Page 17 of The Demon's Pet

“Why are you excited?” I couldn’t help asking Sara as the others went back to talking about which alpha was hottest.

“Honestly?” Sara pushed her gorgeous dark hair back. “I’ll have more freedom. I can go and have an escort and not worry about attacks.”

I was surprised we were even calling them attacks. I’d always been told it was just alphas being alphas. They had such strong hormones that they couldn’t fight their own horniness, so it was our job to try and keep as asexual as possible, both in dress and appearance, if we didn’t want to be blamed for “tempting them.”

“I just want one man of my own,” Sara said. “A happy-ever-after. Pups. Not to be harassed by random alphas anymore.” Her eyes darkened, and I put my hand in hers, giving it a squeeze.

I understood her.

She gave me a grateful smile this time, and then we separated hands as the pack priest who was officiating the ceremony came over to us, the rest of our families having found seats on the chairs that had been set up on all sides of the huge grass area.

As omegas, we were led into the field where the grass blades were lit with silver from the bright moon. My wolf was alive, sensing everything, ready to break out at any moment.

We were directed to all hold hands in a circle and move together around and around as the alphas watched from a line they’d formed in front of us.

The whole thing felt surreal. As I kept my hands clasped in the hands of the women next to me, I could make out so many faces that were familiar to me, watching with pride and sometimes surprise.

I guessed they, like me, never really expected me to be here. I’d been causing problems for so long.

When we stopped, we moved into a line, twenty feet between us and the alphas, and our families sitting back twenty more feet in rows on all four sides of the field.

Torches flared at the corners, and lamplights glowed from the street and the entrance to the chapel.

Everything seemed almost magical, except for what was about to happen.

The officiating priest stepped forward.

“This is a special night for the pack,” he said. “Tonight, we honor the alphas who have accepted their difficult, burdensome position in our pack, to be protectors and leaders.”

The crowd clapped loudly, some hollering, though it was discouraged. The alphas all glowed with pride, standing tall in the moonlight in their stupid robes.

“And we also honor the omegas,” the priest said. “The most important role in our community.” He raised his hands to the sky. “Since wolves existed, omegas have been the most crucial part of the pack. Though it may seem cruel, without omegas, wolf packs in the wild have been known to die. This life we all live is difficult and frustrating, but with omegas, all of us have a place for our cares to be heard, somewhere to place our burdens.” The priest looked at all of us with a doting look that made me want to vomit. “And something we want to protect.”

I felt like I was going to crack my teeth I was grating them so hard.

“Omegas, you are special. Never forget that. If an alpha loses his temper with you, always be sweet to him. Never raise your voice to a beta or alpha, no matter what they may need from you. Be pleased, knowing you are honoring your pack and even your gods with your sacrifice. Though, with such amazing alphas as we have this year, who could even call it a sacrifice?”

That drew a laugh from the crowd, and murmurs and shouts of pride.

My heart felt like it was trying to commit suicide by ramming up against my chest.

My vision blurred with pure rage at this man’s description of what was expected of me.

“Omegas are naturally gentle, nurturing,” he said, walking down the line in front of us and looking us all over. “Kind. Sweet. Natural mothers.”

I was suspended in the fifth year of school for throwing a boy down a hill because he wouldn’t let me wrestle with the guys because I was a girl, but sure. Naturally gentle.

I rolled my eyes.

He came to a stop in front of me. His thin, gaunt face had cruel, dark eyes in the center of it that no patronizing smile could disguise.

“A doubter?”

I just stared at him.

“All those struggling to express their natural omega traits will be guided, either by their alpha or a higher alpha.” He whipped around away from me, his hands behind his back. “However, please remember that your duties extend far beyond simply pleasing your spouse after you are mated.”

I barely managed not to roll my eyes again, not wanting any attention.

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