“Quinn is welcomed whenever she wants,” my alpha ordered. The weight of his bark felt heavy as it washed over me, making my legs quiver. “Until Elara or I say otherwise. Elara may have chosen me in the arena, but I haven’t marked her. Under the station’s laws, she is still considered Delta Quinn’s responsibility.”
The three betas disbanded their wall in a rush, moving out of our way without any other word. Xavier lingered beside us as the other two sat down at the table against the wall, their eyes glued on Quinn.
She’s under my care until she’s marked,” Quinn corrected, stepping forward into the spot the medic had vacated. “Once you become a bonded pair, I will still have to do wellbeing check-ups to make sure there’s nothing amiss.”
“My alpha would never abuse her,” Xavier growled. “It’s insulting for you to even think about it.”
“Have you forgotten about our past?” She rushed beside him, her face mere inches from the aggressive beta. “There are laws for a reason. To protect omegas and betas from the tyranny of alphas who have abused their power. Do you want to revert to a time where an alpha barked more often than not? Or when raping and killing your rival’s omega was considered a sport?”
“No.” Xavier shook his head. “No one wants that.”
“Then don’t challenge me.” She backed away and nodded at the male holding me. “I’m not afraid to correct your beta, but due to the high intensity of the current situation, I will not take offense. Just know next time, I won’t be as lenient.”
“No offense taken,” he replied, relaxing his hold on me. “I will make sure my crew knows.”
She nodded and then turned her gaze on mine. “What do you want to do?”
Closing my eyes, I leaned against the warm wall behind me and took in his calming smell. The intensity of everyone’s heightened alertness was consuming, draining my energy trying to handle the blend of their aromas as the five of them were trying to both comfort and protect me.
“I want to return to their ship,” I muttered. Instantly, some of the weight lifted from my shoulders, as if the others within the room were waiting for my answer. “You know how much I want this.”
“And I am not going to stand in your way if that’s what you truly want.”
“It is.” Nodding, I opened my eyes, meeting her brown ones.
“Then I will arrange for your belongings to be gathered and sent to theParadise.”
“Once Elara is safely within my vessel, I will send a few of my betas to aid you.”
“I appreciate it, Alpha Coco, but only if they wish to.” Quinn backed away, her demeanor seemingly pleased by the exchange. “I don’t want to burden your crew.”
“It won’t be a burden,” Jaxom chimed in from his spot at the table. “I am more than willing to help out.”
“Me too,” the medic added as he did a quick wave of his hand. “I don’t have anything pressing to do now that we’ve made our delivery, and I am sure Elara will want her things as soon as possible once the claim has been made.”
“I, for sure, don’t want to be on that ship when it happens.” Crossing his arms, Xavier stuck out his tongue and shook his head as if he were disgusted by the mere thought. “This room already reeks of her upending heat and their need for each other. Hopefully, by chance we return, they would already have done the deed so things can calm down some.”
“I can escort the two of you back to your ship and then take your three betas with me to her cabin,” Quinn suggested, eying the male behind me. “They won’t allow anyone to enter the omega chambers without an escort or a reason.”
“I would love that,” I interrupted, feeling the urge to step in. “It will give me a little more time with you before I have to…”
“It’s okay, Elara.” Quinn surged forward. Her caretaker instincts to calm me made her disregard my alpha’s hold or the onlookers as she palmed my cheek, locking her eyes to mine. “We knew this time was going to come.”
“I know,” I whispered and sighed. “Being prepared for something and living it are two different things.”
“I feel the same.” She huffed. “Believe me, I know. We will get through this, and in the end, no matter what, we will remain friends.”
Exiting The Den’s inner chambers and having to work through the crowds to the hangar was nerve-wracking. Between those who congratulated us and the ones who sent judgmental glares our way, I was ready to be out of the spotlight and within the secured walls of the Paradise, away from everyone.
Quinn walked slightly ahead of my alpha and me, with my new betas guarding our flank. I highly doubted that anyone would come up to us and start something, but after what Quinn said about the resistance she’d had on the arena’s floor, I couldn’t be sure. I was glad they were taking precautions, even though I was not too fond of knowing they may be needed.
Was this how it would be once I was mated and away from the station?
Before I matured into an omega, living on Earth wasn’t glamorous, but I never needed to be surrounded by family or friends. I was capable of being in public alone whenever I wanted to go shopping or play soccer in the fields with the rest of the neighborhood’s children.
Had I viewed it all in rose-colored glasses and never paid attention to how the adults acted? A non-role gendered person was often ignored unless they came from a wealthy or powerful family. Witnessing an unmated omega in public was never heard of, for they were sent straight to Syzygy Station—and all of the bonded ones never ventured in my neighborhood. They were only ever seen on television and mentioned in passing. I hadn’t seen many mated omegas in The Center because once an omega left the station, they hardly ever returned.
The elders gushed about bonded life outside these walls, giving us something to look forward to, but I was starting to wonder if they were true or just pretenses.
