Chapter 204

Sarah POV

“So, Zane’s told you we’re not going to mate?” Melissa asked me over a Caesar salad and a glass of Chardonnay.

I couldn’t help laughing. “You say it like you’re talking about a book you just read.”

She shrugged. “I have three other Pack Alphas I’m considering.”

“Seriously?”

She met my eyes and laughed. “No. But seriously, I have other options than Zane, and none of them involves being in love with a human.”

I looked down at my Ruben, which was abruptly less appealing than it had been a minute ago. “I don’t know what you mean.”

“Sure, if you say so.”

I looked up at her and couldn’t really understand how she could talk about my life so flippantly. I opened my mouth to tell her that, but she held up a hand.

“You and Zane have things going on I wouldn’t wish on anyone. Twin daughters with world-class talent? People online who want you dead or canonized? How do you even get out of bed in the morning?”

I stared at her, then my mouth opened. “It’s difficult.”

She snorted, somewhat inelegantly. “That’s a word for it, I suppose. Maybe it’s because your life is so ‘difficult’ that you want to interview an omega.”

“You’ve found someone.”

She twirled her fork in the air. “His name is Stephen Rhine, and he’s willing to go on the show, but only if he can talk about the cooperative.”

“Well, yes, that’s why I want to talk to him.”

“And nothing else.”

“What does that mean?”

“It means he doesn’t want to talk about being an omega.”

“OK, I can deal with that. Why should he have to talk about it?”

She glared at me. “Isn’t that the whole point?”

“No, I don’t think so. I think the point is to make omegas socially acceptable, or at least make them something less than the lepers they are now.”

“Excuse me,” a voice said from my right, and I looked up to see a waiter standing there with his little clipboard pressed against his chest. In about two seconds, however, he obviously recognized me.

“Yes?” I asked.

“Miss Sarah,” he said, then looked over to my lunch companion. “And Miss Melissa.”

“Can I help you with something?” I asked.

The poor gamma looked like he wanted to sink into the floor, but to his credit he took a breath and said, “Some of the patrons here have asked that you not discuss such a sensitive subject when there are children present.”

I looked at Melissa, who shrugged.

“Sensitive subject?” I asked him.

“Yes.”

“Do you mean omegas?” I asked him.

He drew in a breath sharply. “Yes.”

“You do realize it’s just a secondary gender?”

“We have to be aware of the sensibilities of those with families.”

I looked back to Melissa. “Stephen Rhine?”

“Yes.”

We looked at the waiter, but Melissa spoke before I could. “Stephen Rhine is a person. He was born an omega, and he’s worked hard his whole life to be a useful, functioning person. He works at a charity; he’s an artist, and you’re telling me there are people in this restaurant who are offended by the word ‘omega’?”

The waiter looked embarrassed and clutched his clipboard tighter. “Misses, I’m just trying to keep things family-friendly here.”

“By denigrating wolves? By treating people who were born a way you don’t like that they’re a dirty word?”

He opened and closed his mouth. To my surprise, I was standing and saying, “I don’t want to be here anymore.”

Melissa stood as well, and we both took our purses and walked out.

Ollie picked us up. Danielle and Buddy slid into their seats. I met Melissa’s eyes and burst out laughing.

“What a jackass!” I yelled, though it was difficult to find my breath. “What? I’m going to give everyone a disease just saying the word?”

“But you must remember the sensibilities of those with families!” Melissa yelled back. “Pups might explode! Civilizations might fall!”

We laughed ourselves out after that, though it took a while.

She shook her head. “I’m laughing, and I shouldn’t be.”

“How’s that?”

“Not too long ago, I was just as bad as that guy. I was talking about united wolves and being this great emancipator, then I had the same dumb ideas about omegas as everyone else.”

“You have changed your tune.”

“I know! And it’s just because I’ve been talking with them, learning about them. Actually getting to know them. I’m ashamed for what I thought.”

Did she know omegas were oracles, I wondered? I needed to ask Zane how deep that secret went. Was it something only Pack Alphas knew?

“I find that when we talk to other people, we discover they’re not so different from us.” I grinned. “Do you know I grew up scared of wolves?”

“What?”

“It’s true. My first foster family was human and didn’t know any wolves. I was told when I misbehaved that werewolves would come punish me when the moon was full.”

“You’re kidding.”

“No. My second family was all human too, but they had wolf friends. And then I had a half-wolf foster brother, and, well, I just realized wolves were people with different bits and pieces.”

“Ollie, turn right,” Danielle said.

Ollie flipped on the signal while I stared at the back of Danielle’s head. It was like a table lamp had spoken.

“Silver Mercedes?” Ollie asked.

“Yes. Turn right again.”

Ollie turned.

“Is this normal for you?” Melissa asked me.

“Being followed?” I asked. “Shot at? Stalked?”

“Yes.”

“Yes.”

Danielle pulled a phone out of her purse and pushed a button. “Calypso? We need an intercept.”

“Is this some sort of spy movie?” Melissa asked.

“Welcome to a day in the life,” I muttered.

A half-minute later a police car pulled up behind the Mercedes and turned on its light and siren. Ollie continued on our way, and in a few more minutes Danielle’s phone rang.

“Yes? Seriously? OK, thanks.” She put her phone back in her purse.

“What?” Melissa demanded.

Danielle turned to look at her. “Kids wanting a selfie.”

I looked at Melissa. “Would you like some tea?”