Chapter 6 Ashlyn
ASHLYN
I draw my finger through the air, just the way Grey showed me three days ago.
But nothing happens.
Ugh.
He’s supposed to be my fated mate. I was hoping that I might be able to, I don’t know, tap into his V-Clan powers somehow.
Queen Quinnlynn does that with King Kieran.
Ivana and Cillian also share impressive abilities between them.
So, why not me and Grey?
Maybe because he hasn’t claimed me, nor I him.
But I know Queen Quinnlynn was able to use some of her mate’s powers after their initial engagement to one another. Although, that did require a bite…
Hmm. I’m not sure that’s possible with Grey and me.
And, as a full-blooded Z-Clan Omega, I might not even be able to tap into his magical talent, either. But it’s worth trying, right?
Grey shadows into the cave with a bucket in his hand and walks into the kitchen.
Naked.
My eyes are instantly drawn to his strong thighs and ass, my mind seeming to blink off in an instant.
He’s naked.
Why is he naked?
Because we’re shifters.
Right.
Holy knot… I can’t stop staring. He’s getting hard. I should stop staring. Oh, wow, he’s large. Very long. Thick. I really need to… to not… Knot…
Pretty sure I’ve swallowed my tongue.
Yep.
I’ve seen all types of shifters without clothes. But never one quite this beautiful. Or muscular. Or endowed.
“Ashlyn?” Grey’s deep rumble has my gaze tracking up his defined torso to his square jaw dusted with dark blond hairs.
“Hmm?” I hum, a little lust drunk by the perfect male specimen in front of me.
I’ve never desired an Alpha before. Which makes sense as I always knew I was destined for this Alpha in particular.
But I didn’t realize I would be this consumed by his presence.
He frowns at me, the action one I only notice since I’m still staring at his chiseled jawline.
Grey starts to walk away and I observe happily, noting the way all his muscles flex deliciously with his movements.
Then I pout as he pulls on a pair of gray sweatpants.
I was enjoying that view, thank you, I think sourly at him. Oh, well.
Sighing, I return to my task of attempting to create a rune.
Still nothing.
“It’s a V-Clan trait,” Grey says, returning to the kitchen to wash his hands.
“Yes, you’ve said that,” I murmur. “Doesn’t mean I can’t try, though.”
He glances at me over his defined shoulder. “Is there a reason you want to know how to create protection wards? I already have several up around this cave.”
I shrug. “It seems like a useful skill.” It’s a vague response. But I don’t want to elaborate on why these might be helpful in my future. “I can’t exactly take down Alphas physically, so developing a mental ability seems a more appropriate route.”
“And what Alphas do you intend to take down?”
I glance at him, confused for a moment. Then realize I uttered that last part out loud. “Oh, I don’t know. But I’m a Z-Clan Omega. Knowing how to defend myself is a natural need.” Not a lie. Not the full truth either.
Why did I voice that last bit out loud? I wonder, giving myself a shake.
Sometimes talking to Grey is a little too easy.
Which is why we need a subject change.
Umm… “Can you tell me more about Nikiski?” It’s the first question to scroll through my mind and I almost immediately regret voicing it.
Only, I actually would like to know more about her. More about Grey. More about their past.
“Maybe it’ll help me understand my visions,” I explain out loud, feeling a bit like a floundering dolt.
I blame the knot, I decide. Grey should not flaunt that impressive specimen in my presence. It clearly alters my brain chemistry.
As well as other things…
He stares at me like I’ve lost my mind.
Probably because I’m acting erratic.
But I’m a seer. This sort of inane behavior should simply be accepted. Especially by a Z-Clan Alpha. Or, er, a hybrid one. Whatever.
“Please,” I say, needing him to speak again. Anything to shut up the babbling in my head.
He grabs a towel to dry his hands and turns to lean back against the counter, his long legs crossed at the ankles as he studies me. “What would you like to know?”
“Anything.” There’s a hint of desperation in my tone that I wish wasn’t there. But I can’t help adding, “Everything.”
He folds his arms across his chest. “Do you know why I live in Lunar Sector?”
“I know your mother is a V-Clan Omega,” I tell him. “So I assume it has to do with that.”
