25. Belle

Chapter twenty-five

Belle

I have never been in a room with so many people before, and I grip Rian tighter, too afraid that if I let him go, then I will be swept away by the sea.

Who knew there were this many people in the world?

I truly am out of my depth.

At one point in my life, I thought that me and Francis were the only two people left in the world.

I believed we were living in some dystopia, and that we were the sole survivors.

Because that is how he made it feel at the time.

No wonder I used to speak to vegetables…

That had been an incredibly lonely life, and now I can't help but shrink as I feel the eyes of everyone in the room.

There are other Omegas here, and I shiver when they look me up and down, judging me in my pink dress, and I just want to shoot out of the room and hide under my bed.

Who knew I was such an introvert?

I'm just not used to such a crowd, and it's been some years since I've seen so many female faces in one place.

And judgmental ones too at that.

Why does that one girl look as if she has a bad smell under her nose when I pass?

Luckily, Rian shows her his teeth, and I didn't even know that Omegas could growl like that.

I hardly ever saw the other Omegas at the Facility.

It seemed the warden didn't want us teaming up and plotting our revenge, but if this is how Omegas truly interact with each other, then I doubt such an event would have ever come to pass.

None of these Omegas see eye to eye.

One gaggle of girls pretends to be on the same side, but I can tell they secretly despise each other.

I refuse to be so petty. We need to be helping each other.

There is strength in numbers.

I honestly felt a strong desire to help that other Omega in my cell.

Twenty-two.

Her watermelon scent still plays in my mind, and I wonder what became of her.

The thoughts leave my mind once I spy a familiar, square-jawed Alpha ahead, and there's a face I never thought I would see again.

Jeremy reaches his hand out to Gryphon and the two Alphas shake.

"Glad you could make it, Jeremy," the governor says.

Jeremy nods. "Wouldn't miss Rian's presentation."

A small blonde Omega appears at Gryphon's side, and I double-take when she jumps up into Jeremy's arms and hugs him.

Now I understand why the other Omegas are so hostile.

Jeremy is mine.

Yet when the Omega moves back again, I spy no want or desire when she looks at Jeremy. Just respect and admiration.

It seems they're old friends.

When she sees Rian, she does the same thing, throwing her arms around him too, and again, it appears she has a history with both of my guys.

So, I stay back.

Besides, I can tell that this Omega is strong. While slim, she has muscles.

I'm just skin and bone.

However, I've started to fill out lately since I've been receiving three meals a day now.

Jeremy introduces me to the Omega. "Belle, this is Mila. An old friend."

The Omega steps closer, and I meet her mossy green eyes.

They're a similar color to Rian's, but a tad lighter, and I feel a blow to my ego.

Not only strong but gorgeous too.

She has a smattering of freckles on her nose and long, caramel hair that reaches her waist.

And her tight black dress showcases her flawless curves.

The dress flares around her legs, and I feel so silly in my pink dress.

"It's an honor to finally meet you, Belle. I've heard so much about you…"

She reaches out her hand.

I gaze at Jeremy. He nods.

When I look into the Omega's kind green eyes again, I can tell she means no harm.

She is not hostile like the other females, so I take her hand and shake.

"You… you too, Mila."

Her grin widens, and she won't stop staring into my eyes.

When I become too shy, I glance away, gazing at her shoes.

Why do I get the sense she is staring at me?

"I feel like we have met before…" she mutters.

Well, that's not possible.

I think I would have remembered Mila at the Facility.

There is no way they would have kept her locked up.

I know now why she's so strong.

She's a soldier. A fighter.

Not like me.

A pathetic damsel.

That's why I wear the frilly pink gown and she wears the silken black dress that brings out her hourglass shape.

She keeps looking at me, and Jeremy and Rian regard her strangely.

"Is there something the matter, Daisy?" Jeremy jokes playfully, and I stir at the name.

Daisy?

I find the courage to meet Mila's eyes again.

Maybe I have seen her somewhere.

She staggers next, but Gryphon catches her in his arms. Then tears fall from her eyes, and I have no idea what is going on with her.

Rian places a comforting hand behind me as if to stop my own fall.

"No… it's not possible…" Mila whispers.

Gryphon starts pulling her away, chuckling. "Let's leave them be, Mila."

They do that thing next. The same thing that the guys do when they speak via their bond.

Of course, none of us hear as the conversation is between Mila and Gryphon only, but whatever they're discussing, it's obviously intense.

And it has something to do with me.

When they're out of sight, I look at Jeremy.

He narrows his eyes at the two, speculating.

"Well, what on earth do you think that was about?" Rian pipes up.

Jeremy shakes his head and finally looks at me. "I'm sure it was nothing. Don't worry. Mila is a nice girl. I'm the reason she is alive today…"

I blink. "Alive?"

Rian answers for me. "He found her in heat in the woods just outside the Alpha city. Not far from where we found you…"

Oh.

No wonder she was so happy and familiar with him.

She owes him her life.

"We also trained together at the Academy. Mila is presenting today with me," Rian explains.

I meet his moss-green eyes and smile. "Well, at least you can present with a friend."

He grins, and I know he senses my sadness.

I wish I could present with him on stage too.

In the future, maybe.

For now, I will think about the present.

Leo leads me to a table. "Come on. Let's get you some food."

I push the odd encounter with Gryphon and Mila to one side and follow the Alpha to the buffet table, and thank goodness.

I'm starving.