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CHAPTER SEVEN

~Arcay~

I LOCKED THE door behind me with my palm, securing my omega safely inside the pod, then took a steadying breath. I knew the pheromones of a mature omega were potent, but I had not expected this. The human’s scent was so intoxicating that the urge to claim him was so strong I had almost lost control. Now that I was away from him, my thoughts became clear again. I had to wait, the omega needed to be properly prepared before I claimed him, and I needed to keep my head until it was time.

Shaking off the last of the fog, I strode into the chamber to find Lendel, one of my personal beta attendees, wringing his hands.

“What is it?” I said.

Lendel bowed his head and straightened, attempting to make himself look bigger than he was. Round-faced and fussy, he had the air of an Aldar twice his age and seemed perpetually on the verge of exasperation or hysteria.

“Jursin has requested the council meet to discuss the human ship. You are needed urgently.”

So the high alphas were back on the ship already. My actions would no doubt cause issues. I considered refusing and staying here until I had claimed Clay. It would be risky to leave him alone, even locked away as he was. But it would not be wise to keep Jursin waiting if he was already displeased with me.

At that moment, Kesk, my other beta attendee, bounded into the room. The opposite of Lendel, Kesk had the air of an Aldar half his age. He was always moving, with long pointed ears and quick eyes that made him appear mischievous, his face alight with unasked questions. He gave a quick nod of his head, his version of a bow. If it had been anyone else it might have been taken as disrespect, but I was used to Kesk’s ways.

“Everyone is talking about the human you found.”

Kesk absorbed rumors and gossip with astounding speed; he had an uncanny ability to know what was happening at any point on the ship. And word traveled fast amongst the betas.

I had brought the omega aboard mere moments ago. I cursed. This could be a problem.

“Is it true? Is he an omega?” Kesk asked.

“Yes.”

“Have you claimed him yet?”

“I need him prepared first.”

Lendel twisted his hands again.

“ Arani, it would appear there is unrest on the ship. Some of the unmated alphas are angry. They want to know what is going on.”

My jaw tightened. Even though I carried Clay through the ship quickly, he would have left a lingering scent behind. Just enough to be picked up by any unmated alpha who came across it. And once they had the scent of an unclaimed omega, they would be quick to act.

“Tell anyone that asks that the human omega has already been claimed by me.”

Kesk’s face lit up and he clapped a hand on my arm. It was unusual for betas to be informal with high alphas in this way, but Kesk was unusual.

“Congratulations, Arani , I always knew you’d get an omega. There’s no one more deserving than you.”

Lendel hesitated. “But you just said you have not claimed him yet, Arani .”

“No one needs to know that. He is mine,” I said. While he was kept confined in my quarters no one else would find out.

Lendel nodded, the crease between his brows never leaving.

I turned to leave. “Have him ready for the claiming ritual when I return. I will need to be swift.”

***

AS I MADE my way through the ship, I was aware of curious looks aimed my way by bowing Aldar I passed, both alphas and betas. Word had indeed traveled fast. I kept my pace quick, but none approached me. Still, I scowled.

Clay’s reaction stung me more than I wanted to admit. Omegas were compliant by nature, their purpose was to be claimed and mated to an alpha. They did not need to be forced, or convinced. They did not fight. They were always willing, as omegas should be. But that was Aldar omegas. I had never met one from a different species, but it did not cross my mind when I found him and brought him back here that he would resist.

My glower deepened, and a beta coming my way changed direction and scampered away.

Were all humans like this? Why would he resist me? I was the Second. The highest alpha after Jursin. It made no sense.

I sifted through my limited knowledge of humans. Perhaps he was disgruntled because he was in discomfort. Our young acted out when they were hungry, perhaps humans were the same. I frowned. Yes, it would make sense; humans were not much bigger than our children. Maybe once Clay was fed, washed, and in clean clothes he would be cooperative.

Lendel and Kesk would see to that, and, by the time I returned, Clay would be ready for me to claim him. I just needed to see to this.

