Page 8 of Knot Gonna Lie (Syzygy Omegaverse #1)
CHAPTER FIVE
LUCA
“I still don’t understand why you had to buy that omega those pieces.
” Stella’s dagger scraped against the laser file in sharp, irritated strokes.
She’d pulled her fiery curls into a severe ponytail, and the air crackled with cinnamon-laced pineapple tartness—a sure sign of her displeasure. “You could’ve just walked away.”
“Something compelled me.” I crossed my arms and studied my clan gathered around the mess table.
The tension hung thick as the ship’s hull plating.
Only Seth seemed unbothered by my spending, while Maia and Xavier wore matching frowns.
The others—Jaxom, Sylas, and Tobias—maintained their usual poker faces.
“Her gamma had everything under control.” Each scrape of Stella’s psyblade punctuated her words like hammer blows. “You always play hero when nobody asked. This is Syzygy Station—the safest place in the galaxy for an omega. Owen would’ve backed down the moment station enforcers arrived.”
Heat flared in my chest. “You’d sit there and watch a female omega get harassed? Do nothing while some desperate alpha ruins what should be her special day?” I challenged, gritting my teeth as I tried to get control of the surge of protectiveness that coursed through my veins.
The words erupted with more force than intended. My crew jerked back, necks exposed in automatic submission. The metallic scent of fear leaked into the air.
I gripped the table edge and forced my breathing to slow. Control. Always control.
“I don’t care if she was a stranger. Owen violated something sacred—turning her joy into fear for his own gratification.
The least I could do was try to fix what he broke.
” My gaze found Stella’s defiant green eyes.
“You’ve never questioned me before. Since you’re making this particular event into some grand conspiracy, let me clarify a few things.
Those credits came from my personal account—not the company’s, not the clan’s.
My money, my choice. If you have a problem with how I run things aboard my ship, you’re free to find another clan. ”
The silence stretched taut as a vacuum.
“I have no problem with what you did.” Seth’s quiet voice cut through the tension.
My medic rarely spoke during group discussions, preferring observation to confrontation.
His delicate features and long brown hair often led strangers to mistake him for an omega—a comparison that never failed to set his teeth on edge.
“If you hadn’t intervened, I would’ve alerted station enforcers myself.
Alphas like Owen need to learn their place. ”
“Keanu could request to stand alone if he wanted,” Tobias muttered, rolling his eyes. “But both twins insist they should share everything.”
“Little is known about alpha twins.” Seth’s medic training kicked in, clinical and precise, eying his older brother. “Most kill each other before puberty—survival instinct overriding sibling bonds. That’s why they’re raised separately now.”
Jaxom lifted his glass of hard liquor—a treat from our station excursion. “Imagine being murdered by the person who shared your mother’s womb. How did you manage growing up with Eli? Two alphas under one roof seems impossible.”
“Eli and I established boundaries early.” I ran fingers through my hair, the familiar topic helping my tension ease and stepped away from the table.
I knew the reason my scent was rolling off me in waves was that I was still keyed up from the confrontation—thanks to Stella.
I needed to get a hold of myself before my crew started to believe that I’d become unhinged by an unmated omega I would probably never see again.
“We took Father’s company and expanded it, then split into two entities.
Clean divisions, mutual respect. He handles planetside operations, I run the shipping.
Neither of us trusts anyone else with what matters most.”
“Don’t you ever wish you could own a plot of land on one of the newly established exotic planets?
” Maia glanced up from her tablet, engineering stylus pressed to her lips.
“The clan has enough credits to purchase a nice suite at one of those new resorts that have become popular lately. Or we could get a condo on one of those dome space stations.”
“I haven’t brought up how much we have accumulated yet, because I didn’t know if we would need it for an emergency or…” I stopped, unwilling to voice what everyone already knew. Our clan lacked the one thing that made wealth meaningful—an omega to share it with.
And part of the problem was me .
I hadn’t gotten around to registering myself for The Den and signing up for the available rosters. I’d been too focused on building the company—on making it work.
Every alpha knew the countdown ticking in their bones.
