Page 2 of Omega Sanctuary

"Naula can help."

Naula was Missy's younger sister, barely out of her majority. Once we knew she would stay a beta, we let her help with the bakery more.

But it was still a big step for Naula.

"Fine," I sighed. I couldn't afford to mess anything up. Normally, the Priestess only traveled this far west for the Lunar Festival and I had days, sometimes weeks, to prepare for her arrival.

My body needed to get itself together.

I took a break and then started the eclairs. Missy helped out, taking care of the easier but time-consuming tasks.

That night, I crawled into bed, my body aching down to my bones. My pillow was either too soft or too hard, and pressure of the mattress on my hips and shoulders hurt. Morning would be dreadful, no doubt.

My dreams were feverish. I searched through the bakery, the ovens making the place too hot, searching for someone. Movement flashed in the corners of my eye, a will-o-the-wisp I couldn't catch.

In my chest was the steady feeling that something was wrong. Off kilter, and had been for a long time.

I rolled over with a whimper, almost awake. I'd had strange dreams my entire life, always feeling like I was about to miss something catastrophically important.

Weight pressed onto my body, and it soothed me. I sighed.

"Sleep."

I thought I heard another voice, but I feel back to sleep before I could open my eyes.

When the sun's soft rays broke through the curtains, I rolled out of bed ready to spend the day baking. Refreshed and energized, the odd fever must have broken in the night.

I nodded at the locals on my way to work. Stonebriar had been home since I was born, and my tombstone would gather dust in the family cemetery hopefully a long time from now.

It was a safe place to live, situated far enough from Andaria's border to avoid conflict between countries, and unimportant enough for the Royal Army to ignore.

The town councilmen liked to tell stories about a omega girl born few generations ago who was powerful enough to be sent off to the Palace, but no one would say exactly how long ago.

When I traveled to Westbriar for goods, the townspeople there told similar tales of a legendary alpha becoming a heroic general in Her Majesty's army.

Each generation had its small handful of alphas and omegas, of course, but most of them moved to Penrith to train with Priestess Sabine at the local temple.

We all wanted to matter, to feel like we were the center of the universe. Most of us only had small roles to play.

I was okay with that.

I'd gone through the same period of mourning every undeveloped beta did when I didn't switched into an omega. Who wouldn't want to be showered with gifts, the belle of every season, coveted by alphas and betas alike?

It was Nan, with her sideways comments about the life an omega led, that snapped me out of it. My destiny would no longer be my own. Training at a temple for years, finding an alpha to bond to for the rest of my life, and that was just the start. I'd lose everything I ever loved, everything that made me who I am.

Now when Priestess Sabine came into town for the current year's alphas and omegas, it felt like I dodged a strike of lightening.

And if Jaiyen crossed my path without a sideways glance, that was the price I paid for freedom.

Priestess Sabine arrived before the noon rush. She loved anything I baked, but she had a major sweet tooth so I'd focused on desserts. Fruit tarts, tiny cakes, mini chocolate ganache bombs. The chocolate was expensive, but Priestess Sabine left a generous donation despite our efforts to refuse her money.

Nan followed Missy into the kitchen, and I loaded up a tray of sweets. "The Priestess would like to know if you have time to take tea with her."

I stifled my sigh. I actually didn't have time, since I was behind from yesterday, but I didn't want to tell her no. "Alright."

I took the tray, and Missy took over working on the bread. I used the nice tea set we saved for special occasions, and grabbed the small box of tea satchels.

The bakery was subdued, our regulars picking up their bread and scones and leaving without sticking around for gossip.

---