6. Chapter 6
Ivy
I awoke with a warm, fuzzy feeling, and for the first time, I was actually looking forward to the day.
Even though I’d been practically forgotten about last night by my family, the gala had been one of the best things that had happened to me in recent memory.
I felt alive - I was going to be working with a renowned pack, learning more about bonding chemistry, and getting out of the lab for once.
And, if I were being completely honest with myself, the majority of my excitement was just at the idea of being around Pack Vale again.
I knew it would have to be under the close supervision of my family - I was an unbonded omega after all - but I felt the warm anticipation of being near them again and just felt happy for once.
I let out a little jitter of excitement.
I hadn’t felt truly happy for a long time.
I stretched, rolled out of bed, and still wore my pajamas as I went downstairs.
Saturdays were nice for me, because the family didn’t work on weekends and didn’t expect breakfast early.
Making meals had become somewhat my responsibility during the week.
It wasn’t an official rule, but somehow it had just fallen on me to do it.
I’d volunteered to make it when Clara had joined my family’s pack after her own pack denied their bond with her.
It was a rare and tragic thing to happen - I never really got the backstory behind it.
But either way, my father’s pack took her in, and I wanted her and her daughter to feel welcomed.
So, the first few weeks they were here, I got up early and made breakfast for everyone.
At first, Clara had seemed grateful, and I genuinely wanted to help them feel welcome after her old pack rejected her bond.
But over time, the gratitude faded, and the expectation took its place.
If breakfast wasn’t ready, Clara would make comments about how stressful mornings were, while Arabella would complain dramatically about there being “nothing to eat.”
No one ever officially told me it was my responsibility, but over time, it just became one anyway.
My father’s pack mates wandered into the kitchen each morning expecting coffee already brewing and food on the table.
And because I’d started it, stopping suddenly would only make me look selfish.
So, I kept waking up early, cooking for everyone, and cleaning up afterward, while the rest of the family treated it as if it had always been my responsibility.
But Saturdays were mine. Mara usually makes breakfast on weekends, so I was able to work on my own projects.
And what I was interested in was usually lab or scent-related, so really it was like being at work - not that I minded.
I could work on my passion projects in the lab, things that weren’t commercially viable but that I still found interesting.
And for today’s goal, I wanted to read Elias’s research.
I walked down the large staircase, my hand sliding along the railing as I heard Arabella’s voice echo from the living room.
She was filming again, and I already knew it was for her Omega Femininity channel.
I peeked around the corner, seeing her at her usual spot, with the background of our luxurious living room on full display.
“And remember, loves,” Arabella said brightly to the camera, tucking a piece of hair behind her ear, “small etiquette details matter so much around alphas. The way you present yourself reflects your self-respect.” She smiled softly, the picture of graceful perfection.
“For example, it’s considered a major faux pas to eat directly from the utensil of an unbonded alpha.
It can send the wrong message entirely and may come across as overly familiar or attention-seeking. ”
My steps faltered for only a second. Last night - the spoon Hunter had offered me.
She was talking about me. My mind raced as I thought back to it.
I was sure that her friends had been watching us eat at the dinner table the whole time.
Crap. Between sitting with their pack and that dessert incident, it probably looked like I’d been the one getting all the attention from Pack Vale.
Her friends were sure to gossip about it.
Maybe that’s why everyone left without me.
I was sure Arabella’s friends would have brought it up to her, all of them such nosey people.
Arabella’s eyes flicked toward me briefly before she turned back to the camera with another practiced smile. “Boundaries are important, especially for unmated omegas. You always want to appear elegant and properly reserved.”
I knew exactly who the message was for. But instead of shrinking under it like I normally would, I simply kept walking past the living room.
Today, Arabella’s passive-aggressive digs didn’t burrow under my skin the way they usually did - because all I could think about was Pack Vale, and how they had not been bothered one bit by my presence.
I passed by Mara in the kitchen, and she smiled up at me from the table where she was having a cup of coffee.
“You look well rested,” she said, and I nodded.
“How did it go?” She asked, her voice lower this time.
Mara had been with us since my mom was still around, and she’d seen exactly what happened once the pack dynamics changed.
