8. Vera
8
Vera
The room we’re in is big, much bigger than I expected it would be, it easily holds fifteen or more people at a single table with plenty of room for servers to move around. I’ve worked at plenty of restaurants but none of them had rooms like this. I’m kind of curious how they manage everything on the staff side of things, but that’s something I’ll have to ask Mathew about at a different time.
Riley was apparently meeting a group of Alphas and Betas, both men and women, who knew someone that she knew who thought they should get connected —or something like that, I didn’t fully pay attention.
They’re all wearing expensive suits, suit dresses or other fancy clothes. I now understand why Mathew chose this dress for me to wear tonight, anything else I’ve got would have been way too underdressed, and even this is on the ‘casual’ side.
I’m sitting between Riley and Mathew again and Caleb is sitting on Mathew’s other side while Jorge is sitting opposite us. The rest of the people are spread around the table. They introduced themselves to us, but there were so many people that I haven’t been able to remember a single name.
Listening to Mathew talk to them is interesting, the way his voice changes when he’s his professional persona and not just himself.
I’ve heard it plenty of times when he’s been on calls with clients, but it’s still different when he does it in person. The way his face moves even changes, becomes more severe, more intense. It’s like I’m sitting next to a different person almost.
Opposite us, I notice the same change in Jorge as he talks shop with the people next to him, even his aura is different from his usually more playful nature. Though, when he glances my way and catches my gaze, his sweet smile makes my stomach do happy flips.
“Are the appetisers too heavy for you?” Riley leans closer, keeping her voice low so only I can hear her, though with all the loud talking in the room, it’s hard for anyone to overhear her. “I can ask them to prepare something lighter for you, if you prefer.”
I glance down at my plate of bread, butter, cheese and other things to nibble on. I’d totally forgotten about that, way too absorbed in all the conversations. “No, I’m good. Thanks for asking, though.” Her worry makes my cheeks flame, she’s so considerate.
I’m about to grab a piece of bread, but Caleb reaches across Mathew, takes my plate and swaps it for his. He’s already cut everything up into small pieces, ready for me to eat, and I can’t help the way my heart beats faster.
Damn, that guy. Even with everything going on around us, his first priority is still me, making sure I’m taken care of.
I lean forward to thank him, but he’s already in conversation with someone on his other side. Like this is the most normal thing in the world to do, to cut your Omega’s food even when you’re at a fancy place.
Which, in our case, it is…
My pheromones flush with pleasure as I pick up a piece of bread with cheese and put it in my mouth, slowly chewing on it. The food is really good, which it should be, for that price…
Riley laughs quietly and when I look at her, she seems wistful. “The small things that mated pairs who’ve been together for years do, it always looks so loving and natural. It’s different from a brand new bond. When it’s all brand new, you still have to create all the habits that you fall into later.”
“They’re sickeningly sweet, aren’t they?” Mathew puts his head on my shoulder. “These two are just too adorable.” He says it teasingly, but it somehow sounds almost sad. Like he wishes he could be treated like that too.
With a soft sigh, I pick up a piece of bread and put it in his mouth. “If you want me to feed you, just tell me.” I turn my head and kiss his cheek. “You don’t have to pout.”
“Do you want me to cut your food too?” Caleb laughs, slowly reaching for Mathew’s plate, but before he can touch it, Mathew smacks his hand away.
“No thanks. I just like to be fed by my cute Omega.” He winks at me and my skin flushes hot.
I’m not used to someone flirting with me in public, especially not when there are three other people who are very clearly staring at us and who would love to join in.
Fuck. I guess this is life as part of a pack instead of just a pair bond…
Then I notice the other Alphas and Betas staring at us and I quickly look down at my plate, taking another bite. That’s way too much attention…
I finish the pieces of fruit first, hoping that they’ll help me cool down some. As I look up to take a sip of my water, suddenly there are more pieces on my plate and they’ve disappeared from Riley’s plate.
“I saw you liked them and the rest of your pack already finished theirs.” She winks, seeming calmer than before.
I have no idea if she’s noticed it herself, but her pheromones have slowly started to mix with ours, like she’s become part of our pack already.
“Thank you.” I quickly put one in my mouth so I don’t have to say anything else because I feel my cheeks burning and my pheromones flaring.
Fucking hell. I’m pretty sure that’s considered flirting, and she’s doing it right in front of the others, like it’s never been any different.
Her attention feels good and it’s hard to ignore the way her pheromones intensify every time we exchange words. It’s heady.
For the rest of the meal, I keep listening in on the conversations around me. Though there are so many going on at the same time that I have a hard time following most of them. Some names I recognise from Mathew’s phone calls or emails, or from his conversations with Jorge or the others, but most of them I’ve got no idea about.
On the one hand, the fact that everyone keeps ignoring me is annoying because it’s so fucking obvious that they’re doing it.
It started the moment we were introduced. They congratulated Mathew and Jorge on finding an Omega and starting a pack, which looked genuine. Then they quickly introduced themselves to Caleb and me, which seemed to be more of a chore than real interest on their part.
Once all the introductions were done, they went out of their way to only talk to Mathew, Jorge and Caleb, fully ignoring me.
