Page 15 of The Omega

But I wasn’t a fool. I knew how they talked on social media; knew the questions that didn’t get answered left a burning hole in society’s mind. It was half the reason I hadn’t wanted to come here, despite knowing it was the right thing to do.

But even my pack had agreed it was my duty to see this through. It was the only way to protect them.

“The viewers at home are dying to know which Luna you like best?” The cameraman rocked back and forth on his heels as he waited for my response.

The air rushed from my lungs.

Oh, that’s all?

It made sense that they’d want to know.

I folded my arms over my chest as I turned to study the ballroom again, sparing another glance at all the perfumed beauties spraying pheromones meant to attract a suitable mate, and shook my head with a firm, “No.”

It wasn’t that I didn’t want to eventually settle down, but I had more respect for women than to assume I’d be enough as a chosen mate. And there was a part of me curious to know if I’d get lucky like that rich Alpha last season who hadn’t wanted to be here, but ended up finding his fated mate.

Except I was a realist.

One who’d realized about five minutes after setting foot in this resort that I wouldn’t be taking a mate this season.

They don’t smell right. My wolf grumbled. We’ll find a nice girl back home. Someday.

On this, like most things, we were in perfect agreement. It was only the handling of the Bailey Pack business that caused us internal strife.

“Have you seen the online polls?” the cameraman pressed.

I stared at him, hard.

Did I look like the kind of wolf who had social media?

He got the hint, but that didn’t stop the frustrated tap of his foot. “Viewers are making predictions about who you’d best be paired with. Do you want to know who it is?”

“No,” I said.

Movement in the corner of the room caught my attention. Ken Damar had snuck in through the back door. His nervous gaze swept the crowd. When he spotted me, he gave a thumbs-up.

Sighing, I turned back to the cameraman. “I mean, no thank you.”

There. No one could say I wasn’t holding up my end of the bargain. Ken had already spoken to me about my participation—or lack thereof—and I respected the human male even if I didn’t respect his occupation. In a way, I was on his territory.

Unlike some assholes in this room, I knew how to act in a situation like that.

The cameraman’s foot continued to tap the floor, but I was saved from any more of the interview by a commotion across the room.

Jay Renfro stood under the spotlight speaking to the cameras as the main doors to the ballroom opened. They hadn’t rolled up the red carpet yet.

A woman stepped onto it.

Black strappy shoes crossed a dainty ankle. My wolf went deathly silent, even as the other Alphas and Lunas around me gasped.

I quickly looked up, seeing the mass of midnight black hair falling around her milky white shoulders. A deep red dress clung to her hourglass curves. She was petite, but perfect in all the right ways. Old Hollywood glam. I could picture her walking off the set of a black and white movie.

Blue eyes met mine from across the dancefloor. My heart slammed against my chest.

Mate.

I knew it as well as I knew my last name.

Suddenly, nothing else mattered.