Page 23 of Bound to the One-Night Stand

I should be happy, but I can’t deny the disappointment flitting through my chest. Part of me wanted to see that omega again, maybe learn her name. Perhaps it’s better this way. Now, we can’t hurt each other. I’ll be married to another, and more than likely not be at the club anymore.

Unless the woman at the other end is kinky like me, she probably won't want to engage in the type of stuff I enjoy. Then again, if the geneticists are to be believed, fetishes are hereditary. It would make sense that my sequences would be compatible with someone more in line with my way of thinking.

Sigh heavy on my lips, I note the time. Two hours until Ihave to be at the civic center. I should get there early though to make sure nothing goes amiss. Grabbing my keys, I head out to my car. Two hours is more than enough time to get my head on straight.

I’ve been the friend and witness at enough of these to know I don’t have to do anything beforehand. The Governing Body will provide my tux and any accessories I think I should need. The only thing they don’t provide is a honeymoon.

Since I’ve never planned one before, I should probably seek their advice on what I should do. They know who I’m marrying better than I do. It just stands to reason they’d know what my future intended would want.

Personally, I don’t care. We could go anywhere. This would be something just for her. A gesture to help make all this feel normal. I could take her back to my home, but it wouldn’t be fair to put her so off guard so fast. A honeymoon would be a nice, neutral place to start our lives together.

Determined, I head over to the civic center, hoping someone can help me in this quest. No doubt many of the Alphas just don’t care, but I’m not like those men. Since I want to ease my bride over into the darker, kinkier side of life, I have to take extreme care not to overwhelm her in the beginning. Baby steps and all that.

My stomach twists as I pull out into traffic, but it’s not nervousness or anxiety causing my heart to pound in my chest. Now, it’s excitement. Pure and simple. I finally have an omega I can call my own, and I can’t wait to meet her.

Do I dare hope it’s the submissive from the club? Could the fates and government be that kind? Shaking my head, I dispel those silly thoughts. As much as I’d love to hope, it’s not something I can allow myself to feel. I refuse to beshattered like so many other Alphas and omegas going through this process.

Stepping out in front of the civic center, I note the plain exterior. If this was an occasion I could plan, it would be somewhere far nicer. Unfortunately, the Governing Body stripped that from us. In trying to make sure the human race continues, they seem to have forgotten what made us human in the first place.

I slough off these morose feelings threatening to pull me under and step inside, noting the clinical sparseness of the place. How will they get this appropriate for a wedding in just mere hours? Off to the side, a door opens, revealing an obviously married couple.

They look stiff and uncomfortable next to each other as they walk side by side. In fact, they barely look at each other. Misery rolls off of the omega as she follows behind the Alpha she’ll have to live with for the next six months. It shouldn’t be like this.

Hopefully, once they get to know each other, it will be different. Honestly, I just hope whoever comes down the aisle doesn’t automatically hate me outright. I feel like that’s the best thing I can actually hope for.

A sigh slides from my lips as I make my way over to the desk. “Devin Adler.”

The receptionist looks up at me, a frown marring her face. “I’m sorry, sir, but you’re not due for a few more hours. We are not set up to prepare you yet.”

Over on the other side, a titter of laughter rings out into the room. It sounds so familiar, but I can’t seem to place it. “Is that her? Is that my bride?”

The receptionist’s face turns red as she hurries out frombehind the desk. “It’s bad luck to see your bride. Don’t you know that?”

“I’m not seeing her. I’m just hearing her. I think. It’s her, isn’t it?”

“Forgive me, sir, but I’m not allowed to say. Please come back in a few more-”

“Don’t worry about it, Stephanie. I’ll take care of him. You go back to manning the phone.”

She lets out a loud sigh of relief and makes her way back as another woman with curly red hair bounces over. “Hi. I’m Angie. This way please.”

I follow her over to a long hallway with doors all the way down. “You really don’t have to be early,” she laughs. “Just not late.”

“Well, I’m certainly not here for my health. I was hoping to get some information.”

Angie looks over her shoulder for a moment before declaring in a loud voice. “I am unable to help you. Everything you need to know about your bride, you’ll discover at the ceremony.” Holding her finger to her lips, she opens up and door and motions for me to come inside.

“Very cloak and dagger, don’t you think?” Though I try to infuse some humor into my tone, the hairs on the back of my head stand on end.

“You don’t understand. I could lose my job by telling you anything. Hell, I could get jail time. So please, respect me if I tell you I can’t say anything. Now, what is it you need?”

I rub the back of my neck as I sit down, presumably in front of her desk. Messy piles of paper take up most of the surface but leave enough open space so we can talk face to face.

“This is going to sound stupid, but I washoping to plan a honeymoon. Or, well, at least some facsimile. Somewhere we can go that’s neutral ground for the two of us to hash things out. I’m sure this omega has no desire to just have an Alpha she doesn’t know inserted into her life. Hell. Maybe she does. Maybe all of this is a waste of time.”

“I think it’s sweet. Most Alphas don’t seem to care. They just get matched and go. Granted, it’s not like we follow them. Perhaps they plan a trip together. You are in luck, though. I happen to be at least friendly with your intended.”

My heart pounds in my chest as I sit up. “And?”

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