Page 52 of Knot Gonna Lie (Syzygy Omegaverse #1)
CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN
ELARA
The ramp descended with mechanical precision, unveiling a canvas of impossible beauty—white sun bleeding against purple sky, a watercolor dream made real.
Oceanic winds caught my robe, silk threatening rebellion against skin still tender from all my claiming and my nearby heat. Every brush of fabric whispered memory—hands, mouths, promises etched in bruises that still throbbed with satisfaction.
Three alabaster domes rose before me, architectural prayers tilting away from the landing pad like supplicants bowing to an unseen deity. Windows caught sunlight and transformed it into liquid gold, while second-story balconies wrapped each structure in elegant embrace.
The center dome commanded attention, largest and closest, its walkway stretching toward us like an invitation written in stone. Sister domes flanked it on opposite sides, covered walkways threading them together—a trinity of sanctuary.
Rainbow grass shimmered beneath alien sun, each blade a prism splitting light into colors that had no names in any language I knew. Exotic ferns and trees that might have been palms in another life created living walls between properties, privacy dressed in botanical splendor.
“It’s beautiful.” The words escaped before thought could cage them, my hand rising to cover lips that still remembered last night’s kisses. “Like nothing I’ve seen before.”
“All of Tera looks like this.” He stepped beside me, shading eyes against violet sky.
“This planet is a private resort-like retreat for the wealthy. Every development has neatly gridded layouts to allow every property a gorgeous view, privacy, and easy access to the trade hub. Most of the residents here are trying to relax with their omega as they ride their heat. The beta who owns this particular resort is the brother of the planet’s lord. ”
“Lord?”
“This planet has a unique history.” Seth’s fingers found mine, possession dressed as tenderness.
“During the Great War, Alpha Zeke’s grandfather discovered this planet and built a large base before moving his ship production business here.
He created a large following. His clan was so gigantic that it was almost cult-like—perhaps like the historic mafias on Earth—with a tiered hierarchy.
Alpha Zeke had a rank of alphas beneath him, who each had personal clans. ”
The explanation continued, painting pictures of power structures and business empires drawn in clean lines. But my attention drifted to the way his thumb circled my wrist, to Jaxom’s nearness at my back—heat without contact, tension humming.
“This system prevented other alphas from trying to establish themselves here, and the gammas left him alone since he wasn’t technically breaking any laws.
All the omegas his clan had taken in wanted to be here and were happy with their alphas.
Alpha Zeke wanted a place to keep all his network’s omegas pampered and happy, so he created his first resort and built it on the opposite continent from his business headquarters to preserve this exotic feeling. ”
Wanted to be here. Happy with their alphas. The words tasted like honey laced with something darker, sweeter, more dangerous—like hiding poison.
“Once he discovered how much the omegas loved it here, he decided to make it a new business venture. That’s how this trade hub was created.
Selling plots of land on an exclusive planet is lucrative.
Alpha Zeke and his network rake in profits, and they’ve created a place where other businesses can establish themselves, too. ”
“So, this is like a business resort?”
“Correct.” Jaxom’s smile carved dimples into stubbled cheeks as he claimed my other hand. “While the omegas have fun with their clan, the alphas conduct business in the background.”
Genius wrapped in silk gloves—using family empire to build planet-wide ventures. Alpha Zeke understood what most omegas craved after years of station life: luxury that bordered on worship, privacy during vulnerable heat cycles, sanctuary dressed in marble and gold.
The side path wound through whispering ferns toward our private dome. The villa’s entrance swallowed us whole, and nothing could have prepared me for what waited within.
Open concept breathed around us, a stairway tucked discretely aside while minimal walls separated the full-size kitchen from dining and living spaces.
White marble-like stone dominated every surface, silver details catching light like captured stars.
The dome’s exterior color echoed throughout, while tropical paintings—local flora bursting in impossible hues, sunsets that belonged to alien skies—transformed walls into windows to paradise.
Natural sunlight poured through the open ceiling’s skylight, liquid gold pooling on pristine floors. A balcony circled the second floor opening, walls dividing it into private sections like secrets waiting to be discovered.
Surfaces lay bare, floors naked of accent pieces. No pillows softened furniture edges, no rugs interrupted the light-brown wood’s expanse.
