Page 1 of Last Resort (Betas in Waiting #29)

P oppy looked at the eleven other Elite omegas who were staging for this fight. Win looked at her and said, Ready?

Ready.

One, two, three, eyes on me. Poppy opened the portal to the Stronghold, ripping through their wards like tissue.

The ladies surged forward as if they had rehearsed because they had. They scattered. Poppy got the wards down on the men below and watched the queen break her king free, and the guards were loosed by their mate. A moment later, the wards were all down, and the dark Elite were given their lecture, telling them who, what, and when they were going.

The hole in time wasn t difficult for Poppy, but keeping it straight while she dumped all that power into the universe was a bit tiring.

The ladies above had taken care of any hostile Elite, and within an hour of breaking in, they left the Stronghold devoid of dark Elite and the women who had been taken by force or sold by family. The Stronghold was emptied of power and the potential for the next generation. Local governments would get a press release in the morning about the breakdown of the Stronghold.

Poppy finished delivering everyone home, and then she stopped to chat with Wren. Wren s battle was coming up, and Poppy wanted to reassure her that the Elite omegas would be there. Indigestible magic wasn t sexy, but it made for sturdier fighters.

When they parted, Poppy got her car from Wren s and went home looking like her normal brown-haired, brown-eyed self. Wren had taught her how to glamour early on. Poppy had guarded her sleep and kept the shadows away three times a week.

She checked on her fake plant, stretched, and went to bed. Somewhere in the world, a whole bunch of dark Elite had been in the modern age for ten years, and hopefully, they were doing well.

Poppy yawned for the tenth time since coming into work, and she had only been at her desk for ten minutes.

Hey, Poppy! Tyr s voice sounded from right behind her.

She didn t yelp, but she jolted. Hey, Tyr. What do you need?

Have you done your audition for the island show?

No. Why would I? You said all the slots were filled.

They just sent a request for two female and two male contestants, two beta and two alphas. Rita is good to go, but we need another beta. Everybody else is either married, injured, or pregnant.

Or they can t swim.

Or that. So, are you ready to do the audition?

No. I don t have workout gear or anything.

Tyr grimaced. I think I can get some of Roane s for you or maybe one of the green suits.

Green suit and a sweatshirt. If I can get some swag out of this humiliation, I will consider it a win. I have runners, so that is something.

Why are you dressed up?

Office rules. Office staff has to dress like we are going to the bank, especially when we are meeting with anyone, which is later today.

Tyr winced. Oh, right. We pushed that meeting. Didn t you get the notice?

She sighed. No.

Come on, come on. We need to run you through your paces.

Because I am the only one left.

Exactly. Please, Poppy.

She took the reports she had made and set them aside. Fine. I run like a girl, though.

We are just using you as the last female. You won t have to do much. They just needed mixed alphas and betas, but now, it must be even with male and female, or one of the guys would have stepped up.

They walked through the offices and headed to the motion capture area where gym facilities were available. There were over a dozen people waiting, and the icon for the island program was there on clipboards.

Tyr scuttled ahead, got the suit and the company tee, and bustled her to the changing space.

When she came out, she was dressed in green spandex and a tee that hung to her knees.

She walked toward the gathering of her boss and his mates and the organizers. So, what do I have to do?

The darker-skinned alphas looked at her, and one seemed familiar. He asked, Ma am, have you been to the islands?

Six months ago. We spent three days and two nights on Wonder with my cousin s bachelorette party. I had to keep the ladies from biting off more than they could chew.

The guy grinned. Of course. You were on the charter.

Everybody takes a charter, but yes.

Well, thankfully, that does not disqualify your application.

Oh. Delightful. So, what do I have to do?

The woman standing next to the man who had spoken smiled and said, We just need to make sure that you can make it through the trials, more or less.

She nodded and looked at the list that was handed to her. Oh. Okay. Any order?

The male said, As long as we can see it. It will be recorded for before and after clips.

Delightful. Well, I am going to start climbing. She glanced at the cameraman. The guy gave her a nod. Yawning, she walked up to the climbing wall and just got going. Her toes pressed on the hand holds, and she pushed and pulled herself up the thirty feet of wall. Then, she quickly moved down.

She called out, What is the distance I need to run?

Two kilometres. Four times around the marked track.

Okay. Maximum time?

Ten minutes.

She yawned again, stretched, and got ready. When the cameraman dropped his arm, she ran. She went around the first two times, and then she started to get irritated. She made the third pass around and pulled out all the stops for the fourth.

Poppy panted. What next?

The man with the clipboard smiled and said, Twenty push-ups, and then we are done.

She nodded, and folks started counting as she methodically went up and down. When she got to twenty, there was a resounding cheer.

She did one more and stood. Anything else?

Her coworkers were staring at her, mouths open. She snorted, Oh, come on. You have seen me eat. I have to do something with it.

