There was only one Luke—Luke Anderson—and I never thought he would take time to lead one of us to the Service.
He was the son of the Anderson pack, led by one of our High Priests.
When he led us into the service, it was up the steps and to the back. I was a little sad about it, since it didn’t plant me in the middle of the thick of it, but I wouldn’t be ungrateful for being here.
He stepped into the pew first, sitting down beside the end of the row, which was unusual. Most often I was ushered in first so it was easy for me to find a seat—but then maybe he wasn’t used to this.
I hesitated, trying to figure out the best way to step by him. The pews weren’t all that far apart, and I didn’t want to be disrespectful.
I settled on facing him and trying to edge by. My heart skipped a beat as I felt his hand brush my hip over my dress—helping me navigate, of course—but no one had ever touched me like that before. I was so tripped up by it that I missed the final step, my foot catching his, and almost fell. My hands snapped out, one finding the back of the pew, the other his arm.
I knew the mistake the moment I’d made it.
It wasn’t my gloved hand.
I didn’t touch alphas—not ever—but I’d been taught what would happen when I did. Sure enough, I felt a sharp surge of desperate need—worse with every heat I suffered through. Itwas so overwhelming a whine almost slipped from my chest. I managed to reduce it to a squeak, shifting my grip instantly to the pew, and dragging myself down to sit beside him.
Oh no.
Would he feel what I had?
My cheeks were burning, and panic took flight in my chest. We were about to start the service, and I’d just given him a huge spike of lust. Would he know? Or would my uninvited arousal stay smothered by the blockers? He hadn’t moved beside me, but his scent had shifted to something different.
Dangerous… or… wanting…?
I bit my lip, fists scrunching my dress in my lap.
“I’m s-so sorry,” I whispered.
We were never supposed to speak first once we’d left the room, but I didn’t know what else to do.
He said nothing, and I swallowed, hunching in on myself.
His scent was still… different, charred around the edges, as if he were trying to restrain himself.
I barely noticed as the sermon began, time slipping by in a strange panic.
Would he tell the Sisters?
I’d be punished—and that might be anything from being given more chores to being called into Head Sister Matilda’s office. But would they ban me from returning here again?
Maybe I could ask that only a Sister bring me in the future?
But that might make me seem unsuited for alpha contact, and being selected by a Chosen alpha pack was my only chance at something new.
Oh gosh…
If he told them, it would surely affect my chances…
I wanted to be selected by a Chosen pack. Once selected, that omega has served her punishment for being a gold pack and is considered saved.
Heats alone were so painful—I wanted to have paid enough.
When would it be enough?
Tears burned my eyes and I tried to blink them back behind the blindfold.
Selfish…