Lilianna
The salmon on my plate was perfectly cooked, arranged on a bed of risotto with asparagus tips artfully placed along the edge. It looked too beautiful to disturb, but my hunger finally overcame my hesitation. I took a small, careful bite, trying to maintain the composure my mother had drilled into me—"A proper Omega never appears too eager about anything, especially food."
"Is it to your liking?" Julian asked, his voice pulling me from my thoughts.
I nodded, swallowing before answering. "It's delicious. Thank you."
"You can take bigger bites, you know," Miles said with a hint of amusement. "We won't report back to your mother that you actually enjoyed your dinner."
Heat crept into my cheeks again. Was I so transparent? So obviously trained?
"It's not your fault," Christopher said gently, as if reading my thoughts. "Years of conditioning don't disappear overnight."
I set my fork down carefully, studying the four men across from me. They seemed so at ease with themselves, so comfortable in their own skin. It was a stark contrast to the careful performance I'd been living my entire life.
"May I ask you something?" I said, surprising myself with my boldness.
Julian nodded. "Of course."
"Why did you really want to meet with me alone? Without my parents?" The question had been burning in my mind since the moment they'd made the request. "Most Alphas prefer to negotiate directly with the family."
Nicolaus leaned forward, his analytical gaze sharpening. "Because most Alphas are looking for a transaction, not a relationship."
"We've been through this process before," Julian added, his voice taking on a harder edge. "Other families, other arrangements. Every time, the Omega was just an accessory to the negotiation. A silent party to her own future." He paused, studying me. "We wanted to know if you were truly as... programmed as your parents presented you to be."
"And?" I asked softly, holding my breath.
Julian's eyes met mine directly. "I think there's more to you than they've allowed to surface."
The assessment hit me like a physical touch—gentle but startling. No one had ever suggested I might be more than what I appeared to be. The possibility was both terrifying and exhilarating.
"Our pack functions differently than most," Christopher explained, his tone conversational but serious. "We don't believe in hierarchy for its own sake."
"That's unusual," I observed carefully. It was common knowledge that traditional packs operated on strict power structures, with the Alpha at the top and everyone else arranged below.
"It is," Julian agreed, setting down his fork. "But it works for us. We each have our strengths, our areas of expertise. My role as Alpha isn't to command—it's to coordinate."
"To listen," Miles added, his green eyes finding mine. "An Alpha who doesn't listen is just a dictator with fancy teeth."
That startled another laugh from me—louder this time, more genuine. I quickly covered my mouth, embarrassed by my outburst.
"You have a beautiful laugh," Christopher said simply. "You shouldn't hide it."
I lowered my hand slowly, uncertain how to respond to such direct praise.
"Your parents mentioned you've never been scented by an Alpha," Nicolaus said, changing the subject with his characteristic directness. "Is that true?"
My stomach tightened. "Yes. They believe it's important for an Omega to remain...untouched in every way until formal arrangements are made."
"Untouched," Miles repeated, his tone making the word sound medieval. "As if scenting is somehow a violation."
Julian set his wine glass down carefully. "Scenting is natural. It's how we recognize compatibility, how we build trust. Preventing it is like..." He paused, searching for the right comparison.
"Like blindfolding someone their entire life and then expecting them to choose a painting," Christopher finished.
Nicolaus nodded. "It's biologically counterproductive. Scent compatibility is one of the most reliable indicators of a successful bond."
I shifted in my seat, uncomfortable with discussing something so intimate with such clinical detachment. "My parents believe an Omega should adapt to any Alpha's scent. That preference is a modern indulgence."
