7. Asa

2 Years Prior

I rememberedthe night I first laid eyes on them—Dominic, Xavier, and Lucian Davenport—as if it were yesterday, every detail etched into my memory with vivid clarity. It was at the lavish twenty-first birthday celebration of the renowned socialite, Evelyn Sinclair. I was eighteen, the adopted pearl in the hands of Meredith and Gregory Whitmore, and they decided it was time for me to be showcased as their prized possession.

The event was renowned, a spectacle where wealth and status were not just displayed but paraded with flamboyant pride. The ballroom was a dazzling display of opulence, with crystal chandeliers casting a warm glow over the well-heeled guests. The air was thick with the scent of expensive perfumes and the chatter of the city's most influential figures.

Men boasted tailored suits that whispered of Italian craftsmanship, while women dazzled in gowns spun from dreams and precious stones. They moved through the rooms like swans—graceful but untouchable—each person more important than the last, or so their poised chins and haughty eyes would have you believe.

In my room, hours before, I had fought back tears of reluctance. I didn't want to go. These events were a reminder that I was an outsider, an accessory to the Whitmores' aspirations. The girls my age often looked through me with disdain or ignored me entirely, their gazes laced with scorn for the girl who was merely adopted into prominence.

Yet there I stood among them, donned in a gown that seemed to be woven from moonlight itself. It hugged my figure before cascading down in a flow of silk and lace that shimmered with each step I took. The color, a delicate silver, complemented my alabaster skin and made my pale hair gleam even brighter. For a moment, I could almost forget my apprehensions, cocooned in the beauty of the dress that made me feel for once, like I belonged.

But then they arrived—Dominic, Xavier, and Lucian Davenport.

A hush fell as the three brothers made their entrance, commanding an aura of power and affluence that left the entire room in awe. Impeccably tailored in bespoke suits that surely cost a small fortune, they moved with an effortless grace that belied their commanding presence.

Dominic led the way, his aura one of undisputed command, his chiseled features and intense gray eyes exuding an unmistakable dominance that seemed to part the crowd before him. Xavier closely followed, his presence less imposing but no less captivating; his tousled dark waves spoke of an intellect as deep as the ocean his eyes mirrored. And Lucian, with his charming smile and easy confidence, rounded out the trio—the picture of suave sophistication.

I couldn't help but stare, transfixed by their otherworldly beauty and the aura of power that surrounded them. They were like Greek gods among mere mortal, the kind of men that girls like me could only admire from afar, never daring to dream of getting close to.

I watched as they moved through the crowd, their every step exuding confidence and authority. Women flocked to them, vying for their attention, but the brothers remained aloof.

Whispers swirled around me, snippets of conversations about the Davenport empire and the brothers' quest for an omega bride, a generational tradition they were bound to uphold as billionaire titans. Every eligible omega in attendance held their breath, hoping to catch their eye.

Well, almost every eligible omega.

I knew then what it was to feel insignificant—a moth drawn to flames that could obliterate it without a thought. The power behind their names was palpable, heirs to a fortune vast enough to shape economies, let alone lives.

I shrank back against the walls, content to admire them from this safe distance where dreams could not be scorched by reality. They were everything I wasn't: powerful where I was powerless, desired where I was overlooked—an impossibility in human form.

To me, they were a distant dream, a fantasy to admire from afar. I knew I could never be worthy of their attention, let alone their affection. So I simply watched as Dominic, Xavier, and Lucian Davenport stole the show. Little did I know then how my life would become inexplicably entwined with theirs, and how the very fate I thought impossible would become my own.

When I had enough, tired of all this, I slipped away, my heart pounding with both exhilaration and trepidation. Meredith would be furious if she discovered my absence, but I couldn't bear another moment of forced smiles and hollow pleasantries. The weight of expectations suffocated me, and I desperately needed to breathe.

Navigating the labyrinth of corridors, I followed the path of least resistance, my steps guided by an innate sense of escape. The mansion seemed to stretch endlessly, but I welcomed the solitude, the muffled sounds of revelry fading into blessed silence.

Finally, I emerged into the secluded garden, a verdant oasis untouched by the pomp and circumstance within. The night air caressed my skin, carrying the sweet fragrance of blooms that danced in the gentle breeze. Moonlight filtered through the canopy of trees, casting an ethereal glow upon the landscape, and twinkling lights along the winding path beckoned me further into this enchanted realm.

I followed the call, my feet carrying me toward a gurgling fountain, its waters spraying upward in a mesmerizing dance before cascading back into the basin below. Surrounding the fountain was a stone bench, and I sank onto it gratefully, relishing the cool surface against my flushed skin.

