Page 166 of Forget
Aisling
The conference room is large, with a white table and soft lights over it with pretty sky blue curtains over the windows. No plastic blinds here, which are hell on the eyes if not perfectly set.
It’s a room where an omega is in charge, and I can appreciate that, even though this organization is filled with bitches.
“Sit down,” Emilia commands. “We’re already behind.”
There are four other women already seated, who are in their forties and fifties. Their hair is all perfectly done, as well as makeup set with a steady hand. While I put effort into my appearance, these women are all in perfect skirt sets and blazers.
A woman with cocoa skin gazes at me with caramel eyes as we sit down, and I have a feeling she’s calculating my every weak spot. I gaze back at her because I have nothing to hide. I work hard, do my best not to hurt others, and there’s not a damn thing she can do or say that will make me doubt that.
I’m here to get this society off of my back. There’s no way in hell I’m allowing my organization to be a funnel for Emilia and her society’s little side hustle.
“Ladies, let me introduce you to Aisling and Wren,” Emilia says haughtily as she sits down at the head of the table. “The other two appear to be their bodyguards, which is silly don’t you think? In order of where they are sitting, please meet Donna, Roberta, Alyssa, and Tracy. These women have been by my side for a long time, and have similar ideas about your little haven.”
Roberta leans forward with a coy smile, her nude lipstick perfectly applied as her caramel gaze never leaves mine. Her locs are wrapped in a beautiful bun, and if she wasn’t looking at me as if I was lunch, I would be able to appreciate it more.
“Do you truly believe you’re capable of helping anyone, when you’re both so young?” she asks. “You’re babies. I don’t believe either of you have the life experience to be able to growOmega’s Haven. I think I even heard whispers of a dreaded heat clinic! That’s so crass.”
“Omegas need a safe way to be able to have their heats,” I say. “If a heat is unbearable enough, it could lead to suicidal thoughts, a fear of their next heat, and even psychosis. Also, not everyone is able to use toys or even worse, grin and bear it.”
“The last option is decidedly cruel,” Wren rasps, sitting tall. “If an omega has been near their scent match, they are the only ones who will be able to help them through their heat. There are documented cases, though, where alphas wearing masks will be able to step in. I understand that the scent won’t match, but it will allow the omega to ride out their heat.”
“What you’re proposing is prostitution,” Emilia growls. “Don’t think I don’t know about the little trip you made out to the University of Lyons, Aisling. It’s every alpha’s wet dream. A free pass to fuck every omega in your so-called haven.”
“It’s not my idea of a wet dream,” Shaw rumbles. “Read the room, Emilia. There are grown men here who only ever wanted to find their scent match. Our pack was able to find two omegas who fit us perfectly. My mate is discussing a sustainable solution for omegas in need. They’ve sourced sex toys from a company who was excited to help, and are providing services for every part of an omega. Not just the ones that are allowed to speak about in polite society.”
“I still don’t like it,” Emilia snaps.
“What about this head shrinker you’ve brought into your organization?” Alyssa asks. She’s wearing a black and white suit, a very bland outfit with severe lines. It perfectly matches the sour look on her face as well.
“A therapist,” I say slowly, hoping it’ll sink in. “Trauma doesn’t simply go away because you want to look the other way. However, people have to be in the right place to accept counseling. I would rather provide the option than ignore it. Many of the omegas who are coming through our doors are leaving bad relationships or packs, are homeless, or are looking to rebuild their lives. Whatever that looks like, Wren and I want to be able to provide services to them for it.”
I remember the way Flynn refused treatment for almost a year before accepting it. You can’t force someone to face their pain.
“You’re teaching people that there are no consequences for their actions,” Alyssa insists. “If you’re there to catch them when they fall, how will they learn?”
“Why is it up to us to stand back and let them smash into the ground?” I ask. “There are no services whatsoever, Alyssa. Whathappens to a child who presents as an omega at sixteen when her mother dies? The homeless shelters won’t take her because of her designation. Who is helping omegas who are escaping alphas who have bought them at auctions?”
“No one should be standing as judge and jury to decide who is best suited for services to help them through whatever life event they’re going through,” Wren says. “The fact that you can sit on the other side of this table and state that you should be able to, says so much.”
“I don’t think it says anything except that allocation of money and resources is important,” Emilia says archly.
Everything these women have been saying shows there is a spy somewhere. I recently went out to visit the host club, and they’ve visited the heat clinic twice since to perform their duties. I don’t know how else to explain it, but the omegas have been quite satisfied, so I’m happy with the arrangement.
I won’t say that to these women, though.
“I appreciate your concern, but we don’t need your help,” I say.
“I think you do as your elders?—”
“You’re browbeating my clients,” Domh grunts. He’s been very patient while we’ve talked, and he’s right. That’s exactly what they’re doing. “They’ve heard your concerns and rejected your help.”
“The health department would be very interested to hear about the spoiled food you’ve had delivered,” Tracy croons, ignoring him. “Did you feed it to the poor little shelter residents?”
I can feel myself beginning to lose my cool when Domh pushes a piece of paper across the table.
“This is a cease and desist,” he growls. “You will not go anywhere near Aisling, Wren,Omega’s Haven,and all communication will also end. It’s obvious to anyone with a brainthat you’re responsible for messing with their food deliveries as well. Therefore, this is a written warning from the courts to stop, or I will release the video of you delivering food to the shelter door.”