Chapter 41 Preferences
Preferences
Acadia
Angeline clicks a button on a small device, and there’s a photo of four men.
They are sitting in various poses on a couch, like they’d propped the phone up on a TV.
I gasp and kick my chair back. It’s not seeing Oscar smiling politely in the middle that gets me. It’s seeing Mads and Kol flanking him.
What the fuck is happening right now?
And if that’s not crazy enough, there’s a new alpha in the photo that garners all my attention.
He has long blonde hair. A strong oval face.
Piercing clear eyes. He’s wearing a zip up hoodie and black jeans, and a band t-shirt.
A Delta 3 band t-shirt, with the logo of three delta symbols sprawled across the front like they were spray painted on.
I have the same t-shirt in a babydoll cut at home, and I wear it all the time.
“Who is that?” I ask even though I have a hundred other important questions. I point at the unknown man, and I can’t look away. I lean in, he’s wearing my fucking shirt.
“Oh, that’s Locke. Locke Soto. He’s an alpha. He likes EDM, animals, and home repair shows.”
I walk closer to the projection. I can’t help but believe that I made this happen by my will alone. Am I a witch? I feel like I’m going to pass out. I need to sit down. I sit on the conference table, but I’m still staring at the photo.
He likes hiking and repair shows? I wonder if he watches the same ones I do.
“There are more photos, if you want to see,” Angeline offers. I think I nod. I’m not even sure if I’m blinking.
“Ok, here’s Dr. Oscar Soto. He’s 34 years old.
He went to Meribelle Marquis Salt Port Medical University.
He’s an omega specialist. He did his residency at the Omega Clinic in Dune Acres.
He’s published three articles in very well respected medical journals.
He lectures and attends conferences. He’s looking for a permanent position here in Cash City.
He likes cooking shows, coffee, kayaking, and whiteboards.
His scent profile is described as brewing coffee. ”
Oscar is shown in his lab coat at the Dune Acres Omega Clinic surrounded by happy omegas. He looks so handsome.
Angeline clicks to the next slide. Kol stands there in a very nice pinstriped suit, sitting on the concrete steps of the municipal building downtown.
His face.
I’ve never seen his whole face.
“Can you zoom in?” I ask, and she clicks around until she finally zooms into his handsome face.
My imagination didn’t do him justice. If I didn’t know him, I’d think he was all good looks and nothing else.
He has the kind of face that can get him anything, if he just asked.
But I know Kol. I know how big his heart can be.
“This is Alpha Kol Soto. He is 29 years old. He’s a real estate investor.
He runs his own firm, KOL Investment Management.
” She pronounces it Kay-Oh-Elle. I note it’s their initials: Kol, Oscar, and Locke.
It’s also cute because it’s Kol’s name. “There, he manages a small property and real estate portfolio. This is where most of the pack’s money comes from.
He likes dancing, making cocktails, sailing, and fine dining.
His scent profile is…” I say it silently at the same time Angeline says it, “earthy fall leaves.”
She clicks to the next slide.
My eyes are drying out from not blinking.
“This is Alpha Locke Soto.” Locke is smiling and looking off camera at someone who clearly made him laugh.
He has a 100 watt smile. “He’s 24 years old.
He works for KOL Investment Management with Kol.
But he describes his dream job as ‘house alpha’ since he prefers domestic work.
As I mentioned, he loves animals, specifically dogs and cats, but said he could tolerate a bunny, and enjoys amateur DJing, like I said.
His scent profile is the salty sea air.”
Salty sea air. I take a deep breath and imagine what that would smell like on an alpha.
All I can see are my memories of me and my family on the beach.
Not this beach on the river, but during our summer on the Gulf of Mexico, where we would rent a house and do nothing but swim and eat food on the boardwalk.
Or is it more like the beaches in Oregon? Where you can hear the seals and the tumultuous ocean waves. The hard packed sandy beaches and large black rocks.
I’m desperate to know.
She clicks to the next slide.
Mads peers down at me. He is leaning on a brick wall with his cane carefully hidden near his leg. His white blonde hair is combed and in place. He looks like how I know him. A tight smile. Strain in his eyes. I just want to help him. I know I can help him find that spark again.
“This is Beta Mads Soto. Newest bonded member of the Soto pack. He’s the personal assistant, PA, to Kol Soto at KOL.
He has his Master’s of Business from Fair Castle University here in Cash City.
He likes aquariums, hot springs, flying his drone, and tall beers.
His scent profile is not available. But I heard Kol and Locke argue between a scone and a croissant. ”
I’m not sure if it’s the not blinking thing or the emotional turmoil I’m in, but I have to wipe both my cheeks from the tears running down them. I take a shuddering breath.
I turn to Angeline, who is very shocked that I’m crying.
“Oh my god, Acadia. Are you ok? Do you need anything?”
She sets the remote down and rushes to a cabinet for a box of tissues. She comes up and hands it to me.
“Are you ok?” she asks again.
I nod.
I think.
