Page 9

Ersa

“T hank you for lunch, Ersa. I have a ton of work that I need to get through by the end of the day,” Erle said, getting to his feet. As he rounded the table, Ersa got to his feet to meet him halfway. “Come here,” Erle murmured as he pulled Ersa into his arms. Ersa leaned his head on Erle’s shoulder, soaking in the alpha’s warmth and familiar scent—a reminder of home and a sense of belonging. “I’m glad to see that you’re okay. I was worried about you in that commune house. Mother and Dad are worried about you too.”

“I know,” Ersa said.

“You should connect with them. They miss you.”

“I miss them too, but…” Ersa sighed. “It’s not easy talking to Mom. She wants me to get bonded again, and I don’t want to.”

“You don’t, but I thought…” The surprise flickering in Erle’s eyes caught Ersa off guard. “Never mind. I’ll talk to her. She won’t bother you about that anymore.”

“Thank you, Erle.”

“It’s nothing,” Erle said as he leaned down to kiss Ersa’s cheek. “I should get going. Jun, are you going to be okay?”

Jun leaned back in his chair, pushing his empty plate aside, clearly finished with his lunch. “Yes, I’ll connect with my alpha. He’ll send someone to come and fetch me.”

“Are you sure?” Erle asked, his eyes soft and understanding as he focused on Jun.

“Yes, I’m sure. Go. I’ll be fine,” Jun said.

“Okay. Ersa, I’ll see you soon,” Erle said, flashing a quick smile as he slipped out the door. Ersa waited for a beat before he turned to Jun.

“What was that about?” Ersa asked as Jun got to his feet.

“I need the washroom,” he announced, ignoring Ersa’s question as he sauntered out of the room as if he owned the place. He vanished into the washroom a few doors down the hallway, the faint echo of the sanipod sliding open filling the quiet.

Ersa sighed as he leaned on the opposite wall, his eyes focused on the door to the washroom as he tried to figure out what was going on with Jun. Three years ago, he’d tried to talk to his friend, and Jun had shut him out even then.

Not again , Ersa thought as he walked into the washroom. The steady rush of running water broke the heavy silence as Jun stood at the sink, his focus fixed on washing his hands while he pointedly ignored Ersa’s presence.

“Something is going on with you.”

“I could say the same thing about you,” Jun said, stepping close to the dryer. “Erle noticed it too. You’re sleeping with your alpha, aren’t you?”

“No!” Ersa snapped sharply, his voice cutting through the air louder and more defensive than he’d intended. Grating his teeth, he winced at the smirk on Jun’s lips. “You’re so annoying.”

“Even if you don’t tell me the truth, I know you’re sleeping with him. I’m bonded to an aggressive alpha, remember?” Jun leaned close and lifted Ersa’s arm. He rolled up the sleeve of his shirt and ran his fingers over the crescent moon bruise on Ersa’s inner arm as he said, “This tells me everything I need to know. And I can smell the alpha scent on you. Erle probably smelled it too, but he’s too modest to ask. That’s why he was surprised when you said you’re never getting bonded. He thought maybe you were planning to get bonded soon since you’re fucking your alpha.”

“Why would he think that? I’m never getting bonded. Ever.”

“Ever? So, you two are just fucking.” Jun stared at Ersa, his grey eyes assessing. “That’s unlike you. You’re not the type to have casual sex. What is really going on, Ersa?”

Ersa stared at Jun, hesitating. How much should he reveal? He bit the inside of his cheek as he weighed his words. If the omega knew the real reason he had slept with Master Quin, he would likely lose his mind. A false pregnancy was no trivial matter, especially for an omega who had already experienced the joy and heartbreak of having and losing a cub. The emotional toll was immeasurable. “We’re not fucking, as you put it. It was a onetime thing. Don’t worry about it.”

Jun’s brows knitted together as confusion flickered across his face. “A onetime thing? What do you mean?” he asked, his voice laced with uncertainty.

“I can’t tell you. Just know that it was my fault, and Master Quin overlooked my mistake and let me stay. There’s nothing going on between us.”

When Jun stared at him and said nothing, Ersa slung his arm over the omega’s shoulder, and together, they walked out of the washroom. He breathed out a sigh of relief when Jun seemed to let it go.

“Thank you for worrying about me. You’re a good friend,” Ersa said.

Jun playfully swatted at Ersa. “What are you talking about? I’m your only friend.”

“Yes, you are, and I love you so much. If there’s something going on with you, you’ll tell me, right?” Ersa said.

