Page 1 of Coveted

Chapter One

Alana

Her scalp stung as Tina pulled her auburn locks into whatever fancy updo her father had ordered. Alana was already tired of the fussing, but the maids were just getting started. One tended her toes while another painted her fingernails, and yet another had already rubbed cream onto her face and was only waiting for space to move in and apply more layers of cosmetics.

Alana knew her father wanted to make a good impression at the ball since there were officials coming from all over the Federation, but she’d rather have been left out of his preparations.

Swallowing her sigh, she let her thoughts wander.

Being accepted into the Federation had been her father’s greatest goal. It took a lot for them to acknowledge a planet, and Libeqor would be one of the youngest colonies to ever claim that status. They’d only claimed their independence from Earth ninety years before, and had spent the time since proving they were capable of surviving on their own.

Alana had thought it was a bit of a step back to put themselves under Federation jurisdiction, and had never understood whyher father thought it was so important. She knew the trade they would gain would help, but instead of being able to continue ruling themselves, Libeqor would have to conform to Federation standards.

She sucked in a deep breath when Tina moved around to look down at her, the other women stepping back so she could survey their work. The beta wasn’t much older than her, but Alana had been sheltered, and Tina had her father’s ear in matters that pertained to her. She ruled everything about Alana’s appearance and wasn’t above punishing her with stiff gowns or painful heels when Alana was difficult.

For a moment Alana wished she was closer to her cycle and could use it as an excuse to skip the ball. She usually didn’t mind formal events, but she’d overheard her father earlier and knew what he was hoping to find.

“She’s twenty-seven, she should have already been claimed. We can’t delay it any longer.”

Alana had slipped away before her mother responded. It wasn’t like anything would change her father’s mind once he’d made a decision, and she had already known the time was coming. She may have started her cycles later than most, but she’d already been having them for years. It was a surprise he hadn’t chosen her an alpha sooner, but having a prize to dangle had earned him more than trading her away.

Alana had no misconceptions about who would be choosing her mate. There was very little in her life that she got to decide for herself, and all of it was inconsequential. She would be given to whoever provided her father the most benefit from the match.

Breathing out a sigh of relief when Tina nodded and turned away, Alana let her eyes drift closed for a moment, preparing herself for the next level of torture.

Lips ticked up at the corner, she remembered how her younger brother had called her dramatic when she said beinglaced into a corset was torture. They’d been young enough she’d managed to convince him to let her prove it, and Tina hadn’t been around to stop them. Benann had flopped to the floor like a fish after only fifteen minutes, begging to take it off.

Rising once the other maids had collected their supplies, Alana moved to the dressing block in the corner in front of three floor-length mirrors. Libeqor may not have been as rich as some other planets, but it did well, and her father had always insisted on the best.

Tina reappeared with the dress that had been commissioned for the ball. Shimmering green fabric draped her arms, the dreaded corset dangling from fingertips, and Alana swallowed another sigh.

Breathing deep while she had the chance, she let her robe slip from her narrow shoulders, freckled skin on full display. It wasn’t that it didn’t make her uncomfortable to be bare in front of the other woman, she just knew it did no good to fuss over it. Tina had dressed her every day for so many years there was no reason for Alana to be modest.

Alana stood and moved as directed as Tina helped her into the dress, making sure it draped properly before wrapping the ornate corset around her. Expanding her ribs and holding her breath as laces were tugged tight, Alana earned herself a little breathing room before Tina tied it off and stood back to examine her.

The feeling of being nothing more than a doll to decorate was nothing new. It had been that way since she was a child. Everything she did, said,was, reflected on her father, and he made sure there was no chance for embarrassment. As an omega, it was natural for her to submit, but she felt strangled by the grip he held on her.

“Good.”

The single word of praise sent a burst of warmth through her chest. She knew it was ridiculous to be excited by something so paltry, but that didn’t stop the reaction. The more she pleased the people in charge of her, the more freedom she was allowed to have.

“I’ll return when your father is ready for you,” Tina announced before turning away and leaving the room.

Careful of the train on the dress, Alana stepped off the block, glad she hadn’t been forced into the heels that went with it yet. Knowing she’d have a little time before she was expected to make her entrance, she left her dressing room and returned to the chair by the window where she’d been reading before Tina and her minions descended on her, but she wasn’t able to focus on the story. Her thoughts kept circling back to what she’d overheard.

Father’s looking for an alpha to claim me.

A shiver skated down her spine, a blend of excitement and fear rolling in her belly.

As sheltered as she was, she still knew what happened between an alpha and an omega. Her mother had given her a bland description before her first heat that in no way prepared her for the intense sensations that swamped her when her cycle came. She’d been forced to suffer her heats alone with nothing more than a sedative to help, and as intimidating as a knot seemed, it couldn’t be worse than the empty, burning need she’d had to deal with on her own.

Feeling herself flush and knowing it would be visible on her pale skin, she pulled her thoughts away from that path. As curious as she was about the carnal side of mating, there was plenty more to be nervous about.

What if she didn’t like the alpha? What if he was old, or unappealing? Her father would never accept anyone he deemedunworthy, and many of the alphas he associated with were near his own age.

Before joining the Federation, the best she could hope for was that one of them had a son her father would approve of, but with so many new people coming for the welcoming ball, a new world of possibilities had opened before her.

Would he ask for her input? Perhaps give her a chance to choose between appropriate options?

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