"I just really don't wanna go home." I rest my face in my palms with my elbows on my knees. "I was looking forward to this so much." It takes all my strength to blink away the emotions flooding my face. I refuse to cry. Not after spending so much time making sure my eyeliner was perfect.
"You could try asking the others," Anders suggests.
It’s a nice suggestion but I really don't want to go around begging the rest of the group. Especially not after some of the worried looks I saw last night.
"Maybe you can ask the security guy if there's any chance of heading back to the mainland? It's still really early." Anders looks at the time on his phone. "Your shift doesn't start for a few more hours. You should be able to get to a store and back with plenty of time left. You just have to get someone to take you."
Cocking my head to the side, I grit my teeth and consider it. I hate the idea of asking for special treatment, especially after the way I spoke up to Duke last night. I'm sure he hasn't forgotten about it yet. But, on the other hand, if I don't ask, I'm almost certainly going home the moment I go into heat.
Which, given my body's past behavior, will probably happen in less than twelve hours. Being an omega sucks sometimes.
"Yeah, I guess. Wish me luck, I guess." I hop to my feet and take a deep breath.
"You've got this," Anders's says, giving me a pat on the shoulder. "If anyone can get that alpha to do something, it's you."
Rolling my eyes, I shoot him a grin of thanks, even though I definitely don't feel confident. But I can't let this island adventure end before it's even started.
That’s why I force myself to put one foot in front of the other and march out the door.
It's still morning. The air is chilly but the sun has started to chase it away. Several other omegas are out milling around, stretching on the grass or eating breakfast. My stomach growls to remind me it's empty.
Despite my better judgment, I look longingly at the kitchen on the first floor of the staff house as I walk past. A continental breakfast is laid out on several long tables by the back wall. Some of the other omegas are chatting inside or hanging out on the patio while enjoying a cup of coffee. As much as I want to stop and grab something to eat, I can't. If I want any chance of getting my hands on some new suppressants, I need to find Duke as quickly as possible. Otherwise, I'll be on a one-way trip back home.
I head toward the main building of the hotel. The staff are busily putting the finishing touches on the lobby and reception areas. Several of my fellow omegas are dressed as bellhops, in red thongs and bellhop hats, to carry luggage up to the guest rooms.
I ask the receptionist if he's seen Duke, and he directs me toward the marina. Grimacing slightly, I hug my robe around my body and jog awkwardly down the path. I really hope the guests haven't started to arrive yet. I'm almost certain Duke will shut me down if they're here.
After all, we were given plenty of warning. We'd been told a million times to make sure we had suppressants. Farron even texted everyone the morning we were to meet the boat to remind us. There's no excuse for not having suppressants right now. Yet, I'm left scrambling like an idiot, hoping to beg for mercy. And after the way I talked back to him last night, I doubt he's going to be merciful.
Alphas don't like being challenged, after all.
As I reach the end of the path, I catch sight of Duke. He's standing a short distance away, completely alone. But his gaze is directed out toward the open water, where a massive yacht is gliding toward the island.
My heart skips a beat. I'm absolutely screwed.
"Duke!' I call out, charging forward despite my reservations.
He flinches and turns to face me. His expression is masked by a pair of large sunglasses, but his outfit is otherwise unchanged from yesterday. Save for the fact that he's now wearing a white tank top with the word "Security" stamped across the front and back in black lettering.
"What are you doing here?" he demands, pulling off his sunglasses and glaring at me as I approach. "You're supposed to be getting ready for your shift."
"I know, but there's something really important—"
"Have you eaten?" He seems annoyed as he checks his watch.
"No." I blink in confusion as his question throws me off balance.
He huffs. "Do you have sunscreen on?"
"N-no? But—"
"Have you checked in with your supervisor? Learned where you're supposed to be working?" His tone is climbing in volume as he speaks.
"Not yet, but that's only because—"
"Then you need to go take care of all that," he insists, shaking his head and folding his arms as he turns away from me. "You were hired to do a job, not run around asking questions."
"It's kind of an emergency," I say. Now he's just pissing me off. He hasn't even given me the chance to finish my sentences. I'm not going to just sit back and let him treat me like this.
"You think you've got an emergency?" he counters, whirling on me with frightening speed. "I've got a yacht full of rich, entitled, fuckwits about to descend on this place." He spears his finger out in the direction of the yacht barreling toward us. "I've got to check all their bags, but my security team dropped the ball and they have no idea where the metal detector wands are. So now we're going to have to check all their bags by hand. Which is going to piss everyone off. To top that off, I've still got to make sure all their registrations are valid, and that everyone who is on that boat is supposed to be here. And that's not even the only boat coming in today."
I frown. "Why not have the omegas do it?"
Duke straightens and looks at me like I've got two heads.
"I mean, we're not doing anything yet," I continue. "Most of us are already dressed. The guests are coming to 'Shameless Island' right? So why not let them get felt up by a bunch of hot omegas?"
Duke glances back toward the yacht. It's still a little way out. "It's not a terrible idea," he admits as he pulls out his cell phone and punches someone's number in. A second later, he's reiterating my idea to his boss. I'm actually surprised when he mentions my name and gives me credit for coming up with the idea.
"Right, well, we've got about five minutes before they hit the marina," Duke says with a sigh as he hangs up the phone. "I'll get my guys here as back up. I need you to go gather as many omegas as you can. Tell them they'll get overtime for working outside of their normal shift."
"You got it." I grin, giving him a playful little salute as I turn and jog back up the path toward the hotel.
I'm so pleased with myself for coming up with a helpful plan that I completely forget about the suppressants until I reach the staff house.
And just when I've managed to get on Mr. Muscles' good side too.
Six
Duke
Guests make landfall and are greeted by a lineup of sweet, sexy young omegas who are all nearly naked. The omegas, for their part, seem positively thrilled to greet each guest with a hands-on experience. Everyone gets a sensual rub down that's more thorough than anything my security team could've managed.