Page 9 of Small Town Shy Omega (Applewood Falls #1)

“I gather my wild blueberries at dawn. This batch was gathered during an April shower.

Rain poured down over my shoulders, but I didn't let it stop me. I just used my little comb to gently tug the berries from their bushes, amongst the blue wildflowers. A bear actually came by and tried to compete with me for the blueberries, but I growled and fended him off.”

“You fought off a bear?!”

“I’d rather fight a bear than date that pack I met at Marion’s last night, girl.”

“Always pick the bear,” I laughed, and we both nodded in agreement.

Gretel sighed, leaning back. “I’m undateable. Every pack I match with rejects me for some reason. I’ve tried to change. I’ve tried to be more submissive, more Omega-like. But I’m a businesswoman, Layla, and submitting to a pack and staying in the kitchen isn’t my jam.”

“Just hang in there, Gret. I’m confident your dream pack is out there. They may not even be on an app.”

“Every match I get, I wind up screwing up. Either I’m not Omega enough, or I’m ‘too emotional,’ or just too plain silly. I’m undateable girl, and I’ll probably remain single for life.”

“I’m sorry your date didn't work out, babe. Do you wanna try to swipe for another pack?”

“It wouldn’t hurt.”

Gretel opened her phone, and we swiped through packs.

“Oooooh,” I said, pointing to one pack. “They look cute.”

“Look at the giant Alpha Pride flag behind them,” Gretel shuddered, shaking her head. “Not my vibe.”

“I missed that. Good eye.”

More packs popped up on screen.

Bing.

Gretel swiped left on three in a row, and at last, she stumbled across one interesting pack.

“Hmmmmm.” Gretel’s eyebrows waggled.

I lifted the phone. “OMG. They swiped right on you too!”

“Do you know who they are?”

“They’re firefighters, girl. This is a very in-demand pack!”

“Oh shit,” Gretel gasped, zooming in on their muscles and chiseled jaws. “Fuck, they’re hot.”

“Do you want me to send them a Super Like?”

Gretel’s cheeks turned pink. “IDK, Layla. I’m kinda fed up with the dating scene, especially after the shitshow at Marion’s last night. An Omega can only take so much, especially in a world where Alphas think they hold all the cards.”

“Every generation of Alphas says the same crap. They all say we’re not Omega enough, and that we need to submit more. I saw a meme on Instagram the other day about Flapper Omegas in the 1920s.”

“Flappers? You mean those dancer girls?”

“Yes, the flappers. Anyways, men back then were trying to tell those girls they ought to be more submissive. They created propaganda pamphlets dissuading young women from becoming flappers.”

“This really does happen every generation, girl.” Gretel let out a sigh. “Sometimes I feel like I should’ve just gone into Only Omegas and gotten rich. I wouldn’t have to deal with any of this, of course then I wouldn’t have time to run Gretel’s Goodies on the side.”

“You could probably still do Only Omegas,” I snorted, setting Gretel’s phone down. “And run your blueberry shop on the side.”

“When would I ever find time to gather my blueberries?”

The pack double-hearted Gretel.

Pack Firefighter: Is this the Omega whose cat we rescued from that tree last year?

Gretel’s blue hair fell over her face. “OMG!! I actually know these Alphas. They rescued my kitten from a willow tree!”

Gretel grabbed her phone.

Gretel: I totally forgot .

Pack Firefighter: We thought you were taken

Gretel: Ohhhhh no, I was just with a pack that didn't work out. Story of my life

Gretel: lol

We waited for a response.

Gretel bit her lip as she turned to me. “Left on read.”

“Crap,” I hissed, “maybe they’re just busy.”

Gretel burst into tears.

“Every match I get, I wind up screwing up. Either I’m not Omega enough, or I’m too emotional, or just plain silly. I’m undateable girl, and I’ll probably remain single for life.”

“Your pack is out there, Gretel! Have faith.” I smiled, hugging my friend. “Maybe they had to go on a firefighting rescue mission. Keep your chin up.”

The loud sound of fire engines blazed through the town.

Wee ooh wee ooh.

Gretel’s right brow ticked up. “Maybe you were onto something.”

I wanted to say something to comfort my friend. Really comfort her.

“I’ll light a candle for you tonight,” I said earnestly to Gretel. “I’ll do it while I bring my crystals out under the moon. And I’ll offer a prayer to the fates that you meet your pack.”

“Do you really pray ?” Gretel frowned, confusion in her wide, blueberry-and-witch hazel eyes. “I mean, do you actually believe we’re not alone in the universe?”

“I started again,” I said, a smile hovering on my lips. “The goddess, girl. She protects all Omegas and some Alphas I guess, too. The ones who aren’t assholes.”

Gretel snorted. “If you say so.”

