Perfect Luna

When Karmine was born, there was one goal for her future in mind: to be a Luna.

Her two pack alpha parents had never raised an omega before; her four older brothers were just like them, strong, stubborn, and most importantly, natural born alphas.

She had always believed they knew what was best for her, even now as she sat on a date with a self centered and condescending alpha of the Gold Eye Clan.

Karmine’s POV:

“And so I invested the money from the bet and made double,” he laughed at his own story. I faked a smile and dryly chuckled, covering my mouth as I did so. “He was so mad at me-”

I picked at the salmon with my fork, glancing out the window. The view over the city was nice, and Mister Clive would give me a good life, and while he seemed self enveloped, perhaps that would be for the best. It would keep him from asking questions about my life outside of him.

“I understand that’s hard for an omega to grasp.” I had stopped paying attention to him long before, just nodded along while the food on his plate was getting cold from all the fawning over himself.

The silk dress my personal maid, Xoni, had tailored to my measurements was, if nothing else, pretty. My mother took time away from her work as mayor to pick the fabric herself. A muted shade of pink.

Mister Clive continued to rant at me about stocks and bonds, something I knew quite a bit about, had he the sense to ask me instead of assuming that as an omega I was inept.

If Xoni had been on this date instead of me, she would have torn into him for being so sexist. I didn’t actually care. Mister Clive was nothing more than a stepping stone for my family to improve their status. His personal beliefs weren’t my problem, even if we did mate.

I hummed at his words, still not paying much attention. The date would be over soon, and Dante would be here to pick me up. I’d tell him about how wonderful it was and how Allurd Clive seemed to know a lot about the stock market, and that the Gold Eye Clan is his alone to take care of, with no siblings or elders in the way of our family taking over his pack.

I looked the older alpha over a few times, he wasn’t someone many would gawk at, but a well cared for form was nothing to turn your nose up at. Not when our children could be picked up. “You’re so handsome.” I cut off his train of thought, letting out a well trained dreamy sigh, like I was so lost in his eyes.

Ditzy, giddy, and enraptured with an alpha, I liked to believe I played the part well. “Oh well,” he sat up straighter, fixing his suit a bit, eyes now watching my every move, a surprised smile gracing his lips, “Thank you.” Had I not been the one to say it, I would have thought what I said was vulgar with the way he flushed.

“You’re quite beautiful yourself,” he stammered like he suddenly remembered he was supposed to say a compliment back.

“Has anyone ever told you your eyes are like little rays of sun, Allurd?” I kept the dreamy tone, leaning on my arm to sell the act, he needed to be into me if my parents wanted us to mate.

“You know,” he ran a hand through his graying hair, “I haven’t heard that one.”

A waiter cleared his throat to get our attention: “Miss Lazarus, your brother is waiting for you outside.”

Mister Clive’s hand touched my knee under the table, giving it a squeeze, “I can walk you out, doll.” The way he said the nickname made my insides want to scramble away, but I just shot him a smile.

“That’s not necessary, I wouldn’t want to inconvenience you. Thank you, though, we will talk again soon, I’m certain.” I stood up, brushing down my dress even though it didn’t need it. I took my white fur coat off the chair and put it on so I wouldn’t get cold in the night air.

Allurd smiled but didn’t insist further, even though it would have been the polite thing to do, “Please stay safe, I will be looking forward to going on more dates with you.”

I smiled, giving him a bow and a wave before heading towards the elevator at a leisurely pace, not wanting it to seem like I was in a rush to get away from him.

It was empty, and for the first time in over an hour and a half, I was able to check my phone. I had a text from Dad already asking how it went, and a few notifications for some random apps I never use. The elevator took forever to get from the thirtieth floor to the entrance, but when it dinged, I rushed out.

Unfortunately, someone else was trying to go into the elevator and was also not paying enough attention, as our two bodies collided into one another. The stranger’s arms were wrapped around me before I could even process that I was falling. “I’m so sorry.” I apologized, needing to just play it off and get out the door.

“No, I’m sorry, I should watch where I’m going better.” His eyes were glowing the way that alphas did when they were getting protective or needy. He moved a piece of hair out of my face as I moved to stand properly.

“It’s alright,” I said, trying not to be obvious as I looked him over. He was taller than me, yet we seemed to be around the same age, his tie draped around his neck instead of on, and his button up shirt unevenly tucked in.

I made a hand gesture to encourage him into the elevator, and he was on his merry way.