“Luca wanted you to decorate the villa as you see fit.” Jaxom’s squeeze conveyed messages fingers couldn’t speak aloud. “We didn’t have the opportunity to include you when we were shopping for a clan house, so he was hoping this would suffice.”
“What do you mean?” Wonder stole my voice as I released their hands, spinning to take in the enormity of what they offered. “This is more than enough.”
“Are you sure?” Seth’s uncertainty flickered between his pack brother and me. “We don’t want you to feel—”
My hand silenced his doubts, fingers gentle against lips that knew every inch of my surrender.
“I feel loved. I promise.” The shrug came naturally, truth dressed in simple gesture. “If I had any concerns, I would’ve let you know, but this villa is perfect. Honestly. I couldn’t ask for anything else.”
“The ladies wanted to take you shopping to the bazaar as soon as you feel fit.” Jaxom studied me, searching for cracks in my contentment. “If you see anything you want for yourself or for the villa, you can buy it there.”
“I look forward to it.”
“Good.” Seth’s palm found the small of my back, heat bleeding through fabric as he guided me toward a side door. “Now let’s show you our pack dome.”
“But what’s on the second floor?” My gesture encompassed the ring of private balconies above. “Who lives up there?”
“This is the clan’s common area. We come together as one large clan and host guests here. The second floor hosts Luca’s office and the spare bedrooms.”
“And the other dome?” The matching doorway on the room’s opposite side beckoned with unspoken promises.
“Yes. Almost every villa in the resort has a similar concept to provide the omega and their pack privacy from the rest of the clan, especially during their heat.”
The path between domes wound through ferns, botanical guardians of intimate spaces.
Alpha Zeke’s genius revealed itself in details—understanding how to choreograph a clan’s dance between togetherness and solitude, especially when heat turned need into desperation.
Our pack’s dome opened before us, familiar yet transformed.
The color scheme echoed the main house, but intimacy replaced grandeur.
No walls divided the second-floor balcony—the entire floor belonged to me alone.
A full kitchen nestled beside a massive bench booth instead of formal dining.
Reading nooks beckoned from corners, loveseats and barrel chairs scattered like invitations to languid afternoons.
Empty bookshelves and cabinets waited to be filled with pieces of a life not yet lived.
Decoration hadn’t touched this space—potential hung heavy as perfume in the air.
“Do you like it?” Worry threaded through Seth’s voice as he searched my expression for truth. “We wanted to give you as much of a blank slate as possible, but enough furniture to provide you with ample space to lounge.”
“Honestly, Seth.” My lips found his briefly, tasting concern and something sweeter beneath.
“I don’t think you understand that this is more than enough for me.
All I wanted was to get out of the station, find a gentle and caring alpha, and be part of a clan.
This is nice and all, but I’m starting to feel like it may be too much. ”
Too much—when everything before had been not enough. The irony tasted like freedom on my tongue.
“Nothing is too much when it comes to keeping our omega happy.” Jaxom’s fingers tucked hair behind my ear, the gesture achingly tender for hands that knew how to command.
“We wanted to buy a vacation home before we even met you. Now that we have you, it just gives us more of an excuse to spend our money.”
“Like you need an excuse to buy things.” The eye roll came naturally, teasing wrapped in truth. “I’ve seen how quick you’re to purchase and how full your storage bay was. If you come with us tomorrow, I bet you’ll spend more than me.”
Luca’s presence filled the doorway before his scent reached us—dark spice and barely leashed tension that made my newly formed bond sing with recognition and warning in equal measure.
His jaw carried the particular tightness that meant business, meant blood, meant the kind of conversations that happened behind closed doors while omegas waited in gilded cages.
“Eli’s here.” The words fell between us, weighted with implications that made Seth’s hand tighten against my spine. “I need to meet with him. Alone.”
Alone. The word carved hollow spaces in my chest, places where pack bonds had only just begun to nest. Since the moment they’d claimed me, since heat had burned through my veins and left me reformed in their image, we hadn’t been apart. Not truly. Not like this.
“How long?” My voice betrayed nothing of the sudden vertigo, the sense of tethers stretching toward breaking.