Page 10 of Talk About… Trouble

Maybe I was naive, but I was fairly certain love wasn’t supposed to be conditional on your fucking designation.

You’d think my omega mom would be the one to protect me. But, unfortunately, anything they said went. She turned a blind eye to every cruel word or physical attempt to ‘toughen me up’ that they sent my way.

It was her or me, and she chose herself.

Always second best. I guess that seemed to be the motto of my life, unfortunately.

Every time I’d fallen in with a pack, they always ended up finding an omega.

So much for chosen mates being more common than true mates. It felt like more and more, that was starting to be a thing of the past.

A pack would be lonely and want an omega, but really, we were all just placeholders until they found the one they were truly looking for.

Even if our scents were compatible, it didn’t matter once they found this all-magical scent.

It sounded like a load of bullshit to me. Then again, maybe that was just the jaded part of my soul.

Deeper down, I was craving the exact same thing… an entire pack of sexy men to sweep me off my feet and treat me like I deserved.

Not like I was fragile or needy, but like I mattered.

Like what I am is okay.

In my head, they’d sweep me into a pack house, let me make it a home, help me build my nest, treat me like I was the center of their world.

At this point, I wasn’t even sure if I knew how to be an omega.

The buzzer by the door went off, a voice echoing through the intercom and startling me from my thoughts.

“Mr. Campbell, your roommates are on their way up. If you would, please open the door for them.”

I walked over and held the button before responding. “Thank you, Clarence. On it.”

The grandfatherly beta who ran the front desk was about as sweet as a beta could be. He was calm and caring, the perfect fit for an apartment full of wayward omegas.

When I signed up, it sounded like The Omega Network had a lot more in store for this place. There was an entire empty floor that they were planning on renovating into amenities.

But first, meeting my new roommates.

The elevator dinged the moment I pushed open the door, stepping outside to greet them. I barely took a single breath as I waited. Anxiety usually wasn't my style, I was fairly confident in myself. I had to be, otherwise they would have stolen that from me, too.

But right now my nerves were swirling wildly in my stomach until I was trying not to throw up.

Wouldn’t that be a wild introduction?

Lord, get it together, Devon. They’re just omegas.

Then, a bubbly ball of excitement stepped out of the elevator. She was a petite little omega, but I swear her enthusiasm made up for what she lacked in height. She was already waving, nearly dropping everything in her arms as she called out to me.

“I take it you’re our roommate?”

All of the nerves melted away as I rushed forward to help her with her burden before she tripped over herself.

“One of,” she answered. “I’m Grace. Nice to meet you!” Even her voice was adorable. “I also really hope you like pink.”

I didn’t notice until she said something that every visible item she had out of a box was some shade of pink.

“I can live with pink,” I laughed. Honestly, I was up for anything at this point, as long as it felt like home. It had been way too long since I felt that way… if ever.

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