“I know some of them.” I dab my face and blot my eyes with the tissue to not ruin my makeup. Angeline sets her hand on my shoulder in comfort. Professional comfort.
“You know Pack Soto?” I don’t answer her.
I don’t really want to. I want to go to them.
I feel the distance between us, both physical and otherwise, and it aches.
“Well, this is a good thing, no? I’ll start up the paperwork for courting now.
We can bring you in to work out the details.
Call your handler and lawyer. Should we plan a meet and greet for tomorrow? ”
“No, now. Right now. I’m not waiting.”
“They seem motivated as well. I’ll call them now. Get your lawyer here. Get your handler here.”
She looks so concerned for me. I don’t think she’s ever seen me this much of an emotional wreck.
My hands are shaking.
I’m having trouble focusing.
I ease off the table and walk over to where my purse and phone are.
I am not even sure if I call the right people. But hopefully my lawyer and Maria are on their way.
This is happening. This is really happening.
Mads’s picture still sits on the projector.
Why do I feel like it all started with him for us all?
The keystone to our pack. Mads needs us, and we are desperate for him.
I check my last messages with him. Yesterday I told him I had the event and would text him today.
He said he had news to share with me. It was probably that he’d bonded with the alphas who were courting him.
I smile at the little red hearts he’d sent me.
Angeline comes back into the room with a huge smile on her face.
“I just called them and they are on their way. This is so exciting! I love this part. Their lawyer sent over a preliminary contract for you to review, as well as a courting letter. I’ll let you review those.
I’ll have everything set up. The meet-and-greet will happen first, and then the paperwork meeting.
I’ve got the room almost ready. I suggest letting the men wait for you in there for a bit.
So just sit tight here. Do you want a water? ”
I nod, and she gives me a sparkling water from a mini fridge. It’s the same flavor and brand Mads got me on our date to the movie on the waterfront. The lime seltzer.
I open it and drink half.
She slides the folder over with the Pack Soto name across the top of it. I glide my finger over the words, then I open it up.
“Here, I printed out their Intent to Court letter for the file.”
I take it from her and set it on the open file.
It reads:
Dear Omega Acadia,
By now, you should be aware that you know some of Pack Soto, and that we have intended to court you for a while now.
I will tell you the story so you know how it happened.
Kol, Locke, and myself enrolled at the Institute because we need an omega.
We attended many soirees and meet-and-greets, but it wasn’t looking like we’d find you.
At this last one, Locke took a walk to the pond where he saw a beautiful omega looking out over the water.
He was able to smell you, Acadia, and he believes he is your scent match. Overcome with emotions, he came to find us first, so we could approach you together, but by the time we went back out to the pond, you were gone.
We asked Angeline about you, and she gave us your name based on our description. Acadia. I think that’s when Kol and I started to fall in love.
But Angeline said that you had a preference, keeping us from courting you.
You only wanted to be presented with packs that have a beta in them.
It was, or something like that, that brought us to Mads.
He answered an ad for a personal assistant job at KOL and interviewed with Kol that next day.
Kol was sure he was the man for the job.
We courted Mads, who was reluctant at first, and we all became closer than ever before. He agreed to the bond the day before last.
We knew Mads had an omega girlfriend. And we knew she was the same woman Kol was with at the club recently. We didn’t know, until yesterday, she was also you.
You called me. You found my name, and you called me.
Acadia, I don’t pretend to know the ways of the universe or the powerful forces that dictate our lives. But if something is urging things to happen, this is it. We are it.
We have much to discuss. But know this, we desire you. Every member of this pack has their reasons for choosing you. We’d love to share them with you.
I promise you our love and fealty. I promise my days will be to your satisfaction and benefit.
We only ask that you consider our timeline. We desire your bond this week.
Talk soon, mi amore—
Dr. Alpha O. Soto
I’m crying again. Angeline pushes the tissues towards me. My makeup has got to be insane right now. Whatever.
“A scent match is a wild claim normally. But based on your reactions to their photos and letter alone, I don’t doubt it.”
Angeline read my letter.
“Do you not have any privacy, Angeline?”
“Not at the Institute, Cadi.”
I’d been avoiding the Institute for so many reasons, this was one of them.
I touch the pendant. It’s warm from my skin.
“Where do they live?” I ask, imagining I’ll yell at someone about my privacy soon enough, and can let it go now.
“They are renting an apartment in the Kestrel Burrow. They intend to buy a place that their omega chooses with them.”
Oh wow, ok. I take another sip of the sparkling water, the bubbles bite at my nose.
She gets a message on her phone.
“They are here in the meet and greet room. Take your time. We will head over when you are ready.”
This feels like it is all converging at this one moment, but I need to keep my head on straight.
The whole reason I said I wanted a pack with a beta was because I wanted to be with a pack that didn’t discriminate because of designation.
I wanted to have babies and have those babies be loved, no matter how they come out.
I’ll have to find out if they truly want Mads or just did it because it was the path to me.
I also need to tell them about my family.
I stand up and fix my dress.
“Let’s go.”