Chapter 5
CHAPTER FIVE
Staff Roof, Omega Hotel
Iwander along the corner of the hotel’s copper roof with decorative parapets. It is strictly forbidden to guests. It is one of the safe places that HOs are allowed to hang out during their breaks.
I tip back my head, enjoying the rare feel of the warmth of the sun on my face. I close my eyes to savor the moment of peace.
The one thing about living in a hotel is that it is never quiet.
For once, I allow the fear and anxiety to bleed out of me. I haven’t been able to quieten my worry about Hatton, Icarus, Bird, or my own precarious position all morning.
Or my thoughts of my brothers’ plans.
The dream of a takeover.
An Omega uprising.
I want it so much that my teeth ache.
It’s the type of daring scheme, stealing this hotel from underneath the greedy Alpha rich, which Robin Hood would jump at.
But am I still that young na?ve Omega who played at outlaw?
I know the truth of hardship now.
The truth of how much we all have to lose.
The truth that my own daughter could lose even more.
Yet do I want to be like my dad, accepting living in misery out of fear of what may happen to my child?
Or do I want to be brave for both our futures?
I snap my eyes open in frustration, conflicted.
I stare up at the sky that is sharply blue in the way that it only is in winter.
My lungs burn with how fresh the air is up here.
I shiver in the cold without a coat.
Right now, however, I only care that this is my fifteen minute morning break, before I need to start emptying the trash in the rooms on the third floor. So far on the second floor this morning I have come across used condoms, panties, and an entire box of chocolates tipped into the trash.
I shuddered when I came across the chocolates.
Sacrilege.
I guess that I can’t delay any longer. I better at least make sure that my performance on Christmas Eve is good.
I am used to it, at least.
Maya would dress her three Omega kids up in cute matching outfits and make us put on song and dance performances for after dinner entertainment for her friends and clients.
We were part of her brand. Everyone in the hotel earned their keep in some way, even her Omega kids.
Her friends would clap and pat us on the head or kiss our cheeks in a way that Bird in particular hated.
Hatton found the singing and dancing, as well as an audience’s attention, excruciating. He would try to hide behind me.
Luckily, because he was the youngest, everybody found that sweet.
I clear my throat, before I reluctantly start to sing the lyrics to the central Christmas song, “I am an Omega elf and I love being put on a shelf…” I cut off, blowing out a breath.
Fuck that. I hate Maya’s Traditional carols.
It’s about time that I make up some of my own.
Instead, I put my hand on my hip and sway in the elf dance that Bird choreographed.
“I am an Omega elf, and I know when you’re sleeping, and when you’re awake.
So, you’d better be a good Alpha because I know whether you’ve been bad or good… ”
To my shock, a gorgeous, rocky voice joins in behind me, finishing the sentence for me in a way that I have never heard before, “…So be good for goodness sake or you’ll find your sliced off knot underneath the Christmas tree!”
I yelp, blushing with embarrassment.
Shit, someone else is up here.
I twirl around to find myself staring into beautiful midnight green eyes…at the most handsome and dominant Omega that I have ever seen.
I know that I am gaping at him.
I can’t stop myself.
The man is leaning against the high parapet, as if we’re singing a scandalous duet in a karaoke bar.
He is almost as short as I am (which I love after having always to strain my neck to look up at Icarus), but is athletic. He is a couple of years younger than I am with wavy silver hair, which contrasts against his sun blushed skin.
His sparkling midnight green eyes are framed by impossibly long lashes. His nails are painted silver, which matches his eyeshadow.
When the light glints off the ugly Rej bracelet at his wrist, my heart sinks.
So, this is one of the new Hotel Omegas that have been brought in to cover this busy period.
He is pretty enough that he’ll to be popular with the guests, but Ellington will hate him.
The new Omega has already found out the best spot to take his break, which is smart. Yet the fact that he’s taking a break before he has changed into his uniform or started working doesn’t bode well for how things will go for him here.
This Omega is going to be trouble or at least, get himself into trouble.
He’s a punk Omega.
I’ve never seen anyone like him.
His eyebrow is pierced, and he has a tattoo on his shoulder.
Somehow, seeing markings that normally are only inked on Alphas makes him look even hotter.
I didn’t know that Omegas were allowed to either be pierced or tattooed.
The Omega laughs and straightens, before taking a quick step toward me. He is rocking on his heels like a tiny ball of energy.
I stare across the roof at him and the type of clothes that I have only seen Betas and Alphas wearing before.
