Page 21 of Knot Gonna Lie (Syzygy Omegaverse #1)

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

JAXOM

Luca pressed a gentle kiss to Elara’s forehead before reaching for her empty plate, his movements tender but purposeful. “I need to handle a few business matters,” he announced, stacking the dishes with careful precision. “Jaxom, Seth—could you help Elara figure out what she needs before we leave?”

“When are we departing?” Stella asked, her blade maintenance pausing as she studied our alpha’s tense expression.

“After dinner,” Luca replied, his voice carrying an edge of urgency that made my stomach clench.

“It’s crucial we complete our business at The Center and gather everything Elara requires.

Quinn gave me a warning—the other alphas aren’t pleased with me.

I can’t afford for my deception to be exposed and find myself forced to face the Matron. ”

“Seth and I will review what we gathered last night and determine what still needs collecting with Elara,” I said, catching the tension in his shoulders and offering a reassuring nod. “Don’t worry—we’ve got this covered.”

“Thank you.” He nodded. “I know I can trust you to be thorough.”

As Luca stepped away, I pulled out my vidtablet and brought up the inventory system.

The holographic interface bloomed into existence, casting ethereal light over my hands.

I scrolled through the logs from last night—the crew had done adequate work tagging Elara’s essentials, but her personal items remained scattered, waiting to be relocated.

I flagged what still needed moving to the nest room, then switched to our ship’s broader manifest.

“So what exactly do we still need from The Center before we leave?” I murmured, more to myself than anyone else. The system filtered through categories: medical supplies, nesting materials, food reserves—everything we’d need to keep her comfortable. “I don’t want to miss anything important.”

A shift in the air, warm and close—her arm brushed mine as she settled into the adjacent seat. My pulse quickened before I could stop it.

Elara leaned in, eyes bright with curiosity as she studied the floating data. “What is that program?”

Pride swelled in my chest like a warm tide. No one had ever shown genuine interest in my work before—most crew members only cared when supplies ran low.

“It’s my inventory management system,” I explained, unable to suppress the excitement creeping into my voice. “I both programmed and designed it to track everything from medical supplies to food stores, even down to cleaning materials and personal hygiene products.”

“Was it difficult to create?” She moved closer, her sweet scent wrapping around me like silk—now carrying hints of our alpha’s coconut and sunshine, the claiming scent that marked her as his.

“The basics weren’t too challenging, but mastering the advanced features took months.” I couldn’t believe she was genuinely interested in my work. “Would you like me to show you how it functions?”

“Please.” Her smile bloomed genuine and warm—sending my heart into double-time.

How could she affect me like this?

I navigated through the interface, explaining how I monitored not just our vessel’s supplies but coordinated logistics across the company’s entire fleet. “See these green indicators? That’s optimal stock. Yellow means we’re running low. Red signals critical shortage.”

“You manage inventory for the entire company?” Her eyes sparkled with genuine curiosity.

“Company-wide coordination, yes. Each ship has local managers, but I oversee the bigger picture—ensuring deliveries aren’t delayed due to supply chain issues.” The fact that she cared enough to ask made me want to explain everything. “It’s more complex than people realize.”

“That sounds incredibly important.” She studied the data streams with obvious intelligence. “How do you track everything across such vast distances?”

I opened my mouth to answer—

Seth cleared his throat from across the table. “Elara, would you mind if I examined your mark? I want to ensure it’s healing properly.”

I bit back a sigh as Elara turned, sweeping her hair over one shoulder to expose the fresh claim—the angry red wound at her neck’s juncture.

Seth glanced my way—brief, apologetic—before focusing on the mark.

He moved closer, trained eyes assessing with clinical precision.

“May I touch it gently? I need to check for signs of infection.”

The movement released another wave of her divine scent—now thoroughly infused with our alpha’s claiming pheromones. I looked back to my interface, blinking hard, trying not to breathe too deeply.

“Of course.”

He pressed fingertips around the edges with practiced care. “How does it feel?”

“Still tender,” she admitted, wincing slightly at his touch. “But not unbearable.”

“Any ongoing pain?”

“Only when it happened, but that faded quickly.” She met his gaze with curious eyes. “Do you and Jaxom have marks like this?”

Seth and I exchanged meaningful glances. The question revealed just how much the station had sheltered her from basic knowledge about our society.

