Page 38 of The Omega

I nodded, chewing my bottom lip as I watched Wright from North Carolina take the stage and pump his fist before he laid on a workout bench next to a rack of weights.

At least it was only two mates fate blessed me with. I’d known Omegas with harems of seven and eight. So many parts with so few holes.

“That was cute,” Cindy continued. “We could practically hear your wolves calling to each other. I’m glad he’s found someone. Though I was curious to see the size of Atlas’s wolf.”

He’s mine.

I was less shocked by Cindy’s admission than my own wolf’s territorial little growl. Mentally, I soothed my beast as I offered Cindy a smile, not sure how best to go about asking this delicate question.

But maybe I just needed to come out with it. “Are you hoping to find someone bigger than your wolf this season?”

I’d seen the final episodes in the hospital wing for Omegas, watching as Cindy’s enormous wolf took the head off Chad. It was all some viewers could talk about for weeks. Not that I blamed them. I was just lucky to have survived the last season when she’d gotten it in her head that I had any interest in that fleabag.

Cindy sized me up as if checking to see my underlying motives. I didn’t have any other than curiosity and was relieved when she realized that.

“I guess we have more in common than I thought. We’re both freaks.” She added that last bit under her breath.

Speak for yourself.

What has gotten into you?!

“But no,” Cindy said. “I don’t suspect I’ll ever find a wolf bigger than mine. Not that I care much, anyway. Can I tell you a secret?”

I nodded and she lowered her voice to a real whisper this time, one soft enough for only me to hear. “I’m only here because my daddy wants me to show the board I can make it through a season without taking off anyone else’s heads. Then I get a higher position in the company.”

If she wasn’t looking for a mate, she wouldn’t see me as competition. I relaxed for the first time in ages.

“What happened with the Tulia Pack after that… situation with Chad?” I asked, curiosity making me bolder.

“Why do you think I want to move up the ranks?” Cindy winked. “I’m going after their empire next. Or whatever is left of them once Ranger settles down.”

I gave her a warm smile, mentally wishing she’d get what she wanted in the end. That wasn’t the life I’d want for myself. Even knowing I’d have to be a Luna for two different packs, I wanted something quiet. Less stressful. Somewhere that felt like… home.

“And now, without further ado,” Jay Renfro spoke on stage as the colored lights began to swirl, “It is with great pleasure that we introduce you to tonight’s main event. Alpha Dorian Bailey from the acclaimed Circus Versipellis will be performing a never-before-filmed feat of talent and strength for us tonight.”

The cheers were deafening. Claps and whistles and hollers came from every direction. The lights continued to swirl, orange and red, as fog from a smoke machine filled the stage and music blasted from the speakers.

I’d known Dorian was well-liked from the polls and what Clara had said, but I didn’t think he was movie-star famous.

You’d have thought we’d bought tickets to be here, and I was surprised the other Lunas didn’t rush to push me from the front row.

But then I saw what all the fuss was about.

Silk descended from the thirty-foot ceilings. The twin silk ropes were a blood shade of red. Hanging onto them, with his light brown hair falling forward over his eyes and chest bare, wearing skin-tight leather pants and looking like every woman’s wet dream, was my delicious mate.

The silks’ tails pooled onto the ground. Dorian stepped off and threw his arms in the air. The music pulsed faster as the Lunas whistled louder and cried out their excitement.

Even Cindy gave a low, appreciative whistle.

Dorian was masculine art, cut from stone, and beautiful.

He bowed before flipping backwards and catching the rope with his hand. His foot hooked the bottom tail of silk, and arm after arm, his muscles flexed as he hoisted himself back up. Shifter strength added to his dexterity, but this wasn’t something I’d be able to do without extensive training.

He moved like he’d been born doing this.

Hanging with one arm, he rolled his body around the silk, gathering it at his waist.

I held my breath, watching, knowing he was about to do something.