Page 16 of In Bellamira's Chains

I eyed the name cards for the people beside me and instructed Elera to sit on my right, next to Gianna, and for Hazelle to sit on my left, beside Reid. She would have an easier time with him and his pet, Piper, than Gianna who came alone.

They sat on their cushions like good little pets, and I hung their chains on the back of the seat before sitting down.

Dinner was served with the pets getting theirs last. Everyone had a different way of feeding theirs. Some were true pets who ate from bowls with no silverware. Mine were given small trays so they didn’t make a mess of themselves before the fun truly started.

We started with a Greek salad followed by grilled lamb kebabs, pita, and all the fixings for it, and for dessert, there was an array brought in on a towered cart. I chose a chocolate cheesecake. When Hazelle and Elera had their chance, Hazelle chose a bowl of chocolate-covered strawberries, and Elera picked a lemon bar with chocolate drizzle.

Apparently, chocolate was well loved in our house, and I chuckled to myself, knowing I would need to add more of it to our dessert rotations.

Chapter ten

Hazelle

I sat beside Mistress Belle, enjoying the chocolate-covered strawberries in relative silence after eating little of the meal I was given. The dining room around me boomed with noise and laughter, but my little bubble next to her was quiet. I couldn’t see Elera, but Mistress Belle periodically looked down at the both of us to ensure we were being good.

She chuckled at something someone said down the table, but the wood and cloth jumbled their words for me. This was all much more than I had anticipated. It was going better than I thought, but I wasn’t used to being around so many people. My skin began to crawl, and I wanted to curl up on the cushion with my hands covering my ears.

After finishing what I wanted of the strawberries, ensuring I didn’t eat too much of anything that

I’d be sick again, I sat the bowl aside and adjusted myself so I could lean my head against Mistress Belle’s thigh, blocking one ear and covering my other with my hand. I stared down her leg and tried to zone out, hoping the noises would cease before I panicked.

Elera did her best to prepare me for her being used by others, but we all overlooked my ability to tolerate how loud a party would be. Besides the auction, I hadn’t been in a room with more than a handful of people for years. Even then, it was never like this. It was stuffy and quiet and so boring.

It was safe though. I knew what to expect and what was expected of me. But this was all new, and I felt as if I was already failing. Mistress Belle and Elera were wrong. I was a bad Omega. I wasn’t worthy of them, and I’d end up ruining their night. They’d sell me to the next Alpha, then they’d inevitably get rid of me too.

A vicious cycle ran through my head over and over until Mistress Belle removed my hand and placed hers against my ear, blocking out more of the noise and pressing my head more firmly into her thigh.

The panic lessened, and I relaxed against her and the chair even more.

Time passed, and it felt like I had been in and out of sleep. The party was still going on around me, but it was quieter than before. Were people leaving, or were the other events starting?

It didn’t matter really. Mistress Belle kept her hand on my head and hadn’t let up on the pressure either. I was happy right here and would be even happier if we remained in this position until we left.

I knew I wasn’t going to be that lucky, but there wasn’t as much anxiety about Elera being used as before. All it took was one simple caring act from Mistress Belle. That didn’t mean I was excited for it. If I had a choice, I’d run the other direction and never watch it happen or allow myself to be in that position, but that wasn’t a possibility.

Mistress Belle wouldn’t let anything happen to her or me. I had to believe that and shove those words deep down so they stayed put and guarded me from the horrors my old Alpha hadcaused. She wasn’t like him. She wasnothinglike him. I might have been a gift for Elera, but as Mistress Belle said, she was all that mattered.

A small smile etched itself on my face before I felt a tap on my shoulder. Mistress Belle removed her hand and looked down at me.

“I’ve given Reid’s pet, Piper, permission to speak with you.”

She gestured to my left, and when I turned, I saw a tall thin man sitting in his chair with short blond hair and deep brown eyes. They reminded me of Oros’, but instead of hatred and disgust, they held some kindness and intrigue. Sitting beside him was Piper. She looked like an Omega with strawberry blonde hair and hazel eyes.

Unlike Elera and me, she wasn’t collared. She ate like us during dinner, though, while others were fed from bowls on the ground. I was grateful we were allowed to eat normally. I could barely handle eating as it was. I didn’t think I’d be able to stomach eating food nearly off the ground.

“Hi,” Piper said as she scooted a little closer.

I glanced back at Mistress Belle who nodded, giving me permission to speak with her as well.

“Hi,” I said, my voice quiet and cracking thanks to the nerves that ran through my body.

“Are you okay? Do you need some water?” Her hazel eyes grew large with worry.

“No, no, I’m okay,” I assured her. I had been drinking it periodically all night. I didn’t want to disappoint Mistress Belle and Elera by getting dehydrated. It was one of the few things I could guarantee succeeding at as long as I had water available to me.

“Oh, it’s your first time, right? It’s getting to you?”

“Um, well, it’s just a lot of noise. That’s all.” I adjusted so my back was against the chair, and the back of my head brushedagainst Mistress Belle’s thigh, giving me some security while I spoke with Piper in the middle of a night that was already chaotic.