Page 6 of Dance Omega Dance

"You're wearing suppressants," he interrupted, frowning. "Rather heavy ones, I'd guess. That's... disappointing." He took another step, and my back hit the wall. "I bet you smell divine underneath all that chemical camouflage."

Panic fluttered in my throat. "Please... just leave..."

"Don't worry," he murmured, close enough now that I could feel the heat radiating from him. "I'm not some uncultured Alpha who can't control himself. I just want a little taste of what the audience will be missing tonight." His hand rose toward my face.

I flinched, turning my head away. "Don't touch me."

Something darkened in his expression. "You know," he said, voice hardening, "for an Omega in your position, you might want to consider being more... accommodating. Careers like yours depend on patronage, and I'm very influential in the arts community."

The threat hung between us, explicit in its implication. My throat constricted, chest tightening. This was the reality beneath every achievement, every moment of freedom... the knowledge that my biology made me vulnerable to men like him.

"I believe my friend said don't touch her." Maddie's voice cut through the tension like a knife.

She stood in the doorway, arms crossed, her small frame vibrating with righteous fury. Behind her loomed the bulky silhouette of a security guard.

The alpha straightened, irritation flashing across his features before settling into a calculated charm. "Just welcoming our star," he said smoothly. "No harm in that."

"Fascinating," Maddie replied, voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because from where I'm standing, it looked a lot like harassment. Which, as I'm sure an esteemed board member knows, violates about six theater policies and at least two state laws."

He laughed, the sound empty of humor. "You've got quite the watchdog, haven't you?" His eyes slid back to me. "Fine." He adjusted his jacket, retreating toward the door with deliberate slowness. "I'll be watching your performance, Summer Rayne. I always get excellent seats. Front row, and center. Close enough to really... appreciate the dancers."

He brushed past Maddie, who stood her ground despite being half his size. The security guard stepped aside reluctantly, clearly uncomfortable confronting someone of the alpha's status.

When he was gone, my legs finally gave way. I sank into the nearest chair, hands trembling against my thighs. I sat shaking, and wrapped my arms around myself, cold despite the heat rising in my cheeks and neck.

Maddie was at my side in an instant. "That absolute scumbag," she spat. "Are you okay? Did he hurt you? Because I will absolutely end his entire existence if he laid a finger on you."

“Heknewmy name,” I whispered, the words barely forming.

I shook my head, trying to find my voice again. "I'm fine. He just... got too close." The half-truth tasted bitter. "Who was he?"

"Dylan Jones," Maddie said, the name like a curse on her tongue. "Old money, older entitlement. Donated enough to the theater to get his name on a plaque and thinks it gives him ownership rights to the talent." She crouched in front of me, taking my icy hands in her warm ones. "I'm so sorry, Summer. I shouldn't have left you alone."

"It's not your fault," I said automatically. "You can't be my bodyguard 24/7."

"Watch me try," she muttered darkly, then squeezed my hands. "We should report him."

I laughed, the sound hollow and tired. "For what? Being creepy? Coming too close? You know how that ends for Omegas, Maddie. They'll say I was sending signals, that he was just responding to biology. They always do."

The truth of it settled between us like dust. No matter how progressive this city claimed to be, some things remained unchanged. Omegas were still perceived as inherently seductive, responsible for the reactions they allegedly provoked in alphas.

Maddie's face hardened. "Then we'll handle it ourselves. I know the stage manager. We can make sure he doesn't get anywhere near you during your performance. Extra security will be posted outside your dressing room, and escorts between scenes."

I nodded, too drained to argue, though we both knew it was a Band-Aid on a bullet wound. As long as I remained an unbonded omega, as long as men like Dylan Jones held power, no amount of security could keep me safe.

"I should practice," I said finally, needing to move, to lose myself in the one thing I could control. "The performance is tonight, and I haven't danced on that stage in years."

Maddie studied my face, concern etched in the furrow between her brows. "Are you sure? We could go back to my place, watch terrible movies, pretend the world doesn't suck."

"I'm sure." I stood steadier now, determination replacing fear. "I didn't come all this way to let some Alpha chase me away from what I love."

The words sounded braver than I felt, but Maddie's smile made the lie worth it. "That's my girl," she said, helping me gather my things. "Let's go remind everyone why you're the star of this show."

I followed her out into the hallway, ignoring the lingering scent of alpha that clung to my clothes like a threat.

THE STAGE LIGHTS BLINDEDme at first.

Velvet curtains parted like the peeling back of my soul, exposing every fragile piece I’d fought to protect. The theater was cavernous, the hush before the music thick with expectation. I couldn't see if anyone was watching. There was just... darkness, a yawning pit of silence. But the tremor snakingits way up my spine told me someone was there. I felt their eyes.Hiseyes, somewhere in the black.

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