“Maybe when I was younger, I doubted her existence a bit. But as I grow more mature, prayer brings me comfort. Even if I’m just talking to myself. And even if I am merely blabbing into the void, it helps me feel less alone. When I set out my crystals, I feel energy filling me.”

Gretel murmured, wonder and confusion on her face. “I guess I could try it. I mean, every time I refer to ‘the goddess’ I’m mainly being facetious. I don’t actually believe in prayer, or crystals—even though I sell a ton here in the store.”

Gretel fumbled in her desk, and after finding what she sought, she handed a tiny blue crystal to me.

“This isn’t much,” Gretel whispered with a laugh, “but I actually found this crystal while out harvesting blueberries under the full moon a few months ago. It’s supposedly a witch’s crystal.”

I stared at the crystal.

Emotion pummeled me, flowing through me like a hurricane wave.

The gift from Gretel was so precious, it even brought tears to my eyes.

“Thanks,” I murmured, touching the crystal. “This is incredible, Gret.”

“It’s supposed to bring you good luck, girl. A new friend in your life: maybe it’ll help you with clarity about your new pack. Maybe it’ll help you learn your scent.”

On the way out of Gretel’s Goodies, I couldn’t help but smile. Gretel was a good, kind friend, and that was rare these days. Other Omegas only thought of themselves, not really supporting the other Omegas in Applewood Falls.

Gretel? She cared. She really had a big heart, and I hoped she’d find her true scent matches soon enough.

I laid out my blue crystal later that night. It complemented my translucent crystals in a lovely way, and Whiskers was even captivated by it. My cat kept swishing her fluffy tail, sniffing the crystal like it was blueberry candy.

I tapped my foot, waiting for dusk to arrive… and for the moon to shine.

When the moon finally came out, it was full and bright, bathing the forest in milky light.

It spoke to something eternal in me, something primordial and timeless.

When I looked at the moon, all anxiety dissipated and worry no longer existed.

Maybe it was because we Omegas were creatures of the moon, and we recharged our souls through the night.

Or maybe it was because the moon always existed on this planet, going back to the earliest days.

I crossed my fingers, offering up a prayer to Fate.

Dear Fate , I whispered, my cheeks rosy and shy, if this is right, please give me a sign.

I’m not the type of Omega to ever chase after a pack.

But they’re what I want Fate, they’re kind and gentlemanly, and each Alpha always holds the door for me wherever I go.

They’re exactly like the Alphas I read about in my romance novels, only even more helpful.

Their souls are alive… and that’s what matters.

I didn't want to date a dead, soulless pack. With my pack of handsome Alphas, I felt alive.

I clung to Blake’s arm, refusing to let him go. “Take me with you.”

Blake tried to shake me off.

“You’re giving little sis energy right now, and I’m trying to go fishing.”

“Pleeeeeease.” I didn't remind Blake that he’d be fishing in my lake, so I had a right to bug him much as I pleased.

Blake looked at me, then frowned.

“Layla,” he began, then he sighed. “You are the last Omega I ever expected to get so clingy.”

“Ohhh, so I’m clingy now.” The pain just didn't stop.

“No,” Blake huffed, pacing back and forth. “That’s not what I meant.”

“Well, what did you mean?” I snapped.

“Don’t snap at me!”

“Sorry,” I muttered, tears welling as my gaze dropped to my feet. “I’m so sorry, I was hanging out with Gretel the other day, and—"

“Gretel?” Blake’s brow twisted in confusion.

“Gretel,” I clarified, “from Gretel’s Goodies, the only blueberry shop in Applewood Falls. She’s been having trouble matching with packs and the packs she meets treat her terribly.”

Blake stared into my eyes, and he really listened. He heard me out—he didn't just blow me off, didn't tell me I was crazy or delulu.

My last pack… actually called me delulu one time, and I never forgot it. It stung, badly. Because I knew that they didn't respect me, and any emotion I showed was brushed off as “crazy.”

“I hear you,” Blake said softly, cupping my jaw. “Go on, beautiful. I’m listening.”

Tears blossomed. “Gretel’s bad luck had me thinking about my own failed bondings. My last pack called me dramatic. They said I made things up about them.”

“I’m so sorry,” Blake whispered, and I sensed he was earnest.

My eyes ticked down. “They said I was crazy if I said their apartment was too hot. They said I was delusional because I suspected they were cheating on me. Well, it turned out I wasn’t so delusional after all, though they didn't admit that.”

“How so?” Blake growled, and I sensed his Alpha threatening to come to the surface. To protect me, I realized, and this realization made my pulse thrum.

“I caught them with another Omega,” I gritted out. “They had me thinking I was a psycho the entire time. Accusing me of testing their boundaries to see if they’d flip. They kept controlling me, while they saw someone else behind my back.”