Chapter 23
Echo
Lying in my nest in cat form, I watch my alpha mate stalk back and forth across our den, his tail twitching in agitation.
He hasn’t been able to get a hold of his mother or her mates via the comm link, and I can tell how worried he is.
The sound of our doorbell ringing has him growling and stalking off down the corridor to answer it.
I consider chasing him down, but I’m super comfy where I am, and maybe by the time he gets back, he will be in a better mood.
I roll onto my back and think about the compulsory meeting we attended.
The pretty human girl was there, and she smelled even better than before.
She was with the Vilaxian, and I could tell by the way he was looking at her that they mated like the rumors were saying.
It was all the other Vilaxians could talk about while we were waiting for the meeting to start, and two of them were not being quiet about their displeasure, but Saxon’s brother quickly shut them down.
I wonder if he is going to stay with the circus. I wonder if any of them are.
I’m also uncertain of our own fate. I will go wherever Maxsim does, and if he chooses to stay on Iceen to support his mother, well, then that’s where I will be too.
It would be nice to be surrounded by family again.
Yet there is something about Lila that calls to me.
It is very strange. I am an omega, so I should only be attracted to alphas, and only lightning cat alphas at that.
We do not mix with other species. It is taboo.
That’s not to say it doesn’t happen, but it wouldn’t be a permanent thing, and it is usually beta cats who indulge.
Alphas and omegas have needs that are not met by other races, and we would never invite another species into our streak.
So then why does her scent make me want to roll around in it and present for her?
She is not an alpha, so she would not be able to knot me, but I feel my heat coming on quicker and quicker every time I get near her.
I think I might shift and go see if I can find her.
Maybe she would like to go see a movie with me.
It would be nice to go out in public and not worry about getting killed if I want to hold a pretty girl’s hand and make out in the back of a dark theater.
It would be even better if Maxsim was there too.
We could both make her feel really good in the dark.
A sound in the tunnel has me sitting up.
Maxsim is returning, and if my nose isn’t mistaken, he has Lila with him.
I run a paw over my mane to make sure it’s not sticking up at all angles, but when he appears, the breath I was holding escapes in disappointment.
It’s her kraken mate, and they must have had sex recently, because I can smell her all over him.
I want to drag him into my nest, roll all over him, and lick the scent of her from his skin.
A growl of jealousy rolls out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I feel my lightning power up, wanting to strike the intruder down so I can claim his mate for myself.
Fucking hell, this just became a problem.
I try to tamp it down, but my instincts are winning out over rationality.
Both of them look at me. Caspian seems wary, but it’s the complete shock and hurt on Maxsim’s face that finally has me controlling my emotions. My overwhelming guilt puts my lightning out in a flash.
“I am very sorry to intrude once more.” Caspian bows his head at me in respect, mistaking my reaction to his presence in our den.
“I just came to let you know we are rerouting directly to Iceen. Natalia is causing problems in the brig, and the Adams brothers wish to avoid creating an international incident by returning her to her mother in a bad way. I thought I would come personally and let you know. The Adams brothers are also interested in knowing if you have made a decision about your continued position with the circus. If you all decide to leave, we will need to find a new act, and the sooner we can put out feelers, the better.”
I leap out of my nest and pad over to my mate, taking a deep inhale of the kraken on the way past. My cock throbs in its sheath, but thankfully, it stays retracted.
I butt my head against my alpha’s leg in comfort, and he absently reaches down and strokes between my ears.
It feels good, and I don’t clamp down on the purr that rumbles from my mouth.
I know he would be happier if he could reach his mother and discuss everything with her, but he will need to make a decision soon.
“I haven’t been able to reach my mother and discuss the situation with her.
To be honest, this has me worried. It also has me leaning toward saying we will be leaving the circus.
I can’t speak for Trace, Sim, and Fuse, and they must make their own decisions as alphas in their own streak,” Maxsim tells Caspian, though I can feel that he does so hesitantly.
He does not like to admit any weakness to anyone.
