I clear my throat. Inken frowns.
“I should have brought something to drink for the ride home for you, Tristan. I apologize,” she says, her light blue eyes crinkling in worry.
“It’s fine,” I reply without thought.
She glares. “It isnotfine, omega. Do not argue with me.”
I blink, snapping my mouth shut and looking out the window.
We’re well within the forest now, the vast trunks of the trees looking vaguely like pine trees back on Earth, though obviously much larger.
“So...” I say cautiously, “We live in the woods?” I smile.
Sounds incredible. Peace and quiet, not the rat race of the city.
Azane makes a noise that seems pleased. “We live in an intentional community called Setias. Inken and I moved here last revolution and completed our house a turn ago.”
I look away from the large heart-shaped leaves on the shrubs lining the road and to Zilas. “Without you?” I ask him.
“I am new to pack Traex, as are you. We’ll learn together, omega.” He smiles, his pointier-than-I-was-expecting teeth on display.
I blink, thinking that through. The vehicle turns onto a smaller ribbon of pink, the vegetation close to the road.
I process the words in a piecemeal manner. “What is a ‘turn’?”
Azane lets out a little chuckle. “It means sixty sleeps. But also six hundred sleeps. Depends on how it is used.”
I’d tell them that was very confusing, but the English language has lots of ridiculous idioms, so I bite my tongue.
Suddenly, the trees open up and I’m looking at a small clearing with a shallow lake. Angled over the edge of the lake is a wooden-appearing boardwalk that leads to... I’m not even sure how to describe it.Hobbit Houseis the first thing that comes to mind. It’s mainly circular, with an uneven roof line, one broad tower emerging on the far side, a warm glow emanating from all the windows in the now-dim orange light. A covered porch curves to the left of the house, around the side, and I see some large, comfortable-looking chairs with a small table. A slender tree grows near the porch, with a sweeping spread of branches, all covered in tiny pink flowers. As I look harder, I realize the tree’s leaves are a pink shade as well. It almost reminds me of a birch tree, and I am struck by the urge to study it up close.
“This look upon your face, omega. This is a pleased look?” Azane asks quietly, placing her arm around my back. I get a whiff of her sugary scent and I turnto her, grinning.
“It’s gorgeous! The forest and the house! You built this?” I ask, excited.
She nods, clearly reassured. “Yes. I designed it, and Ink and I, and some of the other packs in Setias, built it.”
“Wow...” I trail off as the vehicle comes to a stop. Zilas opens the door and slides out. I continue, “I can’t wait to see the inside!”
I hear Inken rumble low in her chest, like a big cat. An obviously pleased sound.
I step out and the sounds of this exotic, wonderful alien forest surround me. Little clicks, I assume from insects, splashes of water—maybe from birds after fish? And other forest-y noises immediately make my body relax.
This is where I’m meant to be.
Azane takes my elbow, gripping firmly, and guides me to the boardwalk. I notice again how all three of them are taller than me. Zilas is closest to my height; maybe six foot three to my five ten. Inken is the tallest, her slender body clearly muscular and lithe. We cross the boardwalk and Azane smiles at the house, then down at me.
Zilas slips ahead and opens the door to the home. I step in and my mouth drops open.
“That’s a tree!” I practically shout.
They all chuckle kindly. I stare at the tree, with smooth bark on a trunk that I wouldn't be able to wrap my arms around. I look upward, seeing some of its heart-shaped leaves. It extends to the ceiling, standing in the center of the tower, the stairs wrapping in a circle around it. The crown of the tree must emerge from the top floor, and I realize I had simply thought it was part of the background forest when we arrived.
“Wow... just... wow,” I mutter.
Azane purrs too, “I’m happy you like your new home, omega. It is our job to provide for you, to care for you, to make you happy.”
I turn, eyes landing on her textured horns that curve along the top of her head. “Thank you, alpha. I do like it. Can I see more?”