Too long without an omega’s stabilizing presence, and madness crept in like rust through hull breaches.
Some alphas surrounded themselves with massive clans, claimed packs of betas to stave off the inevitable.
But that path led nowhere—no omega would accept a bloated household, and the desperation only made things worse.
“I’ve avoided registering for The Den because I wanted our clan established first. Stable.
Strong enough to support not just ourselves, but an omega and whatever pack she might choose.
” I spread my hands in surrender. “If everyone agrees, I’d rather try my luck in The Den between trade runs before we decide how to spend our credits.
Better to provide everything for our future omega than splurge now and regret it later. ”
“How is it fair for some unknown omega to control what we’ve earned?
” Jaxom spat, waving his hand toward our exit ramp.
“They didn’t work hard to earn what we have.
All they do is sit here in this station with all their needs provided for them, without having to lift a hand to work.
I heard they seek jobs as hobbies! And here we are, having to work hard to be in the position that we are in, and they’re handed to them on silver platters. ”
“Keep going.” I wanted to hear this—needed to understand what festered beneath my crew’s professional facade.
“Voice your thoughts and concerns because we both know that they can’t change themselves or the position they are in, as we can’t either.
Our government has placed them behind many failsafe walls, preventing them from ever stepping off the station unless they are claimed.
How is an omega supposed to earn their keep when our very nature gravitates to them?
A clan without an omega will never be as unified as one with one. ”
“My sister’s an omega.” The words dropped like stones into still water.
“Before her scent turned sweet, she dreamed of creating matching software for tablets—helping betas find alphas looking to expand their clans. Instead, she’s locked away until some alpha deems her worthy.
” His laugh held no humor. “We don’t need elaborate stations managing our love lives.
Most betas sell everything, chase alphas across the galaxy, and end up stranded when it doesn’t work out.
When starry dreams shatter under the truth of reality… ”
“What happens if another war breaks loose before your sister enters The Den?” Sylas asked, wrapping an arm around Stella’s waist. “It’s no secret tensions have been building.
The growing power of wealthy alphas is making the government nervous, and the public’s growing tired with the deepening divide. ”
“Then I’ll beg our alpha for extended leave and extract her myself.” Jaxom’s knuckles went white around his glass. “I won’t let her become a victim like the omegas of our past.”
“She’d be welcome here,” I said automatically, then caught myself. “Though having an unclaimed omega aboard would create…tensions. But we’re equipped to handle them.”
“What if your omega doesn’t accept all of us?” Maia asked, flicking her gaze to the others. “An omega doesn’t need to claim everyone here for their pack, especially if our scents don’t grab them. Are you going to kick out the members from the clan if they don’t invite them to their nest?”
“No one will be removed from this clan,” I comforted as I let out a light purr. Even though my crew was filled with betas, they still felt the calming effects of my alpha purr as I sent my scent into the air. My clan needed a leader and to have their doubts squished.
“Could we get all of that protection in writing?” Stella sheathed her dagger with deliberate precision. “I’ve seen how that omega at the store captured your attention. How do we know you won’t abandon everything—sell the ship, take the money, disappear with whatever omega eventually claims you?”
“Stella…” Sylas reached for her hand, his weathered face creasing with concern. “We both know that Luca isn’t like that. The crew has been together for almost eight years. So why would he break us up now?”
“We both know what happens when omegas get greedy.” Her voice cracked despite her defiant posture. “I won’t go through that again. Not after we’ve finally found stability.”
“I’m not your former alpha.” The words came out sharper than intended—but she needed to believe me and my truth. “Don’t judge me by his failures.”
“Then prove it.”
The challenge hung in the air between us. Around the table, my clan—my family—watched with varying degrees of hope and skepticism. These people had trusted me with their lives, their futures. They deserved better than empty promises.
“We’re more than a business—we’re a family. Anyone who chooses me will need to understand that before earning my bite.” I looked each of them in the eye. “I won’t sacrifice this clan for any omega, no matter how badly I might want her.”
I let the silence settle before continuing.