Page 2 of The Omega

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.

2

Opal

We should stay home until it’s time to go meet our mates.