Page 51 of The Omega

Lollipop. I nodded, throat dry.

Opal sighed as she relaxed again beside me.

I could barely think with the blood pounding in all the wrong places, but I made myself focus.

“I spoke to your Alpha this morning,” I said, watching to see what her reaction would be. “He seems like a decent guy.”

“He is.”

I figured as much, but having her confirm it helped my beast relax.

“Why did you talk to him?” she asked.

“I wanted his permission to take you on a proper date,” I said.

Opal’s giggle was music to my ears. “I bet Journey loved that. He’s always been more of a father figure to me instead of just an Alpha.”

I frowned. There had to be more to the story. Alphas shouldn’t pick favorites. It messed with structure and ranking.

“And your pack was okay with that?” I asked, fully expecting to hear her say, “Lollipop.”

“Not really.” She shrugged. “But I’m sure they understood why. My mom had some issues, but she and Journey were… close. He stepped up to help like any Alpha would.”

Overstepped is more like it.

I’m sure he did what he thought was best.

I would’ve told her my thoughts on the matter, but the cameras were recording everything, and there was a darkening to her bright eyes that I didn’t want to make worse.

I cleared my throat softly. “Your mom. Was she an Omega too?”

“She was.” Opal’s voice grew quiet as she fiddled with the blanket.

I didn’t want to push her to say the safe word. I wanted her to trust that she was safe with me. To know that I’d always protect her, from everything.

I thought of a way to bring this back to neutral territory. “What’s it like being an Omega?”

The look on her face made me physically ill as she smiled sweetly for the cameras. “It’s an honor to be blessed by the Goddess with the abilities I have.”

“Abilities?” I pressed, wondering where the real conversation we were just having went.

“I’m biologically designed to create peace and harmony wherever I go.” Her voice was sing-song. Mechanical. Rehearsed.

Wrong. My wolf growled.

Maybe she didn’t like being an Omega. It must’ve been hard to always be the peacekeeper as she said…

I thought of mine and Dorian’s situation.

Fate wouldn’t be that cruel, would it?

No. Fate gave us her. That’s no mistake.

I did know what it meant to be biologically designed for a role. As an Alpha, my job was to protect my pack at all costs. Against anything—like the Bailey Pack or any others—that would harm them.

And my new job was to protect Opal too.

My mate.