Chapter:- 1

The bell above the shop door jingled loudly in the silent shop. Ammy winced and hunched her shoulders, self-conscious of the noise and even further the disturbance. She quickly looked around but saw no one save an elderly alpha who gave her a welcoming smile and gestured that she steps further than the doorway. Ammy hesitated and then gathered herself, pulling her shoulders back and giving the alpha a bright grin.

"Good day, young ma'am! May I assist you with your wardrobe? My, my but you seem to be in dire need of my services. Yes, the season has already begun, and these threadbare rags are not doing you any favors. Is that a hole in your coat? So beautifull! So unfashionable!"

Ammy stumbled as she neared the man, shocked at the bald face insults and backhanded compliments. She had been away from pack society too long and forgotten the honeyed barbs and hidden snakes that dwelt there. She swallowed but hid her unease behind her grinning mask. Her father had taught her well to hide her emotions from others. It had certainly only helped her against her father's manipulation and abuse.

Ammy fingered her shirt cuffs behind her back. Her clothes were certainly not threadbare, but the elder alpha was right, she would be scorned and gossiped about if she were dressed so at society's parties and dinners. Ammy opened her mouth to speak but the spry little man cut her off.

"Oh, my! An omega, of course. How lovely you are and those eyes, how unique! I can do wonders for you, my dear. The alphas won't be able to resist."

The tailor took the measuring tape from around her neck and reached out to Ammy with it, frowning slightly in concentration. Ammy reached into her jacket pocket, tracing the small piece of paper within gently.

"Actually, Alpha Enny, I was rather hoping that you required my services...as apprentice, you see."

Enny frowned down at her and stroked her chin.

"An omega apprentice? How odd! But, of course, an omega is as competent with their hands as an alpha or beta."

Ammy watched the man's expression carefully, easily seeing his lie. The tailor may say such things in polite company, but it was obvious by his mannerisms and hesitation that he saw omegas as less capable. It was a common view and it made Ammy burn with shame and anger. Her life would be infinitely better had she been born a beta. She would have been allowed to continue, undisturbed, her previous ambition to be a novelist and her father wouldn't have... Ammy shook off her spiraling thoughts.

"I assure you, sir, I am a hard worker, a fast learner and prior to my presentation, I was a shop assistant to Beta Warner two streets over. I'm sure you are acquainted, he's a very reputable-"

The man waved his hand dismissively.

"Yes, yes, of course I am well aware of Warner Candy Shoppe. And shop assistant, you say! That seems like it's perfect for you, I could use someone to greet the customers and handle deliveries."

"No, I mean, sir, I am more than capable to apprentice-"

The bell above the door made a loud noise again and a young feminine voice laughed too loudly. She was shushed quickly. Ammy refused to turn and acknowledge the interruption, pulling out the paper from her jacket and thrusting it at the tailor. The man sighed but took it, waving over Ammy's shoulder to the newcomers.

"One moment, my dears! I'll be right there."

He opened and carelessly read the little lines that contained Ammy's whole life. Her name, her designation, her work experience and one lonely reference from Beta Warner. Enny startled and folded up the paper quickly, handing it back in a rush.

"Jones, my dear, you are Alpha Jones's daughter. Oh, no I can't have you in my shop, what would society say? No, no, please leave unless you are here for my services."

The other customers behind her were deadly silent and Ammy felt her face flush with shame as the tailor dismissed her and moved around her. She turned, feeling ill, and forced herself to leave the shop at a respectable walk when she really wanted to just run. Run until she collapsed, run until no one knew her and didn't judge her for the sins of her father. She brushed past one woman's petticoat and apologized softly before throwing the door open. The bell sounded harshly, and Ammy took a childish pleasure from the disturbance before she took off at a fast clip down the street.

The tailor had been the third shop he had visited that day and no amount of confidence or groveling had made a difference. Not even to Beta Warner who had doted on her when she worked for him as a child. Her father had destroyed her life and Ammy wished fervently that he was drowning in his own sick at whatever tavern he had fled to.

