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I don’t care how much I fuck with her system. Martin’s friend said it may affect her ability to have children, but that won’t be my problem anymore, will it?

I won’t accept any returns or refunds for broken omega daughters. I don’t want her back.

My feet bring me to the door while deep in my thoughts, making me frown for a moment. Ugh, may as well get this over with.

Taking a deep breath, I school my face into that of someone who gives a shit and open the door.

The head alphas of every pack that is courting Nina are standing on my front porch, plus Cassidy.

“What do I owe this?—”

“Cut the shit, Miss Vivian,” Silas growls.

The five of them all glower at me, and I have to steel my spine not to cower before them. I’m an omega, but I am not weak.

“I don’t know what you mean,” I say. “Nina is resting in her bed, deeply medically sedated during her heat. It was the most humane thing to do.”

“Isn’t she on heat blockers?” Cassidy asks. “We were talking about it once, as I was worried about this happening. She said she was on a pill to keep it away. However, they aren’t meant to be used long term.”

“Tick tock then,” I say, shrugging. “I’m just a mother forced to make difficult decisions on her behalf because the alphas before me can’t make up their minds. Do you want her or not? It’s been a month, and nature has a way of making things difficult for single, unmated omegas.”

“We didn’t want to rush her,” Cassidy says angrily. Even the air smells of irate alphas. It smells spicy, and my nose itches.

“And yet, here we are,” I sigh.

“I want to take Nina on a trip with my pack, especially after the toll of having to go through a heat alone. I want to make it up to her,” Silas says, his gaze narrowed on me.

If I didn’t have the facade of always appearing collected and calm, I would be sweating bullets. I feel like a bug underneath a microscope on a sunny day.

I feel the heat of this dangerous game I’m playing with these alphas.

My mother always taught me to play hard to get, and now is no different. Examining my nails, I shrug.

“As kind as that is, this is the curse of being an omega. It’s better that Nina learns this now, without pretty words and trips. Not all alphas are good or worthy,” I state.

“We are good alphas,” Patrick growls. He’s another alpha that’s been very attentive, but I think he may be too soft for my daughter.

“And yet, here we are.”

“Miss Vivian, the best way for us to get to know your daughter is on an overnight trip with each pack,” Abbott interjects. “There will be a longer uninterrupted time for us to find out how she sleeps, if she’s cranky when she wakes up in the morning, what her morning routines are. I don’t believe these things should be learned about after committing to be her pack.”

“It’s old fashioned and asking for disaster,” Cassidy adds. “At the end of this, we will decide on which pack will take her as theirs. The issue is that we all want Nina, but we have alliances that keep us from wanting to make too hasty of a decision. The best pack should get to make her the happiest she’s ever been.”

“Happiness is a fake construct,” I mutter. “Stability is what an omega needs. You have three months to decide. I have duties out of the country after that and I want to see this courting through.”

They stare at me and nod. I guess they can all tell that I won’t be accepting any exceptions or excuses.

“Three months,” Silas grunts. “I will be picking her up as soon as she wakes up. I don’t care if that’s a Tuesday at four in the morning, Miss Vivian. Do we understand each other?”

“What will your business and stockholders say?” I ask in mock horror.

“This is why I own the business, so I can do whatever the fuck I want,” he growls. “The others in my pack will figure it out. I need to see her as soon as possible.”

I can tell that ridiculous alpha nature is riding him hard, and that I definitely need to stop pushing. I live off the power I wield, I don’t intend to die for it. Silas is growling in anger, I’ll give him this.

Lowering my eyes for him, I nod.

“I’ll text you just as soon as she’s awake,” I murmur.