Page 5 of Coveted

“It’s a… resource the Federation uses. To match compatible alphas and omegas. Every omega is registered at birth and expected to report before their first heat, then they’re sent to the alpha chosen for them so they can bond when the opportunity comes.”

Her breath rasped from her throat, shoulders slumping as she shook her head.

“But I’m past my first heat.”

Her father nodded, looking away from her to survey the crowd.

“Yes, and you’re still unmated, so unfortunately you still fall under the law. If we want to be part of them, that means accepting the good with the… regrettable. How would it look if the first thing we did upon being welcomed into the Federationwas flout one of their laws? As a Chancellor, I’m expected to uphold them, even when it comes to my own family.”

Her father’s gaze turned back to her, pinning her in place though the room seemed to sway. Her lungs tried to expand but it was as if there was no oxygen left in the room, her head throbbing in time with her pulse.

If what he was saying was true, then not only would she not have a say in who she was mated to, her father wouldn’t either. Some stranger would make the decision, leaving her to deal with the consequences.

She parted her lips and closed them again, no words forming.

“This is a discussion for another time. Be a good girl and do your duty, and I’ll explain more in the morning.”

Dragging air in through her nose, Alana straightened her shoulders, blinking away the tears threatening to undo her façade. She should have known better than to get her hopes up, and she only had herself to blame for the feelings of defeat swamping her. It wasn’t fair, but nothing in life was.

With a fake smile plastered on her face, she curtsied to her father as he turned and strode across the room to speak with one of the many other Chancellors, dragging her mother along with him. She shot Alana a last look that almost seemed an apology, but Alana brushed it away, surveying the room and the many alphas now turning their attention to her. She’d always been coveted by the alphas of the other noble houses on Libeqor, but now that interest was widespread, and she wondered how the Omega Market worked.

What did they mean by compatible? Would she be matched with someone her age, or someone much older as she’d feared with her father’s friends? What if the alpha they offered her to didn’t want her?

Shaking her head, Alana pushed the flood of questions aside as one of the many men she’d been introduced to approached.She couldn’t remember his name, but an omega wasn’t expected to speak anyway, and she could get away with her forgetfulness by hiding behind the demure mask she was forced to wear.

She could have her breakdown later, in the privacy of her room once she’d been undressed and left to slept.

Smiling at the alpha, she accepted his offer to dance, keeping her eyes lowered as she allowed him to take her hand and pull her toward the others twirling to the music. Between focusing on the steps and what the alpha said to her, she was able to keep from chasing the what-ifs, and she spent the rest of the night passed from one set of massive hands to another. She didn’t even have to worry about following her father’s directions to not let one alpha monopolize her time, because none of the men allowed anyone to have more than a single dance with her before another cut in.

If the lingering sense of unease in her belly hadn’t followed her, she might have enjoyed herself. As it was, she could barely eat, and had to beg off when nausea bubbled at the back of her throat, the room swaying around her as her pulse fluttered.

Spotting her father speaking with a group of dignitaries near the head of the room, she made her way to him and stood where he could see her without her presence intruding into the conversation. When he finally acknowledged her, she could barely keep herself upright, her hands clasped at her waist.

With his permission to excuse herself for the night, she slipped through a side door, using a less-travelled hallway so she could brace a hand on the wall to keep herself upright. She was ready to breathe a sigh of relief when she stepped into her sitting room, only to find Tina perched on a chair at the table where she took breakfast, clearly waiting on her.

Alana would have preferred to undress herself and climb into her nest without all the fuss, but she knew Tina would never let it happen.

Rising upon her entry, Tina followed her to the dressing room, going straight for the laces of the corset as soon as Alana kicked off her heels and stood on the block. Once freed, Tina moved to her front, studying her face for a moment before helping her out of the gown.

“Have a seat. I’ll be right back.”

Alana didn’t need the direction, already taking the few steps over to the chair where she’d been held captive by Tina and the three maids earlier, but she was surprised when Tina returned with a frosted glass, straw extending from some colorful, chilled concoction.

“Drink this. It’ll help.”

Alana tried to refuse when Tina held it toward her, but a stern expression had her accepting it and obediently taking a sip. She didn’t have the energy to fight, and when the bright flavor hit her tongue, she found herself sucking down the entire glass as Tina released her auburn locks from the updo.

“Better?”

Tina took the glass from her, peering into Alana’s eyes as she asked the question. Offering a tired smile, Alana nodded, but Tina was back to her brisk efficiency, cleaning the cosmetics from her skin without acknowledgment.

The process didn’t take long, but after the relief of sitting, it was hard for Alana to peel herself from the chair when Tina stood back and gestured for her to get up. She held in her groan, but only barely. The drink had settled her stomach and given her a touch of energy, but her limbs still dragged with fatigue, her mind fuzzy from the struggle of containing her emotions for so long.

Tina followed her to the bedroom doorway, waiting there as Alana made her way to the raised nest in the middle of the spacious room. As a beta, Tina didn’t quite understand the sanctity of an omega’s nest, but there had been enoughscreaming fits when Alana was younger for her to realize it was better for her to stay out of the space if possible. She only entered when necessary, and even then, knew to keep her distance from the raised platform. Alana hated the size of the room, but it allowed others to move around the edges when needed without sending her into a rage.

Except when she was in heat.

But no one acknowledged what happened during that time. The screaming and begging locked safely behind soundproof doors, scent blockers deployed in the outer rooms to be sure nothing leaked into the hallway.

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