Page 3 of Naga’s Mate (Prime Omegaverse #2)

CHAPTER 2

SCENT IN THE AIR

POV: NEZZAR

The greenhouse throbs with vitality around me, its atmosphere dense with moisture calibrated precisely for naga physiology. I navigate through the lush vegetation with practiced silence, my serpentine lower half flowing across polished stone pathways like liquid shadow. Security personnel straighten as I approach, their scales catching the ethereal glow of bioluminescent flora that illuminate our domain. They maintain respectful silence, well-trained in proper protocols. Five years since the Conquest, and my cultivated reputation ensures inspections proceed without trivial interruptions.

This preliminary assessment was intended as mere formality. Elder Xylem arrives tomorrow with his contingent of specialists, and New Ophidia's premier research facility must be impeccable. The Agricultural Research Complex stands as testament to naga superiority—merging human botanical expertise with our refined understanding of chemical compounds. A model of integration that other territories in the Serpent Dominion would be wise to replicate.

My muscular coils adjust their position as I examine the security logs at the monitoring station. Everything appears orderly, as expected from a facility under my command. The lower portion of my body contracts subtly, an unconscious recalibration of musculature that humans find disconcerting to observe. Their discomfort provides quiet amusement, though I maintain the impassive expression befitting my rank.

I prepare to continue my inspection circuit when something arrests my attention. A disturbance in the atmospheric composition, so faint that momentarily I question my sensory perception.

My forked tongue extends instinctively—sampling the moisture-laden air, drawing microscopic particles across specialized chemoreceptors. Information floods my neural pathways with primal clarity.

Omega .

The signature is peculiar—artificially subdued, chemically masked, yet unmistakable. Impending heat. Fertility and biological promise encoded in molecular markers that trigger ancestral hunting responses. My pupils contract to narrow vertical slits, vision sharpening as predatory instincts activate without conscious decision.

"Report," I command the nearby guard, voice maintaining its measured cadence despite the heightened alertness coursing through my system. "Which omega has authorization for Section G tonight?"

The guard's bewilderment appears genuine. "None, Commander. No omegas have clearance for restricted sections."

Precisely as I suspected. I taste the air again, separating the omega signature from the botanical symphony of chemical compounds. The scent carries distinctive markers—female, unmated, approaching fertility cycle. But beneath these, something unprecedented. Chemical suppressants, sophisticated enough to nearly obscure her biological designation. Nearly, but not completely.

"Maintain standard patrol patterns," I instruct the guard. "I will personally investigate a potential security breach."

My body transitions to hunting mode, pursuing the elusive scent trail deeper into Section G. This particular quadrant houses our most valuable botanical specimens—rare flora with properties essential for medical applications, breeding enhancement formulas, and territorial defense mechanisms. Access remains strictly limited, security protocols designed under my direct supervision.

Yet someone has penetrated them. Not merely someone—an unregistered omega .

My tongue samples the air again, mapping my quarry's movements. Swift, methodical progression. Not random wandering, but purposeful navigation of someone with clear objectives. This omega knows the facility intimately. Not an external intruder, but someone concealing their true nature within our established hierarchy.

Intriguing. And potentially valuable.

I follow the molecular trail through the labyrinthine pathways, my powerful form sliding between towering specimens with predatory silence. The elevated humidity intensifies the omega's signature despite chemical masking. Each sampling brings sharper clarity—the unmistakable sweetness of approaching fertility, the unique biochemical profile of a specific individual, artificial compounds attempting to suppress biological imperatives.

Illegal suppressants. A significant violation of Conquest law. One typically resulting in immediate transfer to breeding facilities.

Through a gap in densely modified ferns, I glimpse my quarry—a slender figure moving with unexpected competence among toxic specimens. Her movements display scientific precision alongside the growing instability of someone battling rising heat symptoms. Copper-red strands escape from beneath a dark cap, features partially obscured while body language reveals trained intelligence.

Not an ordinary omega, then. Someone with specialized knowledge. Someone with value beyond reproductive capacity.

