Page 35 of Ondine: Vol. 2

“But he was so hot. Smelled amazing. He had so many abs…” Shasta wistfully recalls.

Dante is an omega favorite because he’s so handsome. I don’t think it outweighs his other flaws. But I’m not an omega.

Shasta and I finish up. I give her the exit paperwork and answer her questions. While we were in my office, I had the cleaning crew go through the room and clean and pack her nest. She rented most materials, but some needed to be incinerated. She brought some plush animals that will be waiting for her in her locker. Cleaned and bagged lovingly.

She’s like 5‘2“ and all smiles. Who doesn’t like to spend time around omegas? They are honestly silly as hell. Especially when coming in and out of heats.

I watch her pull out the stuffies and she giggles at each one, talking to them like they missed her. I try not to smile at how precious it is. I have a good reputation here for my professionalism. I don’t want to compromise it.

My phone rings while I schedule the next cleaning on the computer.

“This is Arnold,” I answer.

“Arnie!” My roommate answers. He’s a beta as well.

“Mads. What’re you calling for?” I ask, a little annoyed.

“I’ve got a date tonight. I don’t want you coming home and interrupting us if you know what I mean.” I can practically hear his eyebrows wiggling.

“Mads, you haven’t got laid in like a year, why do you think this will be any different?” I notice my next omega is still in her nest. There are only heat-registering cameras in the room. It’s for their safety and our insurance. So all I see are red and blue blobs. She’s still running hot.

Hm, maybe she needs another alpha. She only reserved one.

“Oh fuck off. I have high hopes for this one. She’s an omega.”

I nearly drop the phone.

“What did you just say?”

There are only a finite amount of omegas. I interact with them everyday because it’s my job, but the average beta might only ever interact with an omega on a rare occasion, if ever.

“She came up to me at the park. I was flying my drone and she wanted to see. I showed her how to use it and then I asked her out. I’ve never really seen one up close. She fucking glows, dude. Her name is Nancy and I’m practically in love. We went for coffee last week and already went to a movie. Did you know they were just like real people? She wants to be an administrative assistant.”

I roll my eyes. The media turns omegas into these simpering celestial bodies. But yes, at the end of the day, their designation doesn’t make them any less (or more) human.

“Oh what am I saying, of course you know about omegas. You have like nine of them as pets. You know when I picture you atwork it’s like you’re in a lab coat and all the omegas are like little lab rats in their cages. Is that how it is?”

I’m not listening to him. I’m too busy studying the screen. This omega, Mabel, definitely is not done with her heat. I need to go in and check on her. I cancel the cleaning services and pull up some alpha profiles.

“Yeah that’s how it is,” I answer just to move him along. “Mads, you can’t date an omega. Does she have alphas? Have they met you? Do they approve? They are very territorial.”

He scoffs. “She says they suck. She doesn’t want me to meet them. They are two brothers. Is that weird?”

Not that weird. They would handle her heat tag team style. Now three brothers? That’s weird.

“Yeah I don’t know. Just be careful ok. Do they know you’re courting her?”

“Courting? I’m not a fucking alpha. I’m dating her. Like a normal person.”

Mabel isn’t moving.

“I have to go. I’ll try to find somewhere to be tonight. Have fun with your omega. And be safe.”

“Yes, dad.”

I click the phone off and run down the hallway to Mabel’s room. I use my keycard to enter.

“Mabel? It’s Arnold Berrera. Can I approach you?”