Chapter Eleven
Atiox
After lighting the candles in the nest, we return to the second floor. To my room, where our omega still sleeps.
And sure enough, the stars-damned power drops as we are in the hallway. I frown, frustrated. Our pack has heat sources, and methods of cooking for when the grid is down. But Celnoe is an advanced society. We should be able to provide energy to the furthest reaches of our planet.
For our cooperative community of Setias, I took on the responsibility for the issue of the power grid.
And yet, the officials I am working with in Figate haven’t been able to solve the issue.
During the sunny season, Setias has its own starlight capacitor to function as a backup method of energy.
But during the rainy season, we rely on the thermal energy from deep inside Celnoe, and the nearest energy capturing units are located off in Figate.
As I open my door, the candlelight floods into the room, and just at that moment, our Zatura-blessed omega sits up. Her strange yellow hair is a cloud around her sleepy face, and even Lux’s tail fans at the gorgeous sight.
As her big brown eyes land upon us, however, she gasps, tugging the blanket up, even though she is still firmly wrapped in the Concord Center blanket.
She quickly glances around the room. We had set her medication, her inhaler, on the table near my bed.
She nervously scoots across the bed to reach it, clenching it in her unusual pink-brown hand.
Her skin color reminds me of a beudi fruit.
Her eyes quickly return to us, pupils larger than I’d expect. I look at Ziam, but he seems unconcerned with her appearance.
I clear my throat. “Greetings, Octavia. We are pack Endral. Your pack. Your alphas. And this is your home.” I pause to study her face, which gives none of her emotions away.
“We introduced ourselves at the Concord Center, but my name is Atiox, this is Lux, our second, and Ziam, our charax. We are very pleased to meet you. We have waited a lifetime for you.”
I stop talking, though I have many things I’d like to say to her.
She blinks and nods slowly. When she licks her lips, Ziam curses. “Stars. She needs water,” he mutters, even as he spins and leaves the room.
“Where... where is he going?” Her voice is high and lilting, and I fall in love with it, with her, immediately. She clears her throat, face nervous.
“To get you a glass of water,” Lux says, voice nearly a purr already.
I bite down a smile. Lux is drawn to her as well.
The lush little omega pulls the covers tighter over her ample chest. Since she is not in her nest, but in my bed, I perch on the edge, laying my tail up and curling it in her general direction. Her eyes land on it and stay there.
“So, Octavia,” I say her lyrical name slowly, “would you like to outfit your nest?”
But instead of answering, her chest starts to heave. Her eyes get glassy.
“Fuck,” Lux says, crossing to her and sitting on the bed.
“No!” the terrified omega squeals, pulling away, “Don’t touch me!”
“Easy, little one,” Lux purrs, trying to calm the high-strung creature. I stand and cross to the opposite side of the bed just as Ziam returns.
“Water for you, wedari,” he offers, his low voice gentle.
Again, she recoils, terror drawing her features tight.
Ziam freezes, obviously hurt, but then he takes in our postures. He stops moving, dropping to his knees next to the bed. “What is wrong, sweetheart? We will not hurt you. Please calm yourself. You must know that our only desire is to take care of you.”
Her face almost seems to relax for a moment, but Ziam continues, “To protect you, and breed you, and train your body for our—and your—pleasure.”
Octavia again becomes frantic, panting, and quickly brings her inhaler to her mouth.
“Not helping, Zee,” Lux mumbles as she edges closer to our omega.
I shake my head as I see Octavia’s frantic eyes. “Everyone out. Now,” I growl firmly.
As Ziam and Lux reluctantly leave, I address Octavia. “You are safe. Your mind will catch up with the events of the last few rotations. For now, rest,” I murmur in what I hope is a reassuring tone. I turn and leave, shutting the door gently.
I lean against it and close my eyes to the view of the river through the panel wall opposite the open second story. Lux said we’d do this our way. Maybe she’s right. Maybe we need to break from convention and do this in the manner that our scared little omega seems to need.