He nods. “About a century ago, during the height of the Infected Era, Cael’s parents were trying to round-up missing Omegas. My mother was one of them.”
That makes sense. During that period of time when the zombielike plague was ravaging humans, supernatural powers were also shifting. Sectors were being created. Alliances made. Omegas taken…
My visions during that period were… unpleasant. The slave trade began then, or rather, found renewed strength. Alphas trading Omegas wasn’t a new concept, but many Omegas were displaced during the upheaval. And certain monsters chose to take advantage of that.
Monsters like Prince Tadhg.
“My father was taking us all back to Kodiak Sector,” Grey goes on. “He couldn’t shadow, so we traveled on foot.”
I frown. “Why didn’t you just shadow them?”
“Because my father had me collared,” Grey says flatly, the words making me wince.
“He throttled your abilities,” I translate.
“With a literal collar,” he replies. “Yes.” He glares down at the watch on his wrist. “I’ve never been a fan of metal on my skin as a result.”
“Then why wear a watch?” I wonder out loud.
“Cael,” he mutters. “It’s a safety measure.”
“Oh.” My nose scrunches. “Could I, uh, wear it for you?” It’s an awkward question and the watch will look ridiculous on my wrist, but if it makes him feel better, then it’s worth offering.
He looks at me in surprise. “What?”
“If you don’t like the sensation of it on your wrist, then I can wear it… when we’re together, I mean.”
His brow furrows a bit. Then he shakes his head. “It’s okay. I can bear it.”
I shrug. “Just an offer, if you need it.”
“Thank you.” He swallows. “I’ll keep that in mind.” The sincerity in his tone tells me he means that.
His arms fall to his sides, his hands slipping into his pockets as he stares at me for another beat.
Then he clears his throat and continues his story about how his family’s trek across Canada to Kodiak Sector.
“Cael’s father found me somewhere in Alberta,” he says, a faraway glint in his icy gaze, like he’s reliving the memory. “He nearly killed me.”
“That wasn’t very nice of him.”
Grey grunts. “I was a hybrid Z-Clan and V-Clan Alpha mutt in his eyes. But when I couldn’t fight back—because of the collar—he stopped his attack and told me to start talking.”
He goes on to tell me what he said to Cael’s father, how he begged the Alpha to help his mother and sister.
“I didn’t care what he did to me so long as my mother and Nikiski were safe,” he mutters. “But for some reason, he chose to save me, too. Basically became the father I never knew I needed.”
“Where is he now?” I wonder out loud. “Still in Lunar Sector?”
He nods. “Cael’s whole family is there. My mother, too. But Cael proved to be the more superior Alpha, so his father relinquished the Prince title to his son.”
“That would never happen in Kodiak Sector,” I mutter. “Or any of the Z-Clan sectors.”
Grey huffs a humorless laugh. “No. No, it would not.”
Z-Clan Alphas tend to kill their young if it seems like the offspring might pose a threat to the hierarchy.
It’s deplorable.
Monstrous.
Horrific.
That’s why his father’s collar doesn’t shock me. He was trying to tame his strong son. Had Cael’s father not intervened, it’s very likely that Grey would have one day been killed by his own father’s hand.
“Anyway, the night his father came to rescue us all, it was my responsibility to grab Nikiski. But Spruce got to her first.”
My shoulders stiffen. “Spruce?” I echo, the name one I’ve heard in my dreams. Though, I’m not sure when or how. It’s… it’s foggy. But I know that name.
“My twin,” Grey growls. “He took Nikiski and bartered her life for his own—to Tadhg.”
“You’re certain?” I ask, somewhat confused by this description of events. Because something about it doesn't sound right to me. Though, I can’t… I can’t explain why.
“Yes.” He pushes off of the counter and comes to sit across from me at the table, then tells me about his research with Cael, how they followed the messy path left behind by Spruce, which took them to Alpha Sector.
“We’ve spent nearly a century trying to decipher every avenue of the network, but there have been a lot of false leads and dead ends. ”
“Tadhg?” I ask.
“Gave us basically nothing,” he mutters. “His two sidekicks weren’t of much use either.”
My lips twist. “Sorry.” I hoped they would garner something important from the situation, but my true goal had always been to protect the Omegas. And that, at least, was a success.