When I entered, the Council of High Alphas were already congregated around the large, circular table, debating loudly. Growling voices filled the large, domed room, and I caught snatches of the arguments being tossed across the wide table about the encounter with the human ship.

Each alpha on the council had their own seat, arranged in order of rank. But the positions of the highest alphas—the First, Second, Third, and Fourth—were raised above those of the other members. The only seat that stood empty now was mine.

As one, the council fell silent and turned their attention to me. I took my place beside Jursin and scanned their faces, one after another, pinning each one with my focus. I had earned my place here and I would not allow them to forget it. All of them averted their eyes, dropping their gaze quickly to the table top—except for two.

One was Silvun the Fourth, who was entirely uninterested in omegas and considered mating to be a lowly distraction from his duties. Sturdy and reliable, he was no threat. He simply dipped his head at me, a gesture of respect that I returned.

The other was Ulgar the Third, my immediate subordinate. He was strong and stubborn, with the single-mindedness of a vicious hunting Qualark . It was a constant effort to remind him of my dominance. He matched my stare, his hazy yellow eyes full of defiance. I narrowed mine and lowered my head, intensifying the contact. Usually that was enough to cow him, but not this time. He did not waver. My blood pulsed, my body preparing for the fight his challenge promised.

“Firstly, Arcay, do you have anything to report on your investigation?” Jursin said at my side, breaking the tension, and I looked away, though Ulgar’s eyes remained on me. I would have to deal with him later.

“No, Arani . But I will continue to pursue it.”

A few days ago an aldar had been reported missing, and Jursin had assigned me to look into it. So far I had not been able to find any trace of the alpha in question.

Jursin nodded, and addressed the council at large. “Now, we must decide what to do about the human ship.” Although he spoke to the room, he directed his words at me. “As you know the interaction on the human ship did not go well.” He paused, allowing his annoyance to simmer. I ducked my head. “We have the human ship docked, with the humans contained. Now we must decide what to do with them.”

The room remained silent, waiting for us to speak. The lower council members could voice their opinions and argue their points, but it was the higher alphas that had the final say in most matters. If Jursin was undecided, it was up to the three remaining higher alphas. We each got a vote, and Jursin would abide by our decision. If we could not come to an agreement, the matter would then fall to the lower council.

As far as I was concerned, we had no more use for the humans or their ship. Their technology was inferior to ours and so held no value, and they were clearly no threat to us, their bodies much smaller and weaker than ours. I had taken the one thing of value they had to offer, and had it secured away in my quarters. Heat prickled up my chest at the thought.

However, releasing the humans now could be a personal risk to me. They were not happy when I took the omega. What if they brought back more humans to take him from me?

I raised my voice, although the room was already hushed. “I believe they are here by accident. But I am undecided on the correct course of action. I will need more time to consider it.”

A murmur broke out across the room, but quickly hushed when Silvun spoke.

“I currently see no reason not to send them back through the wormhole and monitor it until it closes to ensure they do not return. The reports say it is unstable, with the right conditions it should close in a matter of days. Let the humans leave, we want nothing to do with them.”

Ulgar spoke up directly to Jursin, barely waiting for Silvun to finish, his voice urgent. “We need to keep them, Arani. It is possible more of them could be omegas. This could be the answer to our problem.”

The council murmured again, some nodding. I narrowed my eyes.

“There are no other omegas among them,” I said.

“How do you know?” Ulgar shot back.

“Because I would have noticed. I sensed Clay instantly, even if you did not.”

Ulgar scowled, but Jursin broke in.

“I will allow you time to deliberate Arcay. Do we release the humans, or do we keep them imprisoned.”

I nodded and rose from the table, eager to return to my quarters and the omega waiting for me there. The phantom of his scent still lingered in my nostrils, and his skin had been delicious under my fingers.

“I will give you my decision by the end of the day.”

“Arcay,” Jursin said sharply, stopping me in my tracks. “There is another matter we need to address.”

I cursed and lowered myself again. I had hoped to avoid this. Jursin’s full attention was on me again, along with every other alpha at the table.

“Yes, Arani ?”

Jursin narrowed his eyes. “The human omega.”