13. Opal
Chapter thirteen
Opal
I t's okay, Opal. You've got this.
Numbers 22 and 23 won’t have any idea that you’re a Rogue, too.
Lucky for me, they don’t seem to notice the erratic sound of my heart pounding its staccato beat.
Still, it’s interesting to see how they have rehabilitated.
You wouldn’t think they were scarred by the same ghosts as they laugh and talk about mundane things, like pack life, pets, and nests.
The list is endless.
Not one of their conversations center around the warden or the facility.
They remind me of the Omegas at the Academy with their carefree attitudes, but with far more substance.
The only major difference is that they are not fake, and their smiles are genuine.
Not like my smile.
This one I've practiced for years.
Even now, as we sit in the food court at the mall, I tap my finger on my paper coffee cup, laughing along with them even though I have nothing to be happy about.
Yet, they do.
Their lives are perfect now.
Or so they think.
I do spy the dark shadows in Belle’s sweet ocean-blue eyes.
The Omega is still haunted by her past.
Whereas Ella uses hers to her advantage. When a grotesque Beta male tries to talk with us, she gives them the ‘look’ and they soon run off pissing their pants.
This Omega has taken on Alphas more than three times her size.
So, that Beta has nothing on her prowess.
“Ella,” Belle sighs, shaking her head.
She smirks, swilling back her coffee. “What? The prick was asking for it.”
“He only wanted to say hello.”
Ella rolls her eyes, looking at me. “Yeah, tell that to your Alphas, Belle. I’m sure Leo would say the exact same thing.”
He wouldn’t. He would most likely throttle that guy for talking to his Omega.
That’s when my eyes track movement to our far left, and there I spy Leo nearby keeping tabs on his Omega.
It’s true that most Omegas don’t go out without their Alphas these days since we're living in pretty dangerous times.
Not that any of my Alphas accompanied me today, and I swallow the hurt as I sip my coffee again.
At least I have Burt and Kurt.
They’ve got my back if things go pear-shaped.
Ella doesn’t even have one of her Alphas around acting as a bodyguard.
However, I catch a flash of red hair in the corner of my eye, and Leo is soon joined by Kelly.
No, Kellen. Kelly seems to be his nickname.
The two Alphas knock their fists together in greeting, and then they talk about whatever it is Alphas talk about.
Football probably.
Looks like Ella’s and Belle’s Alphas have developed a mutual bond since their Omegas started hanging out.
They’re both in Governor Gryphon’s squad too, and it appears I really do have my work cut out for me.
How am I going to get to the governor with Alphas like that around?
Both Alphas glance our way, and Kellen catches my gaze. He gives the thumbs up, and he’s just lucky that none of my Alphas are around.
He's not flirting with me; I think he just likes the sight of a fellow redhead.
Maybe he could have been my brother in another life. He’s covered in freckles like me, and you never know…
I don’t even remember my life or my family before the Facility.
Suddenly, something launches at Kellen’s head, and he goes on high alert, jerking his gaze around the food court.
“What happened?” Belle asks, turning around to see if Leo is okay.
He is. Though Kellen looks worse for wear.
The Alpha’s still grumbling when he picks up the plastic cup, gray eyes darting around for the suspect.
Strange. Who has it in for Kellen?
It was just after he gave me the thumbs up, and I wonder...
Now my own eyes dart around the food court, and I startle when I spy a shadow in a corner.
No, it couldn’t be.
“He’s fine,” Ella says, turning back to the table. “Let’s go. All this Alpha energy is annoying me.”
We leave at last, and I couldn’t agree more.
Alphas are taxing. Too volatile and unpredictable.
More guys ogle us as we stroll the walkways of the mall, and Ella grinds her teeth.
“Well, isn’t this my lucky day. A blonde, a brunette, and a redheaded Omega. I’m in fucking heaven.”
The guy grabs his crotch, but I’m surprised Ella doesn’t get her knife out.
Instead, she looks on with a smile on her face, and it’s not until I hear Mr. Grabbie Crotch yelping behind me that I finally understand.
Kellen and Leo have dragged him away, and my eyebrows jump to my hairline.
Wow.
I mean, the guy deserves it, but still.
Alphas truly are protective of their property.
Not that Belle or Ella are anyone’s property, but they’re bonded to Leo and Kellen.
And nothing comes between a bond that sacred.
Not even sleazy Betas who like to grab their genitals in public.
I peer at Belle and Ella. Only Belle looks perturbed, but Ella’s smile only widens as she puts her arms around us both.
