Chapter 51 Raven
RAVEN
Tanner’s still holding both my hands in his, when I spot three of the other omega Olympians across the room, and all the hope I was feeling morphs into dread. What if someone tampered with their meds too?
“I need to…” I gently remove my hands from Tanner’s grip and point toward the omegas. “They should know what’s going on.”
“Of course,” he says, but his expression falls.
Impulsively, I lift to my toes and kiss his cheek.
“Thank you for sharing what you did. I…” The words I want to say get caught in my throat.
Do I forgive him? I think I might, but this all feels so fast. I believe what Tanner told me and that they’ve all changed.
And I’m surprised to find I trust them. But is that the same as forgiving them?
I’m not sure. “Just thank you,” I finish lamely before hurrying away to the huddled group of omegas.
They smile as I approach, but their expressions quickly morph into unease when they see the concern on my face.
“I’m so glad you’re here. We need to talk.” I grab Min-ji’s arm and motion for Lucy and Maryann to follow us into the hall. I don’t see the other omegas, but we’ll have to talk to them too.
“What’s going on?” Lucy asks.
“Is everything okay?” Maryann’s lips turn down in concern.
“You look a little sick?” Min-ji takes a step back.
“I’m not sick. I’m… don’t worry about it.
” I fan myself with my hand, trying to cool off after the encounter with Tanner.
I really wish I could pull my hair up off my neck, but I can’t risk anyone seeing Orion’s bite.
I take a deep breath and focus on the women in front of me.
“You need to check your suppressants. Someone messed with mine.” Usually I’d be more tactful, but it’s better to just rip the bandaid off in this case. I can’t risk anyone interrupting us.
“How do you know?’ Maryann asks.
“How will we know if ours have been tampered with?” Min-ji questions simultaneously, already digging around in her purse.
“I had a heat spike—” The omegas all gasp loudly, and I hold my hands up to show them I’m not done.
“I had a spike, and I never miss taking my pills. We went to a local doctor who said for the prescription the Olympic committee mandated, the genuine manufactured pills should have 405-O on them. If yours don’t, you need to get a new prescription as soon as possible. ”
“Your pills were placebos?” Maryann asks, piecing things together.
“I swear I’ve got mine here somewhere.” Min-ji keeps digging in her purse.
Lucy pulls out a little bottle. “Here’s mine.” She dumps one into her hand, and we all lean in to look at it, then breathe a collective sigh of relief. “It’s good.”
By now, Min-ji and Maryann have found their bottles as well.
“Mine are fine,” Min-ji says.
“Same.” Maryann caps her bottle and slips it back into her purse.
I’m so relieved they’re all fine that it takes me a minute to realize what that means. This was personal. Someone didn’t just want to sabotage omegas. They wanted to sabotage me. Or it’s someone who only had access to me.
“I’ve got contact info for the other omegas. I’ll check with them when I get back to my room,” Lucy says.
“If someone messed with your pills, you need to report it.” Maryann adjusts the strap of her purse higher on her shoulder.
“And what if the Olympic Committee is the one who did it?” I fiddle with the neckline of my dress, pulling at it to try to get some airflow. This hall is so much hotter than the main room. “They haven’t exactly set us up for success.”
Min-ji gasps. “They may have been reluctant to let us compete, but they wouldn’t go this far.”
“Maybe not the whole committee, but if it was one of the members who was really against omegas competing? But then they would have tried to swap more than just mine, I guess. Now, I’m thinking…
” I shake my head. “I really don’t know what I’m thinking.
” I lean back against the wall, flushed and needing a little support. This bonding sickness is no joke.
“Are you okay?” Lucy sets a delicate hand on my shoulder. “Did you catch it early enough?”
I look up at the taller woman, then at each of the other omegas huddled around me. Some part of me wants to tell them what happened. No one would understand as well as they would. Instead, I straighten away from the wall and force a smile.
“Congratulations on winning gold, Min-ji,” I say, changing the subject. “I saw your competition and it was incredible.” I look at Lucy and Maryann. “All of you did so well.”
Even though Lucy and Maryann didn’t make the podium, they both excelled, ending with high scores and rabid fans.
They look at each other.
“You did too,” Lucy says. She touches me again, but it feels all wrong, her hand too soft, too delicate, not what I want. I shake her off with tears threatening my eyes. Why am I feeling so emotional tonight?
“Yeah, until you fell,” Maryann adds tactlessly.
I can’t help laughing. The other girls join in, most of the tension breaking.
“Well, let us know if you need anything.” Min-ji says. “Really.”
“We should all scatter.” Maryann tilts her head toward a man taking a picture a few feet away. “We’re starting to draw attention. Don’t need them comparing us to gossiping housewives or some sort of high school, mean-girl’s clique.”
