by Emma Knox
Amber, seeming to understand my conflicting internal emotions, didn’t question me further and moved a bit away, but didn’t leave the room.
Since earlier this morning, I’d had people ordering me around. So I would smell good for the Alpha that was to be my husband, I’d been put in a special bath for an hour not long after I woke up, and after getting a tiny bite to eat. Then I’d been moved from there to this room, where other Omegas were getting ready to take part in the ceremony. I would be walking down the aisle by myself to my soon to be husband, and I wondered if I wouldn’t break away and suddenly run, or just faint on the way or something.
I was still in the robe from earlier, but made no move to try and get dressed. It wasn’t that I was shy or anything. whether or not I had a special case, most shifters would be pretty free about nudity, since you had to be naked to shift, and most shifters learned how to shift before they hit puberty, or if they were late bloomers, then as soon as they hit puberty.
The truth was, on the inside, I was still trembling from this news that I would be given away to someone I knew nothing about. No one would want the kind of fate I had. Maybe Maria, who was envious of me, but I wasn’t just looking for the best Alpha and the best seed for offspring. While it was definitely a factor that mattered to me, it wasn’t nearly to that extent.
All I knew about him, besides his prowess as an Alpha, was that his name was John.
I am clearly upset, I thought to myself, looking through the mirror at all the Omegas moving around the room. Why won’t someone try to comfort me, at least!
Amber had tried, but it was hardly enough.
Of all days, it just had to be today. It’s my eighteenth birthday and no one gives a damn because of this sham of a wedding!
I could feel my eyes grow misty a bit, and when I looked in the mirror, they looked glossy. I blinked my eyes rapidly, not letting those tears fall, though. It wasn’t my fault that my face had an expression that pretty much said, back off. I was in a bad mood! And I definitely wanted some fucking comfort! Being an Omega, my scent would have given them the clue, but there was a lot of anxiety coming from the other Omegas in the room, so none of them must have noticed the distress signal I was silently sending out. I knew there would be some foreign guests from the groom’s pack, and some of them must have wanted to try their luck in getting an Alpha.
That was not a good reason to ignore me, however. And I couldn’t help a growing feeling of irritation above everything else.
As I sat there, I thought about how I would wait until it was the absolute last minute before I decided to move. It was the only form of defiance I could afford, but I was going to let them all know that I wasn’t happy about this somehow, even if I couldn’t speak up against it.
My mind drifted back to last year, and how my seventeenth birthday had gone. It had been the perfect day, surrounded by family, friends and pack, I didn’t think it could be better. I had waited for my eighteenth birthday specifically, with both happiness, some caution and quite a bit of nervousness, because I had known since long ago it would be the age where I would get to pick an Alpha to marry.
I had figured I would at least have time to talk with them, so we could get to know each other or something. I would be seeing him for the first time as I went down the aisle to accept him as my husband and Alpha. How strange is that!
Since I first heard the news, I wanted to cry. And for the past couple weeks or so, I definitely had, when I found myself some place where other pack members would be unable to hear it.
Here I was, supposed to be celebrating my eighteenth, and thinking of looking around for an Alpha of my own. But instead, there I was getting sold off like some object in an arranged marriage to some Alpha in a different pack some ways from ours. What really bothered me, though, was that till then, I had yet to see the Alpha I was marrying. All I knew, was that he was some guy named John. Besides that, I had nothing, and it was so damn frustrating.
“Dominick! Why aren’t you ready yet?”
I winced as the new voice joined in. She wasn’t an Omega, though. She was an Alpha. Her name was Tabitha, and she was unofficially responsible for all of the Omegas in the pack. Aside from the pack Alpha, she had the right to make decisions for the pack’s Omegas, and she had been there on the day my marriage was announced.
Dammit.
I didn’t particularly dislike Tabitha, but after what happened, I didn’t exactly feel love for her, either, since she had been one of the people rooting for it, for the sake of the pack. I’d wanted to get up and shout, “What about me!” at that time, but in the end just shut up with my head down, because I’d known she would hit me with a heavy punishment after the meeting if I spoke up against her with the other non-pack shifters present at the time.
I ducked my head without turning back, showing her my neck in a submissive move, while still trying to hold up my defiant front. Thanks to this woman, I’d kept my head down once and hadn't dared to speak up for myself concerning this matter. Because of her, I’d basically signed my own life away with my silence. Even though I knew the problem technically laid with me for keeping quiet in the end, but I was still annoyed.
“Um,” Amber stepped in. “We were actually just about to step out and give him some privacy so he can get dressed, Alpha. Sorry for the delay.”
She hummed. “Is that all, then? Well, then hurry up and let him get out there. People are waiting for all of you to show up already, don’t waste more time, okay? We can’t have our Juneau pack be embarrassed, are we all clear?”
Everyone in the room made a sound of agreement, except me, anyway, but then again, my reaction really wasn’t needed.
