Page 99 of Wild Omega

He chuckles at my enthusiasm. “Yeah, I thought so too. Now let’s see if we can find you some more alphas.” Damn, he’s beautiful. Not a hint of jealousy over my determination to find the last one. I want to explain my desperation to him, but I can’t find the words. Not without mentioning the voices in my head.

We step inside and I sigh as the glass box that contains all the disgusting alpha scent samples looms up in the center of the room. Traces of the putrid concoctions of thousands of alphas leak through the glass. My stomach turns at the memory, and I groan.

Rickon takes my hand. “You sure you’ll be all right? Didn’t you say you couldn’t manage this last time?”

I nod. The Center wants to check if I have any more matches, and I’ll try anything with my alpha by my side. Especially if it means finding the one clamoring through my skull.

“Okay.” Samantha pops the bucket beside the stool. “So, I’m going to turn the pages, Red’s going to lean in for a sniff, and then the bucket’s here for any fall out.” She grimaces. “Can’t say I’m a big fan of this plan.”

“Says the woman who only has to turn the pages,” I mutter. I clench my hands a few times to ready myself and Rickon catches the movement.

He brushes his fingers lovingly across mine. “Do you really need to put yourself through this?” He eyes the glass box dubiously. “I want you to find all your alphas too, but this seems extreme.”

I shake my head and stride forward. Just like ripping a Band-Aid off. “I need to find them.” Because one of them lives in severe distress, and if I don’t find him, well, it could be too late. Don’t ask me how I know.

“First page,” I mutter and stick my nose through the hole. Fuck, it’s even worse than I remember. The scents burn through my nostrils like acid. But a handful of scents are stronger than others: bergamot, banana smoothie, fuel, charcoal, and dirt. Does dirt even have a distinct scent? Apparently so. But not as distinct as the hints of licorice somewhere in that damned box. That alone could be what made me vomit the first time.

I push away and gag but manage to clamp down on my queasy stomach. Rickon steps forward and I bury my face in his chest, using him as a human scent-neutralizer. His gentle, calming fusion clears away the horrors in my nose.

I nod and swivel back. “Okay, page two.”

Samantha nods and fits her hand inside the tubed glove to flip the page.

I have another motive to finish this. It’s one more box of approval I can tick off in this damn institute so I can be released. ’Cause Dr Woods isn’t convinced, and she gets the final say.

Again and again, I offer my nose for an alpha scent sacrifice. Blueberries mix with vodka, which mixes with barbecue, lemon, and wet dog hair. I know that scent because an omega who visited the Center recently brought her dog in from the rain.

Even with Rickon here, I can’t control the nausea. A dozen times my stomach rebels and I heave into the bucket, thankful I ate lightly today. My muscles ache from cramping and my nose stings until I get bouts of sneezing that bring on more vomiting. My body rejects this process so much.

Rickon grows more and more distressed. “Red, let’s find another way. Maybe if I like the scent you will too?” He rests his hands on my shoulders, rubbing gently. “If not, let’s try again another day.”

“And delay the torture?” I mutter darkly. “No thanks. All I need is encouragement.”

“But—” He stops and stiffens, his fingers digging into my collarbone. “Sure, if that’s what you want.” He’s oddly compliant, but I think that’s because he wants me out of here too. “You’re doing great. You’re halfway through now.”

I want to quit. I also want to come back to this another day, but instinct tells me I’ll never willingly return. Twice is enough.

Rickon holds my head to his chest, stroking my hair. “You got this, Red. Your alphas will appreciate your sacrifice, and it’ll be worth it to find them.”

I curl my hands through his belt as tears prickle behind my eyes. I won’t let him see my weakness, but his support means the world to me.

Samantha disappears and comes back with anti-nausea medication, plus some electrolytes, as I sniff and hurl my way through the omegas’ Book of Horrors.

My heart sinks as the beta nurse turns the final page and I pop my nose through the hole for the last time. I haven’t found a single scent match. How can this be?

I spin away into Rickon’s arms, clenching my teeth against the agony of despair. Where is he?

Tension runs through my alpha’s body. “That’s all of them?”

“Yes,” Samantha confirms. “Every alpha who’s sent a sample to an Omega Center branch is in that book.”

His arms tighten around me, shielding me from the brutal reality. “I’m so sorry, Biscuit.” He kisses my hair. “I know I’m not much, but I’ll do my best to make up for not having any more alphas.”

I shake my head. “You’re everything. That’s not the problem.”

“Then what is it?”

I cling to him in silence, my gaze flicking across to Samantha. How do I explain that I can hear all of them in my head? I have at least one more alpha out there, and he needs me. But Rickon’s already accepted so much about me. I’m not a regular omega.

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