Even if they wanted to know something about me, they would ask one of them and not even look my way, referring to me as ‘the Omega’, not even using my name. It’s so fucking obvious, but I don’t feel like making a scene, so I ignore the bad feeling it’s giving me.
Other than my mates, the only other person who’s been talking to me all evening has been Riley. And it’s clearly because she wants to and not because of some other reason, as her smile is genuine and warm, making my stomach do flips.
On the other hand, the others ignoring me does make it easier to listen in on their conversations and hopefully hear something that will be of use to Mathew or Jorge later.
If they want to pretend I’m nothing but empty air, then they shouldn’t be surprised that their ‘private’ conversations are being overheard by that ‘empty air’.
Caleb is turning out to be a pretty effective bodyguard. Every time someone tries to get close to Mathew, he moves between then, cutting off their path.
It has made some people upset, but they don’t want to make a fuss as they know they won’t be able to take Caleb in a fight.
Pack rules say that Alphas are well within their rights to protect their pack leader at any cost, and ‘I thought they threatened my pack leader’ is a perfectly valid reason for a brawl. Which most people in this group will very clearly lose if they’re up against Caleb.
I lean my head on Mathew’s shoulder as I push the pieces of cherry pie around on my plate.
“Are you sleepy?” His voice is soft as he runs his fingers over my cheek.
“A little.” All the impressions are overwhelming and while my pack’s pheromones are nice, some of the people in this room have pheromones that really rub me the wrong way. Constantly having to ignore them is hell.
I guess that’s one advantage for Mathew, the perfume he uses also lets him ignore bad pheromones more easily.
“Do you want to sit in my lap?” He leans his head against mine, his fingers slowly sliding down my neck, making me lean against him even more.
“I’m not a kid.” Though, I don’t move away.
He lets out a soft chuckle. “I know, but you’re my sweet Omega. And you’re adorable when you sit in my lap.”
“No, thanks. I do have some dignity.” I sit back straight and take a sip of my water.
“Maybe next time.” He weaves his fingers through mine and kisses my knuckles as he keeps my gaze, making my pheromones flare at the desire in them. “We should probably go home soon, before you fall asleep.”
“Possibly.” Going home sounds like a good idea. Not so much to sleep, but more because it’s quiet there and we won’t have to worry about what other people see or do.
Next to me, Riley stands up. “On that note, I have a very early meeting tomorrow morning. So, I’ve got to be going. It was very nice to meet all of you today, and I hope you’ll have a great rest of your evening.”
She meets my gaze, softly smiling. “Sleep tight. I’m sure we’ll see each other again later this week.”
“What about tomorrow evening, dinner at my place? Jorge will send you the address.” Mathew’s voice sounds calm, but his hand in mine is tight. He’s finally got an opening to ask her, and it’s making him nervous.
Cute!
Riley glances at Jorge and then at Caleb before she looks at Mathew. She’s not as tense as before around him and they’ve actually had some nice conversations. Which I guess is good progress from how they were a couple of hours ago.
Then her gaze lands on me, and she smiles softly before she answers him. “Sounds good. What time?”
“Around seven?”
“I’ll be there.” She nods and softly puts her hand on my shoulder, managing to touch both me and Mathew at the same time, sending electricity through my body. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
“See you tomorrow.” I manage to say as I tingle all over. I want to get up and hug her, insist that she comes home with us tonight, but that’s not the plan. I’ll only have to wait until tomorrow to see her again, that’s not too long, that’s doable.
On the other side of the table, Jorge also stands up. “I’ll walk you to your car.” He glances at Mathew, who gives him a slight nod before Jorge makes his way to the door.
“Thanks.” Riley leaves the room and, as the door closes behind them, a whine starts in my chest.
Surprised, I put my hands over my mouth, my body going cold in embarrassment.
Fuck.
That’s never happened before. But then, I’ve never been apart from a scent matched Alpha after meeting them but before bonding with them.
The first couple of weeks that I was with Caleb, before bonding with him, we were never apart for more than a few minutes at a time. With Jorge, I bonded with him within hours of meeting him.
And with Mathew —even though he’s an Omega and our bond is different— we were never far apart, he was only a few rooms away from me at most. Never more than that.
But we won’t see Riley again until tomorrow evening. She’ll be out there, in the world, and I won’t have a clue what might happen to her until I see her again.
Another whine starts up, more intense this time.
Mathew pulls me into his lap, tucking my head under his chin, against his chest. “It’s okay. It’s okay.” His voice isn’t a whine, but the way it vibrates in his chest is very close to one.
I don’t know if it’s because of my reaction or because he can’t be apart from Riley either, but it makes the pain in my chest worse.
“It’s all going to be okay.” Caleb rubs his hand over my back, releasing calming pheromones.
I feel strange. I don’t like this at all. I don’t want to let her go.
How did Mathew do this for years? How could he let Jorge leave in the morning? How did he manage without breaking down?
I want to run after Riley, catch up with her, insist that she comes home with us right now. But I know that I can’t.
Not tonight.
I’ll only have to wait a day.
I’m strong enough for that, right?