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CHAPTER FOURTEEN

~Arcay~

I MOVED WITH no destination in mind, unaware of my surroundings, just the burning rage and confusion that coiled in my chest driving me step by step.

When I’d thrown Clay down I was prepared to claim him, willing or not—which was ridiculous in itself. Alphas did not need omegas to be willing, it was in their very nature. They were omegas. It was what they were for. So why did my omega have to be the only one in all of Aldarian history to have a problem with his role? But regardless of that, I had him right there beneath me. Nothing stood between me and my prize; I had been on the cusp of claiming him.

But his face . I could picture it now, clear as day. Something about his expression had made me stop. It was his eyes. They made my stomach turn. Not the vivid blueness, or the way his dark lashes framed them. It was the way they had looked at me with burning fear and hatred. It was more than I could stand.

It had ignited in me a deep repulsion, but not aimed at him. It was myself that I was disgusted with. I could not get out of that room, and away from the look in his eyes, soon enough. But I did not understand why. People looked at me with fear all the time. It was expected as the Second.

I walked until my rushing blood slowed, leaving only a strange, hollow feeling in the pit of my stomach. The warmth of my hand pressed against it did nothing to alleviate it. I growled to myself. I did not like it at all .

When my surroundings finally registered, I found myself by the hangar door leading to the shuttles and escape pods. How did I get all the way to the other side of the ship? Had I been about to board a craft? It seemed that in my attempt to escape that look and the feeling it created, I had almost fled the ship entirely. I shook my head. This human had a far too strong effect on me. One that made no sense.

“Having trouble, Arcay?”

I turned at the familiar voice. Ulgar stood behind me, watching with mocking eyes. “You seem distressed, is the omega causing you more trouble?”

“That is none of your concern,” I said stiffly. The last thing I needed was Ulgar disrespecting me. “What are you doing here?” His quarters were located nowhere near the flight deck.

In response he stepped closer and tilted his head to sniff the air around me, seeking out Clay’s scent.

“Did you enjoy the claiming?” He asked, sounding disinterested, but his eyes on my face were sharp, his intent boiling just beneath the surface. He wanted to know if Clay was bound to me yet, whether he still had a chance to steal him from me. There was no way I would allow that.

“It is an immeasurable pleasure to finally have my own omega,” I said and leaned into his space.

His lips curved up slightly, his gaze no less intense. “I can only hope that I will be able to enjoy the same pleasure very soon.”

I held his gaze, accepting the challenge. Tension built for one breath, two, and then he stepped back, though his smile was no less aggressive. It held a promise I did not like.

I turned away from him, feeling his gaze upon my back.

***

CLAY WAS ASLEEP when I returned, arms stretched and head flopping forward onto his chest. He must have been exhausted to fall asleep in such an uncomfortable position. Or perhaps human sleeping habits were different to ours, and they slept in odd positions all the time.

Nevertheless, seeing him twisted the hollow feeling in my stomach even more. I grumbled at it. The discomfort of others had nothing to do with me, why should I feel this way? I was not sorry for taking him. I had to have him, I could not have allowed anything different.

No, I was not sorry.

But I could not help but feel that my behavior upon bringing him here was…incorrect, for some reason. Seeing him slumped against the wall as his chest gently rose and fell with his breath…

Was it possible that I may have made a mistake? But how else would I have approached it? He was an omega and I was an alpha, this was the way things worked.

With a strange urge not to wake him, I carefully loosened the knots around his wrists. His hands were cold and curled, the skin pale, blotchy, and swollen. The bonds came away, leaving livid red marks on the pale skin, and I pursed my lips as my stomach twisted still tighter. Supporting his weight with one arm, I eased Clay’s arms down and then lifted him, holding him to my chest. Though he didn’t wake, a small noise escaped his lips; a grunt of discomfort. I felt nauseous.

This was concerning. Perhaps I was unwell. The humans could have been carrying all sorts of strange diseases, they certainly did not look very clean and their ship was an absolute mess. Could I have contracted something from him before the cleansing gas did its work? I would go to the infirmary tomorrow to make sure I had not been infected with anything.

I laid him on the bed and pulled the sheet over him. He murmured and shifted onto his side, and his hair slid over his eyes. I moved it back.

In the morning, I would try a different approach. Perhaps a show of luxury and resources I had at my disposal would win him over. Then he would come to his senses.

But what if he refused again? I did not want to risk him being taken and claimed by another alpha. The thought of it sent a shiver through me, and an overwhelming urge to protect him rose inside me.

I had told him that I would wait for him to offer himself to me. Jursin’s ultimatum was a complication, but it needn’t be a problem. All I had to do was keep him contained and hidden away. The other alphas would never know that I had not already claimed him. Yes, I would wait and keep him safe here with me. I would not let Ulgar and the other alphas control my actions. And I would not claim him until he was ready.

The memory of his stricken eyes looking up at me as I hovered over him rose again, unbidden, and I forced it aside. I did not want to feel like this ever again.

I laid down next to him and edged closer until I was pressed against his back, but made sure not to wake him. I tucked my arm around him, gathering him up in my arms. He fit perfectly within the curve of my body, his back against my chest, the bend of our legs notched as though they were made to go together. I closed my eyes and pressed my face down into his soft hair. It smelt so good that I couldn’t help but fill my lungs with it. It felt right. The sick feeling eased. Curious .

Perhaps my actions had not been ideal, but he was here with me now and I would make it right.

Mine.

With my face nuzzled into the top of his head, and his hair brushing my lips, I drifted into a deep easy sleep.