Page 10 of Consider The Lilies

Deep fury cuts through me, but I suck in a sharp breath, trying to clear my mind. “Yes.” I force the word from my mouth, desperate to get out of here. “Let’s go.”

I grab Bear by the upper arm, making him leave with me. He stiffens in my hold, but he knows better than to fight me in public, and I’m so thankful for that. I don’t know what I’d do if he tried to stay with this boy right now.

The fresh mountain air hits my face, and the rage in my belly simmers and spreads. I want so badly to rush back to that omega. To stay by his side. To feed and care for him. To fuck him into oblivion.

I’m losing my goddamn mind.

In over ten years of buying, snatching, and selling omegas, I have never once felt this way about one of them. There have been a few I thought looked fun. Some have even teased me, trying to tempt me to free them, but never once have I actually wanted to rut one of them.

I need a fucking drink.

Getting Ready

Stefan

Astrange, prickling warmth swims in my veins. Every time I move my eyes, the room spins slightly, and the light dances.

“She’s ready!” someone yells out, and I turn my head, curious to see what’s happening.

The small tent is lined with long folding tables with little chairs every few feet. All kinds of makeup and hair products litter the table as busy betas prepare omegas. They’re making us pretty, or at least that’s what the beta curling my hair said. Or maybe she said something else. I don’t know.

It’s so hard to concentrate on anything other than the twinkling lights floating all around me. Those awful drugs make it impossible to think. It’s like my mind is made of thick fog, threatening to seep out the top of my head. And my body is way too heavy. It’s like my hands are made of metal, pulling my arms down.

Down.

Down.

Will my bones stretch like rubber from the weight?

Could they pop off like a cheaply-made, plastic doll?

I’d have to learn how to eat with my feet.I snort, then giggle at the funny thought.

“Let me see your face.” The sweet beta styling my hair leans down, admiring the way my curls lie across my forehead. She’s pretty with a button nose and pink lips. I want to kiss her. I’ve never kissed anyone before, but the drugs coursing through my veins make me feel like I can do anything.

“I want to kiss you,” I blurt out, happy when she smiles wide. It makes her eyes crinkle and her nose scrunch.

“You are precious.” The button-nosed beta beams at me, cupping my face. “But you don’t want me,” she says with a girlie giggle. “Once you get on stage and smell all those sexy alphas, you’re going to want them.”

My nostrils twitch as I scent the air. She’s right—the breeze is thick with alpha. But I can already tell they’re all male. I don’t want a man. I want a girl.

“I’m not gay,” I say firmly, and the button-nosed beta giggles, but it’s not a sweet laugh.

“Oh, you sweet thing.” She grabs a hand mirror off the folding table laid out in front of us. “Once your heat hits, all you’ll care about is getting filled.”

“Filled?” I balk. “I’m not a girl,” I snip. “A male alphacan’tmate with me.”

“Oh, you sweet thing.” She tips her head back, opening her mouth wide as if I’ve just said the funniest thing she’s ever heard. Her reaction makes me like her a lot less. I’m glad I didn’t try to kiss her. “Trust me, there are many ways an alpha can fill you.”

Shock and confusion twist inside me.Fill me where? In my mouth?I resist the urge to gag. That would be so gross.

“I know you’re young,” the beta continues, “but once your heat hits, you’ll be begging for it.”

My cheeks burn with embarrassment.Why on earth would she mention my heat?It’s so personal.

I turn my head, focusing on the small omega in the chair next to me. She looks sad. Tears drip down her rounded cheeks while another beta paints her lips a dark red.

“Next!” a scary alpha yells through the flap of the tent before sticking his head inside. He’s got wild brown hair that falls into his face like a lion’s mane. His dark eyes scan the small space, then they narrow as an omega in a pink dress is pushed toward him. He licks his lips as she approaches, spending extra time staring at her chest.

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