Page 4 of Not a Gift

Chapter Three

Men Suck—End of Story.

Lyrik

“Glass of rosé,” I order loudly over the rock music blaring in the background, my fingers thrumming on the scarred wooden bar top.

The cute beta bartender smiles at me as I order, but I know he isn’t really flirting.He has seen all my friends at the table we snagged and is trying to work his way into one of their pants by being friendly with me.It’s the same dance I have been doing since junior high, and I won’t fall for his bullshit.I may not be the prettiest or skinniest girl in our group of friends, but I’m not an idiot.

If he wants to talk to one of them, he has to find a way to do it all by himself.I wouldn’t be very receptive even if he were flirting with me.Men are assholes, and I have put myself on the shelf for the foreseeable future.

“Not that I mind getting drunk on a Tuesday,” Hailey says around the straw in her beer.“But why are we here?”She casts a gaze at the clientele, her disdain for the people and the venue clear for everyone to see.

Her distaste for the local watering hole isn’t lost on any of us.Dixie’s is a supposed biker bar—which has never actually been confirmed—on the wrong side of the tracks.I’ve been here many times over the years, and even though it’s not the most hygienic place, I have never had any problems.The people are always friendly, and the booze is cheap, which is precisely what I need tonight.

It may also have to do with the fact that my stepfather, Thomas Black, is the head of the Black family.Since I can remember, people have avoided me.The Black family is one of the original five families in the Capitol and the highest-ranking of the Elites.I could commit a murder and get caught red-handed in this town and no one would say a damn word.I would just walk away scot-free.

“I need to be somewhere Simon won’t show up.Dixie’s seemed like the best bet,” I answer, taking a seat.

I look around at the sparse décor.Dixie’s may not be one of upper-crust bars on the other side of town, but it’s better than my damn apartment.

“Why would you ever say that?”Bethany asks sarcastically, drawing my attention back to the conversation.

“Don’t start with this shit again,” I grumble.“Yes, he isn’t very manly and wouldn’t be caught dead in a biker bar.It’s not like you can expect more from a beta.That’s exactly why I chose this place.”

It’s the same logic I used when I started dating Simon.I went for someone exactly the opposite of my regular type.I like a muscular Alpha with rugged good looks, broad shoulders, dark hair, and maybe even a few tattoos sprinkled in.Simon is tall and lanky, with blonde hair and boyish good looks.His beta designation keeps him rational and almost demure.

“And why are we avoiding your boyfriend?”Hailey questions with a raised brow.

“Because he isn’t my boyfriend anymore,” I reply after taking a sip of whatever the hell the bartender is trying to pass off as rosé.“And every time I look at his stupid face, I want to throat-punch him.”

My four best friends, people I grew up with, stare at me with varying degrees of shock and confusion.

“Explain.”Samantha looks ready to murder someone.

“I found another woman’s blue lace panties under the bed.Our bed.In my apartment.He tried to play them off as being mine, but I’m not dumb.”I lay out my mortification for my friends.“Once he finally confessed, I told him to get the fuck out of my apartment.The end.”

“What a prick,” Bethany proclaims to a round of nods from the others.

“And he blamed me,” I add with a shrug.“Said he had needs and because we weren’t sleeping together, he had to find someone who could satisfy him.”

“Fucking males,” Hailey growls.“I swear there aren’t any good betas left out there.

This is why I called them to join me.For the next two hours, we drink while berating Simon, the dickhead idiot, and all the other men we have collectively dated and dumped.We laugh until we cry, and even though some of them weren’t sure about being here at Dixie’s, we all end up having fun.All my friends are betas and assume I am too.But nothing could be further from the truth.I’m an omega, I’ve just been wearing a suppression patch for years.

“So,” Hailey slurs with a hiccup, already sloppy drunk.“What you need is some dirty, no strings attached sex.I mean real big dick energy.”

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