Page 31 of Happy Valentine's Day, Omega
"This courtship is a competition and I intend to win."
If I really examine my motivation, my attitude has less to do with my competitive nature and more along the lines of not wanting to be vulnerable.
She rolls her eyes and shoves a pancake dripping in maple syrup into her mouth. She chews, swallows, and then says, "A courtship is not a war."
I wave my hand dismissively. "Sure it is."
It's true, I'm at war with the yearning in my heart after each new letter.
"It doesn't have to be."
"But it is."
"But—"
"No, it is," I say stubbornly as I spear a pancake with my fork.
"Fine, it is," she says with a long-suffering sigh. She mutters under her breath something that sounds suspiciously like,'competitive nutter.'
We eat in silence, the clinking of silverware on plates and the low chatter echoing around the dining hall.
"You're meeting him for the first time on Valentine's Day, right?"
I hum an affirmative around a mouthful of pancakes.
"So, if you still want some gift advice, I'd consider what it is he wants the most."
"I don't know what Alphas want. My brothers are gross and would be happy with a good porno to pop a knot to." I wave my fork in the air.
A young Omega walking by squeaks as she overhears me, drops her breakfast and scuttles away without cleaning it up.
I shrug and turn back to my food.
"Ooo-kay, let's rephrase the question," she says, tapping a manicured finger on her chin. "What do you think an Alpha who has been lusting after an Omega would want most as a gift?"
"Same answer."
She huffs in half amusement, half frustration, shaking her head. "What about a kiss?"
I freeze, a forkful of pancakes held aloft.
Does Cara know? Do other people know?
Darting my eyes sideways, I look at her through my lashes. I exhale. She's not looking at me. Instead, she has a dreamy, far off expression.
"It's what an Omega in my romance novels would do. And then they'd have really aggressive sex amongst the Valentine's Day decorations."
Oh dear, Cara might be getting a little frustrated waiting for her first heat to hit. At twenty-two, she's at least a year overdue for her first heat, and can't begin courting Alphas until then.
She's the most deserving Omega I know, and I really hope there is a loving Alpha out there waiting patiently for her.
I click my tongue to break her from her daydream. "I need to confiscate those books. They're getting you riled up."
Cara flushes pink.
"Don't you dare! They're my only window to romance and dating."
I want to explain that the smutty novels aren't accurate representations of reality, but vivid memories of kissing the Alpha slam into me.