Mara had always been on my side. But she didn’t show it much - if she had, she likely wouldn't have a job here. So, she became a silent supporter, always helping me from the shadows as much as she could. I needed her - she was the one person who always reminded me when something wasn’t normal, even if it started to feel like it.
“It was amazing!” I said, stepping up to her and lowering my voice to an excited whisper.
“I met Pack Vale - the ones Arabella’s collaborating with for the launch.
They are actually really nice! And they want to talk about research with me!
Well, one of them does, anyway.” I said, and her eyes lit up.
“Ivy! That’s wonderful!” She stood, reached for my hands, and gripped them, her excitement matching mine.
“I’ll tell you more later - maybe in the afternoon?” I said, noting that anyone could walk into the kitchen at any time. Clara didn’t want me socializing with the staff, so I had to talk to Mara in secret most of the time. She nodded and put her finger to her lips. I couldn't wait to tell her more.
Just then, as if she’d been summoned by the smell of food, Clara strolled into the dining room, a long silk robe wrapped around her slim frame.
Arabella followed only seconds later, still holding her phone for filming.
Not long after that, the rest of my father’s pack filtered in one by one, drawn toward the dining table like it was simply expected to be waiting for them.
Mara dismissed herself quietly, knowing that staff weren’t to be seen or heard.
Clara glanced over the spread on the table before looking at me.
“You did well last night,” she admitted smoothly.
“Pack Vale seemed… entertained by you.” There was something sharp hidden beneath the compliment.
“But going forward, I think it’s important you remember your place during this collaboration.
Pack Vale is extremely influential, and we can’t risk wasting their time with distractions. ” The room quieted slightly.
“I wasn’t planning on distracting anyone,” I said carefully. “All the collaboration is to help the overall understanding of bonding and potential breakthroughs for new product development.”
“Of course,” Clara replied with a smile, although it was insincere. “But men like that appreciate refinement. Arabella is the face of this partnership for a reason. We don’t want them to get the wrong idea about us from the way you act,” she said, eyeing me up and down.
Arabella smiled smugly into her coffee while Aaron chuckled under his breath. My father stayed quiet for a moment before finally looking at me.
“To be fair,” he said, leaning back in his chair, “Ivy did help the socialization aspect last night. Pack Vale seemed unusually receptive to her.” His tone held mild surprise, like even he hadn’t expected it.
“Elias himself seemed interested in sharing his research with her.” Warmth bloomed briefly in my chest at the acknowledgment before Clara smoothly redirected the conversation.
“Well, as long as we keep things professional,” she said lightly.
Before anyone could respond, my father’s phone buzzed loudly against the table. He frowned slightly before picking it up, and I watched his eyebrows rise as he read the message.
“What is it?” Arabella asked immediately.
“It’s an invitation from Pack Vale,” he said slowly. “For a private club lunch this afternoon. They said they have something important they would like to discuss.” He paused. “They specifically requested both omegas attend.”
Arabella let out an excited shriek.
“Oh, my god. They requested me?” She practically bounced in her seat, immediately pulling out her phone again. “Mom, I need to figure out what to wear.”
Clara smiled warmly at Arabella while completely ignoring me. “Of course they want you there, darling. You made such an impression.”
I sat quietly at the edge of the table, my pulse racing with excitement anyway.
Pack Vale wanted to see me again. I mean, they asked for Arabella, too, but I usually never got an invite to anything.
Before I could let myself enjoy the feeling for too long, Arabella looked over at me and sighed dramatically.
“You should probably wear something simple today, Ivy,” she said casually.
“Nothing too attention-grabbing. We don’t want the focus to get ruined during the meeting.
Especially after you made such a scene last night, eating off his spoon and all.
Seriously.” Her words made me feel ashamed for some reason, and my face heated.
“And leaving so quickly like that didn’t help.
Try to either remember your manners, or just don’t bother showing up if you can’t.
” Her words dug into me, but no one else said anything.
They just reached for the food, continuing on as if Arabella’s word was final.
The excitement in my chest dimmed slightly as the rest of the table ignored the slight, already having moved on to discussing Arabella’s outfit and makeup.
I tried not to let it bother me, though. The pack wanted to see me again - and that was all I could think about as I headed toward the stairs, tingling with excitement and anticipation, already wondering what they could possibly want to discuss.