Page 4 of Sweethearts and Savages
My mom had definitely mellowed him. At least, kind of. He was still spoken about with fear among the students, and at every parent-teacher conference, I could see the trepidation on the faces of my teachers as they hoped he didn’t attend.
Anyway, he’d bought me—saved me—from the black market because he thought my mom would appreciate a rare shifter instead of decapitated heads.
Chocolates and flowers weren’t really on his radar.
“We couldn’t find anyone to come and teach you Omega Studies in person, but we have managed to secure you weekly tele-link lessons with an Omega from the States,” Miss Pea said, and I bit the inside of my cheek to bring my thoughts back to where they needed to be. To my studies. To aspirations of being something more than a tool to keep a Pack in line.
I gave her a soft smile. “That’s better than nothing.”
Miss Pea winced. “Yeah, I’m not so sure of that. Let’s just say, I’m glad your sister doesn’t take this class.”
I frowned slightly, but Miss Pea continued. “Apparently, we underestimated the scarcity of Omegas in general, not just in wolf shifters. They seem to run in genetic lines, but we haven’t had any luck discovering which line you are from, and even if we did…”
Yeah, I’d rather chew off my paw than “learn” from anyone in my former Pack. I didn’t remember much about our time in our Pack. Flashes of fists and hands, and if I closed my eyes, I could remember the starving sensation. Remember Christopher and Carmen taking my beatings for me, even at four. Being sold was the best thing that ever happened to us.
No. I definitely didn’t want anything to do with my former Pack, even if it was filled to the brim with Omegas.
“I’m sure she’ll be fine, Miss Pea. I appreciate it.”
Miss Pea’s face softened as she looked at me. “I’m going to be sad when you and your siblings graduate from the Academy.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Even Carmen?”
Miss Pea shook her head. “Especially Carmen. I look forward to our frequent meetings.”
We both laughed and she led me into one of the meeting rooms with a big screen. There was a little laptop off to the side, and Miss Pea indicated I should sit in one of the plush leather office chairs. Even if this was a bust, I’d appreciate the moment of silence. One where I wasn’t the coveted sister, or the special Omega, or whatever everyone else wanted me to be.
The screen lit up as Miss Pea played with the laptop. Finally, a conferencing system popped up, and she taught me how to use it to connect to the other Omega.
Turia. That was her name. She was a gorilla shifter and an Omega, which apparently was an even rarer combination than wolf Omega.
The screen flickered, and suddenly there was a woman on the screen, looking at us hawkishly. Ah. I see what Miss Pea might mean now.
She had dark hair streaked with grey piled regally on top of her head, deep brown eyes that looked me over and more gold necklaces than I could count without staring.
“Madame Turia. I’d like to extend my gratitude on behalf of Eden Academy yet again for taking time out of your schedule to help educate the next generation.”
Madame Turia sniffed, but nodded regally. She looked old, and given shifter aging, she must have been nearing two hundred. But there was no way I was going to ask.
“May I introduce your student? This is—”
“She doesn’t need a name. She is an Omega. We shall address each other as such. It is a title that encompasses our entire existence, Miss Pea.”
The sinking feeling in my gut finally bottomed out and I felt sick. I gave Madame Turia a bright smile. “I’m an Omega, Ma’am, but I’m also a person.”
I expected derision, but I didn’t expect her to throw back her head and laugh. “My sweet girl, you ceased to be your own person when your designation manifested. You are an Omega, a genetic mutation. Where Alphas were mutated to lead, to be stronger, more dominant than their brethren, we were made weaker, simpler. We were made to serve. You have one purpose in life, and the sooner you come to terms with that and abandon the idea that you will—”
Miss Pea slammed the laptop shut. “What complete and utter horseshit.” I could practically see the steam coming from her ears. “Stupid old bag.” She muttered some less savory things beneath her breath as she clenched and unclenched her hands.
When she turned to me, she was composed again. “What that woman said was wrong, Enit. In every sense of the word, it is wrong. You are not made toserve.You are your own person, entitled to your own dreams and goals. Entitled to love, and a family, and a career you are passionate about. Eden will not help prepare you for whatever bullshit that giant...” She seemed to struggle for the right word.
“Turdhead?” I offered helpfully.
Miss Pea barked out a laugh. “Exactly. I won’t prepare you for the life that giant turdhead suggested. I won’t allow it. Your family will not allow it.”
I put a hand on her arm, pushing some of my Omega power to the place where our skin touched. Miss Pea was a telepath, but she was also a shifter. I didn’t know how you could be both, but Miss Pea was unique. I loved that about her.
Her face softened, and she shook her head softly. “You’re so special, and it has nothing to do with your Omega designation. It has everything to do with your heart. No one can take that from you.” She cleared her throat. “Head over to the library and read or something until your next class. I will find a way to help you learn about being an Omega, and if not? Well, you can write your own rulebook, Enit. Divine your own stars.”
