Page 10 of Consort

With that, he turns and walks away. Such a warm and caring father. How lucky I’ve been to bask in his love all these years.Asshole.

Dammit.I was hoping to stay out of sight. We usually eat as a pack, but I’d intended to skip meals with them for a while. It would only take one small whiff of my Omega pheromones to expose me. But it’s clear that my father expects us both to be there tonight.

“What if someone scents me?” I whisper urgently to my mother, trying to keep my fingers from fidgeting.

Fear and helplessness claw at me and beg me to find an Alpha for comfort. It makes me furious, but anger isn’t enough to drown out all the other intrusive feelings that won’t leave me be.

Mother notices my struggle and pulls me close, pressing her forehead against mine. “Don’t worry, dear. Just use extra wrappings and stay by my side. You’ll be fine.”

My scent could easily give me away, but being overly emotional would also draw attention. I can’t afford to be noticed tonight. This simpering Omega shit needs to go. I clench my hands into fists and search for the strong me. The true me. The one who never needed a useless Alpha and never will.

I stand straighter and cross my arms over my swollen chest. I find my missing resolve and drag it to the front, forcing the weak and worried feelings back down. The moisture in my eyes dries up, and I steel myself for the long, uncomfortable evening ahead.

“Let’s get this over with,” I grumble.

The extra wrappings are awful, bunching between my legs, sure to chafe if I move around too much. I despise them, but not as much as the thought of being shared by a group of mindless, oversized Alphas.

Mother and I make sweet breads, hoping the scent will cover any curious noses if my Omega pheromones slip out. I try to swallow my nerves as we head to the gathering area with our offering. It’s a place in the middle of our camp that has been cleared of trees. Their logs are used for seating, arranged in rings around a large fire.

I peek up at the pale moon, shining down from the break in the treetops. If only I could hide there for a while, swimming in whatever the silver swirls are made of. I’d look down on them all–the Alphas, the fae, and anyone else who thinks they’re so much greater than me.

Mother leads us to a section of log near the outer edge of the area. We wait for the Alphas to take their choice of the meal before Mother gets some for us. An annoying Beta named Arya joins me, and I pick at my food while she chats about the Alphas she’s smitten with. I’ve found it hard to make any friends in my pack. Most of the shifters my age think Alphas are simply glorious. I can’t offer more than a hum or an occasional word as she drones on and on in my ear. I hate Alphas. And I’m just too on edge to pretend to care.

Luckily, she’s a talker. I’m able to nod along and hide behind her wordiness. Mother gives me small nudges of encouragement with her shoulder, and I’m able to get through the meal without anyone else paying me any attention.

As soon as Arya leaves to go flirt with her favorites, I slip away into the woods to relieve myself. I venture far from the gathering area so I can hide any scent I release while I’m without my coverings. Plus, it takes time to get through all these layers. I don’t want to risk anyone happening upon me and seeing them.

Once I’ve finished, I rewrap myself and head toward my family’s tent. I showed my face. I ate. There’s no reason to return to the meal.

Unfortunately, I don’t get far before seeing the silhouette ofa large Alpha approaching through the trees. I freeze, hoping whoever it is will just pass me by.

As he draws nearer, a beam of moonlight crosses his face. It’s Cirro, an Alpha who has shown too much interest in me over the past couple of years. He’s handsome but a bit too eager. And he’s an Alpha, which is a hard pass for me. I’ve avoided intimate interactions with him by saying I want to wait until I’ve presented. He seems to have forgotten that, though, as he steps too close and corners me in the dark.

I take the single step back that I’m able, jolting as the trunk of a small tree digs into my shoulder blades. Cirro normally gives up quickly when he sees my resistance. It seems as though he won’t be so easily swayed this time. I’m pinned and have no choice but to hear him out, hoping I can convince him to let me leave.

“Hello, Rue,” he says, with a hint of a purr to his voice.

Dammit, Cirro!A purr might actually work on me now that I’m an Omega. Who knows what I’d do if he full-on Alpha rumbled at me. I’d probably throw myself into his arms or melt into a whimpering puddle at his feet. I need to shove off his sultry mood. Fast.

“Hi, Cirro,” I say plainly, trying to keep my tone neutral. “I was just heading home. I fear I’ve eaten too much, and my stomach is unsettled. It’s nice to see you, though.”

I’d hoped mentioning my stomach would deter him, but it doesn’t work. He moves even closer and takes my hand. His skin feels threatening, like he could uncover my secret from this simple touch. As I stare down at his fingers, a wave of nausea passes through me. My mind conjures up images of dozens of Alpha hands like his roaming over my naked body.

I try to pull my hand away, but he stiffens and grips it tighter. He puts a hand on my waist and tugs me against him. It’s a silent warning not to disrespect him like that again. I’ve never fearedhim before tonight. But this is a far more aggressive side of him than I’ve seen.

I can feel this new part of myself almost scolding me for my reaction. It urges me to submit and be thankful for this Alpha’s attention. To purse my lips and puff out my chest for him.

Fuck you, Omega.I’m not giving him that satisfaction. What I truly want is to shove him into the line of snapping bollus plants behind him and watch them tear into his flesh.

But I’m not so foolish. I have to let him win this silent battle. Pissing him off won’t help me here. There’s still a chance for me to get home undiscovered.

“What is it about you tonight,” he murmurs, his hot breath sticky against my skin.

His nose traces my hairline and carves a path down my cheek. He slides his hand from my waist to my lower back, letting his pinky finger rest right above the swell of my ass. A sigh slips from my throat at the same time a shudder of disgust ripples through me. How do I defend myself when part of me is happily aligned with my aggressor?

His lips graze my jaw as his nose wanders dangerously close to my neck. I’ve scrubbed it twice today, but his Alpha senses are strong. The potent soaps and herbs I layered on my skin have little effect. He nuzzles my throat and hovers his nose directly over the strongest scent spot.

My body seizes up. My breaths become shallow and difficult to find. His Alpha ears have surely picked up my racing heart. I bet he thinks I’m into this. An angry growl forms in my chest, but I’m too afraid to release it. He could become offended again, or worse, find it arousing.

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