Page 23 of The Omega Trials: Part One

So, while I don’t understand their angle yet, I am certain the Echelon knew our omega’s true nature the entire time. Hell, I wouldn’t put it past them to have set up the omega house visit.

Before that day, I bet she had never stepped foot in that hellhole. By the way she bled all over Titus’s cock, she certainly wasn’t working there as a whore.

The Elder straightens. “So, tell us, Omega, which family’s noble blood runs through your veins?”

She’s fiddling with her ring, her hands in her lap, when all heads turn to her. As if caught doing something naughty, she hastily hides them, sitting on her hands. I glance at Bishop to see if he caught the movement too. His eyes narrow ever so slightly, and I know he did.

“Omega?”he asks again with a touch of an alpha command. In an instinctual act of submission, her chin snaps down immediately. I watch her jaw pulse like she’s pissed she’s doing it.

“I guess it was a surprise all around. I didn’t even know I was an omega, let alone noble until the ceremony.” I try to parse out the nuances of her tone, searching for a hint of deception or mistruth.

“Bullshit,”Titus scoffs under his breath.

Either nobody else hears it or they pretend they don’t. Azurite asks, “Your parents, who are they? What is your lineage?” I have to give him credit for the genuine note of curiosity in his voice.

“Well, you already know who my mother is. You bought her debt when you bought me.” My stomach rolls at the wordbought. Echelon pack omegas are supposed to begifted, the tribute more of a dowry than a literal purchase.

Sure, “gifted” is a still somewhat generous term. Most omegas are placed with a pack based on family alliances, to settle a feud between families, or to keep bloodlines strong. But ownership is tied through the ceremony and bonds, not a piece of paper.

“And I don’t know who my father is.” She speaks with her chin still tucked and eyes trained on her empty lap.

“Any suspicions? You may look up to answer me.”

She raises her head and seems to regain confidence out of the submissive pose, unflinchingly meeting his gaze. “You tell me. Know any members that like getting their dicks wet at shady omega houses?”

I stifle a laugh at the way the Elder’s mouth opens and closes wordlessly like a goddamn trout. Clearing his throat, he tries again, “So your father was a . . .clientof your mother’s?”

“Ding ding,” she replies in a dry monotone.

He sighs deeply, now drumming his fingertips on the leather portfolio resting on the table in front of him. “I was going to insist on a blood test to determine lineage, but seeing as that would only serve to drudge up indiscretions from . . .” He looks to her in question.

“I’m twenty-three.”

“From twenty-three years ago,” he continues, “and as you’ve already been placed with a pack, I no longer see the need.”

I scoff.Well, that’s fucking convenient.

“As you may or may not be aware, the ceremony initiated the beginning of the Trials for young alphas from each noble family to prove they are worthy of joining the honored ranks of the Lourdes Bacleon. But make no mistake, Omega, this is as much of a Trial for you as it is for them.” He flicks his chin at meand my brothers. “You may have been raised outside our noble community, but we will hold you to the same standards expected of any other Echelon omega—”

“If you have such high standards, you probably shouldn’t have gone looking for an omega at a whorehouse,” she throws back at him. She plays her role well, that much is for sure. The feisty, untamed omega plucked from the dirtiest annals of society.

The Elder stiffens and his hand curls into a fist, the slight sound of his nails against the leather audible. I tense at the same time as my brothers. I don’t put it together right away, but then realize it’s our alpha natures reacting to even the smallest signs of danger toward our omega.

We all seem to relax in unison when he responds calmly, “That was due to the funds—or lack thereof—your alphas were able to gather for your tribute. Like you, they weren’t raised as one of us, and we were forced to resort to less thandesirableoptions.”

I bite my tongue and resist pointing out that due to their little game, we actually got a noble omega at a door-busting discount.

And I’m sure that justchafes.

When no one seems to have anything else to say, he stands from his seat and holds his arms open. “If there are no more questions, you are all dismissed.” Thick with condescension, he adds, “I look forward to getting to know you all much better throughout the next few weeks.”

At his nod and uncomfortably cheery smile, we get up to leave. Bishop has just opened the door to exit when Azurite calls out, “Oh, and Miss Sinclair?”

I’m standing right behind her and get a boner-inducing whiff when her hair swooshes past me as she turns her head. A groan quietly rumbles in my throat. She’s looking across the table at the Elder, but I know she heard it by the sweet pink coloring her cheeks. I run a palm over the growing bulge in my pants, not bothering to be discreet.

She catches the movement from the corner of her eye. The moment she does, her arousal lightly perfumes the air with sweet yet musky citrus. I’m so mesmerized by it that I forget where we are until the Elder speaks. “I know this will all be quite an adjustment, so if you ever need support or want to correspond with your grandmother, just tell one of your alphas and we’ll make it happen.”

At the mention of her grandmother, her temperature seems to drop ten degrees, all blush disappearing from her cheeks. My head instantly clears, and I find myself wrapping my arm around her waist, turning her away from him. “Let’s get out of here.”

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