Page 13 of Daughter of Garnet

“So, do you still want to be with an Alpha?” I lower myself onto the bed beside him, but I don’t meet his eye.

“I mean, I think I’d like to try it. I bet they have insane stamina. Do you think they can knot Betas?”

Male Alphas have a knot on the base of their dicks that swells and traps an Omega onto them. It’s an evolutionary thing, encouraging reproduction, but I never spent that much time studying Alpha cocks to know exactly how it works. Female Alphas have a lock inside them that is made to clamp down on and hold a male Omega inside them during sex.

I really should pay attention in my anatomy and physiology class. If I want to go into the medical field, which I don’t know if I do, but I should leave my options open, I need to understand how their bodies differ from ours at the bare minimum.

“What about an Omega?” I hold my breath waiting for his answer.

I keep trying to convince myself that the voice in my head that called me an Omega was a hallucination, but I still want to know if he’d stick around if I were one.

Not that I am, but I’m curious.

“I mean, sure. They’re built for sex, right? Like that’s their whole thing. I wouldn’t want to match with one, though. I’m not looking to take care of someone so high maintenance.”

There is an uncomfortable feeling in my chest, like I can't quite breathe, at that declaration. I glance at him from the corner of my eye. “You think it’d be that bad?”

Alphas and Omegas are drawn toward one another by pheromones and body chemistry. Betas don’t have those same pheromones, but in rare instances, an Omega’s beast will claim a Beta as their own.

“They’re spoiled and worshipped by their Alphas, and I’m not looking to do the same. I would fuck one, but being with them forever? No thanks."

Warren changes the subject, talking about his plan to get us the best Alpha Aide, but I can’t shake the cloud the conversation has cast over me.

I’d better pray to the Gods that the voice in my head at the ceremony was a hallucination, or I may lose my best friend.

CHAPTER 8

Zoe

Designation Hierarchy and Responsibilities has to be the worst class I’ve ever taken. Three times a week, I have to sit here and listen to Professor Hayes drone on and on about the importance of Alphas to our society and how it’s our duty as Betas to make sure things run smoothly so they can handle "the difficult work."

He made everyone shuffle where we're sitting, encouraging the Alphas to place themselves in groups with the Betas, and I’m on edge the entire time one gets close to me.

What if Dominic was right that day in the woods? What if I am an Omega and everyone can smell me? I haven't worried this much about what I smell like since puberty.

Betas can, for the most part, identify someone's designation, but they can't smell pheromones. I feel lucky that I don't have to smell a bunch of people all the time. That sounds horrendous. How do they not have constant headaches?

Ray sits on the other side of Viv, his back rigid and eyes straight ahead. He doesn’t look at me once.

I have no idea what his problem with me is, but I hope it doesn’t affect my friendship with Viv. I’m not exactly drowning in options for friends here, and Viv seems to like being around Warren and me.

“How many times do you think Hayes is going to call something our duty?” Viv is leaning in close, speaking out of the side of her mouth.

“At least three more times before class is up.”

“Ambitious. There are only ten minutes left in class.” She closes her notebook, like she’s given up for the day.

Warren is on my right, but he’s not paying attention to our conversation. He’s trying to make eyes with some of the Alphas around the room, probably angling to get an introduction to an upperclass Alpha.

By the time class is up and Hayes says the word duty five more times, Warren hadn’t managed to snag anyone’s attention.

“Hey, Ray,” he calls to the Alpha’s retreating back. “Have you met any of the upperclassmen yet? I was hoping to get an introduction to someone to be our Aide for Menagerie.”

Viv’s brother steps off to the side, and the three of us move with him. He specifically angles himself away from me.

Why does he dislike me like me so much? We've said no more than four words to one another.

He runs his fingers through his thick, dark hair. “Not really. And I wouldn’t recommend seeking one out. You don’t want to be seen as a knot or lock chaser.”