown eyes and looked like a businessman with his tailored blue suit and black tie. “I’m Hanibal.”

“Nice to meet you,” I said.

“I’m Brent,” said the second alpha, who had slicked black hair and shiny, gelled eyebrows. I looked at Nick who waggled his own eyebrows. I wanted to laugh but kept a straight face as I shook his hand. I needed to be less picky and more open-minded. He could end up being the love of my life after all. And that thought alone made me burst into a smile.

“Is something funny?” asked Hanibal, also smiling. “I’d like to share in the joke.”

“No, it’s just…” I said, my voice trailing off as I shook the third alpha’s hand, avoiding his question. The third alpha had short hair and a mustache. He looked to be in his forties.

“I’m Nicholas,” he said. “Nice to meet you.”

“Nice to meet you, too,” I said.

“You are very beautiful,” said Nicholas, hitching his glasses up and gazing at my hourglass shape created by the dress. I didn’t know how to feel about all this. I didn’t necessarily feel the instant attraction to this pack like I had with Caleb’s pack. But I was still hopeful I’d learn to like them as time passed.

“Let’s have some lunch,” said Caleb, gesturing towards the large spread on the dining room table fit for sixteen people. We headed to the table, and Hanibal sat to my right while Brent sat to my left.

On the table was chicken, rice, vegetables and salad. Wow, they worked hard cooking for this occasion. I was impressed by the lengths Caleb’s pack would take to seal my purchase.

Caleb’s pack sat across from me. My hands were shaking as I tried to pour the food onto my plate, and Hanibal, sensing that, took the spoon from me and made my plate with my requests. He seemed attentive like Caleb, and I liked that already about him. Or maybe deep down I was a hopeless romantic.

“Thank you,” I said as Hanibal placed the plate of food before me.

“Of course,” said Hanibal. “So tell me about yourself, Jade. I’ve heard plenty, but I’d love to hear from those pretty lips of yours. Tell me about your family.”

“I have one brother,” I said, almost choking on the rice. It was like I’d forgotten how to speak. I was usually so confident at my workplace around my female friends.

“Do you still live with your family?”

“No, I live alone in an apartment,” I said. “I worked as a nurse for years.”

“Why did you feel the need to live alone? Wouldn’t it corrupt an omega to stay alone?” asked Nicholas, wiping his mustache with a napkin.

Wow, he was a tool.

“I needed my independence,” I said. “Just like how an alpha leaves his family home and forms his pack. Wouldn’t I be afforded the same freedoms in this day and age?”

Caleb’s eyes were on his plate, and his jaw was tense.

I didn’t care if I embarrassed him. If the Onyxpaw Pack were going to take me, they would have to accept everything about me.

“Of course,” said Hanibal in his silky voice, trying to soothe me. “Nicholas didn’t mean anything by his question.”

I nodded, biting my lip tersely. I took a sip of water to quench my dry throat. It was awkwardly quiet for ten minutes, with only the sounds of chewing and forks clinking on plates.

Nick cleared his throat a couple of times uncomfortably to break the silence.

“How was the rain outside?” I asked, unable to believe I resorted to talking about the weather. “The weather is pretty terrible to travel in.”

“We would travel through mountains and ice to meet our intended omega,” said Hanibal.

“Oh wow,” I said. He was smooth, and I could feel my guard lower around him. Then he asked the next question out of the blue. A question that threw me for a loop.

“Are you a virgin?”

I looked back and forth across the table. Wondering if I had to answer that question, and Caleb gave me a slight nod, signaling that I should answer.

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