I almost laugh at the absurdity of it. I was never part of the popular cliques.
Tanner made sure of that. Somehow the memory doesn’t sting as much now.
A half-smile even tilts my lips as I think about him beating up those guys in high school who talked about me disrespectfully. I still can’t believe he did that.
As the rest of the girls disperse, I scan the room. If my pills were the only ones targeted, it must have been someone who doesn’t want me here specifically. Someone with access to my things.
Security dug through my bags when we came into the village.
Could someone have switched them out then?
I spot the journalist from my first press conference back in Milan, the one who asked how I’m going to prevent a heat.
Could he have done something? I don’t know how he would have had access to my pills, though.
Maybe it wasn’t even someone here. It could have been my doctor back home.
Plenty of people didn’t want to see omegas at the Olympics.
It could be anyone. As I look around the room, I feel exposed and vulnerable, more so the longer I stand here alone.
Foster is only a few feet away, eyes glued to me, but constantly assessing the area. He’s been extra on edge ever since we learned I was taking sugar pills. I think he worries that whoever did it will try something else if I don’t go into heat like they wanted.
Tanner and Orion are both talking animatedly to a group of sponsors I vaguely recognize. Vann and Rhodes are by the buffet table. Vann leans over and whispers something in Rhodes’ ear, and the beta turns a subtle shade of pink. They look so good together.
My gaze swings away, only to collide with Coach giving me a reprimanding look that I can’t understand. What did I do wrong now? Harriett smiles from beside Coach, but tilts her head not so subtly toward a group of sponsors.
I pluck at the fabric over my stomach, trying to cool off.
I could really use a cold drink. Ignoring Harriett’s not-so-subtle cue that I should talk to the sponsors, I head for the bar and order an ice water.
After guzzling it down, I feel a little cooler and more collected, but still on edge.
My omega instincts are begging to leave and go cuddle up with my mates.
I can’t do that yet, but I can give my omega a little of what she wants.
Walking straight over to the buffet table, I snag a chocolate covered strawberry off Vann’s plate and make eye contact with him while I eat it. He grins like he just discovered a secret.
“Need some more, birdie?” he asks.
“Nope,” I say, popping the p. “I’m good.” I lean my shoulder against Rhodes’ arm, feeling instantly calmed by the big beta’s presence. Turning my nose into his jacket, I relish the chilly scent as heat licks through my body.
“Are you okay?” Rhodes asks, the genuine concern in his voice has tears welling in my eyes again. Seriously, what is wrong with me?
“People are looking.” Tanner’s voice comes from behind me, and I turn to see him standing side-by-side with Orion.
Their muscles strain against their shirts, and I imagine peeling each button open to expose the bare flesh of their toned chests.
I want to lick the lines of their abs. That sounds much tastier than any of the food at the buffet.
Cinnamon sugar and fresh baked dough flood the space around me, all of it laced with a deeper richness that gives me away. Slick pools between my thighs, and my thoughts spin out of control, supplying me with image after image of how I want to have these men.
They look at me with something like fear and wonder and… shock. Why shock?
A cramp twists my stomach, my perfume exploding with new force. Somewhere behind me a dish crashes to the floor, someone gasps, growls sound, and I understand.
I’m going into heat. I can’t explain how I know, but this isn’t a heat spike.
It’s not as sudden as the other times. I feel more aware, like my body is easing me into it because it knows things are about to get very intense for a while.
I’ve only experienced one heat, and it was completely medicated under the supervision of a doctor.
I don’t remember much of it. But I remember this build up. I know what’s about to happen.
Everyone is staring. Alphas stiffen, like predators about to pounce, eyes dilating and locking on me like prey.
Betas let out shocked little gasps. I catch the eye of the other omegas talking with Meggie Hart, the founder of this charity.
There’s a mix of emotions on their faces that I can barely stand to look at, sympathy, fear, and crushing disappointment.
I’ve let them all down. I’ve ruined this for everyone.
The thing we were trying to prove wouldn’t happen if omegas competed safely in the Olympics is happening.
An alpha beside us at the buffet grits his teeth and growls. He lunges for me, but Vann is faster, pulling me out of the way as Tanner’s fist flies forward and connects with the man’s jaw.
“Ours,” Tanner growls.
I stand there, frozen with fear. Foster swoops in and throws me over his shoulder, barking at anyone who gets in our way as he cuts a path toward the door.
Tanner and Orion rush ahead to open it for us.
I can hear Vann and Rhodes following close behind, telling everyone to stay away from their omega.
Tears run down my forehead in my upside down position, and I try to hide my face in Foster’s back. My hair cascades toward the floor revealing the raw bite mark on my neck. More gasps ripple out around us.
This is a disaster.