Page 4 of The Omega Switch: Part 1
Then the man beside me choked on his champagne. Oh no, I thought as I cringed. Here I had gone and made an inappropriate comment, which is exactly why my family never wanted me to be at these types of things. They were right - I didn’t know how to act. Now he’d probably excuse himself and run in the opposite direction. But then, to my surprise, he started laughing outright.
“Oh, that’s the best answer I’ve heard all night,” he said, grinning openly now. Heat rushed into my face.
“I didn’t mean-”
“No, please,” he interrupted, eyes bright with amusement. “Explain.” My mortification warred with my honesty, but honesty won.
“I just don’t think that being powerful means you’re worth worshipping,” I said. It was true - my family had power, and people were falling all over themselves trying to get close to them. Arabella had all kinds of power - her personality, her looks, her social media presence. People practically worshipped her like a goddess. I found it pathetic. The man’s eyebrows lifted.
“And yet here you are, at a gala specifically celebrating a powerful partnership.” He leaned against the table, looking more like he was at a casual bar than one of the most exclusive events in the city.
“I’m here because my family brought me,” I corrected quietly.
“Ah, so you aren’t here voluntarily?” He joked. I glanced toward Arabella again.
“No, not really. I’m sorry if I’m bringing the vibe down.” I admitted. Something flickered briefly in his expression then.
“Well, I'm not exactly here of my own accord, either. I think you might be the most interesting person here,” he said lightly, “and for what it’s worth, I also find most CEOs exhausting.” A genuine laugh slipped out of me then. The beta smiled again, more broadly.
“I’m Elias,” he said, offering his hand.
I took his hand hesitantly, his name summoning up something in my memory that I hadn’t quite caught onto yet. But I wasn’t able to focus - this was the most attention anyone had ever paid to me when Arabella was also in the room. And this man wasn’t just handsome, he was charming. He knew how to put me at ease, which almost never happened.
“I’m Ivy,” I said softly. Something flickered in his eyes then, and he nodded. Elias leaned against the table beside me, completely unconcerned with the crowd surrounding Arabella across the ballroom.
“Tell me something, Ivy,” he said thoughtfully. “If you find Hunter Vale irrelevant, whatdoesimpress you?”
“Honestly? I value a genuine person. Someone real, who doesn’t get impressed easily with status. Someone with true kindness.” I said finally.
Elias watched me, his eyes unreadable, though I was sure he had a lot going on behind them. Then, I felt a presence cut through the air beside us. Someone approached, and without looking, I could tell that it was someone distinctly alpha. Every instinct in my body tightened instantly.
“Well,” a deep voice cut through, “that explains why she’s talking to you instead of the rest of us.”
I looked up and nearly stopped breathing. Averylarge man with an imposing presence stood beside our table, his broad shoulders straining against his black suit, sharp eyes fixeddirectly on me with unnerving intensity. He wore his thick, dark hair longer than most alphas, the black curls pulled back into a low tie at the nape of his neck. His face looked as though it had been carved from stone. He had a strong jaw, high cheekbones, a straight nose, and a mouth that looked stern. He was devastatingly handsome in a rugged, dangerous sort of way. There was something distinctly intimidating about him, like he was fully aware of how dangerous he was.
He held out his hand. “Ronan.” He said, his voice deep and gruff.
Then, a slow, horrible realization dawned on me. This was RonanVale. The massive alpha I had noticed at the gala looked like Hunter Vale's security detail - only I knew the truth: Ronan wasn't security. He was part of the Vale pack. I read his name in an article. And right now, those dark, intimidating eyes were fixed entirely on me.
I looked at Ronan, then at Elias. Elias, who suddenly looked far too amused.
“Oh my God,” I whispered.
Elias took another sip of champagne, then lifted his eyebrows as he watched my realization. “You’re - you’re his…”
“Yes, I’m in Pack Vale. Along with Ronan here.” He confirmed, and I wanted the floor to open beneath me immediately. I drew my hand up to my mouth, mortification flooding my body.
“I - I’m so sorry, I just-” I stammered, not knowing what to say to rectify the situation. Ronan looked at me, his dark eyes boring into me like he could see straight into my soul as he tried to understand what was going on.
Elias jumped in, a smile on his face. “Ivy here is none too impressed with our pack mate. Thinks he’s a bit irrelevant, actually.” Heat flooded my face, and Ronan’s gaze sharpened as he took me in. I sucked in a breath, ready for the whole collaboration to fall apart. This was it. Pack Vale was going to hate me. My family would never forgive me.
Then Ronan barked out a belly laugh, slapping Elias on the shoulder. “Finally, someone who doesn’t kiss the ground he walks on!” The alpha said, and even his laugh was an intimidating sound. “That’s refreshing.” The man looked at me, his canines sharp as he smiled. “Can’t wait to introduce you to him,” He mused, and I cringed.
Elias must have noticed my panic, because he reached out, his hand gentle and tentative on my arm. That slight, grounding touch slowed my heart rate and gave me a soft wave of calm coursing through my body. I looked up at him in confusion.
“Take it easy, we’re not serious. Despite Ronan’s stoic appearance,” he added, tilting his head at his packmate.
“Ivy, you said?” Ronan asked, and I nodded, now tongue-tied. “You’re the sister, aren’t you?” He asked, and I felt like I was suddenly under a microscope. Elias looked back at me with renewed interest.
