Page 16 of Pack Giroux

Before I can overthink what I’m doing here anymore, a woman comes out of one of the doors.

“Hi, Marnie?” she asks for confirmation as she walks over to me.

“Yes,” I answer.

Her smile is soft and immediately puts me at ease. It helps that her scent of lavender is relaxing. There’s a slight tingeof something else to her scent that I can’t quite put my finger on.

“I’m Grace,” she says. “Want to come with me this way?”

I let my feet do the talking as I follow her through the door and into a hallway with more doors. We take the first one to the right and she ushers me to the seat in front of her desk just like Coach did.

"Coach Jordan tells me that this is your first year here with us at North U," she starts.

Setting my bag down at my feet before sitting, I admit, "Yeah, it is."

"Great, we're lucky to have you," she starts. "I know classes and practice only just started this week, but how are you liking it so far?"

"It's a lot different than high school," I reply. "Well, mostly."

"Some things are the same?" she asks with a slight nod of her head.

"Yeah, just the school and learning part," I tell her, deciding to take advantage of the situation if Ihaveto be here. "Is everything we say here confidential?"

"Of course," she says.

"The drama and cattiness is kind of the same, too," I admit.

She nods. "From your roommates? Your team? Or someone in your classes?"

"The first two," I confess.

Nodding again, she says, "Unfortunately, some people don't grow mentally as the rest of us have to. It takes them a lot longer. But there's a huge difference in cattiness, as you say, and bullying. They're not bullying you, are they?"

I shake my head.

"Good," she says. "Let me know if that changes. Did Coach Jordan tell you about what we do here at the center?"

"Only a little," I admit.

She smiles. "Well, we're here for all of the omegas that attend our university. Every designation has its own council, and this one is for our omegas. We are here for anything you ever need. Whether it be an ear to listen, help finding a tutor for classes or finding a job, even a comfortable place to stay during your heats."

I feel the blood rush to my face at the mention of my heat, and I look down at the carpet as I sit back in the plush chair. A very familiar scent hits my nose, but I can't place it while I'm trying to avoid the subject at hand. In my avoidance, I notice a black hoodie thrown over the backside of my chair. Brushing my shoulder against it, has the scent hitting me again. It's a subtle smell, but enough of one that makes me want to crawl into it. It's only been a few seconds, but I feel like she's waiting for me to say something.

Only, she beats me to it. "I know it might be uncomfortable to talk about, but it helps sometimes to understand things a little better. Have you had a heat before?"

I nod, still embarrassed. "Only one when I first presented as an omega. I haven't had one since."

Her brows lift in surprise. "How long ago was that?"

Thinking back on it, I'm as honest as I can be. "Thirteen, I think. That's not normal is it?"

Her lips press tight before she answers. "You'd need to get a doctor's opinion, hun. Typically you'll get anywhere from two to four heats a year."

There's something in the way that she delivers the information, makes me think that she's got an opinion and just isn't sharing it. "Do you think they did something to me?"

She takes a minute or so to gather her thoughts. "Who'sthey? Your pack?"

I contemplate lying to her. I don't care if my scent wouldgive me away in a heartbeat. Then I think about how awful their ideals are and the people still there suffering. That's why I decide to answer her truthfully. I can't help but to rub my shoulder into the material of the hoodie for a bit of calmness, a small detail that I don't think she misses. "We live with our packs until we hit puberty and our designation makes itself known. The alphas get to stay with their packs. The betas get assigned hard labor and have to tend our farms and animals. Omegas are different. We're sent to live with each other in the same big house until we finish school. Then we're given to a pack that needs an omega."

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