SLOANE
I was bored.
Sprawled across the leather couch in the Blue Moon house's main living room, I stared at the ceiling and contemplated my existence. Twenty-three years old, Alpha of one of the most powerful packs in the region, final year at Willoughby University, and absolutely nothing excited me anymore.
"You look like you're contemplating murder," Kai said, dropping onto the couch beside me and throwing his legs over mine. "Who's the unlucky victim?"
"Everyone," I muttered. "This place, this school, and the same boring faces doing the same boring things."
Kai laughed, the sound rich and warm. He was one of the few people who could get away with being so casual with me. My best friend since childhood, my Beta, and my right hand in everything that mattered. If I was the queen of Willoughby, Kai was my loyal knight.
A very annoying, and very cocky knight.
"Someone's dramatic today," he teased. "What's wrong? Run out of people to fuck?"
I shot him a withering look. "Don't be crude."
"Please. You love crude." He grinned, completely unrepentant. "But seriously, what's eating you? First day back and you're already in a mood."
I sat up, dislodging his legs, and ran a hand through my dark hair. The mansion was already filling up with people, pack members, friends, and hangers-on who wanted to be close to power. The back-to-school party was tonight, and preparations were well underway, and I couldn't bring myself to care.
"I'm just... restless," I admitted. "Everything feels the same. The same parties, the same people throwing themselves at me, and the same shallow conversations."
Kai studied me with those sharp green eyes of his. "You need a challenge."
"I need something." I stood, smoothing down the black silk shirt I wore. Even in casual clothes, I made sure I looked immaculate. Image was everything, after all. "Maybe I should just graduate early and get out of here."
"And miss all the fun of senior year? Where's your sense of adventure?" Kai rose too, stretching languidly. "Besides, tonight's party is going to be legendary. I can feel it."
"They're all legendary," I said dryly. "That's kind of the point."
The Blue Moon house was the envy of every fraternity and sorority on campus. A sprawling mansion on the edge of campus property, it had been in my family for generations. As Alpha, I controlled who lived here, who partied here, who even stepped foot on the grounds.
It was power, pure and simple, and I wielded it without apology.
"Come on," Kai said, slinging an arm around my shoulders. "Let's go make sure they don't fuck up the decorations. You know how incompetent some of these people are."
I allowed him to steer me towards the back of the house, where the main party space was being set up. Floor-to-ceiling windows overlooked the grounds, and the entire area had been transformed into something out of a fever dream, lights, music equipment, a full bar being stocked with top-shelf liquor.
Money was no object. It never was.
"Looking good," Kai said approvingly. "Think we'll break last year's record for property damage?"
"Let's aim higher," I said. "I want the dean to get at least ten complaints by Monday."
He laughed, and I felt some of my restlessness ease. This was familiar. Comfortable. Kai and I ruling our little kingdom, throwing parties that would be talked about for years but even as I surveyed the preparations, that gnawing emptiness remained.
By the time the sun set, the mansion was packed. Bodies everywhere, the bass from the speakers making the floor vibrate, the scent of alcohol and pheromones thick in the air. This was my element, chaos barely contained, and everyone looked to me to see how far they could push.
I moved through the crowd like I owned it because I did. People parted for me automatically, eyes following my every move. I could feel their desire, their fear, and their desperate need for my attention. Alphas wanted to challenge me, Betas wanted to impress me and Omegas wanted to submit to me.
I'd had them all, and I was bored with every single one.
"Sloane!" A familiar voice cut through the noise. I turned to see Madison, one of my former conquests, weaving her way toward me. The Omega was beautiful in a conventional way, long blonde hair, big blue eyes, curves in all the right places.
We'd fucked a few times last semester. It had been fine, and forgettable.
"Madison," I acknowledged, my tone polite but cool.
She pressed herself against me, her scent spiking with arousal. "I've missed you. Where have you been all summer?"
"Around." I didn't pull away, but I didn't encourage her either. "Enjoying the party?"
"It's amazing, as always." Her hand trailed down my arm. "Maybe later we could—"
"Maybe," I said, which we both knew meant no.
Her face fell slightly, but she recovered quickly, pressing a kiss to my cheek before melting back into the crowd. I watched her go with detachment.
See? Boring.
"You're going to run out of people to reject at this rate," Kai said, appearing at my elbow with two drinks. He handed me one—whiskey, neat, exactly how I liked it. "Poor Madison looked crushed."
"She'll survive." I took a sip, letting the burn ground me. "She always does."
"True." Kai scanned the crowd, his expression thoughtful. "You know what you need?"
"Enlighten me."
"A challenge. Someone who doesn't fall at your feet the second you look at them." He grinned. "Someone who tells you no."
I laughed, the sound sharp. "Good luck finding that. Everyone says yes to me, Kai. That's how it works."
"Maybe that's the problem." He nudged me with his elbow. "When was the last time you actually had to work for something? When was the last time someone made you earn it?"
Never, the answer was never. I was Sloane Pierce. I didn't have to work for anything. People gave themselves to me freely, eagerly, and maybe that was exactly why I was so fucking bored.
"You're overthinking this," I told him. "I'm fine."
"Sure you are." He didn't sound convinced, but he let it drop. "Oh, speaking of challenges, remember that sophomore I ran into at the bookstore earlier? The tall one with the attitude?"
Something in my chest tightened, though I couldn't say why. "What about him?"
"He turned down my invitation to the party. I actually looked offended that I even asked." Kai's grin widened. "Cute little thing. An Omega, I think, though he carried himself like he didn't give a shit about designations."
An Omega with attitude. That was... uncommon. Most Omegas at Willoughby either played up their designation to get protection from powerful Alphas, or tried desperately to hide it to avoid being targeted.
An Omega who didn't care? Now that was interesting.
"Did you get his name?" I asked, trying to sound casual.
"Bryce something. Carter, maybe?" Kai shrugged. "Why? Are you interested?"
"Just curious." I took another sip of my drink. "It's rare to find an Omega with a backbone around here."
"True. Most of them are too busy trying to get into your bed." He paused. "Or mine."
I rolled my eyes. "You're insufferable."
"You love me anyway." He said and I scoffed but before I could respond, another group of people surrounded us, demanding attention, asking questions, and seeking approval.
I slipped into my role easily, the queen holding court, dispensing favor or dismissal with equal grace but part of my mind was still turning over what Kai had said.
An Omega who said no. How... refreshing.