Chapter 4 - Faye
FOUR
Faye
I wake from the best sleep I’ve had in months, snuggled up in the angry alpha’s hoodie. Being surrounded by his scent brought me so much peace. I imagine how he’d react if he knew then quickly stash it under my comforter to hide my secret. Hopefully, he won’t ask for it back.
After dressing, I take my daily heat suppressants, birth control pill, and spritz myself in a crazy amount of scent blocker.
Even when using blocker, scent can still come through—especially after hours, while working out, or in hot temperatures.
Many omegas don’t use them, choosing to lean into their scent.
Especially those who are actively looking for a pack.
I’m not ashamed of being an omega, but I want to avoid any more alpha attention if I can help it.
I power up my laptop and see that my class schedule has been released.
SVU has one of the few health botany courses in the country.
It’s an unusual program geared toward holistic healing.
Gram taught me everything I know about plants through brewing tea so far, but I’d like to gain more knowledge.
With more training, I’ll be able to help more people, especially omegas.
My eventual goal is to open a center for omegas to help them navigate heat, deal with scent issues, and heal from any trauma.
Gram’s been an active figure in the omega rights movement for years, so she’s always been supportive of my goals.
Examining my schedule, I’m relieved that classes don’t start for a few more days. It’ll give me more time to acclimate, and Sabs has already messaged me with an itinerary of activities for the day.
As I descend the stairs, I spot Kady sprawled over the sofa, cupping her head and groaning. Sabs pats her arm sympathetically. She wears a pink, fluffy robe, identical to the one she gifted me. They must be a Stella House thing.
Sabs’s face lights up when she spots me. “Faye!”
Kady winces. “Can you keep it down?”
“Ignore her.” A cute woman comes in, precariously balancing a tray of green smoothies.
She’s an inch shorter than me, with warm brown skin, and resembles a pixie with her delicate facial features.
Her knee-high cowboy boots pair well with her short denim skirt and boho blouse with a navy waistcoat over the top.
She smiles apologetically, showing off adorable dimples. “Kady over-indulged last night.”
“It’s your fault!” Kady points at Sabs in accusation. “You were the one who kept buying me cocktails!”
“Don’t blame us because you can’t handle your liquor.” Sabs snickers then whispers behind her hand. “We maaaay have given her a few extras to loosen her up a bit.”
“I am never drinking again,” Kady declares dramatically, pulling a blanket up under her pointed chin. “Ever.”
“This will help.” Delilah passes her a glass. “It’ll make you feel better.” She holds out the tray to offer me and Sabs a smoothie. “It’s great to meet you properly, Faye. I’m Delilah. Sabs already told me that we’re going to be BFFs.”
Sabs takes a loud slurp. “You’re the only person who can make veggies and greens taste delicious.”
I don’t make a habit of drinking things that are green and gloopy, but one sip has me converted. “Wow.”
Sabs smacks her lips. “Good, right?”
“And it’s three of your five a day!” Delilah chirps before turning to me, a serious expression on her face. She tucks one of her wild curls behind her ear. “Do you have any allergies or any foods you dislike, Faye?”
“I eat pretty much anything, but I’ve got a sweet tooth.” I smile shyly. “I may have already finished the cookies you baked. They were the best I’ve ever tasted.”
“They’re my mom’s recipe. A family secret! I already whipped up another batch for later with raspberries and pistachios.”
“Are you ready to explore campus today? I know I promised you a tour!” Sabs leaps up, full of energy. She seems to operate at a thousand miles an hour at all times. “I’ve rented us a cart for the day so we can show you the sights.”
“Count me out,” Kady mumbles from behind her blanket fort. “Sorry, Faye.”
Sabs rolls her eyes. “You can show Faye around the library another time since that’s basically your second home.”
Suddenly, something big and furry rubs against my leg, making me jump. The giant, orange fluff ball is the size of a small dog.
“Larry!” Kady croons, trying to beckon the beast up onto her lap. “Up here!”
Larry hisses in Sabs’s direction. He has a very squashed face, like he’s been whacked with a frying pan—so ugly that it’s lovable.
Sabs narrows her eyes. “Nice to see you too, little monster.”
Larry snubs her, turning his attention back to rubbing his cheeks over my ankles.
“Try not to move,” Delilah warns me. “I still have scars from when he scratched me for trying to tear him away from a plate of flapjacks.”
“Ignore them, Faye.” Kady swats her hand before her voice turns high-pitched. “You’re a good boy, aren’t you, Larry?”
