Page 18 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

I wrinkle my nose and nod. “Yep. Omegas when they first present… we uh, perfume a lot. Usually round any alpha that isn’t related by blood. And instead of keeping the alphas of the world under control-”

“Because we all know how that would go-”

“They bundle the omegas away until we have better control. Because who would blame an alpha for fucking a perfuming omega?”

I look up and find all four of them looking at me and Ren with shock. I glance at her and find her already looking at me. We’ve complained about this so much, about how at the root of the need for the omega academies there’s the inkling of victim blaming. Similar to the defense used in a rape case, ‘were you dressed provocatively?’ Only in the case of an omega it’s, ‘how was your scent? Were you perfuming?’ As if a young omega’s inability to control scent is their fault.

It’s not news to us, but I suppose it’s not something that alphas here all that much.

“You mean they put omegas in school to keep you away from alphas that can’t control themselves?”

“Yes?” I don’t mean it as a question, but it’s there all the same.

“And in the meantime we learn about pack dynamics, how to calm enraged alphas, alpha and omega physiology, nesting,arts and crafts, cooking, cocktail making and essentially every other thing to make us appealing to a pack,” Ren says. “So it’s not all bad.”

I nudge her with a shoulder. “We could also take classes in mathematics, science, history and anything else that struck our fancy.”

“Aselectives,” Ren clarifies. “But the ones I listed were required. And the two of us passed with top marks in every single one. Haven was summa cum laude.”

My cheeks flush again. But not one of them comments on it. Thankfully.

“What electives did you take?” Creed asks, his eyes focused on me with intensity.

“Oh, um,” I look down, not able to hold his gaze. “I didn’t take any electives.” I wanted to, lord knows I did. But my father didn’t want me to. Which again was so weird, seeing as he doesn’t want me to be an omega. Why have me take all the omega classes, but none of the same ones that betas would take? I have no clue what he was thinking, other than that maybe he always knew I’d never need to actually know any of it. Why would I when I’ll remain a puppet for the rest of my life?

Well, that and he loves to brag about how I was so accomplished as an omega, but I’ve turned my back on my designation thanks to how strong my belief in his policy reform is.

“Too focused on learning the best way to snag a pack?” Hale asks, sounding judgy as hell.

Ren picks up on it, and her gaze snaps to him, her eyes narrowed. “No, her father- Ow!” I pinch her thigh hard to keep her from spilling something she shouldn’t. If she does, there’s a chance I’ll end up with a migraine even if I’m not the one telling secrets. My best friend glares at me as a server comes up with our drinks. I ignore her. She knows why I did what I did.

After a moment, she sighs and leans into me again. “She was too bloody brilliant in her other classes and needed to give the rest of us a chance to shine,” she finally says, glaring at Hale.

He meets her gaze and then seems to realize how his question sounded and looks at me with an apologetic look on his face. “It didn’t mean it like that, little mouse.”

I take a sip of my drink. “I understand. It’s fine.”

Jude snorts and cuddles me closer, and I melt into him, his sea salt and driftwood scent tickling my nose through the descenter I know they pump through the air conditioner. “He’s an ass, bellybutton,” he says into my temple. “But he means well.”

I nod. “I know. Besides, we’re all aware of how my father feels about packs.” I choose my words carefully, putting it all on the man who sired me. I want them to catch the meaning there.Hefeels that way about packs. I don’t.

I’m not sure it registers though, not when Jude pulls away from me slightly and Tic and Hale exchange a look. Only Creed holds my gaze, head tilted in a way that makes me think he understood.

There’s an uncomfortable moment of silence and then Jude is back to leaning into my side. I look up at him. “Why do you keep calling me bellybutton?”

He chuckles and runs his nose over my cheek. “Because your last name is Bell and you’re cute as a button.”

Ren laughs. “She is pretty cute, though I’m not sure that’s the compliment she was hoping for tonight.”

My cheeks flare a bright red, even though she’s not wrong. Wearing one of Ren’s designs with my hair down and curled and with a smoky eyes and red lip, I’d been going for sexy. But maybe I’m just not able to do that. Tobethat.

“You can be sexy as hell and still be cute as hell, too, bellybutton.”

I hum and take a sip of my drink. “Think we can negotiate a different nickname?”

“Not a chance,” Jude grins at me while Tic shakes his head.

“Good luck with that. He still has Hale in his phone as King Charles.”

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