Knot Hot for You (Starsfalls Omegaverse #3)

Chapter 1

Hestia

The other students in the waiting room keep glancing at me or outright staring, but I don’t care. I’m too excited, and I can’t help that my eagerness manifests as bouncing in my seat. I barely even register the hard plastic chair digging into me.

If they don’t want to see someone’s excitement, then they shouldn’t watch and be all judgy about it.

Although there are a lot of alphas in here, so it’s possible they’re staring for other reasons, but I don’t care about that either. I’m not looking for a pack.

I’m here for work, just like all of them, waiting to see if I’ve been accepted into the Rescuers Field Training Program. If I am, then I’m about to find out where I’ll be living for the next two years.

This is the final part of our education after graduating from the Rescuers Academy. At the end of this training, we either become a fully licensed rescuer or have to go through the training again until we pass.

I hope I’m assigned to a busy station so I can help a lot of people. Plus, a challenging environment is the best way to learn.

I’m ready to get out there and help real people in real emergencies.

I’m pretty sure I’m ready.

No, I am ready. I’m just so excited, I’m getting it confused with nervousness.

I made it this far even though everyone said the odds were against me.

I smile, pleased with myself. As if they could argue with my conclusion. I knew the odds weren’t against me. I did the research, I analyzed the data. There’s no reason an omega can’t be just as good at search and rescue as an alpha or beta.

Omegas may be generally smaller and weaker, but we’re strong enough and smart enough to do the same things other designations can do.

And if I don’t have the brute strength to do something, there are other ways to accomplish it.

I might not be able to single-handedly carry an alpha down a mountain, but I’m knowledgeable enough to make a stretcher and get them to safety.

Of course I still built up my muscles and stamina, and while in comparison my physical score might be the lowest in my cohort, it more than meets the requirements for the job. I’m at the top of the class in every other area. I have the highest test scores and I’m great with first aid.

I wouldn’t have attended the Rescuers Academy to begin with if I didn’t think I could do the job.

I thoroughly researched it beforehand, and even though it’s less common for omegas to work high-risk jobs, that doesn’t mean we can’t excel in them.

It’s typically gently suggested that omegas be wary of entering high-stress fields, but based on my calculations, there’s only a 0.

69% chance that my designation would be a significant hindrance to my team or patients.

Thanks to modern medicine, omegas can do anything other designations can do.

I use descenters so my scent doesn’t bother anyone.

I take suppressants to time my heat so I don’t unexpectedly miss work or have an unpleasant surprise on the job.

Since rescuers are on call for a few weeks at a time and off for two weeks, it’s perfect for scheduling heats.

The data backs me up, I can achieve my dream despite my designation.

Except, if I’m honest, part of why I’m bouncing around is due to nerves.

It’s up to our instructors to recommend us for further training or not, and it comes down to their personal judgement.

Even if our scores are 100%, they take our personalities, teamwork skills, and other factors into account.

Which means they could choose not to recommend a student if they think they’re not a good fit, like if they’re an omega.

But surely enough of the instructors believe I can do this and will let me join the program.

Most of my professors were supportive, though admittedly some were tentatively so.

Always cautioning me against overexerting myself or straining my muscles, as if I don’t know my own body.

I’m well aware of my abilities and limits.

I know to monitor myself, otherwise I won’t be able to help anyone if I work too hard and pass out.

My academy professors aren’t the ones judging us now though. The proctors are noted rescuers from across the country, and I don’t know how they feel about omegas. I can’t calculate the odds of them passing me.

The rest of my classmates have already been brought back to hear their results, so the only students left are strangers.

The ones who were sitting near me have moved further away.

If they can’t handle a little enthusiasm, I’m not sure how they expect to deal with everything they’ll encounter in the field.

I hope they call me back to hear my results soon. If I have to wait much longer, I might start chewing on my hair, and that’s a habit I’d rather not pick up again.

The room slowly empties, until finally it’s my turn.

I sit in front of the committee, keeping myself still by sheer force of will.

My ears buzz when they tell me my results. I can’t be sure I heard them correctly, but my mind is already spinning, working out where to go from here.