8. Koa
Koa
The food’s incredible, probably the best part of this whole cursed night. The little mushroom caps stuffed with crab, the flaky pastries, the sweet tang of honey-drizzled figs—it’s like magic on my tongue, and for one stolen moment, I’m happy. I’m curled up in my little crevice, hidden from all the stares, just me and my plate. The only thing that would make it better would be my nest. A tiny slice of peace in the chaos.
And then it’s gone.
One second, I’m savoring the rich, buttery taste of something divine, and the next, my world is ripped apart. Literally. My plate clatters to the ground, tiny delicacies scattering across the marble floor, as a hand yanks me up by my arm. Pain shoots through me and when I look up, it’s Damien’s sneering face staring back. I’m not surprised. It was only a matter of time before my fantasy was ripped from beneath me.
“You’ve got to be kidding me,” he growls, his grip bruising as he shakes me. Tears prick at the corners of my eyes, but I bite them back, refusing to let them fall. My chest tightens, a whimper threatening to slip out despite my best efforts to choke it down. My body betrays me, leaning into my instincts, becoming softer, more pliant. With my heat so close, it’s nearly impossible to fight my Omega and what she wants.
“Damien, let go,” I plead, my voice trembling as I try to tug my arm free. He doesn’t budge, his hand tightening like a vice.
“You were supposed to find an Alpha,” he spits, his tone dripping with disgust. “That was your one job tonight, Koa. But instead, you’re sitting here stuffing your face like a goddamn child.”
I can’t stop the flinch that ripples through me, my shoulders curling inward as if I can make myself smaller, less noticeable. The tears are closer now, burning the back of my throat, but I grit my teeth and force them down. My body is trying to submit to him, to make this Alpha happy, to rectify the situation but I refuse to give him the satisfaction.
“While you’ve been wasting time,” he continues, shoving me back a step, “I’ve found three Alphas who are willing to take you. You’ll give them each a dance and by the end of the night, you’ll pick one. Do you understand me?”
Before I can respond, he shoves three roses into my hands, the vines scratching against my chest as I clutch them reflexively. The thorns prick at my skin, a sharp reminder of how little choice I really have. I’m warring with the biological desire to submit and the need to shove these fucking roses back in his face and tell him that I’m more than just a ‘thing’, that I’m a whole person and should be treated as such. “I’m not—” I start, my voice barely above a whisper, but Damien cuts me off with a glare that could cut glass.
“You’ll do it,” he snaps. “You’ll give them each a dance and you’ll choose one. No arguments. No excuses.”
Tears spill over before I can stop them, slipping down my cheeks as my hands clutch the roses tighter. The shame, the helplessness, the unbearable weight of it all—it’s too much. I hate that he has this power over me, that he can reduce me to this trembling, submissive shell of myself with just a few harsh words and a rough grip. It’s even worse that everyone in this gala is no doubt watching or stealing glances, people I know from the city and see every day. They’ll talk and whisper and chide me on the streets come tomorrow.
A smooth voice cuts in, a sound that has a shiver running down my spine and settles between my thighs. Both Damien and I freeze as I bow my head, preparing for the worst. Whenever another Alpha has seen my brother’s treatment of me, they usually pass by. On a night like this, it will attract the worst sort as they believe that they’ll get to slap me around as well—or at least that’s what I envision. Silence follows and I twist my head just enough to catch the visitor into our conversation.
I don’t expect him to be gorgeous, the manicured beard and blue-gray eyes that seem to pierce right through me. He’s a little taller than my brother, wider too, and that’s when I notice his hand outstretched. “I apologize for interrupting but would you care for a dance?” He raises an eyebrow, almost daring me to say no. I don’t want to but I also don’t know him. He could be worse than dealing with my brother.
For a moment, I hesitate, glancing between him and Damien, whose sneer deepens. He doesn’t like being challenged but a flicker of confidence flares in my chest as I reach out to place my hand in this Alpha’s palm. It’s warmer than I thought it would be, a jolt of desire running through me as he gently tugs me toward the dance floor. There’s a flicker of hope that comes with escaping Damien’s wrath but also fear as I step into the unknown. The last time I accepted an Alpha’s advance was nearly eight years ago.
The Alpha doesn’t say anything as he twirls me into his arms, his movements slow and deliberate as if he’s trying to gauge my comfort. He’s so much bigger than me, my body swallowed in his arms. It’s a strange feeling but also wildly comforting. I peek over his arm, catching a glimpse of Damien standing at the edge of the room. He’s furious, his face twisted in anger as he watches me with narrowed eyes. I shrink into the Alpha’s arms, trying not to groan as the full weight of his scent hits my nose.
