6. The Choosing

Seff was not as busty as Allium, certainly not as much as many of her peers, but the dress she was put in made it seem so. Her friend found clips shaped like flowers to pin up her hair and drew, ironically, a sharp cat-eye sweeping from the corners of her eyes. She pushed Seff in front of a mirror, and even in the dark…Seff thought she looked pretty. Which wasn’t uncommon, but it was different when she was supported by her friend.
Allium gripped her hand and smiled encouragingly. “I could strip you down myself if those royals didn’t.”
Seff laughed despite the situation. “Same here, love.”
“Good to know. Let’s get over there.” They gathered their dresses to not dirty them, leaving Allium’s parents wishing them well and got in line to mount the steps to the stage that was managed to be set up and looking decent. The process was slow-going but efficient until—
*“They’re here!”* 
A moment later, howls broke the veil of night. Different packs had different tones. The first was the Moon pack’s, followed very shortly by the Sun to not be outdone, and then the Magnolia in answer. Hyacinth broke from the crowd, flanked by his wives, to jog toward the entrance where the packs would emerge. At the stage, it was no longer so smooth. Allium and Seff were jostled forward and out of the procession, voices snapping and growling to *stop shoving*. But when everyone heard the pounding of dozens of running wolves cease, everything froze. 
Seff located Hyacinth, already exposing his belly to the immortal beings who established themselves as kings. And then she laid eyes upon those rulers for the first time since she was thirteen.
Not kings. More like gods. Selene Hilal was not called the moon goddess for no reason; Kiran Cyrus rightfully named the sun god. They radiated blue and gold energy, their bodies vessels of power. Even from a distance, Seff felt the weight of the gazes they swept the crowd with. Her own much weaker body quailed, an instinct to be submissive taking hold despite her attempts to remain unaffected. Beside her, Allium released a shuddering breath. 
The Luna of the Moon pack spoke first to Hyacinth. “We apologize for the short notice, Ivan. We require new bodies in light of recently lost ones.” Her voice was silk, smooth and slow. 
Seff’s heart jolted. *Lost ones*. Synonymous with *dead*. Or killed. And these gods so impatient and entitled that they couldn’t wait a few days to choose the new Potentials, as was tradition for the past one hundred years?
Neither Selene nor Kiran looked apologetic. “Us hedonists couldn’t wait,” said the Alpha of the Sun pack. His voice, too, was the immaterial given form. He broke into a smile that showed off his canines, just a little longer and thicker than any Omegas. The subtle edge of a threat. “Give us our clothes and we’ll start the Choosing immediately.”
Yes, they—and their courts—were exquisitely naked. Allium stifled a squeak.
“We will stay until tomorrow afternoon,” Selene added, her tone indicating boredom—tight, as if she didn’t want to be here and leave as soon as possible. Who was it that decided the early trip?
Hyacinth started babbling, the middle-aged Alpha never not an embarrassment, gesturing for them to follow his wives to the stands for their clothes. Selene always requested a new blue sheath dress; Kiran required a pressed white suit with an elegant gold tie. Each outfit was painstakingly prepared. Despite their rivalry and hatred for each other, once they were dressed, they looked like nothing short of a power couple. The rest of their packs were made up of their Deltas, their “right-hands” as well as Gammas, Betas, and only two Omegas each. Once they were all clothed, the packs merged into the crowd.
Hyacinth wordlessly led Selene and Kiran to the stage. Seff could only hear her heartbeat pounding in her ears. She clasped Allium’s hand hard enough to break her fingers if Allium didn’t elbow her. 
The Choosing was simply that: Selene and Kiran walked the length of the stage twice, inspected each Potential, were able to recognize them from their first Presenting five years ago, and would claim the Omegas they wanted on the second walk by tying their color ribbon around their throats. If they both claimed one, it was up to their minute-designated time debate, which often ended in a stalemate. Then it was up to the Omega to choose which harem they wished to join. It all resulted in more animosity.
The two Alphas ascended the steps on the right, both not liking their proximity to each other, but stood side by side to judge each Omega at the same time. Seff was fifth, Allium sixth. Would it be more devastating for Seff to be picked first, or the other way around? No time to dwell, they were moving fast.
There was no limit for who the Alphas decided to choose. They could each pick one, or they could pick enough that the entire line was spoken for. They were unpredictable. Just how many concubines was too many?
