Donovan’s gift was calling to me. I could practically hear it.
Josie, Josie, you must open me.
I rolled over in bed with a huff. Stupid gift-loving omega. My omega had gotten a taste of being spoiled by our alphas and thought she needed all the gifts.
Frustration surged through me and I fisted my hands, my fingernails piercing my palms. I needed to squash my instincts. Being an omega brings only suffering. I chanted the mantra over and over.
Theo rolled over in his sleep so he was facing me, his arm brushing against mine. He let out a contented sigh, his face as relaxed as I’d ever seen it. I instinctively unclenched my fists. Ben was pressed against me, the bare skin of his chest hot against my back. I hadn’t gotten a chance to talk with Theo or Cam after the chaos of the gift’s arrival, but I knew I needed to. I hated this distance between us, hated that Glen had caused it.
A few tears leaked down my face, dripping onto my soft pillowcase. Being an omega had brought me tremendous suffering, but it had also brought me the most intense joy. Was it worth it? Could I accept this part of myself I’d always despised?
My mind flashed to the mysterious package. It was just sitting in the foyer. All alone. Waiting for me to open it.
My omega perked up as if she sensed my wavering resolve.
If you have to be an omega, you can at least enjoy gifts. I had to admit, the voice in my head was quite convincing.
Fuck it. I had to open it.
I’d never been successful in sneaking out of bed without my alphas noticing, but there was a first time for everything. I knew I should wake them and let them know what I was doing so they didn’t freak out if they woke up and found me missing. But I felt the need to do this alone… this felt like an experience that was just mine.
I slipped out of Ben’s embrace and climbed over Theo, cursing myself for my clumsiness as my foot caught on the blanket. I landed on the floor with a soft thump and held still, wondering if I had woken them. I poked my head up over the side of the bed to find the three of them still fast asleep.
See, the universe wants you to open the package. It’s a sign.
I padded softly out of the room, leaving the door cracked behind me.
Once in the hallway, I broke out in a sprint. Now that I’d made up my mind, I couldn’t wait another minute.
I slid into the foyer, almost launching myself at the package. I ripped the brown paper, which came off in large, satisfying pieces.
After a breathless frenzy, the gift was revealed.
The foyer lamp only cast a soft glow, but I didn’t need more light to know what I was looking at.
It was the painting Donovan showed me at the cocktail party. The one he painted when he was young and coming to terms with his designation. The colors were just as evocative as I remembered. My breath caught at the bright red tendrils of paint at the bottom of the canvas. They seemed to seep aggressively up the canvas like blood from a wound until they were met with sweeping blues and greens. The colors clashed and fought for a moment until the cool colors almost seemed to soothe and surround the red tendril—separate but somehow interwoven in a dance of texture and paint so visceral I yearned to touch it. Up close, the colors stood out in a tense dance of opposition, but if I stood back, they became one. A new beautiful thing.
A lump formed in my throat and all the emotions I’d suppressed broke over me. I felt like I was splitting apart with the pain, but mixed in with the suffering was the reminder that I wasn’t alone.
A watery, shaky laugh burst from me as I wiped up my tears.
I stepped close to the painting until my nose practically touched the surface as if I could draw closer to this feeling of being seen and understood. Why would he give this to me? It must be worth a fortune.
I caught Donovan’s faint scent and could imagine his younger self painting this, pouring all his anger, confusion, and acceptance into it. I crouched down to softly trace my hands over the bright red streaks. Donovan’s scent was stronger here… almost suspiciously strong. Feeling a bit ridiculous, I leaned in to sniff the canvas, gripping the edge to keep my balance. My finger caught on something protruding from the canvas’s edge and I tugged on it, pulling out a small envelope. I knew I had found the source of his scent.
My heart beat faster as I flipped it over and saw my name. I scooted closer to the lamp and pulled a small card from the envelope.
Josie,
They will underestimate us until we prove them otherwise.
Donovan
I read the note again, my mind whirling. Who did he mean when he said “they?” It could just be our alphas… but it felt like something more.
I gazed at the painting until the red and orange strokes on the canvas transformed into a raging fire.
This past week I had disappeared into myself, just like I had when I got the first device. But nothing was the same as it was back then. I wasn’t alone anymore. I had my alphas. I had my friends.
Glen and Dr. Bishop had done their best to destroy me. They’d convinced me that being an omega was the same as being weak and useless. A tool for alphas to abuse. But that wasn’t true.
I was still here.
Hope bloomed in my chest, and it was a miraculous feeling.
I thought of Poppy, Westin, and Ellie, forced into lives they didn’t choose. I thought of Jewel, so cruelly harmed by the government, and Sam and Gerald having to move away just to be themselves.
We deserved better. And for the first time in my life, I believed we could get something better if we fought back together. They were underestimating us, and maybe we could use that to our advantage.
A wide smile spread across my face, stretching my muscles as if they didn’t quite know how to make the expression anymore.
“Josie!” Cam’s roar came from upstairs, and I froze.
Fuck.
“I’m down here,” I called out quickly, cringing with guilt as Cam, Ben, and Theo thundered down the stairs.
“Fuck, fuck!” Cam exclaimed as he scooped me up off the floor.
All my guys pressed around me. Their scents were stressed, but I still felt giddy after my epiphany.
“Precious, you can’t do that to us,” Ben said, still out of breath.
“I’m sorry,” I said, biting my lip. “I just… wanted to open the present.”
A tense silence followed.
“I didn’t want to wake you,” I added lamely.
Theo pressed his face into my neck and took a shuddering breath. “You smell happy, love.”
“I am,” I said, turning my head so I could give Theo a kiss. I wanted to tell them about my realization, but maybe the middle of the night wasn’t the right time.
“You like Donovan’s gift?” Theo asked. There was something off about his tone, but I couldn’t pinpoint what.
“Yeah,” I responded. “It’s the painting he showed me at the cocktail party.”
Cam inhaled another deep breath as if to convince himself I was really okay before striding back upstairs with me in his arms.
“I guess we’re going back to bed,” I said, snuggling into Cam.
“And if you get up again without letting us know, I’ll tie you to it,” he growled, punctuating the threat with a squeeze to my backside.
“Whatever you say, alpha.” I smiled into his shoulder, feeling lighter than I had in weeks.