In the end, though, I did finally get up. My clothes had been set aside for ages just waiting for me, and as soon as I was left alone in the room, I went to get dressed. It was a simple suit in white with a golden bow tie and a golden scarf folded in the jacket’s breast pocket. I thought the touch of gold would complement my bright blond hair, at least. The shirt was made up of really soft material, so it would feel comfortable over my sensitive skin. It was beautiful, actually. If only I’d been part of the party that went to look for it. Even the shoes that went with the outfit were in white, with the socks made of gold. I wasn’t allowed to have any other accessories.
It didn’t take all that long before I was fully dressed and ready, and I moved to look over myself in the mirror once again.
That… is really me, I thought, feeling my eyes sting with tears once again. The suit looked amazing.
If only this had been something I’d chosen, I might have been able to smile, at least. As it was, it would be a miracle if I didn’t start crying somewhere in the middle of the ceremony.
“Dominick?” someone called from the other side of the door, knocking lightly. “Do you need help with anything? Like tying the tie? Getting your outfit to settle right? Tell me!”
“I’m finished,” I called back. It was the first time I’d spoken that day, and my voice came out sounding a little hoarse. I took in a few deep breaths to keep myself calm myself, then my expression naturally fell into that cold look, and I headed for the doorway, pulling it open. There were several people waiting anxiously outside the door, as if instinctively they’d feared that I would try to run away at some point. Honestly, the idea had occurred to me, but even in my shifted form I knew I could never outrun an Alpha if they decided to track me down.
No reason to make things hard for myself, I thought sardonically.
“There you are,” Tabitha said with a grin. “And don’t you look beautiful in your suit. Come on, now. Everyone’s only waiting for you to come out.”
I took another shaky breath, though my steps were sure as I moved forward.
“Your Alpha will be waiting for you at the end of the aisle. The other Omegas will lead you there, but I can't spend too much time in your presence or you’ll start to stink of me. No Alpha likes their Omega smelling like another Alpha.”
Tabitha had this look o
n her face before she turned around and walked off. It was the look of a parent being absolutely proud of their young as they gave them away, which stung, because, one, I didn’t ask for this, it was forced on me. Two, my real parents weren’t around, and I got to deal with Tabitha instead, as if she’d raised me when she hadn't.
I had been pretty okay with my life since the time I was born. No one had ever given me a reason to complain. But for the first time ever, I wished I had been born an Alpha. So what if people gave me the things I want, if I didn’t get to make choices for myself in the end?
“Don’t worry, Dominick,” Amber said, standing in front of the other Omegas. “We’ll be right behind you until we reach the aisle, okay?”
I looked into her eyes, and once more felt my own mist over with tears. She was trying to tell me that even though I’d be going along, the Juneau pack hadn't abandoned me. I wondered if I was the only person that could tell they had. Even if the other Omegas went with me, they still had to keep their distance. I wanted someone to at least give me a hug, but any foreign scents on me would ruin the ceremony.
Instead of crying, though, I pushed back the tears. It wasn’t right to ruin all the work everyone had been doing for the whole of yesterday and today just because I was upset. So I sucked it up and did as I was told, like always.
The procession started.
A shifter wedding ceremony wasn’t exactly like a human one, though there were similarities. I knew this whole ceremony was only a formality, though.
The Alpha usually went ahead of the Omega to wait, and or she went alone. Always, whether male or female, the Omega would be given to the Alpha, and not the other way around. Then, after the Omega was prepared and dressed, they would be led, with several Omegas following them that acted not quite like brides maids, for part of the way to their Alpha. The traditional meaning behind it was something like Omegas saying goodbye to one of their own, because way back when, there was seclusion between Alphas and Omegas, unlike it was in the current times. And then, the Omega was left at the beginning of the aisle, to walk down it on their own toward their intended. Only one other shifter was allowed near the couple at this part of the ceremony, and that would be the one to marry us, usually a Beta, but I heard they would be using another Alpha for this ceremony.
Amber and the others walked me toward where the ceremony was taking place. At first, the whole place seemed deserted, but we did walk past a few people on the way there. They were waiting for after the wedding ceremony. After we got married, my Alpha and I could stay behind to celebrate with the rest of the pack, or, particularly because the Alpha was from a different pack, we might leave as soon as we got married, and everyone else would celebrate for us. I could already smell the food they’d made, and though I hadn't eaten much yesterday, and very little today, the smell of it turned my stomach.
“We’re here,” Amber’s whisper came from behind me. “Go well, Dominick.”
My steps hitched, but only for a second. I wanted to at least turn around and acknowledge her words, but I knew, even if I couldn’t see too many people around, there were people watching. I’d felt the eyes land on me a while ago, and if there was anything wrong… I may or may not get reprimanded later.
The moment passed quickly, though, and I tilted my chin up, made my expression as indifferent as I could, and continued alone down the aisle. It wasn’t that long, but it felt to me like it stretched on for too long, and I could only hope to get past it without making a mistake. The Alpha at the end of the aisle might judge me based on his first impression of me. I knew, because I would definitely be doing the same.
I focused my eyes ahead, and saw him. He stood alone, waiting for me. It wouldn’t be until I stood beside him that the Alpha to carry out the marriage would show up. He had his back to me as he faced the front, but as my eyes fell on his back, he seemed to notice my gaze. Even from the back, he looked tall and strong. His broad shoulders stretched his dark coat, leading down to a slim waist, thick thighs and long legs. His brown hair was also cut short, and even from behind, he exuded power, so he was a strong Alpha. And then, he turned around, and I saw him properly for the first time.
