Page 21 of For What It's Worth

“I’m Hannah,” the omega said, introducing herself. “That’s Jackson.” She pointed to the alpha that had come with her. “Next to him is Han.” The alpha was some kind of Asian descent, which was really broad, but that was all I grasped from his olive toned skin and the tilt of his eyes. He had the strongest bone structure of anyone at this table, but the sharp lines didn’t make him look harsh. Just handsome. “And next to me is Zeke.” He was the smallest of her alphas, with dark brown skin and some design shaved into the side of his head.

“Nice to meet you all. I’m Koda.”

“Well, Koda, you totally saved my butt out there. I was ready to go down—you know, fists flying and the whole thing, but my nails live to see another day. Let me buy you a drink as a thanks.” I knew Hannah most likely didn’t have her own money, but I didn’t point it out like a bitch would.

“Sure, that would be great. Thanks.”

“And while we’re waiting for drinks,” Han said. “Hannah here can explain why she isn’t with Seb and needed a stranger to help her. No offense, Koda.”

“None taken,” I said honestly and then looked to Hannah, curious myself on whether the omega was brave or foolish.

The blush on Hannah’s cheeks made her already pink skin become darker.

“That’s my other alpha,” Hannah said, ignoring Han’s question.

“And the alpha she should be with right now,” Zeke said.

Jackson hadn’t said anything, but he also hadn’t stopped staring at me since I sat down. And not in the way that made me feel attractive. More like I was sitting next to his omega, and he was ready to break me in half if I moved too quickly.

I stopped myself from breathing through my mouth, like I wanted. It would have helped limit all the scents, but I was pretty sure Jackson would’ve noticed.

“He got a call about something private. I told him I would just meet you all here,” Hannah said.

“You told Seb you were going to come to the club by yourself? And he let you?” Han didn’t sound pissed off. More like he simply didn’t believe her.

I wanted to stand up for Hannah, to tell the alphas that the rules keeping omegas from going out alone were dumb. An omega’s perfume might catch attention, but it was alphas making it aggressive. But I didn’t say anything. This wasn’t my pack, and one of the many things my beta relations classes had taught me was that packs didn’t want a beta’s advice.

“Well,” Hannah said. “I might have made it seem like I was coming with Zeke.”

Zeke chuckled. “He’s going to spank your ass.”

“Guys, you’re embarrassing me in front of my new friend,” Hannah said. It was obvious these males loved their omega—and spoiled her—since drinks arrived at that point, and they all dropped the topic.

“I’ve never had a beta friend before,” Hannah said, turning so she was almost directly facing me.

“How come?” Hannah and I had the same drink, something delicious, green, and apple flavored. I tried pacing myself but was becoming increasingly unsuccessful with each sip.

She shrugged one shoulder. “Lots of reasons. Mainly because betas don’t typically like me, but we rarely hang out in the same groups. Even now, I have my online college classes that I know have betas in them, but I never interact with any of them.”

I tried not to sound too curious, or shocked, but I took another sip and couldn’t help myself. “You take college classes?”

Without actually attending the Omega Compound, I didn’t know much about it. But I—along with like, everyone else that had never attended—always heard classes at the compound were based on raising a family and better understanding your designation. Taking classes online, for a degree, was unheard of for an omega. Actually, it wasn’t even allowed at most schools.

“Oh yeah, you’re looking at a proud college student. It’s only two classes, for now. I’m still trying to figure out what I want to do.”

“That’s amazing,” I said. “I didn’t know the Omega Compound lets you take college classes.”

“They don’t.”

“But how—”

“It’s all about who you know,” Han said.

“And my pack is in the know.” Hannah flashed me a conspiratorial wink before giving her packmates the ‘gimme hands’, indicating she wanted to try all their drinks.

“What do you do, Koda?” The voice shocked me. It was deep and basically a growl, and absolutely belonged to Jackson.

I took a sip to wet my mouth, and maybe gain a little liquid courage. “I attend Braker Academy.”