Page 39 of Omega Forged (Hartlock Omegas #2)

“Sure, sure. Didn’t anyone ever teach you to take a compliment?

” Toni’s teeth poked out as she widened her smile.

“Spare a thought for me on Tuesday. I had to book a red eye because there was a mix-up in my department. Sometimes I envy your hierarchy. The take-charge attitude you alphas have. I wish I could bottle it up. It’s lacking in my colleagues. ”

I untangled my damp hand from Walden’s to sip my wine. I’d been careful not to overindulge, knowing the flare of confidence was only internal and all everyone else would see was a silly, drunk fool.

Everybody in this room recognized how good Walden was at his job. People admired and respected him. As they should, he was impressive. All I could do was sit there as Toni commanded his attention, flattered and bantered with so much ease it made my stomach toss.

Suddenly I was twelve again, in Walden’s office, while he asked me not to touch anything, because I was a child. I knotted my hands together, lest I made the same mistake.

“It’s true, some Designations have strengths that come more naturally to them, but I wouldn’t say all alphas are like me. I have high expectations for myself.”

“And he’s modest too?” Toni continued, her cleavage dipped as she leaned in further.

My scent sharpened, and Walden gave me a sharp look. She was flirting with him so openly and he let her. Toni didn’t notice his nose twitching, or the way his fingers inched toward mine.

“I hear rumors you’re thinking about throwing your name in for mayor?”

Ice gripped my intestines. That would mean even more eyes on me.

“It’s always been an ambition of mine.”

“We’ll be working closely together if that is the case.” Toni fluttered her lashes. “You’ll have to give me a personal tour of the city.”

“You’re too kind,” Walden replied, glancing at me briefly, then back at Toni.

Could he sense the self-loathing painted on my insides? I pinched my lips together in case it spilled over the table.

“You recently expanded the Communities Together program statewide, right? If I’m not wrong, that was initially your pitch?”

“My, my, Walden, I guess I’m not the only one doing research.

You’re right, it was my idea, back when I worked in the health department.

But taking it across states and trying to get everyone to play nice?

” Toni said, shaking her head with a smile.

“I don’t need to tell you, right? Endless meetings, constant policy rewrites, I just want to make positive change.

I mean, if we had access to your port, it would change everything for us. ”

I shifted in my seat, and my ribs tightened. There was a deep, thoughtful furrow in Walden’s brow, and his attention was entirely Toni’s. Why wouldn’t it be? They were on the same level. Policies, departments, meetings, and initiatives. I didn’t understand the nuances of these things at all.

I made stupid videos no one would ever see and scribbled in a journal. How did I ever think tottering in here on heels would be enough to mask my inadequacy?

My first proper job had been taking my clothes off for money.

Walden let out a derisive noise, but his scent swelled, lush and crisp from the praise. “My packmate, Ajax would welcome any collaborations. He’s much more inspiring to a crowd than I am. But if you want advice or resources, reach out.”

My teeth cracked as I ground them together. I bet Toni would love any extra time she could claw with Walden.

Toni pressed her hands together. Her perfectly manicured nails glinted in the candlelight. “Oh, best believe I will do that. I think we can do great things together.”

The smile on my face was hollow. It was all I could manage during the conversation.

I poked the half-eaten salmon on my plate.

Would it be childish if I excused myself to the bathroom?

Would anyone even notice? Nestled between Toni’s brash confidence and Walden’s natural authority, I shrank into the background.

I didn’t belong in this space with these people.

They were driving change in a world I barely existed in.

I looked down the table to see if I could catch the eye of Lloyd, Ajax, or Pan, but they were all deep in conversation.

“So, I have to know more about the woman who captured Walden Baylark’s heart.” Toni turned, her tone polite but curious. “Did you meet through the foundation? We both know this workaholic doesn’t go anywhere else.”

I stiffened at her over-familiarity. Both toward me and Walden. Like she knew him outside of his suit.

“Don’t reform him, Ms. Syme. He works overtime hours unpaid,” Mr. Nife interrupted with a quip and his gaze slid over me like glass.

The question hung in the air, and my cheeks warmed. “Oh, I-I’m not employed at the foundation. I think the work Walden and his pack do is incredible. I, um, work in a different field.” I stifled the crack in my tone, but not how small my voice sounded.

