Page 63 of Generation Omega: Revealed
Is that right?!
Yesis the emphatic response.
I guess Gideon’s alpha issue is serious.
“Got it,” I say, keeping my voice light as I answer Gideon. “Obey the hot alpha—that doesn’t seem so hard.”
His lips tick up, but his glare on the elevator door could burn a hole in the thing and fry the professor. What’s odd to me is that Gideon is in full alpha mode and I’m giggly girlish about it. I know that’s my omega, but it’s also me. To open my heart to the world means I need to know I’m protected, and everything about Gideon’s posture, power, willingness to embrace violence—all of it frees me from the burden of self-protection, of always having to remain cautious in a dangerous world.
The silly part is that I’ve never been in more danger, but I’ve also never been less alone. There’s a balance here if we have time to become what we’re meant to be. But for now, I’m expecting fireworks.
The elevator dings and the doors open, revealing the professor, who looks so different he’s almost unrecognizable. He was agitated at the presentation, but this is something else. He appears weathered, unsettled, angry, the image of the civilized professor cracked beyond repair. But then I remember what I saw in him from my seat in the auditorium—a cerebral, uptight professional with a dark side. I wasn’t wrong then or now. The sexy professor definitely has an edge, along with great hair that’s perfectly mussed now. My omega and I agree on his alluring appearance.
The interesting thing is that he doesn’t look at me. His fierce and wary gaze is locked to Gideon’s, as they enter a staring contest so intense it changes the pressure in the room. In response to their display of inner strength, a heady dizziness overtakes me, elevating my giddy goofiness to a new level. I can’t ignore that I’m living a scene in an omegaverse story—two alphas meeting for the first time, their omega reacting to their battle for dominance.
That’s what this is. Gideon’s communicating that he’s the boss alpha, and the professor is answering that he belongs here, even though he’s never met me.
I want to touch him—that’s the urge I’m fighting. I want to step toward the professor and connect, to know whether he’s really my alpha. Yes, my heart declares it, but touch is fundamental to all of this. With my woozy mind, I’m somewhere between myself and my omega, and I’m not sure either of us is in control.
“Stay there,” Gideon growls, and I can’t move. A growl is a bark when it wants to be, and I’m suddenly an obedient omega.
Gideon’s body trembles, his hand tightening around mine. I keep thinking the elevator door might close and that I would laugh if it did. Maybe we should close it and send the professor down and back up again, just so we can take a freaking breath.
The professor’s gaze begins to move toward me and Gideon snarls at him, reclaiming Dr. Wellington’s full attention. Still, they don’t say anything and just continue their staredown.
Do alphas not speak when they are riled up? Is that what this is? If I were bonded to Gideon, I would understand what’s happening inside him, not just through our heart link. Even the instincts aren’t available as I try to figure out how to move us past this stalemate. It’s only been a couple minutes, but these are some dang awkward minutes. I feel like I should do something—that the instincts want me to do something.
Finally, I have an idea. “Alpha,” I whisper.
“Yes,” Gideon answers roughly.
“Let me move.”
“Nottoward him,” he mutters.
“No, not toward him. I want to move behind you. I’m yours, alpha. I trust you to protect me.”
Like I punctured the tension cloud in the room, Gideon begins to breathe again, but only after I’m behind him, leaning against his warm back, completely concealed from the professor.
With me out of danger, Gideon’s heart settles into a rhythm that doesn’t set me on edge.
“I’m Thatcher,” the professor says, his British accent more growly than refined at the moment.
“Gideon.”
Oh, look, they’re almost chatting.
“I can’t believe it’s happening this way.” The professor’s tone is dubious and I don’t understand. As if he heard my thought, he adds, “Never before have connections been made without touch and usually prior knowledge. Omegas and alphas were often from the same social circles. They were familiar with each other, some even had foundational trust before the omega revealed.”
I snort at that little gem.
Gideon is surprised and charmed by me, and I don’t know what the professor’s reaction is until he says, “What was that?”
“Just my general statement on this new system. You’re saying that omegas typically had the chance tosortachoose their alphas, which means I’m thearranged marriageomega.” Ipfft. “Is that about right, professor?”
“That is quite accurate, but I would add that alphas often knew each other as well. Some were in the same clans, royal families, or distinguished institutions of learning. This occurrence—an alpha taking the elevator to meet his omega—hasneverhappened. It’s all changing.”
“Any guesses how we get through this without Gideon killing you?”
