Page 19 of Party Girl: How a Naughty Omega Finds Love
“Protests mean officers on duty to make sure people stay safe. Officer presence makes people mad. No. I don’t like them.”
“Fair enough.” I look out the window again. “They’re right, though. We deserve to be treated equally.”
He doesn’t respond. I didn’t really expect him to. The Royal Council has been our society’s governing body for a long time. Low packs have grown in numbers. When an omega gives birth to a beta’s child, and the child is an alpha, eventually that child will form his own pack with other low born alphas. Omegas are the only ones who can give birth to alphas, and while there have been omega-beta or omega-delta relationships in the past, the Royal Council has made it very clear how they feel about those pairings. They didn’t stop the relationships for a while, but once they realized the pure alphas were going to be outnumbered by low pack alphas, they came down hard on the packs. The last I heard of an omega-beta mate bond, the two of them ended up losing everything they owned and living on the streets. Most people wouldn’t dare to take that risk when there are more sensible pairings that don’t result in the wrath of the Royal Council. Generally, betas mate with other betas and deltas mate with other deltas.
“Maybe,” Hayden finally responds. “I don’t like the violence.”
“Change is rarely peaceful.” I swing my gaze back to the rearview mirror. “Low packs have been trying to push for equality for a long time. The good old RC doesn’t care. What else are we supposed to do?”
“I don’t know.”
I nod. Neither do I. I haven’t personally been a part of any protests, but I support them. We used to be able to start businesses, but the Royal Council recently passed a law that prohibits low packs from starting new businesses. Low packs aren’t allowed to own commercial property. We aren’t allowed to buy land to build new commercial property. The high packs live in giant mansions with marble floors. We… don’t.
The rest of the ride is quiet. Hayden pulls into the parking lot, and I try to open the door but it’s locked.
“Safety precaution.” Hayden hops out and quickly lets me out. “Are you going to run?”
I look down at my heels, which remarkably haven’t caused too much pain. “Probably not.”
“Probably?”
“Probably not,” I correct, glancing around the mostly empty lot. Camila’s fancy BMW is in its usual spot. My stomach flutters, and I ball my hands into fists.
“Right,” Hayden says, noticing the change. “Camila is waiting.”
“Isn’t she always?”
He does a double-take when I say that, but I don’t offer an explanation. I trail behind him on the way into the building to try and delay the inevitable. When we reach the hallways that lead to her office, Hayden rubs the back of his neck.
“I’m really sorry about everything that’s been going on.”
“You didn’t force me to take the drugs,” I say, eyeing Camila’s door like it’s a snake about to bite.
“No, but you didn’t know what was in that drink.”
I pause and he stops walking too. “How did you know that?”
“The bartender told me.” He glances around before whispering, “If it were up to me, I’d let you go.”
“Maybe it’s not too late.”
“I wish—”
That same, undeniable hopeful look flashes across his face. He’s nothing like I’d expect an officer to be. We stare at each other for a couple of seconds until a door opens.
“Ah, Officer Hayden,” Camila calls from a few feet away. “Thank you for bringing Whitney. I’m sure they keep you busy.”
“Not a problem, ma’am,” Hayden says, voice more authoritative than before. He holds my gaze for another second before pasting on a fake smile and turning toward Camila.
Camila’s long, dark brown hair is pulled into a severe bun. Her cold eyes flick over me quickly. She focuses on Hayden, already writing me off.
“How old are you?” She tips her head to the side and checks him out.
I scoff softly. She’s mated. Shouldn’t she be the portrait of a good omega? Here she is checking out a beta while her mates are off doing who knows what. She cuts her gaze to me and scowls.
“Something you’d like to say, Whitney?”
“Actually—” I begin, because I’m tired of all the bullshit, but Hayden interrupts me.
