Chapter 3
Unwanted
Liora
Dinner was almost silent. The guys had all showered and were in less formal clothing now, but they still looked weary as they dug into their steak and green beans.
I could barely touch my portion, my stomach was twisting so badly.
The tension in the air made it obvious something was going down and despite my best efforts, I couldn't ignore it and act totally normal.
Finally, plates were collected by Miranda and she disappeared into the kitchen. No one moved, so I stayed seated too, hands clenched in my lap.
"Liora, we had a long discussion about our situation this morning," Mace started. His dark eyes lifted to meet mine.
"Situation?" I swallowed hard.
"You've seen how hard we have to work to get this company off the ground. It's taking all of our energy and time and quite frankly, that's not fair to you or any omega." He folded his hands on the table. "We don't want to continue like this."
"I'm fine! You can spend all the time you need on the business," I said desperately. "I don't mind."
"You do mind. You're here, waiting for us and when we see you as we come through the door, it's obvious you're desperately in need of more attention." Aiden gave me a sad smile. "It's not fair to you and it's not fair to us, either, to have that weight."
I turned to Finn, but my soft, funny alpha wouldn't even look at me. "It's for the best," he muttered.
"What's for the best? What did you all decide while I wasn't even in the room?" I asked, my voice suddenly too high.
"We've decided to let you go." Mace said with a finality that brooked no argument.
"Let me go." I sat back in the chair. "Like I'm an employee. I'm your . . . omega. I've been here for you every step of the way as you built your business! I've supported you, made this place a home . . ."
"No, Liora, you've added another weight to our shoulders.
We tried, we really did. I thought when the heats stopped, we could make it work, but last night was the final straw.
" Mace shook his head. "You couldn't even pull yourself together to be presentable in public.
We don't need an omega that pulls us down.
We have responsibilities now, a public reputation to keep. "
My entire body had gone cold. I could barely feel my heart beating anymore. They didn't want me. I was a liability.
We sat in frozen silence for a long minute. Vaguely, I heard Miranda come in to ask about coffee and Mace dismissed her.
"Liora, our intention was never to hurt you," Mace said quietly. "But this isn't working for any of us."
I nodded, even as my heart cracked inside my icy chest. "Okay. I'll leave in the morning."
"We actually have it all planned out. We're taking you to the Omega Reassignment Center tonight. You'll be given an assessment and then reassigned to a new pack."
The thought of a new pack made me want to vomit. "Why would I want a new pack? I have, had a pack," I managed to get out.
"Don't worry, you'll have time to get used to the idea. I think they keep omegas there for at least a few months before they reassign them," Aiden reassured me.
I stood up, mildly surprised my legs could even hold me. "I'll go pack."
Now Mace looked a little uncomfortable at last. "Actually, they don't let you bring in any belongings. Make a clean break of it, and all."
They led me out to the limo and we got into the back once again. The few bites of steak I'd had flipped in my belly and threatened to escape as I watched the mansion fade into the distance.
"You'll see, this is the best choice for all of us," Finn said, his voice cracking a little. He took my hand and I pulled away from him. "Li, come on, you're not happy with us. You'll get a new pack that is totally focused on you and will care for you like they're supposed to."
I turned away from him, wrapping my arms around myself and staring blankly out the window. No one tried to talk to me again until we were in front of a massive building with Omega Reassignment Center on it.
Finn scrambled out first, offering me his hand to help me out, but I ignored it, getting out on legs that didn't want to move.
Stiffly, I stepped toward the front doors of the building, knowing that begging wouldn't help anything.
They didn't want me. They had chosen a pretty blonde beta over their bonded omega.
This time, I couldn't help it, I twisted and vomited onto the grass beside the path, the pitiful dinner I'd eaten spattering across the perfectly manicured lawn.
Finn's big hand landed on my back, rubbing gently, but I didn't want his comfort. Except I did. I longed for him to wrap me up in his warm arms and hold me and take me home. But it wasn't going to happen.
I spat the bitterness out, wiped my mouth with my sleeve and straightened up.
"Liora, I'm sorry," Finn sounded about to cry. Why should he cry when it was me they were throwing away?
"Mace, maybe . . ." he started to say, but Mace cut him off.
"The decision was made, Finn. This is best."
We entered the center and I trudged along behind Mace, everything a blur.
The beta at the desk handing the alphas a clipboard.
My alphas signing away their rights to me.
Finn giving my stiff body a hug that I didn't return.
The alphas, not mine any longer, marching out the door without a backwards look.
It was done. I was packless. A rejected omega. Bile filled my mouth and I rushed to spit it into the trash.
"Don't worry, you'll settle in quickly. Let's go." The beta woman led me through the center to a dormitory. "This is your room. Bed three."
The room was simple, filled with bunk beds. Only two of the beds had women in them, both thin and frightened looking. I found my bed, on the bottom bunk and sank down onto it.
"You'll need to give me your clothing," the beta said.
And with that, the last piece of my prior life was stripped away from me.
I cried myself to sleep, but when I woke up in the morning, I swore it was the last time I'd cry for the men I'd loved so dearly.