Page 11 of Pack Rivals, Part One

My eyes jump to Alicia in shock.

Alicia returns my desperate look with a hard one. "Bea, are you an omega?"

"No," I yelp. "I'm a beta."

I've always been a beta. I've never shown any of the signs of being an omega. I don't have a scent. Or an especially sensitive sense of smell. And I've certainly never had a heat or felt the need to seek out a knot.

Although, thinking about that now – a knot, the knot belonging to the alpha with the gray eyes – has butterflies fluttering in my stomach. What the hell?!

I stare down at my stomach. I haven't experienced that sensation in years. Not since the very first time Karl pressed his lips to mine all those years ago.

"You most certainly are an omega, young lady." The woman scowls at me. "What are you playing at? Did you hope to disrupt my dinner? Send the alphas wild with your–"

"No, I …" I hold my hands to my chest. It's so damn hot in here and I can't think straight with everyone staring at me like I'm some kind of deviant freak.

"I'm calling my security," the woman says.

"That won't be necessary," Alicia says, gripping the top of my arm, "we'll have her removed immediately."

"Removed? I haven't done anything!"

But Alicia's already marching me through the kitchen to the storage cupboard out back. "Stay here!" she barks, pointing to an overturned crate. Then turns to one of the combi chefs. A big lad twice my size. "Make sure she doesn't go anywhere." The combi chef examines me with curiosity, his nose twitches.

"I'm not an omega!" I mumble.

Am I about to be sacked? Arrested?

What's so wrong about being an omega anyway? There's plenty of them out there.

I undo the buttons of my shirt, hoping to circulate some cool air onto my skin, and shake out my fancy hair do. The pins were digging into my scalp anyway. Then I switch on my phone and text Courtney a long explanation of the weird shit going down here tonight.

I'm just pressing send when Alicia returns with a tall, broad man by her side. He's about my age, his eyes mahogany brown and his dark hair long about his square jaw.

"Bea, this is Silver. He's going to escort you home."

"What?" I blink up at them both from my perch. The man is an alpha, something I can tell by his build and the scent curling my way, earthy and edible. Does that mean I really am an omega? "I have to leave?”

My eyes burn, tears threatening to well in the corners.

The man seems to notice, he steps closer, his voice gentle. "I think it would be best for your safety if you were to leave. Immediately. There are plenty of alphas out there and your scent could trigger a frenzy."

"A frenzy?" I ask, my gaze captured by his so I'm hardly aware tears are rolling down my cheeks.

"It can happen. Alphas driven into a competitive rut will turn violent in order to secure the omega in demand."

"I'm not an omega."

He smiles at me and nods his head, offering his hand. "How about I take you home anyway? Wouldn't you like to climb into your warm, comfy bed with all your pillows and blankets, snuggle down and go to sleep?"

I close my eyes. My bed isn't half as enticing as he makes it sound, yet right now that is the place I'd like to be. How did he know?

Gently, he pulls me to my feet, his hand warm and safe. Then he leads me through the kitchen. We're halfway through, when Ellie blocks our path, her hands planted firmly on her hips. Her gaze swings angrily from the alpha to Alicia.

"You're just handing her over to some alpha?"

"Silver is head of security for Pack Boston. We've worked together many times. I trust him to take care of Bea."

"Oh, yeah, I'm sure he'll take 'care' of her all right."

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