Eighteen
“You stay next to one of us at all times, omega, do you understand?”
I pause with my arm linked through Moon’s, glaring at him.
The entire day, the pack has been pushing us together, trying to get us to form a relationship.
If anyone had asked my opinion, I’d have told them it wouldn’t work because Moon has a stick so far up his ass that it’s affecting his ability to process human emotions.
“Of course, Alpha,” I say with a heavy dose of saccharine.
At least I’m out of the house, how novel.
“Moon! Over here! Is this your pack’s new omega? Smile, sweetheart! What’s your name?”
Even sneaking in the side entrance, we were spotted far too quickly. We’re at this big, fancy party that’s apparently being thrown in Clement’s honor to celebrate the launch of a new line of clothing he just released. Apparently, he’s a pretty big deal in the fashion world.
The party has been months in the making and since the whole pack wanted to support him, they decided it was safe enough for me to attend. As long as I stayed glued to one of my alphas the entire time.
The original plan was for the whole pack to escort me in, but the beta man hired to do my hair and makeup went a little over schedule and Clement needed to be here and the pack sort of just got pulled in different directions.
So, escorted by my dreamboat of an alpha, Moon, who just spoke more words to me than he has in days. Combined.
“And behave yourself,” he angrily whispers into my ear.
I can play this game, though. I was raised in a purebred home where manners were king and if you couldn’t charm the pants off of any guest, then you weren’t allowed to associate with the family.
I may have been young when the manners were drilled into me, but Winslow was good enough at reinforcing them when she wasn’t impressed by my outbursts.
There are photographers everywhere, people shouting questions at us, trying to get us to talk to them, but Moon keeps pulling me along, stiff and uncomfortable.
To be fair, that might have something to do with the itching powder I rubbed all over the inside of his dress shirt.
Can I be blamed though, that the pack has gorgeous rosebushes on their property that just so happen to be full of rosehips at the moment?
It’s like they asked me to grind some up and dry them out for this purpose.
Otherwise, why would they even have them?
None of them strike me as a stop and smell the roses sort.
“Stunning, Omega! You do Clement’s gown justice! It’s like it was made just for your body. Tell me, what’s it like to be part of his pack?”
I stop, letting my arm fall from Moon’s, just because I can. I like to be complimented, and this random beta woman is the first person to tell me I look pretty since I slipped into this gown.
As soon as it’s clear I’m stopping for her, a bunch of cameras miraculously appear, snapping incessantly as I prop a hand on my hip and slip into a pose that feels showy.
I look over my shoulder and wink at Moon, who seems equal parts irritated and turned on by the bare back of my slinky silver gown, then turn and blow a kiss to the reporter that asked the question.
“Would you believe that you’ve already complimented me more times than this stubborn guy behind me?
Thank you so much, yes, isn’t the gown to die for?
Clement actually did make this one just for me— we were up all night a few days ago pinning everything and adding embellishments.
He’s the sweetest. He told me I wasn’t allowed to wear something that was exactly the same as anything else he’s made, so he added this bit of beading on my hip and the lace detail over the shoulder. ”
Now that I’ve embarrassed Moon, he’s suddenly very interested in appearing to be a perfect alpha.
He does a great job of pretending to care about me, stepping close and wrapping an arm around my hip, making me tilt my head back so he can press a kiss to my temple.
“If I haven’t complimented you yet Fable, it’s because you take my breath away in this gown.
How am I to compliment you when I don’t have air in my lungs?
Isn’t she the most beautiful creature you’ve ever seen?
Let’s give them a little spin, shall we darling? ”
Laying it on a little thick, aren’t we?
I oblige, mad he’s beating me at my own game.
It’s not long before we continue our walk on the other side of the roped off section all the paparazzi are enclosed in like a crazed petting zoo, entering the actual event.
It’s held in a large warehouse that’s been completely decked out for the occasion.
Like he always knew I’d be here, the ceiling is draped in real wisteria flowers that must have cost a fortune to import, the walls all covered in fabric panels in a similar material to my dress, making the room look like it’s hemmed in by liquid silver.
