Chapter 73
CHAPTER SEVENTY-THREE
My omega is about to bolt.
I cannot blame her. I’ve envisioned this day for half my life. It’s supposed to be a victory, of sorts. And if I were any other male, perhaps it would feel that way.
But there are thousands gathered here. Even more, awaiting news of my success or failure. Not to mention the sensors in this stage, designed to detect our movements and recreate them with holograms for the citizens too far away from the stage to see.
Sofi trembles, her eyes large and beaming with something electric. Fear, I presume. Or the omega instinct to run.
But then…
Her plush lips move along with her body. Guiding me backward. “Like this, Zortaire.”
I’m not sure I could resist if I wanted to. Pure shock renders me dumb. My mouth falls open as my backside hits the stuffed leather chair.
I chose it for her. It’s from my bedchamber, saturated in my scent. I thought that might help her dissociate from where she was and why.
As I drop into the seat, though, I only sense her perfume. It rises from her skin like a siren’s call, some irresistible temptation spoken in a language only I understand.
Well. Me… and the two males suddenly pumping musk across the stage.
Sofi senses it, too. I can tell when her lips quirk to the side.
She inhales deeply, a streak of nervousness blending into the crackling light of her gaze. With her back to the crowd, she faces me fully and exhales, shrugging out of her see-through robe.
A general gasp rises from our observers, followed by a reverent hush.
Appropriate, since my omega looks like Stelaris herself.
Lustrous, dark hair tumbles over her rounded shoulders. The suns bathe her skin, soaking into her paleness, letting it shimmer. Striking petals of pink stand out as they always do—her full lips, those hard, pointed nipples, her glistening sex.
She is a goddess, strung with gold and pearly stones.
Boldly displaying her beautiful body and her bravery and her lust…
For me.
A deep growl pours from my chest as I set my hands on her wide hips, tugging her onto my lap. The chains glittering around her torso tinkle quietly. I trace them with one hand, lifting the other to cup her chin. Intent to ask whether she’s sure about this change of plans.
But Sofi asks me. “Is this alright?” she murmurs, her fingers drifting from the top of my shoulder to the edge of my Shearing scar. Touching it where no one will see.
Her meaning hits like a meteor to the chest.
She’s protecting me.
Honoring me.
Our gazes meet, melding together. I hear the crowd cheer, but they feel leagues away. It takes me many moments to realize my irises have flared again—and they have all seen it, either in person or on one of the projections.
The joy suffusing my soul has nothing to do with them, though. Sure, they finally have their Zortana. An omega. The perfect being to bring hope back to our people.
But I have Sofi.
And the adoration beaming from her beautiful, alien features is everything to me.
Better than a thousand pips or a million contented citizens. Better than my crown and my kingdom and every spacecraft on Khanos.
And I’m still not worthy.
But she doesn’t care.
She only cares about me.
Us.
Our pack.
Hands shaking, I frame her face. She raises an eyebrow, teasing. Daring me.
An answering snap of dominance crackles through my core. I growl at her, enjoying the shiver that streaks down her spine. The slick that wets my lap when her hips snap forward.
She whines, letting the whole world hear her. Reaching up to rub my horns in her small, soft fists.
My control evaporates. I tear my loincloth off, letting the fabric fall to the stage floor. Revealing the twin erections straining to get into her wet heat.
Appreciation rumbles through our audience, but Sofi scowls, her pupils widening.
Ah.
Her Omega doesn’t like sharing this view of me. I can fix that.
“Only for you, my mate,” I vow, lifting her up and angling my lower half. Sliding her velvet snugness onto the first aching third of my breeding cock. The top rod kicks in desperation, straining against her slick cunt while the lower one stretches her pussy.
I snarl, making it clear how perfect she feels—even like this, without either of my pulsing knots inside her. Sofi keens in reply, working her hips to fit more of my cock inside her. Leaning forward to trap the steely heat of my other shaft between our bodies.
She grinds against it, moaning. I help her adjust, finding the textured patch that drives her wild and angling her body so it roughs over the sweet, throbbing nub at the top of her folds.
That earns me a fresh burst of perfume and slick. It dribbles down my thighs, squelching around my first knot as her cunt swallows it.
Seven hells. The pressure—wet and hot and sliding around my swollen flesh—nearly sends me over the edge. When her lower lips kiss the knot expanding at my base, I throw my head back and snarl.
I can scent the musk of other alphas, now. They’re watching respectfully, but they can’t help their bodies’ envious reactions. I don’t blame them, but it makes me wilder.
Possessive instincts rise. I find myself wrapping my tail around Sofi’s throat, needing to feel her whines and whimpers. Needing to feel her breathing my name and spilling moans into the open air.
The sounds put a brutal snap in my thrusts. I grip her fleshy hips harder, rolling her into the pumps. Hitting the sweet spot on the underside of the nub that always sings for me.
Sofi garbles another moan. Her core contracts, viciously clamping around both my knots, milking me thoroughly as she comes.
I explode. Both swells burst wide, stretching her until her head lolls back on a second, more powerful climax.
Good fucking gods.
She feels so glorious, I lose all sense of time and space. Bellowing her name, I snatch her into myself, using her soft, rounded belly to empty my top cock between us just as the lower one locks deep in her heat.
A deafening roar rises from our audience. Sofi—who was completely relaxed against my purring chest—suddenly stiffens. My knots begin to release on instinct, our combined release bathing her creamy thighs and my lap. Another raucous cry of victory fills the far side of the city.
Our people think the deed is done.
To them, it must appear quite the triumph. Not only is she undeniably my mate—she’s also taken both my knots. Reached her peak twice. And swallowed half the seed I pumped into her pretty cunt.
They cheer unabashedly… until the entire planet suddenly chokes.
Because Rask is here, stalking to the place in front of me.
Going to his knees.