Page 19 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"Pink indicates you are an omega. Green, a beta. Blue, an alpha."

I snort. "Pink for omegas. You have to be kidding?"

"It's just how the biology works. Did you ever have this test before? It's routine in schools here now." She opens a pad and starts to make scribbles in a script I can't read. She smells similar to my aunt, floral and muted; her aroma no where near as overwhelming as mine.

"Nope, no test.”

"She comes from Hicksville," Courtney explains from the floor. "You're lucky to get a driving test, let alone one like this."

The doctor continues to shake the test tube, glancing at her watch and then examining my face.

"And you never exhibited any signs that you were an omega before?"

"None."

"Are you sure, sometimes in hindsight we realize–"

"No, never. I'd have to be pretty dumb to miss them."

"I don't know," the doctor says with a smile. "I had two patients last year who had no idea they were pregnant until they went into labor. It can be easy to miss the signs if you're not looking."

"Or you're in denial," Courtney adds helpfully. Aunt Julia glares at her and she goes silent.

"I wasn't in denial. I promise I never had any signs before."

"Never felt drawn to an alpha? Never felt turned on by their scent?" Aunt Julia asks me.

"I never met an alpha until yesterday."

"That might explain it – your delayed presentation."

I stare at the liquid in the test tube. They've all made up their minds I'm an omega. I'm still convinced that liquid is going to turn green.

"How about your sex life?" the doctor asks with a completely straight face.

I cringe.

"She's only ever been with one guy – her high school sweetheart."

"And is the sex satisfactory?"

"Was," I correct with a frown. Then add, "I guess so."

"Did you ever feel the need for more? Were you ever left feeling unfulfilled?"

"Did you crave a knot?" Courtney pipes up.

"I don't … I mean I never …"

The doctor lifts the test tube and I watch as the clear liquid morphs a pale pink, turning brighter and brighter until it's practically neon.

"Huh," Aunt Julia says.

"It's confirmed," the doctor announces.

"Oh shit," I mumble. "Is there any chance it could be wrong?"

"A very slim one. I'd like you to come along to the clinic for a full blood test. I'd like to see what your hormones are doing. It's very unusual for an omega to present so late and it might mean we need to experiment a bit with your medication until we get you all nice and settled. We want your heats to fall into a predictable pattern so you can manage them."

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