“Oh,” I slumped back. Then straightened once again into the correct posture my father had taught me from the moment I could balance a book on my head. This would be how I must be from now on. No cowering before an alpha. No folding in on myself and making myself smaller, less of a target.
“I think we will work on your posture. You are now too stiff. No young alpha would have a problem slouching and lounging about. Sure, you must act quick and respectful with the older alphas, but don’t worry about the formalities all the time. We are alphas after all.”
“I won’t succeed, will I?” I slouched in defeat.
“You will. With my help,” he chuckled. “And so long as you never remove your clothes in front of anyone… You’ll not be able to fake a mate stain.”
He was right. Other than a bark, which I could (perhaps) fake, alphas possessed a unique to each alpha port-coloured mark, called a mate stain, on their body that appeared when they presented. Of course, male alpha’s developed their knot, and females of the dynamic a tie, but there’d be no reason I’d ever be in a position for some to see if I had a tie or not.
“Why are you helping me?” I wondered aloud. My plans were dangerous, they could jeopardise his career.
“Why boredom, my dear. I suffer from boredom. I suspect you do as well. Now, first. I shan’t be introducing you at the clubs. He don’t visit them so you have little chance of meeting him there. Rather, you will apply to be the duke’s new secretary—I hear he requires one. He’ll take you on if I put you forward.”
“I—“
“More to the point, I desire to help you catch his heart. He will be a difficult man to influence, even more so because he is an alpha without much interest in politics. However, he is ripe for the picking, as his politics are without any real direction. Confronting him where he is most at ease will help your suit. Once you’ve captured his heart, you’ll make a good political wife and mate. We could use one like you if we’re to gather support for our proposed reforms. To have the Duke and Duchess of Orley would be a great coup for the opposition.”
“I don’t want to win his heart!” I gasped, horrified that he would think I had romance in mind. Then again, as an alpha, perhaps he could not imagine my ambition to be more than the base sexual congress between an alpha and omega. “I have never laid eyes on him and had not considered meeting him until I learnt he was in town and had the votes we needed to pass the Omega Property Rights Act.”
“Just politics then?” his eyes sparkled as if he didn’t believe me.
I gaped at him in shock. “Of course! What else? He has the votes we need. If I can just get close, within his orbit, then I can do it. I can convince him. I am not a broodmare for breeding the next generation of alphas.”
“No, my dear, omegas aren’t broodmares. But remember that doesn’t change the fact. You are an omega, and he is an alpha. Spend too much time around Orley… Things might change.”
I shook my head. My uncle underestimated my ability to ignore alphas and their supposedly natural power over omegas.