Page 46 of Choosing Their Omega

“Sorry we’re late.” Cruz puts on his most charming smile as he greets the woman sitting at a large desk in the atrium of the building. “You know how it is with kids sometimes.”

Knox hikes Ben up onto his hip, and Ben beams at the receptionist. She melts immediately, and who can blame her? The kid is adorable.

“Of course, of course. If you’ll register here…”

As our pack leader, Cruz is the one doing the registering. Lawson looks around him, peering down the hall toward where we can hear noises of a crowd and an announcer. I can’t make out what the announcer is saying, and I can only pray that Lily’s turn hasn’t already come.

Lawson looks like he’s going to sprint down the hall. I grab his elbow and hold on tight. We can’t afford to make a scene. If we get thrown out or told we’re not suitable because Lawson lost his temper, then we’ll never get a chance with Lily.

Finally, after what feels like a damn century, Cruz finishes registering the paperwork. The receptionist smiles. “If you’ll follow me, please?”

As she leads us down the hall, I feel like I’m vibrating out of my damn skin.

The receptionist opens the door for us, and we enter into a large, crowded room with a stage at one end, where all the lights are focused. The room is crowded with Alphas, some standing alone and some in packs.

“The presentation has already started,” the receptionist whispers, “but you’re not too late. There are still several Omegas yet to be presented, and you can look at information on all the Omegas in the reception hall where you’ll place your bids.”

We nod, and the receptionist leaves us, closing the door behind her.

Cruz leads us forward, toward the stage. There’s a petite brunette Omega on the stage right now. She looks only about eighteen, too young and too skinny for me, but I see other Alphas taking notes.

The Omega gives a little wave and then leaves the stage. The announcer waits for her to disappear before speaking again.

“And next, we have Lily Harwell.”

My heart soars as I see a flash of red hair, then Lily walks onto the stage.

She’s in a beautiful navy blue dress that drapes around her body, showing off her ample curves and contrasting wonderfully with her hair. Her creamy skin seems to shine under the lights pointed at her. She looks nothing short of radiant.

My breath catches in my throat as she walks closer to the edge of the stage, then her scent hits me and it’s all over. She smells so fucking delicious, I feel dizzy.

I’ve thought Lily smells amazing from the moment I met her, but between her presenting as Omega and the time away from her, it’s like I’m being knocked on my ass. I glance at the others, and I can tell they smell it too. All three of my pack mates look like they want to fight through the crowd to get to her.

Ben, sweet kid, has no idea. He just sees Lily, and he lights up. He tugs on Knox’s collar. “It’s Lily! Can we see her?”

“Not just yet, kid. In a few minutes. Can you be patient a little longer?”

Ben nods, still staring at Lily. “She’s so pretty,” he says, sounding wistful.

“She really is,” I agree.

Lily takes a step forward on the stage as her gaze searches the room, darting over all the gathered Alphas almost like she’s searching for someone—and then her eyes lock onto us.

She can smell us, I realize. Just like we could smell her. She knew we were here even before she saw us.

I can’t wave, can’t call out to her, and it feels like torture. I see half the Alphas in the room scribbling down on their little notecards. They all want Lily, and I can’t blame them, but that doesn’t mean I’ll let them have her. I’ll do whatever it takes.

Knox and Lawson notice the attention she’s getting too. They go stiff, and Cruz grabs Lawson’s jacket at the small of his back as a warning. I put my hand on Knox’s shoulder to do the same. We have to behave. As much as we want to rush to Lily, if we behave poorly we’ll get thrown out, and then none of us will have a shot here.

Lily’s face as she stares at us is full of hope. She looks like she might break out into tears—happy ones, I think—and it makes my heart swell. Maybe she was, in fact, hoping for us to come, just like we’re hoping she’ll accept our bid.

The announcer finishes talking up Lily’s many amazing qualities, then she walks back off the stage and out of sight, taking her intoxicating scent with her.

I didn’t even hear what the announcer said about Lily. But I didn’t need to. I know her. These other Alphas here have no idea. They might think that they do, but hearing about Lily isn’t the same as actually getting to spend time with her. They don’t know her warmth, her determination to stand on her own two feet, and how good she is with children. How kind and strong and caring she is.

The rest of the presentation feels like it takes forever. I’m about ready to crawl out of my skin by the time it’s over, and I can’t even imagine how the others feel. But at last, finally, the presentations end and the reception begins, giving all the Alphas the chance to mingle with and meet the Omegas before putting their bids in.

The announcer reminds us that it’s best if we have more than one Omega we’d like to put a bid in for, just in case. Keep our options open and all that.

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