Page 47 of The Omega Switch: Part 1
“I’m curious. I have to do some research into how it all works, and maybe how the biology behind it interacts with any products.” I lied, and he looked skeptical. “Anyway, what about the strength of an alpha bark from a direct family member?” I prodded.
Elias looked shocked. “Well, those can last longer. Months, for children. But that usually wears off by the time a designation or puberty arrives. At that point, a child would not need the protection from their parent anymore.” He explained. Now I was the one confused.
“What about adults? What would be a reason that an alpha bark might last longer from a relative?” My question was getting too close to outing myself and my father’s command. I felt my throat tense, but Elias didn’t see that.
“Well, the only cases in which that would occur are if an omega is so reliant on their parent that they never formed their own independence. In that case, someone who is so extremely reliant on their parents might be easily controlled, and a command would last indefinitely. But that’s rare, and anyway, most parents would never order their children past a certain age. It’s unethical.” He said. Unethical. I hadn’t thought about my father in that way, or maybe I just never wanted to.
“Why are you curious? Are you planning on making a product or a medication for these instances?” He asked with a smile.
I was still floored by his answer. Was I that reliant on my family? Had I been that handicapped by their control over mybank account, my work, and my life that I was still affected by my father’s bark? Elias had pretty much told me the answer, but I could barely stomach the thought. I was too immature and reliant to stand up to my own father.
“Uh, yeah, something like that,” I stammered, and he nodded.
“Good! Though I think the answer to that would be more psychological than physiological,” Elias mused, and I knew I needed to get back to my room. If there was a way to break this command, then there was hope yet.
“Sorry, Elias, I need to go back to work, and I think you need to go back to the meeting,” I said, backing away. Before I could turn, his hand grabbed mine. I felt the energy of his warm skin on mine, and for a moment I froze. Just his touch made everything in me feel looser, calmer. I wanted to move closer to him and jump into his arms, muzzle myself directly into his neck, and have him carry me far away from here. He wasmine. And he didn’t even know.
“I noticed you apologize a lot for things that aren’t your fault. You don’t have to do that. Especially with me.” He said, and I nodded. Then he let me go, turning to go back to the conference room. I felt the absence of his touch and backed up to the wall, my body reeling from just the tiniest moment of connection with him.
And I felt a strange feeling that I hadn’t felt in a while - hope. More than anything, I wanted to blurt out the truth to him, eventhough my mouth made no sound when I opened it. But for the first time in a long time, I believed I had a chance.
Chapter 30
Hunter
The necklace sparkled in the black box, a rare and valuable piece that I knew would make any omega the star of the room. I had spent all day selecting it, rejecting piece after piece before finally settling on a delicate gold chain with a sapphire pendant that matched Arabella's eyes almost perfectly. It was elegant - exactly the sort of gift I would have chosen for a future mate. I wanted her to feel secure and wanted, and also I just loved to spoil people that I cared about.
Arabella's reaction was everything I should have wanted. The moment she opened the velvet box, her eyes widened, and she let out a gasp, her hand fluttering toward her chest as she looked at me.
"Oh my God, Hunter." She looked thrilled as she lifted the pendant into the light.
"It's so beautiful. I can’t wait to wear it!” She squealed. A small sense of satisfaction stirred within me. At least I'd gotten that part right.
"You like it?" I asked, and she beamed.
"I love it. Don’t you know how jealous every other omega will be when they see me in this?" Her question was harmless, but it immediately made my mind flash back to that moment in the restaurant where Ivy had her outburst. Her jealousy was so strong that when I simply touched Arabella, she quaked so hard that she knocked her glass over. I’d been so angry at her outburst that I demanded an apology from her - yet doing so pained me more than I could ever admit.
Partially because Arabella didn’t exactly help matters. She seemed to become extra handsy whenever Ivy was around. Naturally, omegas were territorial. But Arabella should have known that she was egging on Ivy’s obviously unstable mental state by doing that.
And now, she all but admitted that she enjoyed other people’s jealousy. I sat uncomfortably with the information, but at the same time, Arabella wasn’t perfect. She was, however, perfect for our pack. And that’s what would make all the difference. Over time, we would be complete - a perfect pack, a perfect match. The answer was there; we just needed time to see it.
Arabella murmured compliments, holding the necklace up to inspect it. "You have incredible taste." She said. When she turned and gathered her hair over one shoulder so I could fasten it around her neck, I expected the moment to feel more intimate than it did. Seeing her bare, unclaimed neck should have been the sort of thing that made my instinct to claim her flare up. Instead, I felt strangely detached from it all. The feeling only became worse when Arabella immediately reached for her phone.
"The lighting in here is incredible," she said excitedly.
I paused. "The lighting?" I asked, looking around.
"For pictures," Arabella said, already opening her camera app. "My followers are going to be obsessed with this necklace."
For the next minute, she angled herself toward various mirrors and light sources while discussing whether the pendant would perform better in a dedicated post or a story. I listened politely, occasionally offering responses when appropriate, but my attention kept drifting. The fact that I could even feel bored around her bothered me. I always thought the perfect omega for us would keep me constantly looking for her, wanting to know what she thought, and excited to talk to her. Kind of how it felt when we thought that Ivy might be for us.
I shook the idea from my head. That would have been a disaster. Ivy clearly had problems and would need to address them before she got into any type of relationship. My pack’s initial infatuation with her was a mistake. The real thing, long-lastingand true, was right in front of me. And yet, Arabella still couldn’t keep my attention.
Normally, I could focus on anything. I had built my company from the ground up, and it took incredible dedication. I’d been through endless investor meetings and sat through negotiations that lasted entire days. Patience and attention were strengths of mine. Yet somehow I couldn't maintain a genuine interest in a conversation with the woman who was my perfect match. Eventually, Arabella lowered her phone and smiled.
"Do you think I should feature this at the launch party?" The question pulled me back into the conversation.
"Which launch party?" I asked, racking my brain. She’d received many more opportunities for brand deals since we’d gone public, and invited our pack to so many that I couldn't keep track.
