Accepting her fate of going to George's villa, Nora asked her father, "Am I going to get dresses to take there, or am I supposed to give them mine?"
"Ana will bring some. You can also get a few of your old ones. The more you have for them to try, the longer you can stay there."
Nora was not happy about this. Did she need to share her designer dresses with Omegas? But maybe they pick the ones that Ana brought and leave Nora's alone.
At the thought of Ana, Nora had to ask, "Does an Omega have any formal dresses to give?"
Beta Raymond turned to look at Nora. "She doesn't, but Marcy left some of her wardrobe behind."
Nora doubted that any of those were still left. When Nora returned from the Dark Howlers pack, she went to Marcy's room to find only a few items still there. She was unsure if it was Ana or someone else, but they had already taken everything worth taking.
"Is there something I should pay attention to while in Commander George's villa?" Nora asked.
"Everything."
"No one can see everything," Nora retorted. "What if I miss something important? There is a limit to how much one person can see." Not to mention that she can't report on anything because of the stupid blood oath!
"That's why you are not going alone."
Nora had a bad feeling about this. "Who else is going?"
Right on cue, there was a knock on the door, and Ana appeared with four dresses on hangers. Nora's face fell when she realized that her father pointing at Ana indicated that Ana would join her.
Nora didn't like it. Ana was an opportunist who was sticking close to Marcy, and now she was entertaining Alpha Edward's libido.
It's not that Nora was enamored with Alpha Edward, but with Ana in the picture, Alpha Edward paid less attention to Nora, which meant she had fewer perks.
"Isn't there anyone else who could accompany me on this trip?" Nora protested. She didn't want to go in the first place, and going with Ana only made everything less pleasant.
Beta Raymond looked at Nora suspiciously. "Ana volunteered, and considering that everyone is busy with preparations for the event, we don't have many choices. Is there something wrong with her going?"
Everything! "Not really. It's just as you said. With the party preparations ongoing, I assumed that Ana would be busy like other Omegas."
"Preparations are done," Ana responded sourly. Did Nora need to point out how she is an Omega? "Things in the kitchen are moving along as planned, and so is setting up everything. Considering how much I've been working for the last ten days, I will count this as a little break."
Nora stifled a laugh. "You need a break? Didn't you have one yesterday afternoon?"
Ana's face darkened, and Beta Raymond raised his hand to get their attention.
"This is not open for discussion. Both of you will go. Keep your eyes and ears open, and don't disappoint me." He waved at Nora to get going. "Pick a few dresses and head out. The sooner you leave, the more time you will have to investigate the situation there. Don't disappoint me."
Nora pursed her lips and watched as her father walked out of her room.
When the door closed, Nora crossed her arms over her chest and turned to Ana. "You volunteered? Don't tell me that you developed a soft spot for fellow Omegas?" Nora glanced at the dresses Ana was holding. "Did your heart break at the thought of needing to separate from those?"
Ana looked at Nora smugly. "Keep barking. You can't harm me. If you try anything funny, I will tell Alpha Edward."
Nora rolled her eyes. "Do you think he will side with an Omega compared to Beta's daughter?"
"We won't know unless we try."
"Should I mind-link him? I did that many times. Did you?"
Ana glared at Nora, and Nora smiled victoriously with, "I thought so. Tell me why you are going or I will find a way to exclude you."
"Those two are responsible for me being detained. Do you think I will miss this opportunity to get even?"
"Aren't you afraid that Commander George will punish you again?"
Ana shrugged. "He is working now, handling the security. I am going there on Alpha's orders. Will he dare to give me a hard time? My intention is not to trash the place, but accidents happen."
Nora's expression was blank, but her eyes sparkled with mischief. Ana had no idea who George was. Didn't she realize how much Alpha Edward favored George? Even young Alpha James came second, after George. Ana wanted revenge against Omegas who were working in George's villa? Wouldn't it be wonderful if Ana causes a ruckus and George snaps her neck?
On the other hand, if Ana was right and George was not at home, Nora could also snoop around. She couldn't disclose things to Alpha Edward or her father, but she could still find out useful things. Besides, if anything goes wrong, it will be Ana's fault.
"Give me a minute to pick a few outfits, and then we can go," Nora said and walked to her closet with a spring in her step.
Ana was confused by this sudden change in Nora's behavior. Was it because she remembered that Alpha Edward was upset when he heard that Ana was detained? No matter how much Nora hated Ana, Nora couldn't go against their Alpha, and Ana was getting his favors now.
Estelle opened the door to see Nora and Ana. One more Omega was there, a male in his late teens. He wore shabby clothes which spoke about his status as an Omega and was holding hangers with dresses that were in plastic garment bags.
"Beta Raymond sent me here to help someone get ready for the party," Nora said. "I believe you are expecting me."
Estelle confirmed. "They are expecting you in the living room. This way…"
Nora and Ana looked in all directions as they entered the main hallway. It was clean, without glitz and glam. It was nothing special.
Estelle took the dresses from the teen, and she called Adele to give instructions, "Take the boy to the kitchen and give him something to eat while he waits."
The boy's eyes lit up, and he quickly followed after Adele without waiting to hear from Nora that he was dismissed. Luckily, Nora was too distracted by looking around to pay attention to the teen.
Ana was an Omega also, but Estelle didn't want to be nice to her. Ana was wearing good clothes, and she held herself like Nora's peer and not as an Omega.
Nora paused at the door of the living room when she saw Dawn, Zina, and another female… Talia. Why was Talia there? Nora had a bad feeling about this.
Talia heard that Nora was coming, and she had a hunch that Nora would give them a hard time. She told Damon, Owen, and George to stay away because this was a matter between females.
Damon didn't mind using this chance to sync up with Tony, Maddox, and Cristian, but he was worried that Talia's temper would flare when faced with Nora's stupidity.
