Page 8 of Omega's Reign

“If it guarantees I can show you what you mean to me, then yes. I know you guys are hesitant, but you don’t have to be. Not anymore. I want you to know that you’re mine. I can’t wait to make things official.” Heat rises to my face, my boldness not very omega-like. I was raised to focus on my future alphas’ wants and needs and not my own. I was supposed to be placid and just wait and wait for whatever to happen to actually happen. And now I can comfortably do as I please. I didn’t know power was so addicting, but I understand why others fight so hard for it.

“I can’t wait for that either, Holly. I know you’re getting anxious, but I promise you that we have vowed our loyalty to you in this territory, and we will follow through.” Wesley helps me get to my feet. “I swear on my life.”

And I believe him with my very existence.

It’s a promise that won’t ever be broken.

“Are you sure they’re okay? The alphas aren’t getting angry, right?” I rub my hands over my wrists, my nerves intensifying every time I think about the omegas and their confessions. It’s only been hours, and I don’t know how we’re going to pull off keeping them for much longer.

“The alphas are fine. Beckett has smoothed things over, saying that you’ll give them an additional week to complete the census if they allow them to stay for as long as you want. He played it off like it was a way of controlling you. If you were too busy playing hostess, then you’re not focused on ruling. I really think your idea about the yacht will work.” Isaiah rests his hands on my shoulders, peering into my eyes. Beckett needed both Jordan and Wesley to help him arrange the excursion while also keeping the alpha leaders busy.

“I just hope we can do it soon. Tomorrow at the latest.” Because any longer than that means we’d have to figure out a better excuse as to why we haven’t allowed the alphas to see their omegas.

“Which is why you need to pick your bodyguard. Everyone has been vetted personally by not only us but also your brothers. They all have the skills we are looking for, so it’s up to you to make the final decision, my queen.” Isaiah smiles with the words. I love when he speaks to me like this. He’s always quick to give me a commanding title, as if he enjoys the fact that I hold the power of our territory.

“I’ve already narrowed it down to four. Can you just pick? Eeny Meeny Miney Moe and all that jazz.” I lift and drop my shoulders. “This is so weird to me. It kind of feels like I’m being set up on a blind date or something.”

Tipping his head back, Isaiah laughs. “This is far from a date, though it is a commitment. We were just insistent that you’d pick someone that you were comfortable with. We don’t want you to be creeped out. You can tell before we can whether or not someone respects you.”

“Fine. Let’s just get this over with. I’ll do my best to pick someone who won’t get on anyone’s nerves. Is Beckett really behind us? You guys weren’t pushy to him or anything? I can’t imagine it being easy having another alpha guard me.” I’ve already asked this question a hundred times, but I can’t help wanting to be certain. The last thing I want is for Beckett to resent this. I also don’t want him to think he’s not good enough, when I know he is.

“Yes, Beckett came up with this idea. No, we weren’t pushy. And it might not be easy, but things are never easy. Our greatest concern is you and your safety.” Isaiah kisses my forehead and spins me around, nudging me toward the closed door to the library. It’s the only other shared space besides the office that isn’t open to the staff and the rest of the palace. It would be too hard in a bedroom to meet with a group of alphas, and there was no way I was going to just pick someone from a piece of paper. I need to meet them for myself.

“Not just for my safety. I don’t want to be the one solely responsible.” This weird position I found myself in was never something I even thought about.

The Silversteins are an established pack, but because they weren’t formally a ruling pack, they don’t have large numbers like my birth pack. Bringing in an outsider is not normal. But it has to be done. We’ve been bringing in a lot of outsiders, but at least we know for certain this bodyguard isn’t jeopardized by past leaders like every alpha in this territory is.

“You’re right. This is for all of us. Now if you need me to step in, just do the gesture.” Instead of having a specific word that might sound out of the ordinary, we have decided on a secret gesture that lets all my guys know something is up. All I have to do is place my index and middle finger on my right temple. It’s easy enough to remember but not something that stands out or is something that I would normally do. Not like scratching my nose or sneezing.

I bob my head and show him the gesture once before opening the door to the library. I brace myself for the collection of scents I’ve already experienced through the fabric pieces Wesley had brought for me. Silence greets me, but the four alphas stand up from the plush chairs arranged around a coffee table in the middle of wall-to-wall bookcases and in front of a large glass-topped desk.

Many omegas would immediately drop their gazes and take a step back, looking for one of their pack members to hide behind, but that’s not me. These guys need to immediately know that I’m a queen and a member of the Saint Vista Pack Regimes. Not Isaiah. Not Beckett, Wesley, or Jordan. But me.

“Thank you for joining us today, gentlemen.” I glide forward and turn my attention to the closest guy.

His ginger hair rests neatly in a perfectly parted style with a crisp fade to show off his cropped sides. Extending my hand, I proffer it to see how he reacts. This is the first test.

“My name is Holly,” I say, introducing myself.

The guy glances at my fingers and then looks behind me at Isaiah.

The man across from him, and the second one closest to me, steps into my personal space and takes my hand in his. Instead of shaking it, he gently squeezes with a bow. “It is a pleasure to meet you, Your Majesty. I’m Tony.”

Well, Mr. Tony. At least he passed my first test. He’s not afraid to look at me or speak to me. His rose scent wafts to my nose, permeating with his closeness. His dark brown eyes rove over my face with interest, and I can’t help pulling my hand away and putting space between us.

“It is nice to meet you as well.” I turn to the other two guys still standing in their spots. One of them is a blond with blue eyes, freckles, and a mustache. If my memory serves me correctly, his name is Zack.

Which means that guy next to him with the shaved head and goatee must be Roger.

“My apologies for my hesitation. I’m Andrew. I didn’t mean to offend you. I was just taken aback. When King Wilder contacted me, I thought he was joking about you being—”

Tony cuts him off by stepping in front of Andrew and blocking him from me. “I was just as surprised. It has been almost two years now, hasn’t it, Holly Dolly. I’m surprised you don’t recognize me. Your brothers didn’t either. I guess false accusations do something to an alpha.”

My heart sinks into my stomach. This can’t be. The flowery scent of roses crashes over me again, and I realize that his scent isn’t familiar because of the fabrics. None of them smelled like roses. It was honeysuckle and jasmine. Cotton candy and bubble gum. Wet grass and mint.

“You’re not Tony. You don’t smell like wet grass and mint.” I automatically press my index and middle finger to my temples and spin toward Isaiah who is already closing the space from his position at the door.

“Sorry about that. He wasn’t good enough.” The imposter tries to grab me, but Andrew locks his fingers around the back of his shirt and yanks, dragging the guy away.

---