Bronwyn rushed by, her emerald-green hair billowing as she hurried to her funeral parlor. She was a pretty badass Omega, and while most townspeople would never guessed she was cool with death, her skull-and-crossbones pendent gave it away.
Gretel walked by, her blue hair flowing in the wind. Her oversized, light-blue crocheted sweater was gorgeous, and she carried three wicker baskets of blueberries. There’d been a storm earlier, so I just knew she’d been out in the fields, gatheringberries by hand. Fighting off bears… who also wanted the berries.
Then, I saw a black-haired Omega scurry by.Irene,I thought as I sipped my milk, glad to see my friend was okay. She’d had some trouble selling her tangerine-and-pineapple cups in the Public Gardens lately, but she still had to do it to support her grandfather. The City Council was giving her grief, though.
“Poor Irene,” I said as I sipped my milk.
“Why?” Josh asked. Clearly, he didn't know her backstory.
“She’s the Omega you always see selling fruit cups in the Public Gardens,” I explained. “The one selling the tangerines.”
Blake nodded. “I’ve seen her around a time or two.”
Dreydon frowned. “Is it safe for an unbonded Omega to work alone in public all day?”
I smiled, slicing into my pie. “This is Applewood Falls. We may not be the biggest or most exciting city, but Omegas are generally safe here. If an Alpha tried to take advantage of her, she’d be in her legal purview to slap him.”
“Slap him?” Blake looked shocked.
I shrugged, lifting an enormous onion ring. “Omegas can always slap Alphas… who give them grief. It’s part of our town rules.”
“Better watch myself, then.” Blake scooted away from me.
“You’re safe,” I drawled.
“Why am I safe?” Blake asked.
“We’re bonded now. It’s Dreydon and Josh who need to worry.”
Dreydon frowned at me. “Oh, so if I give you grief… You’ll slap me?”
I held Blake’s hand, then sipped more milk. It was two percent. So rich and creamy. “Yep.”
“Wow,” Dreydon drawled, shaking his big head. His tattoos danced in the light. “Unbelievable.”
“I didn't make the rules,” I joked.
“Oh, I know you didn’t,” Dreydon joked back. “After everything I’ve done for you, I can’t believe you’d slap me.”
“Well, I haven’t yet,” I deadpanned.
“You sound like you kinda want to,” Dreydon huffed back.
“Don’t make me.”
After I finished puttingthe fear of the gods into two of my Alphas, they paid the tab and bought me a big slice of pie to-go.
“Here,” I said when we wandered to the Public Gardens. The sun was shining, and a songbird twittered by my head.
Irene looked up, a confused expression on her face.
Irene had a pointy nose, freckled cheeks, and beautiful black hair. Her eyes were pastel-orange, the color of tangerines with sparkles.
“Want some pie, Irene?” I smiled.
She grinned. “You know it, girl… Delilah’s meatloaf is a pass, but nothing beats her pies.”
I bought a fruit cup, then jabbed my Alphas so they’d buy some too.
