Page 11 of The Long Lost Omega

I’d tried to run away from my old life, and today I was in a world where I was living better than I could have imagined. I sat down on the couch, my head spinning as I reached for the pamphlets the hospital sent with me. The social worker wasright. The pamphlets confirmed that along with these hormonal changes in my body, I’d also need to find “alphas”, another type of designation, to basically have sex with me and care for me during these heat sessions. The doctor said I might have one soon, but that my body was changing fast enough that I could handle it. I didn’t know what they meant by that. But I was sure of one thing. If omegas were attracted to alphas, then I was certain Tony was one.

“Alphas are generally taller and more muscular than the average person. They are also highly sensitive to omega pheromones. It is important to note that both alphas and omegas can be driven by their hormones and act in ways they cannot always control.” I read the pamphlet, aware that I had some learning to catch up on. I couldn’t imagine losing my control and begging for sex, but the hospital staff claimed that was a normal response. I’d normally laugh at their assertion, except for the fact that every time I thought about Tony, I started feeling warm and the sweet smell would arise from my skin again.

I knew the moment I had embraced Tony that my body was reacting to him in a way I’d never felt before, for anyone. And I needed to see him soon. One thing Piper told me during our phone conversation was that people in this world were very controlling over omegas, and that we had to follow certain rules for our own safety. But she also told me she had escaped several times through one of the gates in the back of the Omega House compound to see the men who later became her pack. If this world wanted me to find some boyfriends, well, I already had at least one contender in mind. I picked up the cell phone that they’d given me. It was a brand and style I hadn’t heard of before, but it was easy enough to figure out how to use it.

I was shocked when Jax answered the first call I made from the hospital. Ever since that day in the woods, I’d memorized that number. It never worked. I’d tried calling it every few months, hoping they would pick up. Every time my cousins frustrated me or made me cry, I’d stay up late to use the house phone and dial the number, wishing that someday it might not be disconnected. And here, in this world, Jax had answered.

So that meant two of them were around at least. My mind flashed back to something they'd said back when I met them about how they were going to be a pack someday. I never understood what they meant back then, but now it all made sense. I didn’t have time to ask about Kaden when I’d called, but I hoped with all my might that I could reconnect with him as well.

I dialed the number again, relieved that I could finally talk without people overhearing me. The first ring barely started before someone picked up.

“Safira?” It was Tony.

“Yes! It’s me!” I said excitedly. I didn’t know why I was so overjoyed to find three people I'd met once so long ago. But a feeling deep inside me told me they were important.

“Are you at the hospital? How are you?” he asked, his voice brimming with excitement.

“No, I’m at a rental in a private community. I’m all right now. I can’t believe I saw you.” I was speaking so quickly that Ihardly gave him time to answer. It was as if I was afraid they’d disappear again, and I had to get my words out as quickly as possible. “I’m so glad this number works. I’ve called it so many times before and it never went through.” I admitted, playing with the end of my t-shirt as I looked down. I felt shy suddenly, like I was that young girl again, amazed and unsure of myself as three cute boys spent all day taking such good care of me.

“We waited for your call. We always wondered what happened to you.” He sounded so relieved.

"Can I see you? Can you come pick me up? I need to find out more about this world. I don’t really understand the designation thing much. They tell me I’m an omega.” I said, wondering how I could piece together the past and the present along with everything that was happening.

“You don’t know about designations?” He sounded concerned. “Safira, we aren’t allowed to see you unless we are on the pack registry.” He said with some caution. I remembered that the social worker said something about that.

“Well, I can come to you. Can we meet somewhere?” I asked, not understanding why it was such a big deal.

“We can, it's just… it might be risky to do so if you are just starting to present. Your scent might attract people. We want to be careful with you. Are you on suppressants?” Tony was asking about the pills the hospital had given me. They wanted me to stay on them for a few weeks.

“Yes. Is that a problem?” I asked, looking at the pill bottle.

“No, you should keep taking them. It makes things much safer.” His words still didn’t make sense, but I didn’t care.

“When can you see me?” I asked, eager to see them now that I knew they were real, and hadn’t forgotten about me.

“You name the time.” He was serious.

“Today. I can meet you anywhere near where I live.” I replied, giving him the name of the community I was at. He quickly found a bookstore nearby and agreed to meet there. “One more thing, are you still friends with Kaden?” I asked, hopeful that I’d see all of them again.

“Of course. He’s in our pack, just like we always said.” Tony answered proudly. I still was fuzzy on the significance of that, but I didn’t care. I was going to see my friends again.

Chapter 10

Kaden

“I can’t believe I’m this nervous.” I griped as I looked down at my shirt. I was sweating like I’d been doing cardio, but all I’d been doing was riding in the car. We were on our way to see Safira. She was staying in an upscale neighborhood in Haven, an omega village that was heavily secured and very luxurious.

“We’re all feeling it.” Jax said as he tapped his fingers on his knee, the only sign of his nerves coming through. His dark, straight hair was parted and styled, ever the perfectionist.

Tony couldn’t help but quip, “This is something else. I don’t think I’ve ever felt this excited—well, except maybe that time I found out the diner had free refills.” His grin was wide, clearly amused by the contrast between his words and the tense atmosphere.

The truth was, we’d never been this on edge about an omega before. Not during our courting days, and definitely not when we were matched up with someone we’d never met. But here we were, with rare alpha anxiety. Tony’s humor was the only thing keeping us from losing it entirely.

“Try not to think too much into it. She’s an old friend, nothing more.” Jax said, trying to be the voice of reason. “And anyway, just because she hasn’t been bitten yet doesn’t mean she’s single. She could very well have a boyfriend or a pack she’s seeing. And now that she’s an omega, she’ll have other packs vying for her attention.”

Tony let out a growl at the thought. I had to bite my own growl back, but Jax was right. We hadn’t seen her in years, except for the brief moment earlier with Tony. And he’d only seen her for a minute. We pulled up to the neighborhood next to the private villas, where there was a small bookstore among the boutiques. As if connected by an invisible string, my head turned and saw someone sitting at a small table outside of the store. I opened the door before we were even fully parked, striding toward her as she stood up, turned and started toward me as she saw us. Her steps turned into a jog as she saw my face light up.

She was a beauty. I’d dreamed of what she might look like, the only physical proof of her being the one photo we had of her from the abandoned airplane. But I didn’t need the photo. Her face was etched into my brain, and now I saw that she was even more perfect than I could have dreamed. Her eyes widened when she saw us, but she didn’t stop until she flung herself into the three of us, her arms trying to reach around us all as we huddled to take her in.

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