“Yes.Yourchoice. The courting process has evolved over the years to make sure that an omega is being paired up with a suitable candidate who can take care of them. We try to the best of our ability to make sure that each party likes each other. Maybe you will find an alpha or alpha who will let you see the world and enjoy it as you are,” she said, judging my reaction. “Have some freedom perhaps? Or are you going to stay here?”

I inhaled. They weren’t really options, were they?

“Take your time. Let me know when you decide.”

Chapter

Two

ELLA

Iwas still in the city, or at least close enough to the main city that I could tell the further I was driven away in a van towards the closest, and from what I understood, most sought after, Omega Academy.

The iron gates cut the large expanse of campus off from the rest of the world. The grounds were like a campus, but more exclusive, hidden within swaths of trees as if some sort of fairytale or wonderland someone could dream up as a child to be whisked off to before going on a big adventure.

If I was a young, new omega, I wonder if my reaction would’ve been different. I wonder if my heart would’ve stuttered in awe and hope rather than anxiety.

The van door swung open and a gust of fresh air hit me.

“Out.”

Oh, right. Slowly I shifted out from my seat and stood on solid ground. Looking around, there were already a few people wandering the property, fluttering into buildings before disappearing again.

Except for the one older woman walking towards us. Her hair was slicked back into a tight bun and her clothes looked muchlike what the more senior librarians wore at work, though more expensive.

“Just on time!” she called. “I’m glad we could schedule getting you in so quickly before the final term.”

“Yes,” Jessica spoke for me. “It was a good thing that we managed to catch you on a good day.”

“Indeed.” Her eyes glanced towards me, narrowing. “Is this?”

“This is Omega Ella.”

She paused, still looking over me. “Ah.”

Clearing her throat, Jessica called the woman’s gaze back to her own. Unspoken words seemed to pass between them that I couldn’t decipher.

I narrowed my eyes at the exchange.

“Of course.” The older woman’s gaze turned to me now, taking a step closer. Once she did, I could smell it. It was odd to smell someone so instinctively, but I didn’t even try. I could detect the lightest small scent of an omega’s perfume. It wasn’t as potent I was sure as mine, but still there. This woman was an omega. “My name is Omega Olverti. I’m the headmistress here at the academy. If you have any problems, which let’s see that you don’t, you will report to me.”

I nodded.

“Good. Let’s get you inside and settled, shall we?”

Jessica followed behind as we walked, keeping a close eye on me.

Did she think I was going to run? I mean, it wasn’t completely out of the question, but the wrought iron gates would sure be a deterrent. But I wasn’t going to risk being taken somewhere else. I wouldn’t let myself become a drugged-up omega seriously pawned off to anyone who cared enough to have an omega for no reason other than the status of it.

Touse me.

This place might’ve not been the best choice that I’d make, but it was the choice I was given. It was this and the chance of seeing Prestford pack again, or losing hope altogether.

I’d get out of here.

Somehow.

“You will attend classes throughout the day. You will have a schedule similar to other omegas at your age and we encourage you to catch up with them,” explained the Head Mistress as we picked up the pace, following her across the path as she waved her hand here and there towards different buildings. “As an omega, there are certain expectations. I am sure that you are unaware of them. Please. Understand them. Live them.”