Page 42 of Choosing Their Omega

Maybe that’ll be nice. They’ll probably know more about what it’s like to be an Omega than I do, since most of them will be younger.

“There’s nothing wrong with presenting late, Lily,” Joanna says, making her voice gentle and reassuring. “I know it’s not common, but that doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you. Some of our most fertile and enticing Omegas are ones who presented late. Biology just does what it wants, that’s all. It’s not a reflection on you.”

I nod. “There won’t be any health complications or anything from a late presentation?”

“Your first heat will probably be a strong one. The man who called us said that you perfumed especially strongly and needed to be scented to calm down. Is that right?”

“Yes. I felt… out of my mind. Like I was high.”

She taps her fingers on the wheel. “Your heat will be similarly strong. Your body’s going to feel it has to make up for lost time, and there might be a hormone buildup. But we’ll figure that all out at the ORD offices, and no matter how it shakes out, you’re going to be fine. It’s not going to affect your ability to be healthy, have children, or live a full life because you presented later.”

I let out a small sigh of relief at that, and we spend the rest of the drive in silence as I contemplate my new existence, trying to wrap my mind around it.

We get to the ORD office, a large building that looks like it has several smaller buildings around it, practically a compound. Not in a scary way, though. I don’t feel like I’m going to jail. It feels more like a town inside of another town.

Joanna leads me in and introduces me to an older redhead, who smiles when she sees that I have hair similar to hers.

“We match,” she says warmly, taking my hand in both of hers. “It must be fate. I’m Katherine, and I’ll be the agent handling your case and helping you to find a suitable Alpha or Alpha pack.”

I nod. “Thank you, Katherine.”

“No need to thank me, dear, it’s my job. Shall we?”

She leads me through the large building. “Joanna informed me you’ll need a place to stay, so over here is where we have the housing for Omegas without a support system. You’ll have a communal kitchen but your own bathroom and bedroom, so you can have privacy. There are always a few other Omegas with us at any time, so you won’t ever feel lonely.”

“Are most of them younger?”

“Yes.” She chuckles dryly. “I hope you miss college.”

My heart clenches in my chest. “I… never got to go.”

It was always a dream of mine, and I do desperately still want a degree, just for the joy of learning and getting one, but… now I have no idea if that’ll ever happen.

“I’m sorry to hear that. But there’s always time.”

“Will an Alpha pack be okay with their Omega going to college?”

“Most likely. It depends on the pack, which means we’ll have to find you one that is supportive and enthusiastic about that, if that’s what you want.” Katherine stops walking and looks at me. “Lily, you get to pick who you mate and bond with, nobody else. The choice is still in your hands. We’ll find you an Alpha or a pack who wants what you want and will let you lead the life that will make you happy.”

I swallow, doing my best to relax the tension in my shoulders. I offer her a small smile, and she smiles back.

“Good,” she says. “Now, do you have a place to stay, or should I confirm the housing?”

I did have a place to stay. With Cruz, and Miles, and Lawson, and Knox, and sweet little Ben. But that’s all changed now. That’s not what Katherine is talking about. That’s not the ‘stable situation’ they want to give to an Omega.

Putting me in a house full of Alphas who don’t have an Omega of their own? Alphas I’ve been wildly attracted to? Yeah, that sounds like a recipe for disaster that the ORD would never agree to.

“Confirm the housing,” I tell her.

“All right. Will do.” Katherine leads me along. “We’re going to want to run some basic tests, make sure everything’s in working order, see what your hormone levels are at, things like that. Nothing too bad. And then once you’re all processed, we’ll see about getting you on the presentation schedule.”

“Presentation schedule?”

I shiver. My romance novels often have those. Crazy things always happen at those public presentations. They’re a perfect setting for drama in a novel, but I don’t know if mine will actually be that exciting.

“Yes.” Katherine smiles. “That’s where you will be presented and the various Alphas can make bids for you. Once the Alphas make their bids, you get to meet them and see if there’s anyone you want to do a trial with. Remember, you don’t have to say yes to anyone if nobody catches your eye.”

“What’ll happen then?”

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