Page 25 of Hunting Their Omega

Finally, Winnie nodded. “For the record, I made peace with my position a long time ago.”

I didn’t know how to respond, so I changed the subject. “I have no idea what looks good on me. The boarding house supplied uniforms.”

Winnie’s arctic eyes warmed as she inspected my threadbare gray dress. “A travesty.”

After combing through the pile of clothing, Winnie finally settled on a deep purple gown with quarter-length sleeves, a fitted bodice, and a wrap skirt. When I was dressed, she sat me in front of the mirror and brushed my hair.

“Can I ask you something?”

“You’re letting me borrow this dress, so yes,” I replied.

“Were you being serious when you said you could only wear that gray monstrosity?”

I laughed as she gave the boarding house uniform a horrified look.

“Everyone was assigned the same uniform. It’s to remind us that there are no individuals, and our duty to society is singular and defined. Gray is for the older girls, pale blue for the younger ones,” I explained.

Her fingers worked through my hair, twisting and pinning as we spoke. “What are the boarding houses like?”

I met her eyes in the mirror. “Prisons. They’re cold, white, and silent. We go to class, then our room, and we’re only allowed outside if the day is warm enough. We don’t have forests that we can access because they stripped the land.”

“I bet your wolves weren’t pleased.”

“Confinement makes them cranky. We’re allowed to shift once every three months.”

Her hands stopped moving. “But that’s unheard of. That can’t be right—it can’t belegal.”

Winnie’s temper mounted like a winter storm. She was angry on my behalf. It was the first time someone had ever shown me such empathy.

“The Council does whatever it wants with Omegas. We have no pack to protect us until we’re claimed in the Hunt.”

Something close to pity flashed across her face, and I had to look away to preserve some semblance of dignity.

“We’re disposable too,” she said, her voice lacking its former strength. “We’re good for cooking and cleaning, for working in pack stores and fucking in secret, but no one ever sees us as more. Not without . . .”

She didn’t have to finish. I understood. I knew what it was like to be reduced to one singular part—the rest cast aside like it didn’t matter.

I placed my hand over hers. “I see you, Winnie.”

A comfortable silence fell over the room as she did my hair and makeup, and when she was finished, I hardly recognized myself. I’d never spent much time looking in mirrors, but as I studied my reflection, I almost considered myself beautiful.

“Not so bad being out of gray, is it?”

“Addicting, actually,” I confessed. “Thank you.”

Winnie waved me off with an approving nod. It was odd, but I felt like I’d known her all my life. We understood each other, and though friendship was a stretch, I’d at least earned her respect.

I thought of the females of Hidden Creek and frowned. If they were as testy as Winnie made them out to be, I’d have to shore up my emotional reserves and don the mask I wore with the Governesses.

“How about I take you shopping later this week?” Winnie asked, stuffing the extra dresses in the closet. “And don’t even think about saying no. I’ve seen your clothes.”

I gave her a grateful smile. “They are pretty horrendous.”

“I wouldn’t wish that wardrobe on my worst enemy,” she said as she stepped into a wine-colored dress. Her eyes twinkled with mischief. “Well, maybe Laris, but you’ll agree when you have the unfortunate luck of meeting her.”

She ran her fingers through her short hair and looped her arm through mine. I stood tall, steeling myself for the next phase of my life—not just as a claimed Omega but as the mate of the Alpha’s unit.

“Where is the meeting?” I asked as Winnie led me to the staircase.

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