Page 5 of Gold Sector

But the lingering scents of fire and ash in the air do little to dispel my nerves.

Nerves that reach a boiling point as we step into an elevator made of gold and head downward.

My fingers curl into fists as the sensation of going underground crawls across my skin, the chill instantly chasing the warmth of being closer to the sun.

By the time the golden car stops, I can hardly breathe.It’s suffocating down here, walking amongst the beings of death.

Wolves thrive above ground.

At least, I do.

Beneath the surface, I can’t feel the stars. The moon.Inhale the sky.

A palm touches my lower back, urging me out of the elevator. There are words exchanged between the two Alphas, but I don’t hear them. My heartbeat is too loud. And my footsteps resemble concrete blocks hitting the marbled floor.

By the time we reach the examination room, I can barely see.

It’s all just white.

Sterile.

Reeking of bleach.

I close my eyes and try to focus, try to be a good Omega, to leave a decent impression behind and try to win a Drakon Alpha mate.

This isn’t just about me,I remind myself.It’s about Dad.

He may not have mentioned his desire for gold, but I know he needs it. Which means I have to pull myself together and do this for him.

I steal a deep breath, my nose curling at the stench of cleaning supplies.

You can do this, Tali.

I force my eyes open and take a step inside the small room.

You can do this.

My wooden legs move with a stiffness I feel through every inch of my being.

Just a little more.

I reach the examination bed and note the paper dress waiting for me on top of the white sheet.

“Strip and put on the gown,” a gruff voice says from behind me. “Doctor Taylor will be with you momentarily.”

The door slams behind me with a finality that leaves me shaking in the too-quiet room, the sound of a lock twisting into place solidifying my fate.

There’s nowhere to run. Nowhere to hide. My days as a free Omega have officially come to an end. And the evaluation is about to begin.

CHAPTER TWO

OROS

“What do you think?”Onyx asks as I shift back into my human form.

I don’t answer my brother right away, instead disappearing behind my throne—the one he’s currently lounging on like he’s the Prince of Gold Sector—to pull on a pair of black pants.

His silver eyes are on the court’s ornate double doors as I round the massive chair made of solid gold. For a moment, I follow his gaze, wondering what he’s listening to in the corridor beyond. His hearing has always been better than mine. It’s one of his many talents.