Page 19 of For What It's Worth

“Okay, if you’re looking for low-key, there’s the ‘Burpin’ Frog’ which is going to have all sorts of games you can play. Billiards, darts, that sort of thing. Games where you can drink but not necessarily drinking games. There’s also a jazz club with a live band, a karaoke bar I would only suggest going to if you’re brave, and a drag bar if that’s your thing. Just know a lot of these places are going to be filled with alphas or at least run by them.”

I nodded. My inner omega hated the idea, but I needed to get her back to the point where she was tolerating alphas again. Maybe this would help.

“If you want drinking games, then you should head to a sorority party. Those are on Grace Boulevard—which isn’t too far from Kappa. Luckily, it’s Friday, so you’ve got plenty of options. Do not go to a fraternity party without a friend or letting someone know—even me. I’m part of the Gamma Kappa Phi Sorority and we know any female—especially a beta—walking in by herself automatically gets a pledge-shadow from GKP for the night for protection. But only the sororities do this.”

My inner omega snarled, her limit of being in Knox’s presence, inhaling the alpha’s scent, and tolerating the headache forming from every color of the rainbow being represented, reached. “I think I’ll try the jazz club. Live music and a low-key environment sound perfect. Thanks, Knox.”

I stood, but she continued, “Of course. Do you have a ride there? A way to get back?”

“I’ll walk. Kappa Street isn’t far. But I have the campus transportation app on my phone if I need that.”

“Stellar. And if you ever want to talk about anything else. Serious or not, hit me up. You know where to find me.” She laughed at her own joke.

I thanked her and—no offense to how nice Knox was—got the hell out of that room before I couldn’t hold my gag back anymore. Back in my room, I got undressed. I really, really just wanted to throw my clothes in the dirty hamper, but I found myself tossing them in my little trash can, unable to keep the pepper drenched clothes. I wished the clothes the alphas had washed contained their scents, so I could’ve cleansed my nose and calmed my omega.

My inner omega had wanted me to put every article of clothing my alphas had ever touched or saw me in, in the nest, since I didn’t have their scents to decorate it. I already had to give up the nicer nest and the pack, the least I could do was give in to my private guilty pleasures. And so, my nest was now also my closet. And my bed. And my desk.

I took a quick shower, washing off any of Knox’s lingering scent, before heading into my nest. There were a few hours before it was socially acceptable to go out, and I needed the time to prepare myself.

Being in my nest was my attempt to ease my inner omega. She was becoming more and more in control. I needed her calm, my instincts under control.

Chapter Fourteen

Kappa Street was much farther on foot than it looked on the little blue line of my phone’s map. Although it was near campus dorms, those dorms were the alpha ones and were all the way on the other side of campus. I had no doubt a campus map—likely something I would have received at the first-year orientation—would have been helpful.

Everyone walking around was dressed like they couldn’t feel the cold night air, and I was pretty sure they were running the risk of hypothermia. I was glad for my layers. I wore dark tights under my flair skirt, matched with a top that looked like it was two layers with one long sleeve and the other a tank top but was really a single item of clothing. My necklace key was hidden under my shirt. In all, I thought I found a way to look good while staying warm.

I had no idea if alphas and betas ran hotter than omegas and that was why everyone walking around acted like winter hadn’t started, or if they’d rather just dress how they wanted and gave a big, ‘fuck you’ to weather. I blamed my delicate omega sensibilities for the fact that I liked to be comfortable at all times. That meant warm.

Plus, I was going to the jazz bar not the frat house parties like the group of a dozen students that passed by. They were loud and already drunk, talking about which house to visit first when they got to Grace Boulevard.

I fought the urge to mindlessly look at my phone while I walked. Not because I was against using it as a way to tell strangers to fuck off. But I was pretty sure I would’ve pulled up the college ride share app to take me back to my dorm. Despite the urge to do that, I knew I needed to power through. This was a good idea. I’d handled being around alphas my whole life. I couldn’t stop now because I had a stupid crush on stupid good smelling alphas. If I ever hoped to get a job, I needed to be around alphas without my inner omega snarling and demanding my nest.

I hadn’t been this worried about handling my inner omega since I first learned she existed.

As I got close to the entrance, a buzzing neon blue light let me know I’d found the right place. A large number eight was all I could make out of the sign. A single memory was trying to push its way to the front of my thoughts, but an argument between a small female and two large males distracted me. Just the sight of the three bodies in a heated discussion had me slowing my steps, not sure if I should make myself known.

Alphas surrounding a beta, unfortunately, was not a unique sight. Omegas were the only designations that could take an alpha’s knot, but that had never stopped certain alphas from trying it on betas. It was rare to see omegas in such a position since they went to the Omega Compound the day they perfumed and were only allowed outside with the presence of their mated alpha.

Slowly, I opened up my phone’s camera, taking a picture of what was happening. You know, in case I went into a coffee shop and saw a flyer for a familiar looking female gone missing.

“You can’t be serious,” the female demanded. She was obviously not intimidated by the two males blocking her way into the club, which could’ve been a good thing, meaning she wasn’t in danger. Or she could’ve been stupid-brave. Her hands pushed through her dark purple hair with enough aggression I wouldn’t doubt she pulled out a few strands.

“Look, we’ve already told you twice. No omegas allowed in without a packmate,” the male closest to me said. He looked over at the other guard as if waiting for his approval, finally getting it in a single head nod.

This was just another reason why I hid my status. Unmated omegas weren’t allowed away from the compound and mated omegas were always supposed to have a member of their pack with them. Apparently, a claiming bite could be faked or put into a place that was hidden so it wasn’t considered enough proof an omega had a pack. The laws were said to be for omegas’ protection, and yet, we were the ones with the restrictions.

I watched the omega as she became more frustrated. She had a good sense of style going by her outfit tonight: black boots with heels and studs on them, shorts that looked like skin-tight leather, and a top with sleeves covering her arms but cut off at the shoulders. That didn’t even take into account her perfectly curled purple hair. Everything about the girl screamed sexy, confident.

“I already told you my pack is inside,” she said through gritted teeth.

“That’s what they all say, doll,” the other guard who hadn’t spoken yet said. “And boss man wouldn’t like the compound on his ass because we made an exception. Even for a fine piece like you.”

The woman pulled out her phone, aggressively putting it to her ear as she murmured under her breath. “Look, no one is answering their phone, but if you just walk in there with me, I can prove most of my pack is inside.”

“Not going to happen, sweetheart,” Guard One said. The two males wore identical black outfits, but they were easy to tell apart. Guard One, as I’d nicknamed him, had a hunch to his shoulders. Not like he was trying to seem unthreatening but as if he was incapable of looking down without his chest concaving. Guard Two stood normally. By their size, and attitude, it was easy to tell they were alphas before I’d even scented them.

The omega growled, and I decided that was my cue to help. If she actually had a pack, they would’ve come running at sensing her agitation, but I had no problem acting like I was with this female. She shouldn’t be faulted for her designation. And it wasn’t really lying. Just acting.

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