My breath hitched a little when I finally saw his face, eyes widening slightly. His light eyes captivated me first, a blue as light as the sky. And his face…his strong nose and chiseled jaw…he was…good-looking.
Shit.
I didn’t want to admit it, but even though he looked to be in his mid-thirties, he was extremely good-looking.
So why the hell was he marrying me? And how did it take him this long to find a mate that he had to even look outside of his pack for an Omega? There must have been something seriously wrong with him if he needed an arranged marriage to find an Omega.
My lips tightened. How exactly would this affect me?
While the age difference wasn’t so much of a big deal as it would be between two humans, I wondered if he was going to hold it against me. In my long, slow walk down the aisle, I thought of all sorts of possibilities and tried to think how it would all affect my life from now on.
I don’t want to do this, I thought to myself. But I’m here now, so I can only hope I won’t be miserable.
John’s expression didn’t give me anything to go by. He looked almost indifferent, though his eyes watched me with interest as I walked toward him, and I could feel my body stiffen with every step.
What did the Alpha think of me? I had no idea, but I had a feeling it would be the key to surviving in this new life with him.
Chapter 2
John
I walked with Dominick back to the hotel room. We’d both just endured being around my new mate’s over-excited pack. I could have left after the ceremony was over, but I knew these were my Omega’s last moments with his pack. He must have known we would be leaving, and because I didn’t want him to be miserable later on, I planned to give him as much time as he would need to say goodbye to his pack.
Dominick walked to my side and a step behind me. I thought he didn’t just want to walk beside me, until I remembered that he didn’t know where the hotel room even was.
Still… he seems to have a bit of an attitude. I sighed. They should have let me meet him before today. This might be easier if we’d at least met once before.
The thought was a fleeting one. I wasn’t exactly sad with what I got after all that suspenseful waiting.
I eyed my new mate out the corner of my eye, and felt my lips turn up in a smile. Dominick had his chin up and his nose in the air. His expression was cold and indifferent, his eyes hard, and besides when our eyes met after I caught him appraising me while he was walking down the aisle toward me, he hadn't looked at me at all. His expression hadn't changed since this morning, and I wondered if it was the only expression he had. His lips were flattened, and overall, he looked extremely like he was looking down at the entire ceremony.
Still, even though he looked like a snob, I had been wildly turned on since I first saw him, and my interest had only climbed up the more I stood near him, until I felt we’d stayed with the celebration for long enough. My scent had changed already, but I wondered if my little mate had even noticed.
I looked over the rest of him, feeling the heat rise in my body.
Dominick was of average height, which meant his head just about reached my shoulder. His body was a little thin, too, but that was pretty typical of Omegas. He had bright blond hair that he had styled on top of his head, and a sharp jaw. His eyes were a lovely green. He looked beautiful.
And he is all mine.
My lips spread into a wide grin before I controlled myself. I would be trying my best not to scare the poor boy away before we even had our first night together. I had a feeling it was going to be a night to remember for the both of us; I was going to make it so.
No matter Dominick’s stance on this whole marriage, I loved challenges, and I loved sex, and the mixture of the two was sure to be delicious.
“We’re here,” I
said out loud, to get his attention and to distract myself.
There was a huge discrepancy between what I wanted and what I should do. I wanted to jump him the moment we found ourselves alone, but I wasn’t that tactless, or that pent up.
When I first found out about the wedding, I had completely let myself go, finding Omegas to sate my lust for the last time. I couldn’t say a thing against the wedding, even though I’d never met this Omega I was going to get married to. I was under pressure from my pack to take an Omega and branch out, and I had waited so long already, even I was getting tired. But I just didn’t like the Omegas offered to me, and I knew, for the sake of keeping my genes going, the pack would not allow me to remain unmated for the rest of my life, even if that was what I wanted in the end.
So, when I heard I was going to be in an arranged marriage with a lactating Omega from Juneau, I just went along with it. Shifters didn’t know the meaning of divorce, and only in extremely rare cases would the shifter council allow a divorce to happen, so this was definitely for life.
Surprisingly, though, I didn’t feel as restricted as I thought I would at the end of the ceremony. Maybe because I was actually looking forward to peeling back my little mate’s layers, literally, and metaphorically.
Dominick had come to a stop behind me, and I took a few steps forward as I pulled the key card from my pocket. I had been staying in this hotel for the past couple days, but this morning, I’d been handed a different card. I had a feeling I knew why, and while I was annoyed, I’d gone along with it like with everything else to do with this marriage so far.
Besides me letting him know we’d arrived at our room, Dominick and I hadn't spoken a word to each other yet. I didn’t even know what the Omega’s voice sounded like, because in the ceremony, he wasn’t obligated to say a single word. I wondered how he could stay mute for so long. I sort of preferred things like that for now, though. I hadn't wanted out first words to be shared on a stage in front of everyone to begin with.
