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Chapter 1

Ava

The moment I enter the back area of the shelter, the dogs start howling.

I grin. “I know, babies, good morning! Good morning.”

They say that animals can be soothed by a happy Omega’s scent the same way humans can be, and I hope that’s true as I walk among the cages greeting all of our animals. I’ve always wanted to help animals, so working at a shelter seemed perfect, but I have to admit it can really drain me.

There are so many animals brought to us too injured or sick to save. We always do our best—the vets here are saints—but it’s the sad cycle of life. I’ve gone home crying quite a lot since working here.

But I’m not going to let the occasional loss stop me. I want to give every animal, even an animal on its last day, a bit of happiness and love. Even if that’s only to comfort them in their last moments.

Luckily we have more happy endings than sad ones. It’s my job to take care of the daily needs like grooming, nail clipping, walks, and feeding. I help the animals get ready for their forever homes by teaching them how to behave.

My friends joke that it’s practice for when I’ll have an unruly bunch of kids of my own. I’m not so sure about that. I’d like to be a mother someday, but right now I don’t think it’s in my future. Not after the way my last relationship ended…

One of the dogs, Roger, woofs at me, breaking me out of my depressing thoughts. I crouch down. “Hey there, buddy. You ready for your walk?”

Roger rattles his cage as he tries to jump up and down in excitement, his tail wagging. I wince. I’m not an expert, but I really feel like these cages for the dogs are too small.

Try telling that to Mr. Weems, though. He gives a new meaning to the term ‘tightfisted.’

“I know, bud.” I open the cage and think happy thoughts, making sure my body language stays easy and relaxed. “It’s not fun being locked up. I get it.”

I let Roger out of his cage, then clip on his leash and grab the poop baggies. “But right now we’re going to get a lovely walk out in the sunshine! And then we’ll brush your shiny coat so you look extra pretty. A family is going to take you home soon, I just know it.”

“Ava!” My coworker Athena is at the front desk and smiles as I walk past with Roger. “I see you’ve got the good boy.”

“He really is well-behaved. He’ll be adopted in no time.”

Athena is my most cheerful coworker, a Beta with strawberry-blonde hair and a big smile for everyone. Because of her name, sometimes customers get her mixed up with Bonnie, our goth Alpha who constantly stinks like burnt toast because she’s got a permanent mental rain cloud over her head.

“It’s always such a relief when they’re like that,” Athena says. “The ones who are tougher… you worry about them. But you always work wonders.”

“I just listen to them.”

“It’s more than that,” Athena insists, but she lets me go with a laugh.

Of course, the moment that I get out onto the street, Roger starts pulling. It’s the one thing I need to work on with him. He’s good tempered, friendly, sweet, but the moment you take him out on a walk he can’t help himself and he wants to run around and explore everything. He’s a lab, so he’s a big dog, but I’m determined not to let him win.

“Come on, Roger, work with me.” I keep a firm grip on the leash. “I know it’s not fun being in a cage all day, seriously, but you won’t ever get adopted if your family can’t control you on a walk.”

Roger huffs at me as if to say what he thinks of that . I sigh. “Yeah, I get it, trust me. Maybe you’re wondering if a family isn’t all it’s cracked up to be. I know I’ve wondered the same thing.”

After all, there’s a reason I’m on suppressants. My scent can still be detected by the animals, since their noses are simply far more sensitive than a human’s. But to everyone else? I’m a Beta, as far as they can tell.

I have no intention of living in a cage. And if anyone finds out I’m an Omega, that’s exactly what’ll happen. They’ll force me to bond with an Alpha or Alpha pack, and I refuse to give up my freedom. I’m just lucky I presented as an Omega late enough that I could hop on the suppressants in time.

Once you present, you’re supposed to register with the ORD—the Omega Resources Division—so that they can help you find a suitable Alpha or Alphas to bond with. But most people present as teenagers, so everyone assumed I was a Beta for years, including me. Being a late bloomer meant I could get the blockers without too many questions, and I could keep living free as a Beta.

Nobody will ever control me. Especially not a damn Alpha. Or a pack of them.

“Oh fuck!”

“Oh my god!”

I’m so lost in thought and the effort of dealing with Roger as he tugs me along that I don’t realize someone’s in front of me until we run right into each other. I nearly fall over, and strong hands catch me.

When I look up, I have to crane my neck to meet his eyes. I’m only 5’2” and this guy is at least six feet. I practically bounced off him.

Then the scent hits me.

I inhale deeply, struggling to keep my body and my face under control. This man smells like bourbon, spicy cloves, and honey. It reminds me of warming myself on a cold winter morning, and my heart starts to race in a way it never has before.

Doesn’t hurt that he’s also handsome as hell, with biceps I couldn’t even wrap both of my hands around. My throat goes dry and my skin feels too tight.

My fingers go lax as I just breathe in his intoxicating scent. The man’s talking to me, but his words sound muffled, like he’s speaking through water.

“Hello? Are you okay? Miss?”

I want to drop my mouth open to catch more of that smell. I want to bury my face in his neck and inhale the source. I want him to—

The leash drops from between my numb fingers, and Roger takes off running.

Shit!

“No, no, no!” I yell.

The man turns and watches the dog run. Now that my head’s a little clearer, I’m focusing on his face and not just his scent and his muscles. He’s definitely a few inches over six feet, towering over me by an entire foot, with slate-gray eyes and a jawline that looks like it’s been carved from marble. Those eyes feel like they’re looking right through me, down to my very core.

He runs a hand through his rich dark brown hair, glancing back at me. “I can go get him for you, if you want.”

“No, I’m sorry, I couldn’t possibly—”

“I don’t mind at all. I’d be happy to do it.”

“No, thank you, really, I’m going to—I have to—go—” I’m tripping over my tongue like I’m back in middle school and crushing on my English teacher. I have no idea why I’m acting like this, or what it could mean. I just know that it’s a problem.

I rush after Roger, yelling his name, but my racing heart has nothing to do with chasing after the dog. “Roger! Roger, come here! Come on, boy!”

He heads right for the nearby park, naturally, and I’m able to corner him by the baseball field. Roger yips, his tail wagging, clearly thinking this was all a fun game. I groan and grab the leash again. “Bad boy, Roger. You need to stay with me!”

As I scratch behind his ears, I can’t get the image—and the scent—of that man out of my head.

I haven’t ever had that reaction to anyone. I don’t know why it’s happened now. But I’m on suppressants for my heat, and blockers for my scent. They should be working and they haven’t ever failed me before, but…

I crouch down to pet Roger some more. “Maybe it’s the brand?” I whisper to him.

I recently had to switch my black market supplier for suppressants and blockers because I couldn’t afford the old ones anymore. Maybe these are less expensive because they’re ineffective?

I just pray that these are still working and the man couldn’t tell I’m an Omega. When I get home, I’ll have to up my dose.

Nobody can know what I really am. Ever.