“Do you think something has happened to her?” Caspian asks, crossing his arms and spreading his legs slightly. Unlike the last time he was in here, he is in his humanoid form and wearing appropriate clothing for the temperature of our den.
“Unlikely. My mother is much stronger than the reigning matriarch, but she wasn’t interested in politics while everything was fairly run.
Our current matriarch is fine, but it’s the fact that she has proposed Natalia as the next matriarch that is worrying.
She’s not a ruler my mother would willingly support.
If she has to step up and challenge to win, then she will.
What worries me is that Echo will become more of a target if we choose to stay on Iceen.
My mother will probably change the laws regarding male omegas so they are protected, since she has never agreed with turning a blind eye to killing them, but it will take time for the mindset to change.
Female omegas can be incredibly possessive, jealous, and territorial. ”
I chortle at his words and weave my way around his body. All female lightning cats, no matter their designation, are possessive, jealous, and territorial, though they do get slightly better once they have formed a streak and are secure within it.
Caspian frowns. “I apologize for my ignorance, but why would female alphas kill off male omegas? Can they even breed with female omegas?”
“No, they can’t. Female alphas are rare, there hasn’t been one in a hundred years. They would need a male omega to breed with.”
“Can a male alpha and a female alpha breed?” Caspian seems fascinated with our way of life. I guess it’s interesting from an outsider’s perspective.
“Yes, they can, but there would be a dominance fight beforehand, and again, they often end in bloodshed or death.”
The kraken runs a hand through his hair and blows out a breath.
I break away from my alpha and creep toward him, unable to resist his scent anymore.
I slink along the ground, and he’s so caught up in the information he just learned, he doesn’t notice.
“Being a lightning cat is complicated. I kind of understand why you volunteered to join the circus. It will be a shame to see you go, but I completely understand the family first motto. Now that I have Lila and she is pregnant, all of my priorities have changed. Everything has become about keeping her safe and happy, so anything else is just background crap. Though I do have it a little easier because I’m sharing her with three others. ”
I stop my forward momentum at those words. Three others? Thankfully Maxsim asks what I want to know, so I keep shuffling forward and listen for the answer.
“Three others? I thought she was only mated to you and the Vilaxian.”
“She is also Xavier’s intimate and will be bonding Dr. Link in the Skarrian way.”
I get to the kraken’s feet. Sitting up, I stick my nose into his crotch, inhaling deeply, and he yelps in surprise.
“Holy fuck!” He jumps back, and I feel smug that I was able to creep up on him.
He tries to push my head away, but he smells intoxicating, and I push back before standing up, rubbing my body against his, then nudging him.
He stumbles back, and I keep nudging him, herding him in the direction of my nest. He keeps trying to push me away, but although I may not be as big and strong as Maxsim, I’m still a big cat, and unless the kraken shifts into half form, I can easily maneuver him.
“Echo!” Maxsim growls at me, but he doesn’t put any alpha command behind it, so I ignore him.
Only a couple more steps, and the kraken will fall into my nest. I push harder, determined to get him there before Maxsim loses his patience and orders me to stop.
The kraken, caught by surprise, doesn’t even notice, and suddenly finds himself hovering over empty air.
He shouts as he drops down into my nest. I see him brace for pain, but his eyes widen with surprise when he finds a soft landing.
Not giving him a chance to get his bearings, I leap into the nest, landing on top of him, and rub my body all over his, purring as I try to get as much of Lila’s scent into my bedding as I can.
“Echo, enough.”
My body seizes up with the alpha command, and I feel my body become pliant as I relax into the kraken. His hands are in my fur from him trying to wrestle me off of him, but now that I’ve stopped, he relaxes underneath me and absently strokes my fur.
“What’s going on?” he demands, looking up at Maxsim who is staring down at us with a frown pinching his brow.
“I am not sure. Echo is acting weird. It’s getting close to his heat, and his actions are that of an unmated omega.
” My alpha does not sound happy, and I know I will probably be punished for my behavior, but I can’t help myself.
Something is driving me to cover myself in the Earth woman’s scent. I’m not sure what that means.