Page 2 of Suddenly His Alpha

“Don’t you sass me, boy,” Harper Berringer said as he stormed into the tiny room Tulla occupied in the boarding house.

Tulla had resided there since he’d been scarcely sixteen, his family not having the funds to secure their own small family cottage in the Omega Quadrant. He lived in a small room within the house with another dozen or so omegas; all waiting for thegloriousday they met and mated their alpha. He almost rolled his eyes at that thought.

Glorious? Hardly. Tulla closed the door, hoping to prevent everyone in the house from hearing the dressing down to come.Not likely. The walls of this place are paper-thin.

“I just came from the Omega Ball Foundation’s organizational meeting, and I didnotsee your name on the guest list for the upcoming Ball.Whyis that? I sent you the invitation a month ago.”

“I have no desire to go,” he said as calmly as he could.

“No. Desire. To go.” Rage filled his papa’s eyes. “You have lived in this boarding house for nearly eight years. Wecannotcontinue to pay for your room and board much longer, Tulla. Youmustfind an alpha, and soon. Your father is threatening to cut you off.”

Tulla gasped inwardly, his eyes widening.

“That seems to have gotten your attention.Good.”

“He can’t just cut me off,” Tulla argued, searching his papa’s face, hoping to find some glimmer of hope.

“You give us little choice. Your father has already used up half his retirement paying for your care and upkeep here.”

“I would gladly pay my way, if I could. You know that. I’ve been to every business in the Omega Quadrant, begging for a job. I’d doanything.”Well, just about anything.There were a few establishments he’d avoided—mainly the strip clubs where overeager betas with omega fetishes were said to congregate. He’d also steered clear of the surrogate centers and the dark, dingy offices where omegas could sign over their bodies to one of the sex houses.

“If you found your alpha, you wouldn’t have to worry about a job,” his papa snarled. “And if you don’t find him soon, you’ll end up ruining yourself for one. And then where will you be?”

“We should have the right to choose,” Tulla whispered.

“Unfortunately, we don’t have that right,” his papa said, a sad look on his face. “This world gives us few ways out, Tulla. I understand your need to rebel. Trust me… I was once in your very shoes. I just don’t want you ruining your future with that strong will of yours. Once you meet your alpha…everythingwill change, my love. You’ll see the world in a whole new light. Love has a way of reshaping everything we see.”

“Love?” he scoffed. “It’s achemical reaction. That’s all. It’s not love, but lust. Animal lust.”

“Maybe,” his papa said. “Regardless, you need that chemical reaction… or I hate to think where you’ll end up.”

Tulla turned to look out the narrow window that allowed a single shaft of light to enter his room. Silence fell between them for a moment until he nodded. “Fine. I’ll work harder to make myself…available.”

Unmated alphas and omegas were sequestered—had they not been, any alpha could claim an omega in heat. When young, they were all raised together in the Family Quadrant—alphas, betas, and omegas—but once heats occurred, omegas were moved to the OQ, where they were never allowed to leave until mated. Alphas, being the most powerful group, were still free to go as they damned well pleased.

Attending a ball was his only chance to find a mate. A ball was like being in a fishbowl… with many eyes watching their every move.

Most said the balls were a chance to find love.

It sounded nothing like love in Tulla’s mind.

If he found his alpha, he’d have to give in. Surrender himself to a man who would control him for the rest of his life. He’d be forced to bear children and then care for those children he didn’t want. And he’d be expected to behappyabout it all.

Love.

Not hardly.

“I’ll sign up for the next ball,” Tulla said, his back still to his papa.

“You’ll go to this one,” his papa corrected.

Tulla spun. “I didn’t sign up.”

“I snuck your name onto the list at the meeting. Two nights from now… you’re going. I assume you still have the suit from the last two. Is it clean?”

Tulla nodded, irritated that he wouldn’t have a few weeks to prepare himself for what was to come. Two days. His mind went to his one good suit. It was still hung up in the bag it had come in. “It is.”

“Good. Unfortunately, your father and I can’t go as your escort. We’ve been invited to a soiree at the Montgomery mansion that night. Your brother, Bardon, will accompany you.”

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