Chapter 9

Chapter

Nine

ELLA

W hen Lidya led me towards the building connected with almost a bridge crosswalk, I wasn't sure where we were going to end up. But she must've known what I needed. That or this was the biggest coincidence in the world as we walked through the wide doors of the library.

I expected the space to be antique and a little stuffy like the rest of the academy. Instead, there were computer stations and couches and voices weren't silent or shushed through the shelves of academic and fiction reads.

The book I just checked out when I was still working at Prestford University's library a few weeks ago was on their new collection display.

I looked around everywhere, trying to see where I wanted to start.

Because the library and this place for the first time felt a little better. Felt a little more of the home I knew.

Lidya smiled. "You can check out anything if you want. Though they are about omegas knowing their place in an alpha-omega relationship, they also encourage small hobbies like reading. How else are omegas supposed to lounge all day at the whims of their alphas until they call for them?"

I hadn't thought of it that way.

The couches were filled with omegas curled up together, talking and laughing and eating small snacks out of bowls.

"Hi, everyone."

"Wow, look who decided to grace us with her presence." Another male omega said as he noticed Lidya. That was the second one I'd seen. How many more were here?

She shrugged. "I've been busy."

"With taking care of that pack of yours I'm sure."

She smiled, tossing her hair over her shoulder to show off her bond marks even more than usual. "Hm, trust me when I say it's mutual."

"Lucky, bitch."

A few of them chuckled. "Who's your friend?"

"This is Ella. She's new."

"New?" A few eyes went up and down.

I sighed. "Yes, I'm old."

"You're beautiful. They'll probably send you out for courting by next week."

Next week?

"Courting starts next week."

Lidya glanced at me a little sadly. Did she think that I already knew? I mean, I knew that courting started soon, but next week?

"Don't scare her," he said. "Looks skittish."

I narrowed my eyes. I was not.

"Or not."

"Definitely not," I agreed, sitting down.

I was offered snacks as the rest of the omegas in comfortable chairs chattered like we were at some kind of book club. A few of them were studying while the rest simply talked like they had nothing else in the world to worry about.

If I had been a normal omega, one like the rest of them, I wondered if this was a place I could've ended up sooner. Maybe it would've even been a place and a life I would've enjoyed.

A sadness came over me at the prospect, feeling left out of it all.

Lidya caught my eye as she ate a marshmallow and talked to someone else.

"Are you okay?" She mouthed, handing me the bowl as if in offering.

I took a marshmallow to add to the rest of the sugar I was consuming.

I nodded. Yeah, for now…

I very much was.