He is dressed in awesome black leather trousers, boots, and a punky sleeveless metallic silver top that is slashed to reveal his muscled chest.
Ellington would probably faint if he saw an Omega in an outfit like that.
I fucking love it.
The male Omega must be as cold as I am, however, because he doesn’t have a coat. Unlike me, he does have a scarf wound around his neck, which glitters with tiny snowflakes like stars.
He gives a sunny smile. “I’m Piper. Well, friends call me Pip. Since we’ve already jumped to a subversive musical number together, we must at least be friends now.”
“Isn’t kissing the next step after singing together? Or in the movies, fucking?”
This time, it’s Piper’s turn to blush. “Buy a guy dinner first.”
Shit, I hope that he isn’t a virgin.
I really hope that he isn’t if he’s a new HO.
I determinedly cross my arms.
Icarus helped Bird through his first terrifying and confusing months as a HO. I am going to help this unusual Omega who reminds me of myself.
I don’t want Ellington to break him.
I glance at my watch.
Ten minutes left.
Well, crash course it is.
“I love your style,” I say.
Piper spins like a mini silver tornado. “I designed and then adapted these clothes myself. Good, huh? Would you like me to make some for you, Gracie?”
I blink. “Firstly, that’s not my name. Secondly, I don’t know where you’ve come from but things work differently here.
You can’t just make things like that. It’s impressive.
But staff wear uniforms.” I indicate mine.
“If I was to wear something like that outfit, then I would be breaking,” I make a quick calculation in my head, “thirteen rules.”
“Shit.” Piper looks proud of himself. Why isn’t he getting it? He’s going to have his ass beaten if anyone but me sees him like this. “How do I make it a round twenty?”
“You should take those clothes off,” I snap.
“Whoa.” He quirks his pierced eyebrow. “I love a strong woman but I prefer to be the one who gives the orders, rather than the one who obeys. Plus, I didn’t expect HOs to be so forward.
Still, hot as you are, I’m more into forging deep connections and finding my soulmate, you know?
I’m flattered though. How about we start with a coffee, maybe talk about our favorite movies, then—”
“I meant,” I flush, trying not to laugh, “that those clothes aren’t appropriate for this hotel.”
Piper’s expression shutters but not before I notice the hurt. “I’m not the type of Omega who cares about what’s appropriate.”
I sigh.
I’m getting that.
I remember being twenty-one and being filled with such reckless bravery.
I remember thinking that it was possible to rebel this openly.
I’ve been taught differently.
Sneaky Omega wins the day…or the hotel.
I wave my hand at him. “Page two hundred through to two hundred and forty-four in the Rules for Staff Handbook on appearance. Staff must wear the official uniform. They are not permitted to wear nail varnish, makeup, or have any visible tattoos or piercings.”
Piper looks at me, confused. “Gracie, this is some unique dirty talk you have. Go on, tell me another rule. You’re giving me goosebumps.” He cards his fingers (the ones that are breaking the rule on nail polish), through his curls. “Tell me, what rule is my pretty hair breaking?”
I narrow my eyes. “Two hundred and seventy eight: Long hair must be tied back by a ribbon and—”
“Fuck, I’m a living rule-breaker.” He smirks. “Don’t tell me anymore. I told you, I like to take things slow. I may just soak through my pants with slick here.”
“You wouldn’t if you were wearing the Omega absorbent panties that are handed out to staff.”
Shit, did I say that out loud?
Piper arches his brow; his eyes dance with amusement. “Good to know.”
I peer closer at his tattoo, glad that at least it’s on his shoulder and will be covered up by his uniform.
A gorgeous, howling wolf tattoo is inked on his shoulder.
My breath hitches.
I know that design.
Piper is one of the infamous Wolf siblings.
I take an instinctive step back.
Now I know why he must have become a HO. How could he have ended up as anything else, when his parents were executed, and he was marked as a Reject son of criminals, when he must have barely been in kindergarten?
I remember because those executions led to one of the rare arguments between Dad and Maya.
Maya announced the executions as salacious gossip over dinner one night.
I had never seen Dad go so pale. I thought that he was going to collapse.
Maya didn’t notice. She continued to crow about how the Wolf pack had gone bankrupt and the kids would likely end up in the Institute as Companions, as they deserved to.
Suddenly, Dad stood, the chair screeching along the floor.
“Shut up, Maya. Shut up, shut up for one damn day in your life, just…” Dad stormed out of the room.