Every pack she's talked to today, she's asked them about children. Now she's branching out into sperm donation?
These men wouldn't be able to help her with getting pregnant anyway, because all females have contraceptives in place.
My eyes move to Everly. She's still rambling facts of omega pregnancy. My nose twitches with her scent. It's more potent than pretty much any omega I've ever smelled.
There's no way…
"Excuse us," I say to the three men at the table. Lifting my omega out of her chair, I toss her over my shoulder and aim for the back stairwell the staff uses. Everly wiggles around. My hand lands on her ass, both to settle her and to prevent her from flashing the room.
Once we're out of the ballroom, I set her back on her feet. My body has a mind of its own as I cage her against the cool brick.
I don't say anything as I study her. Evie's beautifully stunning in a way you don't see often around here. Her make up is so light it's barely noticeable. While the other omegas are alldressed to the nines, this little omega is wearing an adorable red dress with white fluff and lace at the bottom. She's got on these red and white striped tights that remind me of a candy cane.
Shit. I might not be an alpha, but my body responds to hers in a way I've never experienced in my almost thirty years of life. My nose dances up the column of her throat. She smells like goddamn apple pie, but it's the sweet notes of caramel and cinnamon that have my brain working a mile a minute. I very clearly remember my alpha and omega dynamics teacher explaining that female omegas not on contraceptives smell more potent once they enter pre-heat.
But there's no way that's possible.
Archer or Murphy would've mentioned it if they saw that in her contract. Those fuckers have no shame.
"What the hell was that?" I ask, studying her face.
"I was trying to get to know them," she whispers, but she won't meet my eyes. Her matte-black glasses fall down her nose as she stares at her feet. "I'm going to have a heat really soon. I'm trying to stay positive and upbeat. You don't know how hard that is when it feels like I'm the only omega in the world no one wants."
My heart sinks. Her pastreallyscrewed her up. I get it, I'm right there with her. My history with Melody and how everything went down with my family fucked me up too.
My hand brushes her dark hair away from her face as I rearrange her Santa hat. I know of literallynoother woman who could pull off the dorky hat, but somehow it only makes Evie more adorable.How the hell did she manage to keep it on when I carried her out?
Everly stares up at me from under her lashes, and my chest feels tight.
Shaking my head, I blow out a heavy breath. I don't think I can let this go. Something was off about that conversation with the last pack…
"Why were you asking about children?" I murmur as my body cages her into the wall even further. "Especially about donating sperm and how the alpha pheromones might help facilitate getting pregnant."
Everly blushes furiously. "I was making conversation. Thanks for pointing out that I'm awful at it." She laughs awkwardly.
"Don't lie to me," I snap. My voice comes out clipped even to my own ears. "All omegas are required to have birth control in place prior to their heat, unless it's specifically addressed in their contract. Do I need to tote your ass down to the medical office?"
"N-No." Her eyes get wide. "Why would you need to do that?" She puts her red-painted nails on my chest and gives a little shove. She doesn't have a hope in hell of moving me.
"You tell me, pretty girl," I murmur against the shell of her ear.
Everly shrugs. "I have no idea what you're thinking."
"I'm thinking you're here because you want to be bred." My breath fans over the unprotected skin of her throat. She shivers in response. Her hands clutch at my shirt. She wobbles her head no, but the fact her perfume radiates around us is a good indication that she's lying.
"You do," I accuse. "What the hell, Evie? Did you negotiate that with the pack that didn't show up?"
"N-No, because you're wrong," she says, glaring up at me. "And I don't like being accused of things that aren't true."
"Oh, sweetheart, you'resucha terrible liar," I say, running my lips over her pulse. "You're flooding the hallway with the scent of apple pie and slick omega sex at the thought."
"Excuse me," she says, shoving against meagain. "I think I've changed my mind about the mixer."
"Is that right?" I ask, brushing my lips over her ear. "And why's that? Because I figured out your secret?"
She's so transparent it's almost laughable. Her head gives a tiny nod before she can catch herself, and I do laugh.
She's fucking terrible at subterfuge.