Page 47 of Brave New Omega, Part 2

Chapter 47

KATIE

A car from the Conservatory arrives four days later. Four days of lounging with my Alphas. Of stocking up on a dozen different snacks, ordering a mini-fridge stocked with refillable water bottles and electrolyte drinks, and scrolling through online catalogs of interesting – and sometimes terrifying– looking sex toys that promise to make my heat better.

Now I pace in the main living room while Loren reads in one of the armchairs by the window.

“What are you worried about, Love? It’s just your sister.”

“Layla can be a little over the top sometimes.” And judgmental . The townhouse is comfortable and nicer than anything we ever dreamed of growing up. But the Conservatory seems to think that most Omegas would be going to Packs with a lot of money. Like the society girls Matilda went on about. And if I know Layla, she’s lapped all of that right up. She’s always liked nice things, not necessarily ostentatious, just nice . Wanting real leather handbags, and specialty high-end, hypoallergenic makeup.

Will she be disappointed? The thought makes my guts roll.

Loren sets his papers down and comes over to stop my frantic walking. The garage door opens and car doors slam.

“You don’t have to go,” he says. He said it yesterday too, after Callum had fucked me in the bath until I was completely limp in his arms and carried me back to my nest. My Alpha was beginning to make a habit of bathroom sexy times. Loren had fretted and worried over me, assuring me that I didn’t need to go to the Bridal Toast.

“I want to go,” I say again. “To shut your family up and show them and everyone that you have an Omega. But,” I hold up a finger, silencing all the protests he made before. “Also, so Layla isn’t out there alone. I told you she texted that this is considered one of her presentations? I can't let her go out there by herself. So consider it a two objective mission.”

He kisses my finger, licking just the tip before voices greet us from the hall.

“Fuck, this is nice. I like all the leather.”

Maddie . Not Layla.

I whirl around as a blond Beta in a pressed suit with an earpiece and an arm load of boxes steps aside, and Maddie and Layla fan out behind him. Another Beta, this one tan with dark brown curls, sets a massive basket –like a human-sized laundry basket – down on the floor of the living room.

“Ma’am,” he says, nodding to me before looking to the ground. Loren growls, like a reflex to assert his dominance in his own home.

“Mads! What are you doing here? I thought it was just Lala and me.” I can’t help but use the childhood nicknames. Something about this moment feels like being a little girl on Christmas morning.

“Aurelia kicked me out.” Maddie shrugs.

“She did no such thing!” Layla huffs, then hugs me with one arm, while pointing at Maddie with the other. “Aurelia just thought that since we’re both of age and in the best health that going to the Bridal Toast would be a great way to make a soft debut to society. Honestly. If you hadn’t told her you wouldn’t walk at the Winter Review, then you wouldn’t have had to do this.”

“What are you talking about?” I look from one to the other. “What is a Winter Review?”

“It’s a fucking pimp show,” Maddie says, crossing her arms. Loren snorts.

“No, Maddison it’s not. It’s a talent show–basically. Where eligible Packs can see potential Omegas. There’s a mixer afterwards, like a sorority social. Then Omegas and packs can make requests on who they’d like to get to know better.” Layla sighs. “Nothing like a pimp show. You have complete control.”

“So it’s a pimp show with rules. I’m still being sold like a slab of meat. And you can’t fucking make me do it.”

“Clearly not,” I say, breaking up the argument that has already happened at least once. “So you’re going to a Bridal Toast with me instead?”

“There will be a bunch of packs at the Wedding, and mingling beforehand at the Bridal Toast is a good way to let some of them know that there are new Omegas available,” Layla cuts in. “Honestly, Maddie. We might get blood matches instead, like Katie. It worked out great for her.” She looks from me to Loren. He smiles bright and radiant as both suns, and my chest squeezes.

“Yeah, it did work out.” I hear the surprise in my own voice and Maddie laughs. But Loren only leans in and kisses me before nuzzling my ear and whispering, “I’ll leave you to it, but I’ll be in the study if you need anything. Just in case you need it, I bought a new bottle of brandy, it’s on the second shelf.”