Poppy looked over at the couple from the island. Am I done?

The woman smiled. Yes. What is your job title?

Program budget manager and staff coordinator.

Tyr came up and nodded. She knows how much everything costs and is keeping everyone on track. She s a budgeting mastermind.

Poppy snorted. He normally calls me a pain in his perky ass. His words, not mine.

Tyr grinned, and Simon and Roane backed him up with wry expressions.

The man with the clipboard looked at his female companion, and they softly spoke as they looked at the footage. Poppy could hear them comparing her times to that of previous applicants. The man smiled and beckoned her over. She walked over and stood politely. Yes?

Miss McGrath, do you know how to kayak or sail, snorkel, or scuba dive?

I snorkelled on the vacation. Does that take me off the list? she asked hopefully.

The woman smiled. No. Did you want off the list? If you do, Sityr can t compete.

Poppy wrinkled her nose. Fine.

The woman grinned. I love the enthusiasm. Are you tired?

Yeah. It was an eventful weekend. Not a lot of downtime.

Another alpha from their party with a familiar aura came by. Spent time with friends?

Poppy looked at the other concealed Elite. Yeah. It was a real riot. Time flew by.

He nodded. I see. So, do you have issues cutting loose and being yourself?

Well, time and place.

Precisely. Are you looking forward to the challenges?

Not really, but I will do what I can then come home and do some gardening.

No one to miss you?

I have one artificial plant, but he and I have a calm roommate agreement situation.

He inclined his head. Good. You will be invited to hang around for an extra week on Wonder.

Why?

Filming will be stressful. You will need to decompress.

I really won t. Can I go home right after if I want? I need to be where friends and family can get me if they need me.

I am sure they will be able to be without you for two weeks.

She cocked her head. The game takes a full week. Why two?

One day for orientation and to get your gear to make sure it all fits. Then we film individual intros, and from there, the game begins.

Do you have any objection to a two-piece?

As long as it is sport and not bikini. The ladies don t like running around in hammocks. She gestured toward her chest.

He grinned. So, you clocked what I am?

Oh, sure. It s why I didn t shake your hand. They don t know, and until the notification comes out, I want to stay under the local radar.

A trip to the islands will do that for you.

Really? You seem to be adapting well with someone whose skin absorbs sunlight. You have a beta mate?

Yes. She is the partner to the king, and I am the partner to her soul. It works out well.

You were one of the separates?

He nodded slightly. My other passed a few decades ago. He wasn t strong and ended up drained to death.

Oh. Right. Well, we got there as soon as we could, she murmured.

He smiled. We know. I was in the throwback. I remember you, miss.

Poppy blinked. Oh. Right. I guess this would be about when you all started surfacing, all set to settle down.

He grinned. I have. The islands are lovely, and Haravin is everything I could wish for. Her dance studio is her pride and joy until the heir to the throne arrives.

I am glad you are both happy. Do I get disqualified if we are seen chatting?

He laughed. No. I am just here to help you adjust to island culture.

Did the others get this lecture?

When they got their spots? Yes. There are a bunch of physical challenges, and then there are social challenges. You will be asked to cook with island ingredients, learn local dances, and go spearfishing in an eat what you kill contest.

Okay. Right. That won t be a problem.

There will also be a song contest.

Balls.

He laughed. I need to get your measurements.

You say that to all the betas.

He chuckled and took out a tablet. Right. What are your sizes? Each team is getting custom-made suits with your company identification on them. Oh, and also, give me your alternate height.

As long as the swimwear isn t white. Save money on the pixelation. She smiled. She casually raised her hand five inches above her current height. Narro nodded and jotted it down. She gave him her sizes, and he grinned.

Poppy, can you come over here for me? Tyr smiled.

She made a face and stalked over to him. Yes?

Tyr paused. Uh, you did really good. Are you ready to go to the islands?

When?

Tomorrow at dawn. Can you get the reports done for the week today?

You are a complete jackass, Tyr.

He smiled. I know, but I am cute.

Not to me. To me, you are a pain in the ass. Do you have all of your updates?

Yes. They are on your desk.

I will get it done after lunch. For now, I have to prep for being gone for two weeks. I hope you have someone to do my job while I am gone.

Tyr blinked. Yes. Roane said she could spot you for two weeks.

Good. I am glad. Just be aware that will be putting her in charge of her own budgets, and without me or Forza, Rolf, and Darren, you are going to be short on all the folks that usually keep your departments in check.

Tyr shrugged. Simon and Roane will manage, or we will just turn this place into a daycare while you are gone and embrace the chaos.

What are Sityr s colours?

Red, purple, gold, and navy. Why?

They are making custom clothing for us. Since the others auditioned three weeks ago, I am guessing their clothing is sorted.