“Don’t apologize for something you can’t control,” he replies, sighing. “Tadhg was one of the main supporters of the organization, that much we know with certain. But we’re still trying to determine who is running the show.”
“Because you think that person has your sister,” I assume out loud.
But he shakes his head. “No. We just want to kill everyone involved.” He says it lightly, yet I know he means every word. “Our next move—in terms of organization—is to set up a meeting with the Gold Sector Prince.”
My eyebrows lift. “The dragons?”
He nods. “We think they’re involved, or at least know something of importance. Cael is working through his channels to arrange it.”
“Why not just call Prince Oros?” I ask, confused. “Be blunt.”
“You’re familiar with the dragons?” he counters, leaning forward. “You’ve seen them?”
“Not really, no. But I’ve been around long enough to be familiar with their royalty,” I reply. “There’s also a Drakon-Clan Omega in the Sanctuary. He’s quite insightful.”
He stares at me. “He?”
“A male Omega, yes. You know they exist.”
“Yes, I do. But now I’m curious about why this male Omega is insightful.”
“Would it make you feel better if it was a female Drakon-Clan Omega?” I ask, teasing him now. “If I called her insightful?”
His jaw visibly clenches. “Why is he insightful?”
“Because he knows a lot about the world,” I tell the simmering Alpha. “And he was just a friend, Grey. So calm your beast.” I purposely only use his name, not his title, to try to get through to him.
Though, I won’t lie, I rather like the possessive energy rolling off of my fated mate right now.
I’m not even sure he’s aware of it.
Or maybe he is, but doesn’t care.
He pushes his chair back and stands, then leans down to place his palms on the table, his gaze capturing and holding mine with an intensity that makes me stop breathing.
“The next time you want to mention one of your insightful male friends, remember it was my knot you were salivating over mere minutes ago. Mine.”
With those unexpected, yet profound words, he steps away and stalks off toward the bedroom.
“Your knot is the first one I’ve ever seen,” I call after him. “And the only one I’ve ever desired.”
He freezes on the threshold.
“I’m not a virgin, Grey,” I add, standing and staring at his back.
He turns slowly, his nostrils flaring.
“Not in the strictest sense, anyway,” I go on. “But that’s only because I’ve required relief during my heats. And there are toys that simulate a knot—while alone—in a nest. However, none of those simulators compare to the one between your legs. So, hopefully, knowing that helps calm your beast.”
He simply stares at me.
And I stare back.
“I’ve known my fate since my very first heat,” I go on.
“I’m not sure if that’s fate’s way of ensuring an Omega remains untouched or not, but in my case, it did.
I’ve never felt the need to dally, knowing who would one day come for me.
Thus, jealousy isn’t necessary. At least, not on your part regarding my prior friendships. ”
Grey doesn’t appear to be breathing.
I wait for him to say something.
He doesn’t.
And I suddenly feel very foolish for admitting everything I just said.
It just sort of came out.
He doesn’t like lying, which means he prefers honesty. So why hide from our destiny? He knows as well as I do that our souls are linked.
I’ve just known about it longer.
“Right. Sorry. I’ve had a century to prepare for this. I understand that you need more time to process it.” Which is truly heartbreaking, honestly, as we don’t have much time to spend together before the end.
However, he doesn’t know that.
And I can’t share that detail with him, either.
It’ll change fate to something worse, and given how horrific it already is, I hate to fathom what worse could actually mean.
Clearing my throat, I take a step toward the bucket he left on the floor. “I’ll… I’ll clean the fish,” I mutter, needing something to do. “Get it ready for dinner.”
Silence meets my words.
For once, I wished I could see what might come next.
But I can’t.
Because, as with most things involving Grey, it’s cloudy.
One would think being a seer might come with certain advantages. However, the only advantage I seem to have is when it comes to helping others. Never myself.
Suppressing a sigh, I pick up the bucket and set it by the sink, ready to begin.
Only my hand is caught before I can reach in to grab a fish. I glance back at Grey, confused, and suddenly find myself pinned between him and the counter as he spins me around to face him.
“What—”
His mouth comes down on mine, the kiss so unexpected that I forget how to breathe.
How to think.
How to exist.
Because my Alpha—my intended mate—is kissing me.
And I never even saw it coming…