I roll on the balls of my feet and kiss his nose. “Thank you.”

“Jesus Christ, that was sweet. Like giving me cavities, sweet.” Maddie shakes her head. “I didn’t think you’d be sweet with anyone, especially not these Alphaholes.”

I open my mouth to snark at her, but the words don’t come. Because it is sweet. I’m different. Maddie seems to think it’s a bad thing. But, what if it’s not?

“Well, it's good that the Alphas are out of our way,” Layla says as she unzips bags and opens boxes behind me. “We have to pick out what we are going to wear before the driver comes and I couldn’t decide if this kind of event needed full length gowns or not.”

“There,” Layla sighs and steps back, looking at my reflection in the full length mirror.

Maddie whistles. “Damn Katie-kat. You look like a fucking warrior queen.”

I blink at my reflection, staring at the woman looking back at me. I do look hot. Not in the false glamor of the dinner party dress. This sleek midnight blue top shows off my curves without too much actual cleavage –much more my style than Layla’s plunging neckline, and Maddie’s push-up corset. It is perfectly tucked into a separate voluminous skirt– blue and silver in a diamond pattern that almost looks like really fancy armor. Or like the fabric one of those medieval heralds would wear underneath armor.

The dress nearly glows in the light, and there’s a scattering of tiny glass beads that create a stunning effect. It's a truly gorgeous outfit, one that really should be worn at an awards show or MET Gala or something equally regal. Not a middle of the day party where no one is going to pay me attention. I still grin into the mirror, unable to help myself. I feel beautiful. But, more importantly, I feel powerful.

The skirt is long and full and swishes as I walk, but without annoying layers. It also conceals a deep pocket where I have my phone, a stash of pain meds, glossy lip balm, and a small folding knife. I also insist on wearing the knee brace I’d has Max grab from the gym. No, it isn’t sexy, but I need to be at full attention for this stupid event.

Despite Layla’s huffing, I chose a Mary-Jane style velvet flats in a nearly identical midnight blue. Better for my knee, and if anything did happen, I can run better in the flats.

“No one is going to bother looking at me with the two of you in the same room.”

It isn't false modesty, it was plain truth. Layla looks every bit a fairytale princess, her blond hair falling over one shoulder in a thick braid with artfully placed golden curls framing her face. It is simple but stunning.

Her dress was the perfect color of deep rose to bring out the natural blush of her cheeks and lips. The halter top plunges deep, almost to the high-waisted gold and pink embroidered band, allowing a peek at her generous, perky breasts and smooth, creamy skin. The skirt floats around her in layers of peach and rose fabric, like she is surrounded by a magical effervescent wind.

She looks like a damn princess dream doll.

Maddie is the opposite of Layla, her short red mohawk slicked up into a high pomp, but smooth and tight at the sides. Her black silk corset hugged her athletic frame perfectly, showing off her right shoulder tattoos and nearly finished half sleeve. Unlike Layla and me, Mads wears black silk pants with a single gold stripe sewn into the side, the wide legs hiding the chunky boots she insists on wearing. A thick gold cuff on one wrist and matching cuff around her neck complete her Sexy Dom ensemble.

We could not be more different. And yet, as I look at the three of us in the mirror, we could not be more ourselves.

“I wish Molly Beth and Norah were here,” Maddie sighs. “They would love to play dress up with us.”

Layla nods, then blinks carefully. “But Molly Beth isn’t ready for a big event with all these strangers. And Norah is too young to start pursuing packs.”

“Not according to the Conservatory,” Maddie says, clenching her fist. “Eighteen is entirely too young to ask someone to make a life-long commitment. But the Conservatory is happy to serve up eighteen-year-olds who’ve already gone through a heat. Fuckers.”

“Are they asking her to start looking?” I ask, alarm bells ringing in my ears. How had no one told me? Had I been so wrapped up in these men that I hadn’t paid attention to my sisters? Fuck, more proof that I wasn’t doing shit to take care of them.

A wave of guilt rolls through me.