There are cocktail tables scattered everywhere and servers carrying drinks and food that looks more decorative than edible, and in the very center of the room, dominating the space, is a massive catwalk where the models will walk down to show off Clement’s work.
The sound of glasses clinking and conversation fills the space, almost making me feel like I’m in a different world.
It’s a little intimidating knowing Clement spends so much time surrounded by and touching beautiful women, mapping their bodies and being fawned over, but I refuse to be an insecure omega.
With my hair pinned behind my ear and big barrel curls running down my back, I look like I belong in a silent noir film.
The makeup is a bit heavy, but I know the smoky shades the makeup artist used to enhance my eyes are doing their job, along with the precisely applied black eyeliner and mascara meant to make my eyes look twice as big as they usually are.
I feel beautiful, like a piece of art myself, but I would be stuck with the one alpha I don’t want to enjoy it with.
“Don’t try that shit again,” he whispers into my ear right before lifting a hand in greeting to somebody.
He introduces me, and I jump right in, acting the part of a doting omega the way I was taught to do. Moon must think it was a fluke because after that he makes it a point to introduce me to as many people as possible, his smile growing more and more brittle when I never buckle.
Every group of people we walk away from, we walk away with a dinner invitation, a brunch invitation, tears in their eyes from how hilariously funny I am, or massive smiles on their faces, usually at Moon’s expense.
I’m working the room, and it gets to a point where I start to feel like I’m in a room full of friends instead of strangers.
A switch flips and I start to enjoy myself.
Someone hands me a glass of champagne, and then I’m miffed my date hadn’t done so, trying to remain patient when I don’t see any of my other alphas anywhere in the room.
Catching me looking, Moon smirks down at me and it’s about at that point I realize he must have done something to keep them away from me, because he wanted me to have to deal with him. At least he understands how little I want to spend time with him.
“Excuse us for a minute, would you?”
I pull us away from our most recent friends, patting the wife on the arm while towing Moon from the room, avoiding catching anyone else’s eye so that we can be done with this dance.
The second we step into an empty hallway, I pin him to the wall, fury filling my body. “Where are they? What did you fucking do so that I’d be alone?”
“What’s the matter, Fable, aren’t enjoying yourself? Ready to leave yet?”
“What, did you make a bet with someone that I wouldn’t last? Is that it? Did you really go to the effort to sabotage me so that you’d have to take me home where you know I’d be even more miserable? What the hell did I ever do to you that you have to be such an incessant piece of shit to me?”
His smirk falls from his face, his eyes morphing into the cold orbs that look more at home on his grotesquely pretty face.
“Maybe the rest of my pack just doesn’t think about you as much as you assume they do.
Why does it have to be something I did? Maybe there are just more interesting people here they’d rather talk to. They see you every day.”
I almost believe him, but the slight tightening of the muscle under his left eye gives him away. It always spasms the tiniest amount when he’s bullshitting. Valuable information I learned pretty quickly with him.
“Do not use my hard-earned insecurities against me,” I snap at him.
“Unlike you, your packmates know the proper way to treat an omega, and you forget that I’m bonded to three of them.
I can feel their stress through the bond as they undo whatever made-up situation you’ve inserted them into to keep them away from me.
It’s pretty pathetic how hard you have to work to keep yourself miserable. ”
“I don’t trust you. And until I can figure out why that is, I will do everything in my power to protect the pack I built without consideration for you.
If you want to stay out here in the empty hallway and miss Clement’s big night, be my guest. He probably won’t even notice you’re not in your seat when it starts.
Have you seen some of the models he’s got on staff? Talk about stunning.”
I spin away and duck into the women’s bathroom, locking myself into a stall so I can break down in peace.
“I’m using the men’s room next door. Do not leave this bathroom until I collect you,” he calls through the door. Moon tries to use his alpha bark, but his dominance doesn’t seem to affect me.
If he’s occupied, then that means I can slip away and use my bonds to find someone that actually enjoys my company. I did not spend so much time to look this good, just for it to be wasted on someone who doesn’t even get enjoyment from staring at my ass.