Page 57 of Ours Later

Her makeup is understated and beautiful, her lips a pretty, neutral pink. Her only jewelry are the studs she’s wearing as well. I don’t have a single thing to complain about or fix.

“I suppose this is acceptable,” I state, none of my praising thoughts showing through in my tone. “They’ll be arriving soon. Pack a small clutch with your lip gloss and I’ll give you a phone to put inside there as well.”

Nina hesitates in confusion, but only for a second. She hasn’t been allowed to have any type of technology, unless it’s to listen to Emilia Richardson’s podcasts. We may be back in Georgia, but I’ve been noticing that more and more people have been listening to her recently.

She has good advice for omegas on how to survive, and doesn’t buy into the more liberal notions that omegas should go to school and work. I hear too often about omegas who go missing all over the country to be trafficked.

I’m reminded that I’m making the best decisions for my daughter with every report that crops up.

Once Nina has her cream clutch in her hand, I hand her a phone.

“It would be odd for you to be an unmated and unpacked omega and not have a mobile device,” I state. “Some of the men will want to exchange numbers. Well, I shouldn’t say just men. Pack Tremaine also has a female alpha. They’re very powerful in Savannah, and it’s important to keep an open mind when it comes to choosing a pack.”

They’re also loaded. They would make a great pack for my daughter.

Nina returns the bag that now has the slim phone inside of it to her side and I nod.

“Remember your lessons,” I remind her. “I think tea will be a wonderful way to get to know the packs. We’ll segue into dates if any of them want to formally court you. Don’t embarrass me.”

The last is stated in a growl, but Nina isn’t fazed as she inclines her head. She looks regal and beautiful, and I can’t help feeling proud of myself. I did that.

I took her from that weak, pathetic girl screaming about not being allowed to finish school and stay with her scent matches to what she is now.

Confident she’ll perform exactly as she should, I walk out of the room with her following me.

The doorbell rings just as we arrive at the first floor, and I take a deep breath as the housekeeper walks to the door while we walk to the living room to act completely normal.

Ha. As if it’s every day that I’m setting up my nineteen year old with the best packs in the area.

While I was getting everything ready for Nina, her birthday passed without any recognition. I don’t believe it’s a big deal, and at the time, I didn’t think she deserved it. My daughter was also a mess the day she got out of the hospital, which was the same day as her birthday.

She will have other special days, ones that have nothing to do with the passing of time.

Nina sits down on the settee next to me with her clutch in her lap, and I make conversation with her at a dull murmur as the packs arrive. They all file in together, and I rise with Nina.

“Hello, everyone. We are so honored for you all to be here today,” I say. Every stare is on my daughter as she stands tall with her gaze trained on someone’s chest rather than their eyes.

It’s a state of submissiveness, the way an omega should appear.

“If everyone is ready, we can make our way into the backyard for tea. I know we are still in the height of summer, but there are fans to ensure everyone is comfortable,” I add.

“It’s a pretty day,” someone murmurs, shrugging. “We’ve all been very patient, Miss Vivian, and it appears that your daughter is more than ready to be courted.”

“Yes, yes. Of course,” I say, feeling rushed as I begin walking to the back door to step outside. While I would prefer to stay and observe everything, I have a feeling that I may not be able to.

While the packs following Nina and I seem to be the wealthiest and the most successful, there’s also a thread of progressiveness that runs through them as well. They want to court my daughter because it’s what is expected, but they also want to see why they had to wait so long to meet her.

It’s been just about a year since I started the process of gathering packs to meet my daughter, even though I knew she wasn’t in any type of position to do it. I’m going to need to be flexible, because honesty is beyond me.

As everyone sits around the table, I hesitate, watching as the housekeeper brings in the tea, pastries, and sandwiches. So much effort, and I have a feeling that I’m about to get kicked out.

Abbott from Pack Thornefield leans forward, his gaze moving from Nina to myself.

“I think we can handle tea with your daughter,” he says witha smile, as if reading my mind. “Nothing untoward will happen in the backyard, Miss Vivian. We all give you our word.”

The table fills with murmurs of agreement, while Nina shifts uneasily. Did I mention this is the first time she’s spent any time with people? Shit.

Giving a small smile, I incline my head. I’m careful not to touch Nina, because I don’t trust myself not to pinch her to remind her of what to do. Everyone is staring really hard at me, all I can do is go.