Page 54 of Small Town Shy Omega
I was on the phone with Gretel late one night.
“They see me, Gretel. They really get me: all my life, I’ve felt shame for my own shyness, and mediocrity. I’m a woman who rarely leaves her house, who passes her heats in the privacy of her own bedroom. Books get me through my heats—this packdoesn’t judge me. Let’s just say that I don’t think they’ll mind when they find out I take the term ‘book boyfriends’ to a new level. I haven’t told them. Yet.”
I sniffed, shy and insecure. Confident as I acted around Josh, Blake, and Dreydon, now I was wondering again whether I’d merely gotten lucky. I wasn’t the type of Omega to get lucky, and for some reason Lady Luck had been gracious these past few weeks.
My luck would run out shortly, wouldn’t it?
How could it not? That was just the way my life went.
“Huh?” Gretel was confused.
“I’m pretty sure my Alphas are used to…” I mumbled the words, near tears, “smoking-hot Omegas, like the kinds you read about in big cities. New York. Vegas. Hollywood. They’re not native to Applewood Falls. They have experience that I don’t have, Layla. I’ve never left my small town. I know we Omegas think reading so many books is cute, and a mark of intelligence, but Alphas want an Omega who can satisfy them. Sexually. They want an outgoing Omega that all the Alphas want to fuck.
“That’s why I’m so embarrassed about my heats,” I finally said, tears welling. “I pass them alone, and only in the presence of the Alphas in my novels. I’m shy, and I think the only reason I came out of my shell over the past few weeks was, well…”
“What?”
“Blake was so kind to me. Our souls were so similar, and then Josh showed such kindness, too. Even Dreydon, the most masculine Alpha I’ve ever laid eyes on, with rugged muscles and arms full of tattoos, restrained his feral, rugged nature around me.”
“Oh, Layla.”
“I sensed Dreydon wanted to growl. Bellow. Roar. He did none of those things. He could likely tell I’d flee if he did, so hewas on his best behavior—I’m broken, no other Omegas would act so pathetically in his presence.”
“Is your shyness preventing you from scenting?”
“Maybe, girl. I just don’t know.”
“It is true that most Alphas’ biological chemistry means that they enjoy an Omega who smells like raspberries or blossoms—but just because your scent isn’t strong enough to push you into your next heat quite yet, doesn’t meant you’re broken, Layla. Give it some time.”
This was another insecurity of mine: sometimes, my scent didn't actually show up during my heats. Half of my heats had been scentless, and I was growing afraid I’d never scent around Blake, Josh, and Dreydon.
My scent was extremely powerful, and my last three heats had been totally without scent. If I scented this heat, it’d be incredibly strong.
My slick would be strong, too… But so far, nothing had come out. I was as dry as the meatloaf at Delilah’s Diner.
“Yes, it does!” I was totally defective.
“No, it doesn’t.”
Then Gretel said: “You don’t have to be your stepsis to be worthy of love, sweetie. I know she’s always had the stronger perfume, but you are beautiful. And when it starts to strength in your next heat, your Alphas will love it. I know.”
My racing heart stilled. I removed my misty glasses, a sigh escaping me.
“Thank you,” I said, “but I feel… I’m simply unworthy of Blake, Josh, and Dreydon. They’re mistaken about me. As soon as the charm wears off and they know the real me, they’ll disappear. Alphas can only put up with me for so long. They haven’t grown controlling yet, but it’s only a matter of time. I’m anxious, Gret. All Alphas try to push you in the kitchen eventually. Chain you to the range.”
“Maybe they’re just like you, Layla. Your soul match.”
“What do you mean?”
“Not every Omega is spunky, extraverted and—well, like Jasmine,” Gretel said carefully, trying not to offend me likely. “Some are like you. Like me. Like us. And you could really just be a super late bloomer. Maybe when they get your guard down, you’ll smell them and they’ll smell you.”
“Hrrrrmmmmmm,” I replied, having my own private doubts.
“You know, I spend most of my days in my blueberry shop,” Gret said. “I wander the hills, searching for the ripest berries. My creations require them. Maybe it’s a good thing I keep striking out with packs. The last thing I could stand would be a pack of roaring Alphas who demanded that I submit to them.” Gretel shivered through the line, goingOoooosh.“Just the thought of that scares me, but I still maintain hope, Layla. Because I believe there’s a pack out there for me—special, caring and true. Protective while still being kind and gentlemanly. I haven’t written off love.”
“Well, I have,” I replied, letting my insecurities win. I was moping now: I felt like a very petulant little girl. “Sorry I unloaded on you, Gret. I feel bad.”
“Don’t be so wishy washy,” she said with a laugh.
