Page 76 of Omega Sanctuary

I shot her a look, my insides turning to lead. "I don't mind. It's what we're here for, right?"

"We'll talk about this later." Nova shot me a look as she walked to the dance floor with the newest alpha.

Nova's alpha hopeful spun her around the dance floor.

I took a deep breath in.

They all thought I was a beta. I walked along the length of the dance floor. All of these alphas were here to find an omega and woo her to their side.

No one gave me a second look because they didn't think I was an omega. I was invisible again.

My heart cracked inside me. They didn't want me because they didn't know.

Well. Fine then.

Priestess Deja intercepted me with a worried look. "Your energy is so subtle."

"I know." I put all my positive energy into a smile. She couldn't know my hopes were dashed, my teenage dreams of being picked out of a crowd once again crumbling. "It's okay."

Deja huffed. "I would have thought being around Shai and Nova would have clued them in..."

"It's really okay. This way I can get used to being around so many alphas."

Deja looked at me. "We can make some introductions."

"I want this time." I looked at her. If she was going to introduce me as an omega, I might as well just resign myself to being wanted for only my designation. "Just to get used to this life."

Deja sighed. "If you're sure."

"My scent will come in soon enough."

It was the truth. Deja's face relaxed. My energy wouldn't be this subtle forever.

In the meantime, I would make note of how the alphas treated people they thought were just a beta.

And try to stop giving myself false hope that one of these idiots would want me for more than just my designation.

An hour later, we left. Nova danced with three more alphas and turned down twice that. She linked arms with me, and we headed out into the warm night air.

"So, that was a total bust."

I laughed. "None of those alphas do it for you?"

"No." Nova wrinkled her nose. "They were all too...pushy."

We fell silent on the carriage ride back, but when we reached the Temple, Nova followed me back to my room.

"You want to tell me why you didn't want me to introduce you to anyone?" Nova slumped onto my couch.

Tired, I sat down. "I want to see how they treat me. When they think I'm just a beta."

My heart hurt. I'd wanted to be seen as special so badly, but it was a bitter pill to swallow when it was so obvious they only wanted me as an omega.

Nova huffed. "I can't say I blame you. Still, I expected some of them..."

I lifted one shoulder. "I did too."

"Oh honey." Nova scooted closer and leaned against me. "I'm sorry."