God, it’s intoxicating. Pine and cedarwood, earthy musk layered underneath, all of it blending together into something warm and grounding. I know it’s just my heat playing tricks on me, making his scent feel like a lifeline when it’s nothing more than biology. If I still had my blockers, I wouldn’t even notice it. I’d be able to resist.
Instead of fighting it, I let myself sink into him. I bury my face in his chest, the soft fabric of his shirt brushing against my skin as I inhale deeply. His purr starts up almost instantly, a low, soothing rumble that vibrates through his chest and into mine. It’s calming, wrapping around me like a blanket, and for a moment, the rest of the world fades away. Once again, I’m drawn into a fantasy where I’m cherished and loved, giggling alongside Amelia about how being mated really is that damn beautiful.
The longer we stay on the dancefloor, the more relaxed I feel, my body sagging against his and the fear seeping away. A small whine escapes my throat before I can stop it, my cheeks burning with embarrassment. I mumble a small apology but the Alpha’s purr just thickens, dragging me back into that comfortable haze. This is dangerous so close to my heat but I can’t bring myself to pull away when I know the alternative is being subject to Damien’s wrath.
I’m so wrapped up in this man that I don’t notice him leading us from the dancefloor to one of the nearby dining tables. He gently sits me down before pulling up a chair of his own. His movements are still slow, very calculated, every time I flinch or jerk back, the man pausing to give me time to breathe. No one has ever given me that much thought. It’s both heartwarming and terrifying.
He takes the roses from my hands without a word, laying them on the table. I blink at the sudden emptiness in my hands, the absence of the sharp stems biting into my palms. His fingers catch mine, turning them over, and the low growl that rumbles from his chest makes me freeze.
“You’ve been holding them too tight,” he says, his voice dark, his eyes narrowing at the tiny pricks dotting my skin. His thumbs brush over my palms as though trying to soothe away the sting.
I want to pull my hands back, to hide the way they’re trembling, to hide the little wounds but the Alpha doesn’t let go. “I—thank you,” I stammer, the words coming out awkward and too soft.
“I’m Amel,” he murmurs, staring at my palms for a few more seconds before meeting my eyes. A soft smile spreads across his lips, his entire face lighting up as he truly sees me. I feel like I’ve somehow become his entire focus, the acceptance in his gaze making me feel like I’ve done something right.
“Amel,” I repeat, the name perfect on my tongue. I’m sure it’s just the heat fogging my brain, those scents wrapping around me but I feel light-headed, almost drunk. A faint, silly smile tugs at my lips, and he chuckles but the happy sound cuts off abruptly, his nostrils flaring.
“Sweet girl,” he says, his voice dipping into something darker, “tell me why his scent is all over you.”
My body goes rigid, my face scrunching up as I exhale a shaky sigh, my fingers curling into fists in his hands. “Damien will not be happy with me,” I mumble, my voice barely audible. “I’m supposed to choose the Alphas he picked out for me.” There’s no way my brother would have chosen an Alpha like this one, one who would stand up to him.
Amel doesn’t say anything at first, just nods as he holds my hands tighter. There’s no judgment in his gaze, only a calm, steady curiosity that makes my chest ache. I’m trying to stay on guard but being around this man is making me relax, making me want to believe that he could somehow save me from this little hellhole.
“This is dangerous,” I whisper, my voice breaking as I lower my gaze to our hands.
“What is?”
I hesitate, my heart pounding in my chest as the truth spills out before I can stop it. “I like your scent,” I admit, my cheeks burning as I glance up at him through my lashes. “And it scares me.”
His expression doesn’t change, but there’s a flicker of something in his eyes—interest, maybe? Curiosity? I don’t know, but it makes me press forward, the words tumbling out in a rush.
“I can smell the others on you,” I say, my voice trembling. “Two others. Their scents are sharper, stronger. And…” My voice trails off as my eyes widen, the realization hitting me like a punch to the gut. “Are you—are you mated to a Valla?”
“Two,” he says simply as if he didn’t just reveal one of the biggest oddities in the city.
Two Valla. My hands tremble in his grip and I can’t stop the flood of panic and intrigue that surges through me. This is dangerous. This is so dangerous. Valla don’t mate together , not usually. But this man just told me that he comes with two. Two nightmares. Two beasts. Two— unknowns.