Toni tilted her head, and I shuddered under her harsh inspection, knowing she found me wanting. Just don’t ask me what field . I begged the gods for mercy. I knew this would happen. It was why I didn’t want to come.

“Marketing?” Toni prodded. “Don’t tell me you were his PA?”

“I’m a videographer.”

It wasn’t a lie, technically. I had always wanted to make documentaries before I realized how stupid the idea was.

Walden cleared his throat. “Tully is a Hartlock. You would know all about our family’s long history together.” Walden filled in when I didn’t elaborate.

His pride was a punch to my stomach. He smiled down at me, not realizing how his words sliced my insides to ribbons.

A Hartlock.

How many times had I said I wanted to be more than my name, and yet that was the first thing he bragged about me?

“Oh.” Toni sipped her wine, and her gaze narrowed over the rim of her glass. “Your parents were killed by the HLA, weren’t they?”

The casual way she mentioned my parents' deaths made me seize up. How does one even respond to that question?

“Yes.”

“I can’t imagine how that felt. It was all the world could talk about for a long time, wasn’t it?”

“I wouldn’t know. I was too busy grieving.”

“Oh, I’ve got a big mouth, don’t I?” Toni chuckled. “You’re an omega, right? I know it’s a bit more difficult to have a career with your Designation.”

Maybe I was stupid compared to her grand achievements, but I knew exactly what she was implying.

I was a Hartlock, and an omega.

Those were the only prerequisites needed to satisfy an alpha like Walden. His hand squeezed mine as his chuckle mingled with Toni’s, unaware of the swift rebuff hidden in Toni’s brief response. She was at the table by her merits. I was there because of what I’d been born with.

I froze, fixed on their white teeth, gleaming with shared mirth.

The spotlight clung to me for a brief, dizzying moment, but when I added nothing, the conversation melted into grants and fundraising strategies. Mr. Nife fell over himself to offer a list of names to Toni, and the more animated they got, the more I shrank.

I picked up my drink and swallowed the entirety, hoping the liquid would numb the crack in my chest.

“Are you alright?” Walden brushed his lips against my ear when the conversation lulled.

Was he embarrassed by me?

“Perfect,” I replied.

I pulled my hand from his and wiped the clammy palm on my dress. What did it matter if it left stains? Walden pressed a kiss to my forehead.

“If nothing else, you look absolutely stunning together.” Toni tapped her spoon against her lips.

This scentless bitch.

Heat bubbled through my veins. We looked good together, because I was an idiot, and Walden was too good for me. That was what she meant.

“Tully is the most beautiful omega I’ve ever known,” Walden agreed.

The compliment dripped with sincerity. But it made my stomach sink even further, and I managed a thin-lipped smile. Hearing him highlight my looks only reinforced what Toni pointed out. I would have rather he mention the name I’d been born with again. I plummeted in the flimsiness of his esteem.

“Don’t you have three omega sisters? They run a PR company, right? Beautiful and talented, I mean, your family lucked out.”

I tucked my hands underneath my thighs to stop myself from scratching her eyes out.

Why was I surprised?

“You’ll be at the One-Hundred-Year-Gala, won’t you? Imagine how special it will be with another Hartlock omega. I wonder what Esta would say if she met you?” Toni said.

My body prickled with heat. Mortification made my heart thump sluggishly. I barely held it together during this dinner. Imagine how spectacularly I would fail if I had even more eyes on me?

Esta would probably wonder what she’d done to deserve such a weak representation of her legacy.

“I don’t think so.” I shook my head.

I had a taste of what it was like to be a Hartlock, and I wasn’t about to subject myself to an entire gala.

Mr. Nife froze and shot Walden a concerned look.

“That’s still up in the air.” Walden added with a rush.

His crisp eucalypt swirled around me but it didn’t feel like the anchor it had been earlier, more like a shackle I wanted to escape. Walden wanted me there. He wanted me to join his pack, but why? What did I bring?

Toni hummed, eyes darting between the two of us.

“It’d be a real shame to miss you.”

I’m sure she’d love to flirt with Walden and watch me disappoint an entire ballroom of people.

Absolutely. Not.