“No, they aren’t,” Layla snaps, glaring at Maddie. “They just told us, that it’s not unusual for Omegas to start courting at eighteen or nineteen. Especially if they are already in heat. But Norah’s perfume is still faint, and she has no signs of a heat. They fully support her taking her time.”

“Sure,” Maddie rolls her eyes. “We’ll see how patient they are.”

I open my mouth to demand more information, when a growl snags my attention. Callum and Max stand at the foot of the stairs staring at the three of us. But the scent rolling toward me is warm, and I instinctively know it’s only for me.

“You look magnificent,” Max says. He smiles broadly at me then looks at my sisters. “And you both also look lovely.”

Maddie snorts and Layla looks from me to Max and Callum, a too-sweet smile pulling at her lips.

“Is this appropriate for this Bridal Shower?” I ask.

“Shower?” Callum frowns. “No showering. Clothes stay on .”

“Bridal Toast ,” Layla corrects, shaking her head.

“You are perfect.” Loren’s voice reaches me and I look past Max and Callum to see him on the steps. He is dressed in a dove gray suit, with a pink shirt. He looks casual compared to my sisters and me, yet perfectly put together.

“It’s really just a royal pissing contest,” Maddie says. “Right? Isn't that what Aurelia said?”

Layla looks horrified, but my Alphas all grin.

“You’re not wrong, Maddison,” Loren says in his best professor voice. “This is an opportunity for packs to celebrate the Omega and her Alphas separately before the final vows and bonding. For society families, it’s an opportunity to show off with gifts and well-wishes –and to show off unbonded Omegas and help Alphas meet their future Packmates. You'll also find plenty of Betas in the mix, all looking to find Packs to join.”

He fidgets with his cuffs once, before shaking them out and walking directly over to me. He kisses me softly, only the lightest flutter of his tongue against my lips. I want to grab him by the damn lapels and pounce on him, rubbing my hot wet….

Oh no. All three of my Alphas growl, their eyes blown to nearly all black.

“Katie you’re perfuming pretty hard,” Layla says. “Take a deep breath and try to relax.”

“She should stay here,” Callum growls. “She’s too close.”

“No.” I say firmly, taking several calming breaths and forcing all sexy thoughts away. There will be time for that. After I go to this Bridal Toast and show Loren’s family – and the poison pixie –that I am the perfect Omega for them, and that they need to back off.

“We’ll keep an eye on her,” Maddie says. “And at the first sign of trouble, I promise we’ll hightail it home. Hell, I might fake some trouble so we can leave early.”

Callum nuzzles me and rubs his cheek over my face and hair.

“Watch the make up!” Layla hisses.

“He’s scent marking me,” I say, surprised by how calm this makes me. Loren follows, nuzzling the other side, followed by Max, who nuzzles against my back. I’m not bonded to them, not yet anyway. But this will help mask that. Instead of being irritated, I’m relaxed. Their smells on my skin and clothes soothe something deep inside.

I have well and truly lost my mind.

“I’d like to see an Alpha fucking try that with me,” Maddie grumbles. “I’ll gut him.”

I know that anger. Felt it when I arrived– was it only a few weeks ago? Jesus. I’m drinking the damn Kool-aid and cannot bring myself to care.

“Remember the protocol?” Callum asks me, pressing his forehead to mine, blocking out my sisters so all I can see is him, and all I can smell are my Alphas.

“Yes,” I breathe, inhaling a deep lungful of them. Lime and leather and books. My mouth waters and I press my thighs firmly closed.

“Be seen, do a circuit of mingling, raise a glass for the first round of toasts, then we can all leave. Don’t leave the group, stick with your sisters. Call us if anything feels off. Okay? If you feel too hot or too cold.”

“I know. I’ll keep tabs on exits too –okay Captain?”

Callum huffs, but heat flickers in his gaze. I know he wants to stay here, and I’m pretty damn sure I can guess what he’d like to do while we’re here.

My skin prickles with longing, but I shove it down. If I have a heat flash now then I won’t leave at all, and I want to do this for Loren.

“Everyone have their phones?” Loren asks. We all nod.

“Good. Then let's go to this wasp nest so we can all get back.”