I maneuver through peripheral routes, using the complex architectural layout to observe from multiple vantage points without revealing my presence. I could terminate this hunt immediately, but her methodical specimen collection fascinates me. She harvests with evident expertise, handling toxic variants that would prove lethal within moments of improper contact. Her hands move with scientific confidence despite subtle tremors I detect—early heat symptoms fighting through chemical suppression.

Most remarkable is her navigation of security protocols. She avoids surveillance angles with practiced precision, times her movements between sensor sweeps, utilizes plant masses to disrupt thermal detection. This omega hasn't accidentally discovered restricted areas—she's been exploiting these vulnerabilities systematically, perhaps for years, without detection.

Such intelligence warrants recognition. Such specialized knowledge deserves preservation.

When she pauses beside a rare blue orchid variant—one of our most closely guarded specimens—her movements become increasingly precise. She extracts samples with clinical efficiency, measuring exact portions before securing them in specialized containers. Her purpose crystallizes immediately: harvesting key components for synthesizing suppressants. Utilizing our botanical treasures against their intended purpose, to conceal her true designation.

The transgression merits severe consequences. The ingenuity demands acknowledgment.

My decision forms with predatory clarity. This omega will not be processed through conventional channels. Will not be consigned to a breeding center where her intellectual capacity would be squandered while her reproductive function served its purpose. No—this rare confluence of omega biology and scientific acumen belongs under specialized arrangement.

With me.

I observe her completing her collection, noting increasing difficulty maintaining physical stability. Another wave of heat symptoms, stronger than previous manifestations. The suppressants are deteriorating faster than her calculations anticipated. Soon, her biochemical signature will be unmistakable to any naga in proximity, not merely one with my specialized training in molecular detection.

She begins retreating along a meticulously planned route, still unaware of my presence tracking her every movement. Each step reveals deeper understanding of facility operations—utilizing maintenance corridors, anticipating guard rotations, exploiting ventilation patterns to minimize scent dispersion.

This unregistered omega has constructed an elaborate survival framework within our territory. Impressive. Ultimately futile, but impressive nonetheless.

I maintain optimal hunting distance, allowing the illusion of escape while analyzing her methodologies. Better to comprehend her full capabilities before initiating the claim. Knowledge that will prove advantageous once she serves under my direct authority.

My tongue extends once more, detecting a sudden shift in her biochemical profile. The suppressants are failing more rapidly now, her body's natural omega responses accelerating in proximity to alpha pheromones, even those not consciously perceived. Biological imperatives asserting dominance over chemical interference. Natural design overwhelming scientific intervention, as evolutionary law dictates.

Perfect timing. By the time I complete her claiming, she'll enter full heat—responsive despite whatever mental resistance she attempts. Her physiology will recognize what her consciousness still rejects, accepting my dominance as nature intended.

Through dense vegetation, I observe her hesitate at an intersection, verifying security positions. Her hand rises instinctively to her throat—characteristic omega gesture when heat symptoms intensify. Fighting instinct with conscious control. The motion confirms my assessment: suppressant failure approaches critical threshold. Soon, no chemical barrier will separate her true nature from my claim.

I permit her to advance fifty meters further, tracking with predatory patience. Let her believe escape remains possible momentarily. The hunt's conclusion remains inevitable, but these final observations provide valuable insight into her methods.

My decision solidifies. This omega will not be dispatched to a breeding facility. Her expertise with botanical compounds combined with her evident intelligence makes her too valuable for standard reproductive assignments. I will claim her myself—maintain her research capabilities under my direct supervision while ensuring her omega biology fulfills its evolutionary purpose.

The optimal solution. Advantageous for the Serpent Dominion's scientific objectives. Satisfying for my personal interests.

I prepare to strike, muscles coiling with controlled power. This hunt concludes now, on my terms. The unregistered omega has demonstrated sufficient expertise to confirm her value. Time to claim what conquest law has already determined belongs to me.

Time to introduce Dr. Lyra Wilson to her authentic nature, and to her new reality.