The Forbidden Omega

Chapter Fourteen: The Tasting

"Oh, gods," Soren gasps, making my wolf dance with unbridled glee as I wheel out the wrought iron tea cart I reserve for cake tastings, piled high with tiered trays of the sample wedding cakes I created especially for him. The five expertly iced and decorated masterpieces gleamed fully in the lights of my bakery, the small examples of my decorations available standing in relief to the whites and  cream colors of the fondant base.  Soren beams in wonder, his face a tragic mix of awe and ravenous hunger. "I can't eat these, Aiden, they are way too pretty!"

I roll my eyes gently, and my good mood is quickly dampened by the sour scent of Jason's disapproval. I all but snap at him, as unprofessional as it may seem when Soren catches on to his fiance's I'll mood. I try my best to rein in the baying howls of my wolf as he protests at the arm Jason so possessively drapes across Soren's shoulders. *Not ours, * I have to remind myself. *Not ours, his.* I keep the longing glances to my Omega to the absolute minimum, and even then it's only by accident that they slip past my watch.

Jason raises an eyebrow challengingly as he lays his scent over my Omega, daring me to an Alpha fight, daring me to hurt Soren in the process. I do my best to ignore his attitude, instead focusing on laying the cakes on the table strategically. I can only hope that this meeting doesn't end with a blatant Challenge from one of us, a blatant and highly illegal Challenge.

I clear my throat awkwardly, trying my best to diffuse the subtle tension lingering in the charged air between us.  "We are starting with a traditional, yet decadent, white sponge, filled with a luscious strawberry compote, and covered in fondant and italian buttercream." I carefully slice the delicate cake, doing my best to display the layer of strawberry jam filling, the pink leaching into the white, and coloring the sponge beautifully.

I lay the two slices, essentially all of the cake, onto separate plates and serving them to the couple I have to force myself into referring to as my clients, and nothing else. Soren is my client, not my friend, not my lover, not my Omega. He is paying me to interact with him, and that is all I am able to give to him. I can't love him. I can't take him from his Alpha, no matter how badly I want to.

I keep my face in a blank mask as completely as possible, not wanting to give Jason the slightest indication to harm my Omega. There's a very real threat that Soren could come to harm if I step out of line, and the thought fills me with a cold dread.

Soren's face is distinctly less than thrilled at the flavors of the cake, disappointing my inner Alpha, though I had known he would be. The first, and fourth cakes I had designed to appeal to Jason with his bland and traditional flavor palate. He has a distinctly austere taste when it comes to his wedding cakes, and I can only hope at least one of these appeal to him.

"It's a good cake," Soren reluctantly admits, though he only takes a few small bites of the baked good, before laying down his fork. His eyes dart to his Alpha, seemingly asking permission to give an honest opinion. The very thought has my wolf begging to taste Jason's blood between our teeth. "I mean, it's really delicious, just a bit... Boring. I'm so sorry." Soren all but begs me for forgiveness ad I wait for a consensus, and I nod, a blank smile on my professional mask.

Jason purses his lips as he picks at the cake, though I don't see him actually take a single bite. "Acceptable."

I nod curtly, admitting this cake was a failure. I can feel the usual need to please my clients only in its distinct absence from my heart, and I don't know what I would do without my typical professional demeanor that I have to fall back on. I usually pull it out for a difficult or stubborn client, but this is a different level of detachment that I need.

I plate up the next cake, as I describe the confection in a little greater detail than likely needed. It served as the same feeble attempt to impress my perfect Omega. "This is a delicate angel food base cake, with a thick layer of lemon curd, covered in an organic and artisanal vanilla bean icing." I place the two plates in front of my clients, as that is all they are, and I wait blankly for the response.

I suppose I may have intended this as a sort of compromise cake, a way to appeal to Soren's delicate and refined palate, while also being plain enough to let Jason allow it for their wedding. The vibrancy of the lemon curd and the delicacy of the vanilla beans I'd found in a spice market just outside of town should be exotic enough to give him a sense of satisfaction.

And there's no possibility of Jason objecting, in any good conscience.

"Well?" I ask, as in this instance, both of them take a bite of the cake slices. "Opinion?"

Soren nods, a small smile lighting his eyes and pulling up the corners of his full mouth. He seems to open up a small piece of himself, seeming excited about this cake and it's flavors. I feel my wolf preen at his approval, before his joy turns into a rabid urge to main, when Jason's demeanor causes the fragile joy in his eyes to either and die.

"It's a little too fancy for me." Jason dismissively pushes the plate towards me, his face sneering at the cake Soren had enjoyed.

I sigh, nodding as I move towards the third cake I had to present today, and I feel a curl of dread form in my stomach.

*This is going to be a long day.*