Here, amid nature's embrace, I could finally be myself. I tilted my head back, drinking in the sight of the star-studded sky, and a soft hum escaped my lips, a melody as ancient as the celestial bodies that inspired it. My heart swelled with a sense of peace and belonging that had eluded me all night.

In this moment, I was no longer the adopted curiosity, paraded for the amusement of the elite. I was simply Asa, finding solace in the beauty that surrounded me, my spirit soothed by the gentle lullaby of the fountain and the fragrant caress of summer blooms.

I couldn't resist the urge to let my soul breathe freely. Reaching into my clutch, I retrieved my phone, its screen a beacon in the night's embrace. My fingers danced across it, finding the track Eli had crafted just for me, one that understood the language of my soul. As the music began to play, it wrapped around me like a lover's caress, ethereal pop electronica that swelled with a life of its own. The lush synthesizers painted an ambient soundscape, each note cradling my voice as if they were old friends reunited.

I couldn't resist. The hum rose from my chest, tentative at first, like the flutter of butterfly wings against a gentle breeze. My upper body found rhythm in the melody, swaying softly as if I were nothing more than a blade of grass in the wind. It was freedom in its purest form.

Gradually, my humming gave way to song, the lyrics spilling from my lips with an intimacy that felt almost sacred. The words were mine, spun from the deepest fibers of my being; haunting and yearning, they echoed with emotion and beauty.

"In the shadow of stars, we find our light," I sang, my voice climbing, soaring high above the walls I'd built around myself.

My body followed suit, abandoning all inhibition. I danced, the fluid movements spoke of a spirit unbound; each step was a whisper of yearning, every gesture a stroke of defiance against the confines of expectation. Arms extended toward the heavens as if to draw down the very stars into my orbit.

The rhythm was sensual yet full of grace, a choreography born not of practice but passion. I twirled and arched, hips swaying in slow seduction to the beat that pulsed like a heart beneath skin. The world around me fell away until there was nothing but the music and the night and the essence of who I truly was.

When at last the final note lingered in the air before dissipating into silence, I stilled. A laugh bubbled up from within me—pure, unrestrained joy—and spilled into the night. In that moment, wrapped in solitude under a canopy of stars, I felt more alive than ever before.

In the throes of my freedom, a sharp crack pierced the air, a sound alien to the serenity of the garden, shattering the blissful spell. My laughter died, strangled by the sudden reminder of where I was, of who I was expected to be. The intrusive noise, likely a branch snapping underfoot, heralded an end to my brief escape.

Panic fluttered in my chest like a caged bird. Had someone seen me? Had they heard? The Whitmores would never forgive such a display of… of authenticity. They had crafted an image for me, one that didn't include spontaneous dances in moonlit gardens. And Meredith? Her wrath would be severe if word of my antics reached her ears.

Heart pounding, I snatched up my phone with trembling fingers and muted the track that was on repeat, silencing the echoes of my soul's song. With one last glance at the stars that had witnessed my true self, I turned and fled back toward the mansion, my feet barely touching the ground as I raced through the darkened paths.

As I neared the back entrance, I slowed to a more composed pace and began the process of transforming back into Asa Whitmore, the flawless ornament. I ran my fingers through my hair, taming stray locks back into their elaborate coif. My gown, thankfully still pristine despite my dance, flowed behind me with every step.

The heavy door creaked as I slipped through it and into the warmth of the mansion's interior. The sounds of celebration grew louder as I approached the ballroom, and I carefully schooled my expression into one of polite indifference. But my heart still raced with the fear of being seen, of being judged for the simple crime of feeling free.

It didn't take long for Meredith to find me. Her eyes narrowing with that familiar mix of irritation and calculation as she grabbed my arm in a viselike grip, her perfectly manicured nails digging into my skin.

"Where have you been?" she hissed, her tone laced with a mixture of anger and mortification that I might have embarrassed her.

I swallowed hard, fighting the urge to shrink away from her piercing gaze.

"I… I needed some air," I stammered, the excuse sounding feeble even to my own ears.

Meredith's lips pursed into a thin line of disapproval. "Well, you've had your little reprieve. There are people you need to meet."

Her fingers tightened around my arm, and I suppressed a wince at the pain. This was my cue to obey, to let the obedient omega take over and play my assigned role to perfection.

With a sinking feeling in the pit of my stomach, I nodded mutely and let Meredith lead me through the crowd, each step feeling heavier than the last. The memory of my dance beneath the stars, my moment of true freedom, grew more distant with every passing second.

As much as I longed to run, to escape the suffocating expectations that bound me, the fear of Meredith's retribution was stronger. I could already picture the sharp sting of her hand across my cheek, the biting reprimands that would follow if I dared to defy her.

So I stayed. I obeyed. I let the brilliant light that had flickered to life within me during those stolen moments in the garden dim until it was nothing more than a faint, smoldering ember, banked by the weight of obligation.

