Page 2 of Knot Their Soldier: Part One
“Y-yes.” I clear my throat. “That’s me.”
I stand and clasp my hands in front of me, holding them tight to stop them shaking.
The woman looks down her thin nose, and I squirm under her scrutinizing gaze. Does she find me lacking like my father does?
“Welcome to our home, Official Gould.” My father stands with an extended hand like he’s meeting an old friend. My father is like this with everyone; charismatic and charming. Everyone except me.
The woman ascends the weathered wooden stairs and onto our front porch with a pinched expression. She ignores my father’s hand and scowls at him in return. I’ve arranged three chairs and a jug of ice-cold lemon fizz. Earlier this morning, I meticulously cut thin slices of lemons from our lemon tree to add to the jug, desperate to prove my worth as a dutiful, capable Omega.
I’m desperate to leave this house and strike out into the world. I want to be a shiny gem.
I bite the inside of my cheek when Official Gould doesn’t accept my offer to pour her a glass.
“Alright then, let’s see what we have here.” Her tone is firm and emotionless. She runs her finger down a report on the clipboard. She makes a displeased sound at the back of her throat. “Another underaged Omega not reported by her caretakers.”
She pins my father with a cold glare, and I fight back a smirk of vindication. “Beta Sparks, you will receive a visit from our enforcers to begin an investigation.”
My father shrugs, unfazed by the threat. He’d weighed the risk and reward of reporting my designation years ago.
“Underwent first heat which lasted a week,” she mutters out loud as she reads from my file.
I quiver with excitement and lick my lips.
This is it.
This is the moment my future brightens and my life truly begins.
“No education to speak of.”
My smile falters, but I’m still buzzing with excitement.
No more endless farm chores without so much as a thank you. No more cleaning up after my unappreciative relatives.
I’ll finally be free of the otherness that brands me in this family. I won’t have my aunts gossiping about my developing Omega physique or my blossoming pheromone perfume.
Most importantly, I won’t spend another painful heat locked in the garden shed with my cousins standing guard outside with rifles.
“Beta lineage.” Her eyes snap up to my father assessingly. Whatever she finds makes her painted lips pull into a thin line.
“Ah yes, I can see bloodwork was taken yesterday. Let’s have a little looksie at the results.” She nods slowly as she reads the lines of numbers and medical jargon.
Her finger stops abruptly, and she taps the tip of her long nail with a sigh.
She swivels to pin the nervous Beta assistant with a withering glare. “You didn’t tell me about this.”
The Beta opens her mouth but is immediately interrupted. “No matter. We won’t let this one go to waste.”
Go to waste?
My smile disappears. What is happening?
The woman shoves the clipboard into the Beta assistant’s chest and looks at me.
“Omega Sparks. Your medical results have revealed a defect which makes you ineligible for the mateship program—”
A high-pitched ringing sound cuts through her voice and I can’t hear what else she says. Black spots dance in my eyes.
She said I’mdefective.
