The Omega (Mating Season #5)

Chapter 1

Opal

“How have you been since your tragic accident last season?” Jay Renfro’s smiling face filled the laptop screen as his voice came through the speakers and echoed in my small house.

The two humans sent from the show had a hell of a time hanging the backdrop and adjusting the lighting, but the worst part was getting signal on their portable dish and Wi-Fi router. We’d made it just in time for me to sit here looking pretty for this interview.

All so I could lie my ass off for the cameras.

Tragic accident.

My wolf gave an indignant huff.

“Things are great. I healed fast. But I really want to thank the viewers for all the fan mail and love I got while in the Omega ward at the hospital.” I kept myself posed steady for the camera, resisting the urge to twist my long black hair around my finger or chew my lip in a nervous tic as my fingers drummed against my thighs under the table.

They’d be airing this. I wasn’t quite sure when.

If they followed the timeline of last season, the Luna Trials would’ve already started, but I was still waiting for my ticket out of here.

I knew there was a bunch of drama from the show. Molly and half her team had been fired or sent to prison because they’d been taking bribes and staging matched pairs in a whole international gambling ring.

It’d been the director, Mike the crow shifter, who’d kept his nose clean and assured me I’d be allowed to return this season. I was anxious to get back there and find out what kind of test I’d have to do to make sure the numbers were even between Alphas and Lunas before mating season began.

I wanted to hurry up and get out of here.

My gaze drifted ever so slightly to the stained amber window the camera crew left cracked open for natural light before I refocused my attention on Jay.

“How have you been? It was a lot for you to deal with last season, too.” I beamed a smile his way.

“It was hard, but we’re survivors.” Despite the however many miles between us, Jay puffed up his chest as he returned my smile. I wasn’t sure if anyone had ever asked him that and meant it like I did.

Because despite the world of cutthroat shifters we lived in, I was a damn Omega with a bleeding heart.

It’s not bleeding, my wolf huffed. It just beats stronger than others.

Keep telling yourself that.

“I’m loving the direction the show is going this year.” Jay kept talking, oblivious to my inner thoughts.

I nodded solemnly as if I was in the know even though I clearly was not.

Besides barely surviving an assassination attempt made on Aspen—the only real friend I’d ever had—all I knew was that I got a big, fat hush money check and a promise that I could come back.

“They said things were going to be different. Better,” I hoped aloud based on the little snippets I’d picked up from the news on the rare occasions when I snuck into town.

The FCC gave the show a warning that it’d be shut down if they didn’t follow the law and the new producers announced earlier this year that they’d be going back to their more “traditional roots.”

Whatever that meant.

It sounded good, though.

“Just wait until you see the show we have planned.” Jay’s shiny white teeth practically gleamed through the pixelated computer screen. “We’re full of surprises this year.”

I like surprises. My wolf yipped.

Wait…

“What surprises?” I kept my tone bright and peppy, just like any Omega sounded.

But if the humans standing in the room with me had been shifters, they’d definitely be able to smell the sour tang of fear wafting off me.

“If I told you, it wouldn’t be a surprise.” Jay winked dramatically.

Right. I was supposed to play a part.

I let my face relax and opened my eyes wider, portraying the classic innocence everyone loved about Omegas. “I’m excited to find out what will happen this season.”

“So are our viewers at home.” Jay laughed as he looked off camera for a split second, no doubt reading a cue card. There was a slight tightening around his brows before his face smoothed over.

Someone else might’ve missed it. He was a trained and talented actor, after all.

But I was an expert at reading between the lines and seeing past the masks everyone wore. It was a survival trait for Omegas.

Jay was worried.

That meant I should be worried too.

“It looks like we’ll be seeing you soon,” Jay said to me. “We can’t wait to welcome you back.”

“I can’t wait either.” I smiled and waved at the camera while they ended the connection, just like I was supposed to.

Cold and sinking dread settled into my stomach as I let my hand fall back to my lap.

It didn’t make sense.

The Luna Trials had already started. I was grateful I didn’t have to compete in them again. That was one of the bribes for not going to the media or filing a lawsuit for getting poisoned by an employee of the show who’d attempted to increase ratings.

But I had to be there before the final counts so they could vote on me being a part of the show or give me some sort of test to make sure the numbers were evenly matched. They knew Omegas typically mated with multiple partners. It wouldn’t be fair to the other contestants.

Unless…

My wolf swallowed hard. Surprise?

“Are they going to…” I looked at the human men who were gathering their gear in a hurry, eager to get out of my run-down shack and away from the outskirts of these wooded hills, “drop me into the middle of the Alpha Games?”

The male closest to me pressed his lips into a tight smile. Humans had no problem lying. “I’m not sure. You’ll have to ask them. We’re just part-time staff.”

“But they’ll get you onto the show soon,” the other human offered, glancing at the slowly sinking sun over the Appalachians in the distance, the sight of it just visible beyond the road that led far away from this place.

It’d get dark here long before the sun went down.

“Oh. Okay.” I stood to help them finish packing and watched as they practically ran out the door.

It slammed shut on half-broken, rusted hinges.

A late winter breeze whipped through the snowy tree branches and blew the dust around the covered front porch as I stood staring out into the yard and the ancient woods beyond my abandoned property.

Oh no.

Yeah, this isn’t good.

On the bright side, we might get to finally meet our mates before the show gets us killed.