Page 69 of The Other Omega

That was when Alaric and the others stepped aside, and I realised we’d been standing in a busy corridor the entire time. People were moving in and out of the doors around us, some carrying documents or trays, others stopping to speak before continuing on their way.

I covered my mouth in horror. “Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make a scene.”

I looked between them.

Wonderful work, Elowen. Keep it up, and you’ll need sheer luck getting them to keep you.

“I didn’t mean to embarrass you.”

“Embarrass us?” Lucien stepped closer, his silver-blue eyes settling on mine. “You could never embarrass us, Elowen. You have endured a great deal today.” His voice softened. “Yet you have shown nothing but kindness to everyone you have met.”

I stared at him, completely lost for words.

“Do not allow such thoughts to take root, little one,” Lucien continued. “We are honoured to have you amongst us. You must never feel ashamed for needing comfort, nor for seeking it from us.”

I almost cried again. More than anything, though, I suddenly wanted to hug him and stay in his arms for the rest of the day.

Maybe even the week.

“Lift that pretty chin and walk with pride. We certainly intend to.”

I smiled as his words sank in, took another deep breath and smoothed my skirt. Then I remembered something much more urgent.

“Wait! What do I look like?” I glanced between them, hurriedly smoothing my hair. “Are my eyes puffy? Is my face all right? Do I still look presentable?”

Caius looked me over, his jaw tightening when our eyes met. “You wish to know how you look?” His voice was rough with barely restrained desire. “You look like my Omega. So beautiful that every instinct in me demands I take you into my arms and claim you here and now, before my entire House.”

The certainty in his voice sent a shiver right through me.

Oh. My. God.

To my absolute horror, my breathing deepened as heat gathered low in my stomach, followed by a sudden rush of wetness between my thighs. My scent grew stronger too, becoming so thick and sweet that I could hardly believe it was coming from me.

Slick.

I’d never produced it before, and now it was happening in the middle of a busy corridor, only minutes after I’d met my mates.

No, no, no, no!

Caius drew in a deep breath without taking his eyes off me. Was he just as affected as I was? Dear God, was this what the books had meant about Alphas and Omegas?

Leon and Darius breathed in too. Something about that felt utterly vulgar, which made no sense because they were only scenting me, weren’t they? I couldn’t understand why it felt so intimate, but I couldn’t look away either. I watched their chests rise as they breathed me in, almost in a trance, and I was about to move closer, to do… something, when Alaric’s voice cut through it.

“Vareth!”

He said it so forcefully that Caius immediately straightened and looked away. Leon and Darius followed his lead, while Lucien let out a slow breath beside me. Whatever had been building between us eased enough for my brain to remember that we were still standing in the middle of a public corridor.

Right, right.

I turned to Alaric as though absolutely nothing had just happened. “All right, then. I’m ready.”

He gave me a solemn nod and took my hand again. We carried on down the corridor with Lucien on my other side, and Caius, Leon and Darius close behind us.

People passed in both directions, some greeting us or bowing their heads while others raised a fist to their chest. I nodded at everyone and smiled at anyone with kind eyes, doing my best to make up for the rather intimidating expressions of the five enormous men around me.

Omegas were allowed to be friendly, weren’t they?

I really needed to check that protocol book again.