Page 96 of Dream Mates
Chapter Twenty-Three
Evan
Friday night, Grace, Riley, and I filed into the packed auditorium at the Finchley Academy for Exemplary Omegas. I winced at all the alpha smells permeating the state-of-the art building, even though the air filters were running.
“It’s so nice that all these families are here for a talent show.” Grace looked around, holding my hand.
“Yeah, that’s not why people are here.” Riley checked her phone and led us down and to the right.
“Well, there are families here. Mostly for the local students,” I said. Finchley was one of the best omega schools in the country. People sent their omegas to get an excellent education. Many of their graduates transferred to top universities or took jobs at prestigious companies. Or madeverygood matches. Often all three.
Every yearomegas of notewere chosen from graduating omegas worldwide. It wasn’t uncommon for Finchley to be represented.
As we made our way to our seats, a lot of people ignored me, but looked Grace up and down with interest. Shit. We should have brought alphas with us. I got out my phone and texted the group chat. I’d forgotten who else Finchley events drew.
“They’reshopping. Well, that’s what Rose calls it.” Riley waved at someone, and we sat. “Finchley goes from high school all the way through undergrad. Packs come to school events to see who might be available.”
That they did. Especially younger alphas that might not be quite ready for an omega and perfectly willing to wait for the right one.
Grace frowned. “Even college is a little young, isn’t it? I mean I had a bunch of friends get married in the last year or right after graduation, but it still feels early.”
“Even though a lot of work has been done to make it a choice, not a necessity, plenty of omegas do still choose to mate in their early to mid-twenties. A lot of it is biology. That pull to want an alpha or two of your own.” I put an arm around Grace as a group of alphas in suits that looked like trouble stared unabashedly at her.
There was also the fact that a heat without an alpha could be very painful–and too many of those could have long-termhealth effects. While the Omega Center did help you find heat partners, provided comfortable places to have a heat, and even offered safe ways to go through it partnerless, it was an intimate experience, and you craved a permanent partner to share it with.
I’d already been dating Wes when I’d awakened as an omega, so I never had to worry. But with my clients, there was often a big biological push. Heat suppressants were something many chose, especially when trying to get through university or establish a career. However, heavy-duty blockers and heat suppressants could only be taken for so long without causing health problems.
“Still…” Her frown deepened.
“That’s why the Center exists. To make sure matches are above-board and in everyone’s best interest. The Center even looks over agreements for matches they didn’t make. Like mine,” I offered. “And yours.”
They also had a calculator to help determine the value of a mating gift. Both to make sure the omega wasn’t shorted and ensure the alphas didn’t want an omega so badly that they went into debt.
“Me?” Her head cocked.
“You don’t think Mrs. Beekman won’t be all over the pack agreement to make sure you’re being treated fairly?” I grinned.
Grace’s advocate had come for another home visit accompanied by our dear friend Luc the integration counselor, who’d met with the whole pack.
“True.” She nodded.
Riley rolled her eyes. “Alphas. They just seem like so much work.”
“Which is why all your friends seem to be young alphas in the making?” I teased.
“Fuck you, you doofus.” She scratched her nose with her middle finger. There were little spiderwebs painted on her black nails.
I looked at my phone, then waved at my coworker, Carly, who sat nearby with her alphas and toddler. She had a few clients in the show tonight, too. We tried our best to attend things for our clients, especially the ones that didn’t have much–or any–family.
The lights dimmed and the show started. I peered at the program to see who was in what number. This wasn’t like my high school talent shows with students singing karaoke and doing marginally appropriate dance numbers. There were sets, costumes, and lighting. Everyone’s talent was at a high level. Some school groups also performed tonight–like the cheer team and dance squad that Rose was part of, the choirs, and music ensembles.
It was also quitelong.
“Those kids,” Grace breathed, as the cheer squad performed. “That is so much better than we ever were, and we competed.”
“We’re in fancy-land, Grace,” Riley whispered. “Tons of rich kids. Most of them have been in dance classes or music lessons since birth.”
Children didn’t take the basic blood test, the prick-test, that showed which of the three main designations they were until middle school. However, families often had a general idea of what their children might be, and some tendencies did sometimes manifest early.
