Page 15 of Let It Snow (Eden’s Omegaverse #7)

Of course I follow him, having no desire to talk to anyone, and there are a few people lingering in the main hall. I’m afraid they might glance our way and take an interest in the two unconscious alphas lying there.

So much for my attempts to stay invisible in public places. I’m sure that once those alphas recover and report the incident to security, they’ll easily spot us on footage from other cameras. I sigh heavily, angry at myself.

Looking around, Lake and I slip quickly out of a side corridor, heading toward a big clothing store.

He gives me a look that is part embarrassment, part amusement, and maybe even a trace of… respect.

"Sun mentioned briefly you had power, but I didn’t know it was on that level. I always thought it was rose omegas who carried gifts like that. But you’re not one of them, are you?"

It takes everything I have to force my lips into a reply, but I really want to. The effort of pushing through that strange fog filling my body costs me more than I want to admit.

Wincing in pain, I push out, "No. My brother Moon is the rose omega, he’s the clairvoyant. I… I’m something else."

I’m proud of myself for getting the words out, despite the pain. I really want to be able to communicate with Lake, at least a little.

"Well, I know a bit about people like you. Snow is like this too. The urban legends call your kind ‘sorcerers’, don’t they? There are only a handful of you in the world."

I stay silent. Everyone in ABO society has heard that some people carry a very high concentration of alien DNA in their blood.

The terminology varies, but I’ve always felt I’m one of them, though I have no proof and have never met another like me to compare myself with.

Or I don’t remember? The amnesia thing is still on.

Lake continues, "Snow’s gifts are unusual.

He never explained them in detail, but regarding his clairvoyance, he can do even more; he can actually slightly shift events that are about to happen.

But that’s only part of it. He also has other…

skills. His power is layered, complicated.

He almost never talks about it, he’s too…

modest. I know he’s spent years trying to master it, and it wasn’t easy for him.

It’s delicate, subtle, and hard to control. "

I listen with genuine fascination, hungry for more, but clearly Lake doesn’t know the finer details either.

He studies me for a moment as we stop outside the store.

"Anyway, thanks for, you know…" He spreads his arms. "Kind of saving me. It’s a relief to know that when I’m with you, I don’t need to carry a weapon." And he grins.

I give him a sheepish look, and he chuckles.

We walk inside.

As we wander down the aisles lined with racks of clothes, Lake turns toward me with an appraising glance.

"You’re short and lean, but you’ve got a good shape here." He pats his own hips and ass, a clear hint at what he means.

"I wish I had curves like that. I’ve always been more on the sporty side, with a boyish figure."

I don’t comment. Talking about body types with him feels ridiculous.

He looks faintly amused. "Come on, let’s find you some jeans that show off… your assets." He gives me a playful wink.

We stop at a section filled with pants, some displayed on mannequins. Many are skin-tight, the kind that would cling obscenely to my ass, and the sight alone makes me feel weirdly flustered. I point instead at some wider, looser harem-style pants with a floral pattern.

"Oh, you like that style?" Lake raises a brow.

I nod.

"Fine, whatever suits you, but at least grab two pairs of these… tighter jeans. For me. You’d look amazing in them. Just to try?"

I feel awkward refusing while holding my ground, so I give in. Lake picks things out for me, interestingly, mostly in shades of violet, pink, lilac, and sapphire.

I accept his choices quietly, feeling no need to fuss over details, and since he has decent taste, I let it be.

Next we move to the shoe section. Lake once again pairs me up with a few great sets of shoes to match the jeans and jackets.

The hardest part comes when we end up in the underwear section. Lake’s gaze shifts, cautious, almost tentative. I know why his energy has changed.

He probably worries about touching on a subject tied to my dark past. The truth is, I have no idea how to react. That part of me is buried in the thickest fog, nothing concrete rising when I try to focus on it.

"Here, it’s best if you just pick whatever catches your eye," he says softly.

I grab a few pairs of black boxer briefs, some white sleep shirts, T-shirts, and tanks almost at random.

He stays quiet, watching without comment, as we drift into the aisle with the more frivolous lingerie.