“Let the Alphas do their jobs, girls.”
Belle and I exchange a glance, and I guess we should just carry on as normal and pretend as if a Beta isn't getting the living shit beaten out of him.
Another lump forms in my throat.
No one is fighting for me.
Kellen and Leo fight for the honor of their own Omegas, not me.
I truly am on my own out here.
Not that I don’t know how to handle my share of horny males. My nails have been fashioned into blades for a reason.
If anyone gets too close, I will stab.
“So, where do you want to go next, girls?” Belle asks. “How about a bookstore?”
Ella huffs. “No. Not another bookstore. Let’s just go and find a bed to sleep in for a while. Ooh, one with lots of fluffy blankets."
She’s not serious, is she?
Belle glances at Ella, concerned. “Are you approaching your heat? Maybe we should call Kellen to take you home.”
I peer at Ella curiously, and I see it now. It makes sense why she just wants to go and find a bed and ‘nest’ for a while.
Ella pouts, and the change is astounding. Now, she acts like a stroppy little brat as she stamps her foot. “No! I’m sick of boys… I just want to be around my girls."
Wow. Do all Omegas get like this close to heat?
I wouldn’t know since I haven’t had mine yet.
It's something I’ve been dreading, and to be honest, I wouldn’t mind the idea of finding a bed myself so I can lie down for a while.
“So, heats can get that bad?” I ask.
“Oh, yes,” Belle replies. “They’re pretty intense. This is nothing.”
Ella shuts her eyes, rubbing her cheek on Belle’s soft dress. The Omega laughs, pushing her away. “Maybe we should get Kellen after all, so he can give you his shirt.”
Or his knot, maybe.
“No!" Ella protests."I said I only need my girls right now.”
Seems fair enough.
At least she doesn’t seem to be having cramps yet. I heard they can hurt.
Belle puts her arm around Ella, guiding her through the mall.
I keep up as best as I can in my heels.
Soon, we find a bed store, avoiding the sales assistant as we sneak between beds.
Meanwhile, Ella glances at each bed, sticking her tongue out in disgust.
It’s only until we find a four-poster with a princess canopy that her eyes dazzle.
“Ooh.”
Belle gives another quick look around the store, then tugs the blankets aside.
Hopefully, Ella will be able to get a good half hour of sleep in.
The Omega crawls onto the bed, and soon she curls up like a little kitten, trying to get as comfortable as possible.
“Need more pillows,” she cries, and I watch as Belle yanks some cushions from a neighboring bed, piling them around Ella until she’s buried.
I mean, I always loved a few pillows myself, but never this much.
To my surprise, Belle climbs into the bed and brushes Ella’s hair. She even gives an Omega purr, and I blink in wonder.
I’ve never seen an Omega care for another so tenderly, and I suddenly have the urge to be with Zayden.
My eyes prick, but I steel myself, not letting my emotions get the best of me.
Ella groans, and her face winces in pain.
It looks like she just got a heat cramp. Her face flushes bright red, but Belle is there for her, purring the whole time.
“It’s okay, sweet Ella,” she whispers.
Yeah, sweet is the last word I would use to describe Ella, but seeing her looking so small and vulnerable beneath all those pillows almost makes me want to care for her, too.
I know that if it were Zayden buried beneath all those pillows, then I would be purring him to sleep, too.
Ella opens her eyes, and I meet those baby blues.
She reaches her hand out. “Opal.”
She wants me to join her?
But I’m not in her pack.
Neither is Belle, for that matter.
Still, I guess she and Belle have formed a bond of some kind. Just a genuine friendship through shared trauma.
Guilt tears me apart. I am deceiving these Omegas.
I am deceiving my whole pack.
I shouldn’t be here.
However, when I spy the pleading look inside Ella’s baby blue eyes, I find Zayden’s, and now I kick off my heels, getting under the blankets and pillows with her.
Damn. It is comfortable.
The pillows are covered in Ella’s watermelon scent as I feel like I'm intruding in her space, but she merely grabs my hand and squeezes when another cramp wracks through her body.
Belle purrs again, and I never thought I would see such a tender moment between Omegas.
So, I join Belle in soothing Ella, and soon our purrs vibrate through the mattress as the blonde closes her eyes.
And just like that, she’s out like a light.
It’s best she gets home to her own nest. I’m sure Kellen will sniff her out soon and do the honors.
I just hope I am not as needy for my first heat.
And I hope to God that I am not alone when it finally happens.
Because I may not even survive to see my mission through.