Delilah and Sabs’s expressions say otherwise.
Cautiously, I kneel. Delilah and Sabs freeze, like we’re in the presence of a lion, but he just purrs quite happily. I dare to pat his head, and he lets out a loud meow, tipping his face up so I can tickle under his chin.
Sabs gasps. “No fucking way.”
“See? He’s an angel,” Kady croons. “Some people,” she glares at Delilah and Sabs, “just don’t understand him.”
Larry brushes his cheek against my hand one final time before hopping up next to Kady and cuddling into her legs like a giant water bottle.
“We’ll catch up with you later.” Sabs points at Kady. “For Faye’s initiation, remember?”
“Yes, yes,” Kady replies. “I’m not too hungover for that. I’ll get everything ready.”
I gulp down the nervousness threatening to strangle my vocal cords. “Initiation?”
“It’s nothing to worry about, honestly.” Delilah must sense my anxiety. “It’s not really an initiation per se, more something to really welcome you into Stella House.”
“Forget about it for now.” Sabs squeezes my bicep. “Give me five to get dressed, then we’ll get going!”
We spend the rest of the day zipping around in a golf cart.
Sabs and Delilah show me all sorts of cool buildings and places to hangout.
On Sabs’s insistence, they take me to join the gym.
She’s very sporty and captain of the college’s volleyball team.
I told her I’d never go, but it’s free, and she’s adamant that a hot yoga class—which sounds like my idea of hell—will change my life.
I learn that Sabs is an engineering student. She’s the only female omega in that subject, but she won their respect after outlifting many of them at the gym. Delilah studies culinary arts and is earning a minor in music performance. Her easy-going energy balances Sabs’s outspoken fieriness.
We take a tour around the epic SVU theatre, seeing where many famous actors learned their craft, then we grab a bubble tea and head to Toasted—apparently, the best sandwich bar on campus that packs fresh fillings between giant slabs of focaccia.
Delilah points out Club Knotty. Despite its tongue-in-cheek name, it has an omega only area. We also pass the giant greenhouse where I’ll be taking most of my classes. The glass-domed building is massive and holds every plant you can think of.
During our time together, I get to know the girls better. Sabs is from a coastal, surfer town. She’s the youngest of four and the only girl. Delilah is a small-town girl who has always dreamed of bigger things and developed her love of cooking from her mom.
When we return to Stella House, I have to do a double-take.
The entire living area has been transformed into a mini spa.
Kady lies on a massage table, her face covered in mud with cucumbers over her eyes.
Four foot spas are already bubbling, and the coffee table is covered with every color nail polish you can imagine.
Kady removes one cucumber slice to peer at us. “You took your time.”
Delilah grins, removing her lumpy scarf that she told me she’d knitted herself. “You sound much better.”
“Pampering always helps,” Kady replies. “Now get on your robes, and meet back down here stat. It’s time to welcome Faye into our family the Stella way.”
“Is this part of my initiation?” I wonder whether they’ll force me to give them pedicures or squeeze out blackheads. Hazing is supposed to be unpleasant, right?
“Get into your PJs and the most comfortable, fluffy socks you can find,” Kady orders. “Now!”
Delilah squeezes my arm. “Trust me, it’s best not to argue with Kady. She’s hella moody when she doesn’t get her way.”
“I was talking to you too, Del!” Kady hurls a soggy slice of cucumber in her direction. “Now move your ass!”
I don’t waste any time in doing what she asked and am first to return downstairs to find Kady lining up chips and dip on the coffee table with military-level precision.
I spy Larry prowling nearby, his whiskers pointed forward and eying the guacamole with interest, but he seems too wary of his owner’s watchful gaze to make a move yet.
“Every few weeks, we have a Stella girls’ night,” Kady explains. “It’s tradition.”
“You do this … all the time?”
“Well, it’s not normally such a big occasion,” she shrugs.
“Sometimes, we just watch a movie and eat popcorn. Other times, we go bowling or grab ice cream, but it’s always a chance to unwind.
Things can get pretty crazy at SVU, especially for omegas.
Sisterhood is important to us Stellas. Lots of omegas just come here to find a pack then leave, but we all want more than that, and I’m guessing you do too as you ended up here? You’re studying health botany, right?”
I take a seat on the sofa, sinking into the plush cushions. Kady tosses a cool can of soda at me, which I catch at the last second.
“How did you guess? Do I give off a weird plant girl vibe?”