Page 4 of Daisy

"Excellent," another alpha murmurs,and I can smell his interest spike, thick and oily."Nothing quite like the anticipation of timing things perfectly."

I dig my nails deeper into my palms to keep my expression neutral.

"Indeed," Uncle continues smoothly. "The implant ensures she remains fertile and responsive while giving the claiming pack full autonomy over when to start breeding."

I force my smile to stay in place.Perfect control. Over me. Over when I have children, how many, with whom.The scent of his arousal makes me sick, but I keep smiling because that's what good omegas do.

Breeding. That's what I am to them. A broodmare in silk.

Through it all, I smile. I nod. I play my part while they discuss the mechanics of using my body like I'm not even there.The muscles in my jaw ache, but I don't dare let the mask slip.

God, what would it feel like to just be... normal? I can't even imagine it.

But I'm not. I'm just Daisy, the Governor's omega niece, and this is my life.

Through all theintroductions and evaluations, I keep finding myself drawn back to the quieter edges of the room, away from the overwhelming center where the elite packs evaluate me like merchandise.

One guard stands slightly apart from the others. Tall, with dark hair cut military-short and sharp features, but it's his eyes that catch me. Ice blue and unexpectedly gentle. When our gazes meet across the room, I don't feel the usual urge to look away immediately.

He's looking at me, but not the way the others do. Not like I'm something to be acquired or evaluated.Just... looking. Like he sees me, not just what I represent.

And then something strange happens.

It's barely there beneath his blockers. Warm honey and clove that makes my knees weak.

What the hell is wrong with me?

I've never reacted to anyone's scent like this. Not even the elite alphas Uncle paraded me in front of at previous events. But this guard… this stranger.His scent makes me feel safe in a room designed to intimidate me.

Maybe I'm getting sick. Maybe it's the stress. Maybe my blockers are failing from the overwhelming alpha presence tonight.

His expression, his stillness, makes me feel like maybe I'm not completely alone in this room full of strangers deciding my fate.For a moment, I forget to be afraid. For just a heartbeat, I feel like maybe I'm not completely invisible.

And then I realize I'm perfuming.

The sweet honeysuckle and vanilla scent that's supposed to be locked away starts seeping out.The change is immediate and terrifying.Several nearby alphas pause mid-conversation, their heads turning toward me.Their nostrils flare as they catch myscent despite the suppressants, and I watch their pupils dilate with interest that makes my skin crawl.

No, no, no. This can't be happening.

Uncle's hand tightens on my shoulder.I can feel his rage radiating through his touch even as he maintains his political smile for the watching crowd.Sweat slicks my palms.I shouldn't have been looking at the guard. I shouldn't have been perfuming for anyone, let alone a beta-born alpha guard.

But even as Uncle guides me to the next group of potential buyers, I can still feel those ice-blue eyes watching me.Still feel that honey and clove scent calling to whatever broken thing inside me just woke up.

Still feel my own treacherous scent responding to his, no matter how hard I try to stop it.

Maybe I'm losing my mind. Maybe the stress of tonight finally broke something inside me. Maybe this is what happens when you've been performing for so long that your body doesn't know how to react normally anymore.

But for the first time tonight, I don't feel completely invisible.And despite everything—the fear, the shame, the overwhelming certainty that I'm not strong enough for what's coming—that has to count for something.

Even if I don't know what yet.

Chapter 2

Daisy

The car ride back to the Omega House feels endless.Uncle sits beside me in the black sedan,his metallic, bitter scent still making my skin crawl.I keep my hands folded in my lap, watching the city blur past through tinted windows, trying not to think about those ice-blue eyes from the ballroom.

Trying not to think about how honey and clove made my omega instincts settle for the first time all night.