Dragon's Omega Bride (Shifter Marriage Service 3)

CHAPTER ONE

“I’ve worked here for five years now and you’ve passed over me time and time again for promotion,” Aileen said, determined to finally stand up for herself.

“What makes you think you qualify for promotion? Lots of people work hard, but that doesn’t mean they deserve a better position,” Maria, her supervisor, responded.

“I do. I’ve done everything asked of me and I’ve done it well. I’ve never been late and I’ve not had one single reprimand. Yet, newer and less experienced girls are promoted over me right and left.”

“Come on, Aileen. You know the answer to all of that. I can’t promote you.”

“Yes, you can.”

“No. I can’t, not after what your father did. Not only are you an Omega, but you are the daughter of a man who sold out his clan.”

“My father did not sell out his clan. He told the truth about an Alpha who burned down an entire village to hide his crimes.”

“I’m not going to argue ancient history with you. I’m just stating the facts.”

“I’m so sick of being treated like a second-class citizen in this clan. What does what my father did have to do with me? Why should I have to pay for something that I’m hardly old enough to even remember?”

“I don’t have the answer to that, but it’s your life. No one holds you to this clan. You can get out on your own or you can find another clan, if one will have you. Otherwise, will you please go back to your desk and do your job?”

“Sure,” Aileen replied from between clenched teeth.

She was twenty-three. She’d been working at the medical center for the past five years, since she had finished high school. Her finances hadn’t allowed her to attend college and she was lucky to have gotten a job at all. The only reason she’d been allowed to stay in the clan was because some of the elders felt sorry for her. The previous Alpha leader had not taken kindly to her father making accusations. He’d been exiled, leaving her and her siblings behind. The chain of events that followed his departure resulted in her being the lone family member to remain.

“You could always get married. You know, settle down and have kids. If you hold any value in this clan, the fact that you are an Omega buys you some consideration,” her best friend Cassie told her later that evening over dinner.

“I can’t think of anything that appeals to me less than to give up on a career and become some shifter’s baby factory,” Aileen said, rolling her eyes.

“Career? Is that what you think you have? You’re stuck behind a desk all day long taking customer service calls. It’s what you’ve been doing since you got there and it is what you’ll be doing until you retire.”

“Well, that’s uplifting.”

“I’m not trying to be cruel. I’m just reminding you of your position in this clan. You’re an Omega, which is bad enough, but you’re also from a disgraced family. You’re never getting anywhere in this clan, work or otherwise. Your only option is to serve the only purpose they think you are fit to do.”

“Hardly my only option. I’m capable of a lot more than opening my legs for some dude to fill me up with his spawn.”

“Good luck with whatever you think it is you are going to do then,” Cassie replied.

There was silence as Cassie took a sip of her wine and looked off into the distance. Aileen cursed herself for not thinking about what she was saying. Cassie was engaged to marry one of the current Alpha leader’s righthand shifters and become the mother of his children. She had just unwittingly insulted her in an effort to defend her own actions.

“God, Cassie. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean that you are settling for less or anything like that. I’m happy for you. It’s what you want and that’s great, but it’s just not for me. That’s all.”

“No offense taken,” Cassie said, turning her gaze back toward her, but she could see the hurt in her friend’s eyes.

“Do you want to split a dessert?” Aileen asked, trying to lighten the dark mood that seemed to be settling between them.

“No. I think I’ll call it a day and get back home. We’ll talk tomorrow,” she said, tossing some cash out on the table for her half of the meal.

“Let me get this,” Aileen protested, picking it up and trying to hand it back to her.

“Nah. I’ve got mine,” Cassie said, grabbing her purse and tossing her hand up in a gesture of goodbye before heading to the exit.

Aileen sat, watching her disappear out the door, and frowned. They were growing further apart every day. They had been friends for a long time now, but with one of them determined to further their career and the other about to get married, they were going in very different directions.