Her father had been missing for three months, taking all the family money and valuables with him, leaving Ammy destitute and disgraced. It wasn't a surprise to Ammy. After Ammy's mother had left them, Jones had begun a spiral of booze and violence that reached out to consume his daughter. The bank had eventually come after the family estate and left Ammy on the street, completely unsympathetic to a young omega with nowhere and no one.

"Ammy! Ammy!"

Ammy halted abruptly and turned to the voice, feeling her sour mood lift and hope bloomed in her heart. Allen Will ran to her, her skirts in her hands and a bright smile on her face. When she was close enough, she launched herself at her and she laughed, catching her in her arms easily. Ammy was considered tall for an omega, who were ideally small, delicate and soft in their loveliness. Ammy was beautiful at turns and pretty at others, mostly surly and much too muscular for society to label her a great beauty, her scent of black pepper and cardamom too abrasive. She couldn't help but compare herself to the lovely Allen, she would be greatly sought after when she was introduced to society. For now, she was simply Allen, caught between adulthood and childhood but ultimately free. Ammy would never feel free again.

"Oh, Ammy! I've missed you. When did you get back to the city? People are saying so many horrible things-"

"Allen, enough."

Allen rolled her eyes and huffed, and Ammy looked up to meet the eyes of Jia Will. Ammy felt anxious as she met her gaze. This was the first-time meeting any of the Will's since she had been called away by her father. The four years she had spent as a ward to the Will family had been the most blissful, she had ever known. John Will and Jones had run in the same social well before Ammy was born and had been close companions since childhood. A fortuitous visit by John to the Jones estate had revealed the abuse Ammy was being subjected to at her father's hands. John had been horrified and convinced Jones that Ammy was too much responsibility for her father and John would be happy to take Ammy in until Jones was back on his feet. Ammy suspected money had been involved. Her father had delighted in the ill treatment of his daughter, and he had let Ammy go much too easily.

Jia reached out and took Ammy's hands in hers, smiling softly.

"Ammy, it's good to see you. I'm sorry for what you've had to endure, my girl."

The smile on Ammy's face hurt it was so wide. She couldn't remember the last time she had felt this happy, this relieved. A kind touch and warm words had her ready to fall at Jia's feet and beg for more. She trembled. A large shadow fell over her and Ammy twisted to see who had approached them. Her breath caught in her throat as she craned her head to meet Sebestian's Will expressive brown eyes.

Of all the Will's, Sebestian had been the dearest to Ammy. They were constant companions as children, often sneaking away from their lessons to run to the stables, sneak scones from the kitchen and hide away under blanket forts and make up fantastic stories. It was Sebestian's staid encouragement that had Ammy dreaming of travelling the world and writing of her adventures. They would go together, Sebestian had said, they would never be apart. The cold indifference on Sebestian's face was a splash of cold water. His eyes were hard and flinty, and his face was blank as he looked down at Ammy.

Ammy took a fortifying breath and opened her mouth to greet Sebestian but was stopped by a most intoxicating scent, ginger and parchment. It wrapped around Ammy's senses and made her weak, dizzy. The smell had Ammy wanting nothing more than to lean close and bury her head in Sebestian's chest. Ammy had been called away before they had presented, and Ammy had never smelled an alpha scent that was so intoxicating. Why was Sebestian acting so distant? Did Sebestian not recognize her? Was Ammy the only one clinging to the time they had spent together? Sebestian raised an eyebrow at Ammy's awkward gawking.

"Jones daughter."

His voice was cold, and Ammy reeled back as if she had been slapped. Yes, of course. Sebestian was an alpha of high society now. He had no need, no want, of a destitute, landless omega. Even one who had been a childhood friend. Society would mock Sebestian for any association with Ammy, let alone...Ammy shook those thoughts away. She was too old to cling to daydreams and promises made to her in the past. Things were different now.

"Hello, Alpha Will."