“Betas don’t receive marks,” Seth explained gently. “Not unless we’ve sworn ourselves to an omega—and through that bond, to their alpha.”

“How did you not know that?” I asked, concern threading through my voice. “What exactly were they teaching you at the station?”

Seth’s expression darkened with worry. “This is troubling, Elara. Basic societal structure should be fundamental knowledge.”

Elara’s body stilled, eyes widening. She looked like someone who’d just had the ground pulled from beneath her feet. The shift hit hard—not just shock, but the weight of realization. She’d been kept blind. Lied to.

Were the gammas purposely leaving omegas ill-informed?

“I’m…starting to realize that,” she murmured, her voice quieter than before—no longer curious, but cracked with something heavier.

The change in her struck deep. No longer merely curious, but wounded by the understanding of how thoroughly she’d been deceived. It only made me more relieved she’d chosen our alpha—and more determined to get my sister out of that place.

“Let me explain,” Seth said, settling back in his chair. “Over generations, alphas became increasingly unstable due to the scarcity of omegas and clan bonds to anchor them. In response, omegas evolved biological protections—creating layers of defense against unstable or enemy alphas.”

“This evolutionary adaptation intensified during the Great Void War,” I continued, watching her absorb this information. “Alphas fought brutal conflicts over territorial control and space boundaries. Entire sectors burned while they battled for dominance.”

“It was the gammas who finally united as a force,” Seth added, his voice carrying the weight of history.

“They purged the most dangerous alphas and established omega sanctuaries. Only stable alphas wealthy enough to provide safe homes—ensuring their omegas lack for nothing—are permitted the chance to be chosen.”

“How did you not know any of this?” I asked, genuine bewilderment coloring my words.

Elara turned toward the viewport, gazing out at the star-scattered void beyond.

“I’m beginning to understand how much the enforcers and caretakers keep us sheltered here.

They control our access to information.” Her voice carried a note of longing that made my chest tighten.

“I want to know the truth. I crave the freedom to discover what exists beyond these walls.”

“Our clan will show you the universe,” I promised, meeting her emerald gaze with unwavering sincerity. She held it—steady, searching. “If you’ll let us.”

Her smile bloomed slowly, tentative but real—soft and full of possibility. I wanted to prove those words true more than anything.

“But first,” I said, returning to my vidtablet with renewed focus, “we need to determine what you’ll require for your new life with us. The Center should have everything—clothing, personal items, nesting materials.”

Her smile faltered slightly. “I honestly don’t know where to begin. I’ve never had to think about what I needed…beyond what the station provided.”

The admission landed hard. I pulled up a clean note tab, keeping my tone casual. “Okay, let’s start simple. What kind of clothes do you like? Casual wear, formal attire, sleepwear?”

“Everything, I suppose.” Her hands fidgeted in her lap. “I want to look presentable—as part of your clan.”

“You’ll look beautiful in anything.” Seth’s voice came soft from across the table, full of warmth. “But nothing beats seeing your mate in your shirt.”

Elara blushed, fingers curling into the hem of her borrowed garment.

“But comfort should be your priority too,” he added more gently.

I nodded and continued scrolling through categories, careful not to draw attention to our new omega’s flustered state—no need to embarrass her further.

“What about nesting supplies?” I asked casually. “Blankets, pillows, scent-marking materials?”

Elara tilted her head slightly. “Scent-marking materials?”

Seth answered before I could. “Our company developed jewelry specifically for that—necklaces, bracelets, that sort of thing. They’re crafted with hyper-absorbent gems designed to hold a pack’s scent. Useful for omegas who need comfort or grounding—especially when their mates are away.”

“We’ve got some aboard the vessel for you,” I said, pointing to the list we’d kept ready for any omega in need. “A necklace with matching bracelet. They’re yours—use them whenever you like, especially if you’re separated from the clan…or your pack.”

“Really?” Her eyes widened, absorbing every word like something entirely new. “I…I’m not entirely sure what else I need.”

The way she said it—small, uncertain—twisted something in my chest. Not because she lacked knowledge, but because no one had ever thought to give it to her. Another gap in her education we’d need to fill.

“That’s okay,” I assured her. “We’ll figure it out together. That’s what a clan does. We’ve got you.”