O-9 hugs me into her side, radiating love. The rest lean across the table to offer me small touches, their smiles slowly reappearing as the tension breaks.
The Red Hawk never quit on a tough gig. This show of love is enough for me. “When you all find your packs, you make them spoil you like queens.” I catch their gazes one by one. “Hear me?”
“Why does this sound like a goodbye?” O-9 asks, her gaze narrowing. She’s a wily one, this dark-haired sweetheart.
I shrug and smile. “My alphas could come get me any day. I need to be ready, and I won’t look back for you stinky bitches when I go.”
The game starts amid their feigned outrage. I chuckle under my breath. Each omega here has been through hell, but we’re all getting fresh starts now. I glance at O-18 under my lashes. Some of us have a few scars to carry forward, but we’ll make it.
We’re deep in our fifth game, O-20 loaded up on his third Draw Four, when a commotion breaks out near the doors.
O-9 twists to see. “Who’s here?”
Nervous tremors crawl down my skin, and I flush hot and cold. Slowly, I spin in my seat to look as three men walk across the room, escorted by Omega Center staff. My alpha, Rickon; my lawyer, Callisto; and my film director, Valencio Yun, march toward us. And damn, they look fine.
Rickon sashays across the floor, barely hiding his grin, dolled up in a corset, platform boots, and killer purple eyeliner. Callisto catches me looking and winks. He looks smooth as butter, too, in a fitted gray suit.
O-9 whistles in appreciation as they approach. “Now there’s a party,” she murmurs under her breath.
As if he knows every fantasy I‘ve ever had, Rickon goes down on one knee and kisses my hand. “Are you ready to go, my omega?”
My panties soak through in a heated instant and the omegas all swivel my way, jaws hanging open.
“We’re waiting to start filming,” Director Yun adds, a cherry on top of Rickon’s proclamation.
Electric thrills run through me as I stand. “Looks like my alphas came to get me,” I announce, not letting go of Rickon’s hand as he stands. I blow kisses toward the others as I say, “Good luck to you all.”
Okay, so technically only one of them is my alpha, but I’m not about to let tiny details ruin my graduation ceremony. The amazed looks on the omegas’ faces are every bit as delicious as I imagined.
Taking Rickon’s cue, Callisto offers his arm to me, and I slip my hand into the crook of his elbow. Pretty sure my feet float across the floor as they lead me away. True to my word, I don’t look back. Not even once.
Freedom, at last.
Chapter forty-four
Callisto
Out in the Center car park, Director Yun plants his hands on his hips. “Does that satisfy you, Red?”
The gorgeous omega grins. “Yes, sir! That was perfect.” She steps to his side and kisses his cheek.
“Right then,” he grumbles, his alpha scent flaring. “I expect you at work bright and early Monday. It’s only a reading, but I do hope you’re memorizing your lines.”
Rickon chimes in. “We’re working on it.”
“I won’t let you down,” Red adds, still beaming.
I’ve no idea why that little display back there was so important to her, but the smile on her face does things to my heart. I stare at her lips, longing to taste what her happiness tastes like. I catch my dangerous thoughts and lock them away. I’ve no right to lust after a woman I rejected.
“Ready to go home?” I ask.
Red’s eyes light up even more. “Yes. Lead the way.”
Director Yun says goodbye and heads over to his sleek white BMW, and I grab the suitcase Red brought with her from the Center and lead the way to my car. It’s always been easier for me to use a driving service rather than worry about fueling up so this car doesn’t get much use but that might change, now an omega will be living with us.
My heart pangs as I hold the door for them to get in the back, and Red immediately throws herself at her alpha. Her nutty scent mingles with my friend’s vanilla, filling the car like a baklava shop. I settle into the driver’s seat and glance back to find Red straddling Ricky’s lap, kissing him thoroughly. My mouth waters, and my cock sits up. Dammit.
“I’m going to have to ask you to put seat belts on,” I warn.