Tyr sighed. This sudden demand for more personnel is surprising, but you did really well.

And it had to be me because everyone else is either knocked up or married, and it had to be female.

Tyr wrinkled his nose. Yeah. That.

Well, yay for me. Now, excuse me. I have to finish the mountain of paperwork you have snuck onto my desk and then pack clothing for the tropics, knowing that I am just there to work. Oh, does my work insurance cover my trip and all the stupid shit I am going to get up to in the islands?

Yes, and you are covered by the program as well. For injury and recovery. I have to say, I am wondering why they need you. Antonio s company is scrambling as well. Tiberia Games is stumped, too.

She looked over at Narro. They have a plan, and they have seers, and if they think this is what they need, this is what they will have.

Seers?

Yeah. Not as flashy as snake scales, but some of them have some skills. She smiled.

Tyr looked at her and blinked before saying, You aren t one of the altered betas?

Altered? No. Different? Yes.

How different?

I guess you will just have to watch the show and find out. I expect a retention bonus if I come back to Sityr.

He stared. What do you mean? We need you.

I am eminently replaceable.

You are not. Roane was so smug when she got you working on her team.

And then I was transferred off the team because you were over budget and she was on track, and I haven t been back in my regular office since. It is very disconcerting.

Tyr looked embarrassed. You handle things so much better than I do.

Right. So, you borrowed me and never gave me back. That was very annoying.

Well, you are still working for the company and making the same pay.

She looked at him and shook her head. Read my r sum , and tell me if you think I should be happy to be doing office work. But don t talk to me today; I have work to do.

Poppy headed back to her desk and ignored the looks that she got as she headed to her cubicle. The budgets needed adjustment, and the projections needed to be revamped.

An email came through, and she got travel information for the following day. She went online and applied for a visa to the Emerald and Wonder Islands. They said the production was going to do it, but she was a last-minute addition, which meant she was going to slip through the cracks. She was good at slipping through the cracks, but just in case it was true, she contacted the hotel chains and went looking for a room. She found one, but it was away from the main area and up the hill. It was better than nothing and an excellent backup in case things got goofed with her presence. The less that she wanted something, the more fate helped her avoid it, but this time, she had to work around her own impulses.

* * * *

T yr was cuddling with his daughter when he remembered what Poppy had said. He went to look up Poppy s r sum and froze.

Roane came in. What s wrong?

Poppy s a coder and game designer.

Roane nodded. Sure. That s what she was doing for me, along with keeping my admin in line. Why? What did you think she was?

I thought she was just a bookkeeper. Admin. That kind of thing.

Roane looked at him. Seriously? When you said you wanted to borrow her, I thought your project was behind.

It was. I have been using her for budgeting and forecasting.

Roane leaned in and pinched his ear. Tyr winced. Ow! Knock it off.

Hybera giggled, and her mommy took her.

Do you know how much begging I had to do to get her to come to Sityr? How long have you had her on your team?

He mumbled, Four months?

Oh, my god. You are lucky she s stayed this long. She gets bored very easily. When she gets back from the show, I am taking her back. I am just praying that you haven t blown it already. She refuses credit, but I can show you a half dozen games she has worked on. They are all in the top twenty replayable games year after year. For the last six years.

It struck Tyr how monumentally frustrated Poppy had been. I think I am going to be sick.

Good. Serves you right. This lady is getting some mushed vegetables tonight. Papa Tyr is going to have to figure out how to grovel enough to keep an excellent coder with the company when he s been treating her like a secretary. She crooned it to the baby and walked out of the room.

* * * *

H e s an idiot and an omega, so most folks forgive his lack of interest in the people he works with. Roane sent the text. Poppy smiled at her phone.

Yeah, I figured that out. Well, I am finishing my laundry, packing, and getting a few hours of sleep. I have this feeling that tomorrow is not going to go well.

Are you ready to spend a week with a bunch of alphas?

According to the organizers, it is two weeks.

Shit. You are going to want to stay out there. I am never going to get you back.

I am sure that I can use the internet out there if I want to. We were making such progress, and then I got pulled away.

I am sorry. I thought he had actually talked to you and offered you a team position, not an admin slot.

Well, no time for sorrys. I have to get my skivvies taken care of and then pack them and get to the airport at five in the morning.

The others are going at nine.

I have checked my email six times. It says five, so at five, I am on the plane. Now, I have to get going. Wish me luck.

Good luck, Poppy.

Poppy sighed and set the phone down, watching her clothing march around the room and fold itself before putting it away. She got her bag out and measured out twice what she needed before and still only had one carry-on bag and her laptop in the other.

Her phone was set, her computer had an alarm, and she had an analog alarm waiting. She didn t get up early, especially if she only had four hours of sleep. If she could sleep on a plane, it would have been easier, but she hadn t been blessed with that gene.