Page 6 of Follow Your Instincts

“Being an Omega isn’t a death sentence,” Harcourt said.

“I can come back to work, right?” I asked. “I’m coming back to the precinct as soon as possible.”

Harcourt sighed, and we finally pulled onto the expressway out of the worst of the traffic. “Officer Carter… Maggie… there’s a reason you don’t see any Omegas in a police station. Especially unbonded ones. Look at what happened tonight, and that was a fellow officer. Imagine what could happen with a perp.” She shook her head. “Not to mention how your Alphas would feel about putting yourself in danger. Losing their Omega would be their worst nightmare.”

And there it was, the stifling obligation for an Omega to obey their Alphas. “What happened to Omegas having lives?” I challenged. “I’m applying for detective next summer when I hit five years. It’s my dream. It has been since I was a kid.”

To my horror, I was crying again. I could smell my scent increasing, too-sweet peach and pungent ginger.

Harcourt merged into the lane that would take us over the bridge and cracked our windows a bit to air out the car. “Sorry, your scent is very… strong,” she said. We sat in silence for a few moments and I wiped away my tears aggressively.

“Once you’re bonded and your scent has settled, it’s a possibility,” she said finally. “But it’s not my decision. There aren’t any written regulations against Omega officers, but it is unprecedented.”

A spark of hope flared in my chest, and my scent started to calm. “I’ll do whatever it takes,” I said.

“I’m not saying it’s a guarantee, so don’t get your hopes up,” she warned. “But you’re a good officer, and I’d back you up. It’d also be good press for the force, the first Omega officer. It would open the door for more to join up.”

I was already formulating a plan. Find a pack of easy-going Alphas, get bonded as soon as possible, and get back to my life. Simple.

Harcourt opened up the engine, and we soared across the bridge. I could see the lights of the city behind me in the rearview mirror. Night had fallen, and the smaller suburbs across the bay looked quiet and peaceful.

We rode in silence until Harcourt pulled up to the security intercom box outside the Center. Behind the metal bars of the fence surrounding the complex, the main building looked welcoming, like a Victorian house. Up-lights showed off the light purple exterior and delicate white wooden detailing.

“Welcome to the Omega Center, how can I help?” A pleasant female voice said from the intercom.

“I have a newly presented Omega who would like to check in,” Harcourt said.

“Wonderful, please proceed inside, and someone will be out to greet you,” the voice trilled.

The gate buzzed open, and we pulled into what looked like a hotel parking lot. A circular drive passed under an overhang and a woman had already come out to wait by the front door for us. We pulled up next to her..

“Ready?” Captain Harcourt asked. I realized I didn’t know her first name.

Even with my new plan to get this sorted as quickly as possible, anxiety was pooling in my gut. “Absolutely not,” I said, and immediately got out of the car.

Harcourt stepped out as well.

“Well, yes, I can certainly tell you’re newly presented,” the woman at the door laughed. “Your scent is delightful!”

“I was attacked by a feral Alpha about an hour ago,” I said. “It doesn’t feel very delightful.”

“Oh, chicken, I’m so sorry,” she said and came forward with an arm outstretched, but I stepped out of her reach. She had an English accent and looked like someone’s favorite aunt; pleasantly plump, long gray hair that fell to her waist, and chunky amber jewelry. “Let’s get you inside and out of the cold. Where’s your luggage?”

“I didn’t think it was safe to take her home,” Harcourt said. “Captain Harcourt, FPD. She started perfuming at the precinct. She’s an officer, and with how the Alpha that attacked her responded, it seemed like the best choice to bring her straight here.”

“A police officer? Oh my, it seems you have quite the story,” she said to me. “I’ll take it from here, Captain.”

I turned to Harcourt. “Thank you,” I said.

She nodded, and her face was softer than I’d ever seen it. “I’ll file the paperwork for a leave of absence for now. And I’ll talk to Roslyn, have her come out to chat with you. It could be nice to get another perspective on being an Omega.”

“Sure,” I said. “But this shouldn’t take too long. I’ll be back at work soon.”

The plump woman’s name was Steffi and she was the director of the Omega Center in Brookwood, and an Omega herself. Her scent reminded me of incense with notes of sandalwood and jasmine.

We were sitting in her office, a small comfortable room crammed full with a desk, two comfortable paisley-printed chairs, and live plants on every available surface. I had tea resting on my lap in a bone-white china cup and saucer and no intention of drinking it. It did smell nice though, chamomile or something.

“Let’s start with your name, dear,” she said. She was sitting at the desk behind a sleek, modern computer that didn’t fit her vibe at all. “I’ll get started with the registration paperwork, we’ll get that throat looked at by the Center’s doctor, and then you can get some much-needed rest.”

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