Page 81 of Follow the Rhythm
Maggie’s smile was definitely forced. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. The scarred Alpha appeared over her shoulder, looking down his nose at me.
“Everything alright?” he asked. His green eyes were way too intense, and my inner Omega quailed under his gaze.
Maggie relaxed in his proximity. “Everything’s great. Just catching up with Austin and Jess. You guys should get drinks! We can talk more at dinner.”
Austin and I made a trip to the bar for liquid fortification: a lavender old-fashioned for them and a pink gin and tonic for me.
Someone clinked their glass, and the chatter died around us. A tall, black Alpha, his arm around Maggie, smiled expectantly at the small crowd.
“Thank you, everyone, for coming tonight,” he said in a deep, rumbly voice. “En Famillehas been a labor of love, and it’s apleasure to finally share the results of all the hard work and sleepless nights.
“En famille means 'with family,' and our goal is to create an elevated family dinner experience for a small group of people. My pack, and especially my wonderful partner, Maggie, encouraged me to pursue this goal.” He smiled down at Maggie. “I couldn’t have done it without her.”
Everyone clapped politely. I tried not to barf. It was all just soperformative.
“Let’s eat!” Maggie exclaimed.
Dinner was delicious, and only a little pretentious. Each time one of the eight courses was served, the head waiter, a young, serious woman, would name the dish first in French, then in English, before we could eat, which annoyed me.
Austin and I sat near Maggie at one end of the long communal table. Two very different men flanked her. One of them I recognized as the guy she’d been giggling with at the bar, while the other was more scowly, or maybe that was just his beard. Maggie introduced them as Ben and Soren, respectively.
“Welcome to the fun side of the table,” Ben said with a grin.
“Lachlan said we have to behave ourselves in front of the investors, so don’t get us in trouble,” Maggie chided good-naturedly.
“Joke’s on him; I love it when he’s all stern.”
I kept quiet and let Austin carry most of the conversation. But I couldn’t help noticing how Maggie’s pack interacted. Soren seemed to anticipate everything she needed before she could ask. Ben was constantly touching her. She shared meaningful glances and small smiles with the other two Alphas, even while they carried on conversations down the table.
It was infuriating.
When dessert arrived - a dark chocolate cremeux served with a cocoa nib tuile and rosewater meringue - I excused myself to the restroom. Soren was feeding Maggie bits off his spoon, and I couldn’t stomach it any longer.
The bathroom was just as beautifully decorated as the rest of the place. I stood at the sink, glaring at my reflection in a gilded mirror.
Was that what being bonded to the right Alphas looked like?
Despite living at the Omega Center for years, I had very little experience with how healthy packs functioned. I knew Steffi and Andreas were happily bonded, and had been for years, but Steffi could get along with a potted plant, and Andreas’ calm, centered energy seemed unshakeable. What hope was there for a depressed Omega with abandonment issues?
It was officially time to go. I went to search for Austin and get home before I got really depressed. But dinner had finally broken up, and everyone was milling around again.
Before I could escape, Maggie came to join me at the side of the room. “I need a break; all these scents are still overwhelming. Apparently I’ll get more used to it… right?”
“Yeah, after a couple of years it won’t bother you so much being around strange scents. At least that’s how it was for me.”
Maggie nodded, looking thoughtful. As much as it sucked presenting as an Omega at nineteen, I had to admit presenting in her late twenties probably sucked more.
“Congratulations, by the way,” I said. “Steffi told me you’re officially a detective now. She wouldn’t shut up about it, actually.”
Maggie’s smile was only a little guarded. “Thanks. It wasn’t easy, and I had to transfer precincts, but it’s worth it. Even if there’s a shit ton of paperwork.”
Another awkward silence fell.
“So, how are you? Austin said you moved out of the Omega Center?” she asked carefully.
“Yep. I got my own apartment. It’s nice to have my own space.”
“You seem different,” she said, a little abruptly.