There are some great jockstraps on display, one in violet that is actually kind of nice.

I pause at it, embarrassed, reaching out to touch it.

Lake turns his eyes away, as if to give me space, and I appreciate how discreet he is.

On a sudden impulse, I toss the jockstrap into the basket with the rest. Lake doesn’t react, doesn’t say a word about my choice, and I’m deeply grateful for that.

Our last stop is the cosmetics section, which we get through fairly quickly. I pick up violet and lilac body washes and shampoos, some nail polishes, brushes, a hair dryer, and a whole bag of small toiletries. I’m not sure if I’ve ever used much of this before, but I figure I might need it.

Lake suggests a few other things that could come in handy.

I feel deeply thankful for his help and the time he’s given me.

It crosses my mind that maybe I should smile at him, because I truly appreciate how subtle and supportive he’s been.

So I offer him a small, tentative smile, and his face immediately lights up with warmth.

That’s when I realize how pleasant his scent is.

If I were an alpha, the sweetness in his Allure fragrance would signal that he might be my… High Mate!

Of course, it isn’t common for omegas, or for alphas either, to read too deeply into scents when it comes to their own subgenders. Still, I know that same-sex couples can interpret scents the way alphas and omegas do, as indicators of a good genetic match.

It fascinates me that he carries such an attractive scent…

When I’m standing by the cart handle and Lake comes up beside me, I suddenly force myself to blurt out the most awkward line.

"You’re my High Mate."

His brows rise, surprised that I’ve said anything at all, then his face breaks into a bright smile, and he gives me a small nod.

"Yes, I know. But it’s not strange. Your brother is my son’s fated."

He’s right; his son, Sun, is my brother Ragnar’s True Mate. That means our families must share a high level of compatibility across the spectrum. I probably have some level of compatibility with all of Lake’s sons.

The realization is both sweet and unsettling. Instantly, I think of Snow, though he has no natural scent at all; I’ve already noticed he’s on a pheromonal suppressant. The only hint of his Allure was the hoodie, but it was too faint; so I could not correctly interpret our level of mateship.

The trend of using blockers has been growing stronger in society, many people relying on them, mostly for professional reasons. Company workers often use mild suppressants or masking deodorants to cover their Allure, all in order to prevent so-called mating games in the workplace.

"I have a feeling that a few of my sons might turn out to be quite compatible with you as well," Lake says, voicing what I had already concluded in my own mind.

I don’t answer. Getting that one awkward sentence out has cost me enough. I’m trembling a little inside, frustrated by how difficult speaking still is, how every word feels like prying open heavy gates.

We make our way to the register, and I pay for everything. Lake tries to pay for his own things, but I’m faster, tapping my phone against the scanner to cover both our carts.

"Thank you, sweetheart. You really don’t have to.

We’re not struggling, you know. My husband used to be in a music band years ago, and I myself got a huge settlement from the two criminals who had bought my marriage contract.

When Omega Red Line Agency took up my case, they stripped them of everything they owned, and it was plenty, since they won the lottery back in the day.

Aiden and I invested wisely and set up trust funds for all our sons to secure their future, so you don’t need to worry about finances.

You’re part of our family now, Sun’s brother-in-law, and an important guest. Please, don’t trouble yourself about money. We’ve got that covered."

I don’t say anything, because what is there to add? I’ve already guessed the Nolans aren’t poor, but it still eases me to know I don’t have to rely on their generosity, that I have my own means if I need them.

Together we leave the clothing store and start down a walkway toward the parking lot. Lake may have deliberately chosen a different route than before, since we still don’t know what happened with those two alphas.

We go down to a lower level and take a side corridor, and at one point I notice a pet store to my left. Something in the window catches my eye.

Behind the glass is a display of beautiful aquariums. I slow, then stop, and Lake pauses with me.

I stare for a long moment at the goldfish drifting in the tank. They look magical.

"You like them?" Lake asks with a smile.

I don’t answer, just nod.

"Would you like to go in and see more? Looks like they have plenty of aquariums and animals for fish lovers."

Seeing me hesitate, he leads the way inside, and I follow, relieved that it’s his suggestion.