They made no faces, no noises, to indicate if they were pleased or disappointed in their options. Gazes roamed down, up, down, up, and then moved to the next. Like Seff, all her peers were frozen in fear and awe. The second wolf had the gall to brush her fingertips to Kiran’s torso as if she hoped to feel the abdomen muscles beneath the silk suit. Kiran was prone to lashing out if offended, but he was also pretentious and liked the attention of females. So he graced the girl with a heavy-lidded look and a purr. She sucked in a breath and looked ready to faint.
Selene seemed more interested in the females, as did Kiran, and Seff feared they would argue if they chose too many of the same wolf. And before she knew it, they were both looming just inches in front of her.
Seff did not expect both of their faces to dawn with deep expression—surprise, then confusion, then…*knowledge*, as if understanding a sudden question. Kiran’s eyes molten gold, sparked with something like wonder—such a pure, hopeful emotion Seff didn’t think the temperamental male was suited for. Selene’s lips parted, her sleek brows knitting in astonishment as if there was something before her that she didn’t or couldn’t have expected.
But they were looking at *Seff*. An unremarkable, skinny, orphaned Omega whose scent changed but never experienced a heat in five years. What would these Alphas, gods in wolf and human form, see in her that made them seem like she was the answer to the mystery of life itself.
Selene found her voice first. “What is your name now?” she asked, and Seff found her tone to be not unkind. The Luna’s head was cocked like a curious wolf’s, but no one would forget just how sharp those wolf’s teeth were.
But Seff did not find her voice—it was forced out by the elbow Allium dug into her ribs. “Seff Bleize,” she managed.
Kiran’s smile broadened wickedly. “Seff,” he repeated in a considering drawl, his gaze eating her alive. Even Selene’s midnight blue eyes were shamelessly searching every inch of Seff’s body.
The seconds felt like hours. Beside her, Allium made a noise caught between a whimper for attention and a grunt for lack of attention. Unlike the previous attempt, Kiran did not appreciate her interruption. His head whipped to Allium, the charming smile flashing into a snarl that spooked Allium enough for her to yelp and stumble backward, upsetting the lineup. 
“Don’t,” Seff blurted, catching her friend’s arm to steady her. 
The Alphas honed in on her again, this time scathing. “What?”
She felt less like a wolf and more like a turtle wishing to shrink into its shell. “She’s my friend. Don’t hurt her.”
Kiran settled and begrudgingly took in Allium. He lifted an eyebrow. “A favorable body.”
Selene hummed, uncommitted. Then they moved on. The rest of the Omegas elicited no strong reactions.
Seff felt doused with oil and was ready to watch one of the Alphas set a match. She squeezed Allium’s hand to ground her to reality. But Allium did not return the pressure. Instead, her fingers were limp, as if she didn’t even want to hold her friend’s hand. Seff opened her mouth to whisper, but an exaggerated throat-clearing made them lift their heads.
Hyacinth now stood at the end of the line, carrying a basket in each hand. “The Luna of the Moon pack and Alpha of the Sun pack will now claim their Potential with the ceremonial ribbon.”
Hearts were ready to burst out of chests. The sound of the dozen on stage was deafening. This was the moment all Omegas, from the moment they had their first heat, dreamed of. The deciding of their fate by a stranger with intent to use their bodies until they were eventually discarded like drained batteries. For Seff, it was either the keeping or losing of her best friend. And as of a few minutes ago…something that seemed much bigger.
Of the six Omegas before Allium, Selene chose two and Kiran chose three. The female not chosen simply sank to her knees and wept silently. There was another Choosing at the end of the year, but her chances of being picked then were slim. They stopped at Allium, who had lifted her chin in defiance despite the glossiness of her green eyes. She stared at Kiran as if he could understand the longing she felt for him, the desire to please, a lifelong crush she wished to grow into something more.
*No no no*, Seff chanted in her mind. *Let her be chosen by Selene*. The Luna was temperamental and uncaring, but she was not as prideful and physically violent as Kiran; she was the lesser of two evils. 
The Alphas both lifted their ribbons as if to tease her, and Seff’s heart stopped. It as if there was a silent agreement that she would never be involved in—
And then Kiran Cyrus tied a gold bow around Allium Ren’s pretty throat.