But even as I pasted on a serene smile and let Meredith parade me around like a prize to be displayed, a part of me clung to the fleeting memory of how it felt to be truly alive—to dance without chains, to sing without fear of judgment. It was a taste of freedom I would never forget, and one that left me forever craving more.

Meredith's grip on my arm was as unyielding as a shackle, her fingers digging into my flesh as she guided me through the opulent sea of the party's elite. Each introduction was more intimidating than the last, the powerful alpha women inspecting me as they might a rare piece of art. I felt their eyes assessing my potential to bear strong alpha offspring, to further cement alliances within their ranks. Their gaze was calculating, piercing through me as if I'm simply one more asset in this grand game of prestige.

"This is Asa, our lovely omega," Meredith said with a veneer of pride that didn't quite reach her eyes. Her words hung in the air like a flag staked on conquered land.

The women circled around me, their perfumes mixing into an intoxicating haze that did little to ease the tightness in my chest. They were imposing figures, each one radiating authority and an innate sense of control that seemed to challenge the very air around them.

"Such a rare beauty," cooed one, her eyes lingering on my alabaster skin and pale hair with undisguised fascination.

"Indeed," agreed another, her tone laced with an edge that suggested interest of a different sort. "And how do you find the transition to high society? Must be challenging for a girl of your… background."

Their questions probed like slender knives, disguised by the politeness of their tone but sharp enough to draw blood. I fumbled for answers, my voice barely above a whisper.

"It's… an adjustment," I admitted, feeling woefully out of depth amid their scrutinizing gazes.

"And what are your ambitions?" The question came from a woman whose gaze seemed to pierce right through me. "Surely you aspire to more than just being an ornament on the Whitmores' arm?"

My cheeks flushed with heat at the pointed query. I struggled for words, keenly aware that any admission of dreams beyond what was expected of me could spell disaster.

"I—"

A matriarch with silver hair and a face etched with experience leaned forward, her sharp eyes roving over me in a way that made me want to squirm. "Tell me, child, are you aware of your obligations as an omega?"

I swallowed hard, my throat constricting under the weight of her scrutiny. "Y-Yes, ma'am. To honor the traditions and… and bear heirs for a suitable match."

The words left a bitter taste in my mouth, a reminder of how little say I had in my own destiny. But the woman seemed satisfied, nodding curtly.

Another woman, this one with auburn curls and a gaze that could cut glass, took her turn appraising me. "And what of your education? Have you been properly prepared to manage a household and support your future husband?"

Heat rose in my cheeks as I fumbled for a response. "I… I've studied the appropriate subjects. Etiquette, household management, the arts…"

My words trailed off as the woman's perfectly arched brow quirked in what can only be disdain. I had failed yet another test, it seemed.

A hush fell over the room then—a sudden, charged silence that prickled along my skin with an energy I couldn't quite place. I turned and there they were—Dominic, Xavier, and Lucian Davenport. Their approach was like a wave crashing over us all, commanding immediate attention.

And then they were before us—three titans of masculine perfection, their intense gazes sweeping over me in a way that stole the very breath from my lungs. I could feel the weight of their scrutiny like a physical caress, setting my nerves alight and stirring something deep within me.

Meredith, for once, seemed stunned into silence before quickly recovering her poise.

"Mr. Davenport, Mr. Davenport, and Mr. Davenport," she gushed, eagerly stepping forward and pulling me along with her. "Allow me to introduce my daughter, Asa."

I wanted to shrink away, to disappear from the intensity of their combined focus. But Meredith's grip was unrelenting, forcing me to remain still as the brothers regarded me with eyes that seemed to strip away every layer, every pretense, until I felt utterly bare before them.

Their scent enveloped me—rich, heady, and utterly intoxicating. It was the unmistakable aroma of pure, unadulterated alpha, and it awakened a primal hunger within me that I'd never experienced before. My knees threatened to buckle as my own omega pheromones surged in response, a silent siren call that had my pulse thundering in my ears.

In this moment, caught in the gravitational pull of their dominance, I understood what it meant to be truly seen—to have the very core of my being laid bare before creatures of such staggering power.

The world seemed to stop spinning as Dominic extended his hand toward me, his fingers beckoning in an invitation I never could have anticipated.

"Would you care to dance?"

His deep voice rolled over me like velvet, igniting sparks of desire within me. I stared at his outstretched hand, rendered momentarily mute by the weight of his presence, the sheer audacity of his request. Dancing with an alpha—and not justanyalpha, but Dominic Davenport himself? It was unfathomable, a breach of every rule I'd been conditioned to obey.

The air itself seemed to still, the ballroom fading away until all that existed was Dominic's piercing gaze locked on mine. I could feel the eyes of the other women upon us, their poised masks slipping for a moment as they exchanged quick intrigued glances. Meredith, sensing an opportunity, nudged me forward with a hiss that only I could hear, her words a frantic demand masked as a suggestion.

"Say yes, Asa. Don't embarrass us."

With trembling fingers, I placed my hand in Dominic's. His touch was like an electric current, sending jolts of awareness ricocheting through my body. He guided me toward the dance floor with a confidence that brooked no argument, his broad shoulders cutting an imposing figure through the crowd that parted before us.

As we reached the center of the gleaming parquet, the gentle strains of a waltz enveloped us. Dominic turned to face me, his stormy eyes holding me captive in their depths. Then, with a decisive motion, he drew me against the hard planes of his body, his arm encircling my waist with possessive ease.

The scent of him surrounded me—sandalwood and spice, layered with the rich, earthy musk that was uniquely dominant alpha. My senses swam, overwhelmed by the heady aroma that awakened a primal yearning within me. I swayed toward him, caught in the irresistible pull of his magnetism, until there was scarcely a breath between us.

The world fell away as Dominic swept me into the waltz, the music swelling around us like a cresting wave. At first, I moved with the stiff, halting steps ingrained by years of etiquette lessons, the proper way for an omega to carry herself, always demure and restrained. But as the melody soared, as Dominic's powerful lead guided me across the floor with a confidence that bordered on arrogance, something inside me began to unfurl. The rigid control I had always maintained started to fray at the edges, loosening with each dizzying spin and dip.

Dominic moved with a primal grace, his body an extension of the music itself. I found myself breathless, struggling to keep pace as he pushed the boundaries of the dance. But instead of fear, I felt a heady thrill coursing through my veins.

Soon, I was matching his intensity step for step, heedless of the scandalized whispers that echoed around us. In his arms, I was no longer the meek omega, confined by society's expectations. I was a creature reborn, a creature of passion and abandon, emboldened by the forbidden thrill of his touch and the way his smoldering gaze never once left mine. With every dip and swell of the music, I felt myself surrendering to the unfurling of desire that bloomed between us, uncaring of the consequences that would surely follow.

We spun across the floor, our bodies in perfect sync, and I could feel the weight of a thousand eyes upon us. The other dancers had stilled, mesmerized by the sight of an omega in the arms of such an illustrious alpha. I was keenly aware of the spectacle we had become, a living tableau that defied the rigid boundaries of our world.

Yet as we twirled amid the splendor of the ballroom, I found myself lost in the moment, in the hypnotic sway of Dominic's lead and the thrilling press of his body against mine. His scent enveloped me, a warm, intoxicating blanket that awakened a primal hunger I never knew existed.

A brilliant smile broke across my face as the tempo quickened, my hair coming loose from its elaborate style to whip around me in a pale cascade. I gasped for air, my chest heaving with exhilaration as Dominic's arm tightened around my waist. Then, with a powerful surge of muscle, he lifted me into the air, spinning us both in a dizzying arc that had me throwing my head back with peals of unrestrained laughter.

As I came back down, Dominic pulled me against the hardness of his body, a low, rumbling growl escaping his lips. The sound reverberated through me, awakening a molten heat that pooled low in my belly. Our gazes locked, his eyes blazing with an intensity that stole my very breath.

Once more, he lifted me high, and I let the joy pour from me in a torrent of merry laughter that rang out like a bell. In that moment, suspended above the world with Dominic's unshakable strength supporting me, I had never felt more alive, more free.

All too soon, the music reached its crescendo and faded into silence. As Dominic lowered me back to the ground, the haze of abandon dissipated, and the reality of what I had just done—an omega so brazenly disregarding every rule of decorum—came crashing back.

My smile faltered as the weight of a thousand disapproving stares seemed to press in on me from all sides. Panic lanced through me, sharp and cold, as I realized the ramifications of my actions.

But before I could retreat back into the safety of propriety's embrace, Dominic nudged my chin up with a gentle but commanding touch, forcing my gaze to meet his. His eyes smoldered, sparking embers of the wildfire he had awoken within me only moments before.

"Asa," he rumbled, his voice a deep, velvet caress that had me trembling. "My sweet Asa."

With a finality that allowed for no argument, he released me and turned on his heel, the impressive line of his back disappearing through the crowd as he strode away, his brothers falling into step beside him.

I stood there, rooted to the spot, my chest still heaving with the echoes of my laughter. My fingers drifted to my lips, as if I could still taste the lingering traces of the freedom I had allowed myself to sample.

Around me, the ballroom had descended into a buzz of scandalized murmurs and speculative glances. But in that moment, I paid them no mind. My world had been irrevocably shifted, the foundation shaken by Dominic's touch and the dangerously exhilarating taste of true abandon he had shown me.