“Of course. I should go and let you get back to work,” Jun said as he rummaged in the satchel slung over his shoulder for his connector. He clicked through the device as he said, “Your alpha didn’t look pleased we showed up. Aggressive alphas can be weird about having strangers in their home. I hope we didn’t cause any trouble.”

Ersa cast his eyes up the stairs. “It’ll be okay.” Well, he hoped. The last thing he needed was to stir up more trouble.

“I have to go,” Jun said, snapping Ersa out of his thoughts. “My alpha is outside. Let’s get together again soon.”

“Okay,” Ersa said. “I’ll walk you out.”

“No, it’s fine. Go back to work,” Jun said in haste as he darted through the door, his footsteps echoing faintly behind him. Driven by curiosity, Ersa moved closer to the window, peering through the sheer curtain to catch sight of Jun’s alpha. A tall figure leaned against the pod, his brow arched in a firm, authoritative expression that softened as soon as Jun appeared. When Jun got close to the pod, the alpha offered him his hand, which Jun ignored as he climbed into the pod.

“He’s such a diva,” Ersa chuckled as he turned for the stairs. On his way to check on Benjn, Ersa paused in front of Master Quin’s office as he considered apologizing to the alpha for the disturbance he’d caused earlier. But I’d be disturbing him all over again , Ersa thought, sinking his teeth into his bottom lip.

“I’ve been enough of a nuisance for one day,” Ersa mumbled to himself as he continued down the hallway to Master Quin’s room. When he entered the room, Ersa was met by the melodic sound of Benjn’s coos and soft giggles, as though he was chatting with someone.

“Who are you talking to, huh?” Ersa cooed as he got closer. Benjn squirmed restlessly, his small limbs flailing in the air, a soft whimper catching in his throat. “Oh, my little alpha is upset now. Why? You were such a good boy a few minutes ago.” Ersa laughed when Benjn immediately quieted down. “Let’s go get something to eat,” Ersa said. They fell back into the routine Ersa had set for Benjn, and by evening, he had the cub fed and tucked into bed.

“Shh,” Ersa whispered when Master Quin walked into the room. The alpha’s eyes lingered on his arm before he nodded as he came to stand beside him, and together, they watched Benjn sleep. The simple activity sent a jolt through Ersa, propelling him across the room. “I’m going to get ready for bed,” he mumbled.

“About today…”

Ersa shook his head before Xander could say more. “Please, can we forget everything that happened? I feel bad as it is. I promise I’ll tell you if I have guests again.”

“Okay,” Master Quin whispered, his gaze still on Benjn. The alpha’s profile was strikingly attractive. Every sharp angle and shadow of his face exuded a magnetic allure, making Ersa long to close the distance, to press his cheek against Master Quin’s solid, strong back.

No. Ersa backpedaled out of the room, the intensity of his desire scaring him. As he hurried down the hallway toward his room, his breath came in ragged bursts. Ersa clenched a fist and struck his chest, desperate to dislodge the thick knot of emotions cutting off his air. He slapped his other hand against the access panel, and the door hissed open with a sharp whoosh. Without pause, Ersa lunged forward, nearly stumbling in his frantic rush toward the washroom.

A nice long soak in the bathing bot—that’s what I need , Ersa thought, quickly taking off his clothes. His fingers trembled as he set the bot to massage mode. He sank into the soothing embrace of the water, needing just a moment to steady himself, to make sense of the overwhelming emotions that had erupted out of nowhere. Master Quin wasn’t someone he could lean on or seek comfort from. He was his boss. And he had a bond mate, who he clearly wanted back if the holo image device on his bedside table was anything to go by.

Right , Ersa thought, exhaling a weary sigh as he let his head fall back against the headrest. The soothing heat of the water eased the tension in his muscles and loosened his chest, allowing him to draw a deep, unencumbered breath. Ten minutes later, Ersa hauled himself out of the bathing bot, exhaustion weighing heavily on him. A deep yawn escaped his mouth as he slipped into his sleeping clothes. Barely awake, he trudged back to Master Quin’s bedroom, his feet dragging against the floor. Master Quin was already in bed when Ersa slid in next to him. The lights went off, plunging them into darkness.

“Good night,” Ersa moaned as the alpha’s intoxicating, rich scent filled his lungs, chasing away his drowsiness. He backed into the warmest part of the bed, pulling the covers tight around his body as if they could shield him from the storm raging inside him. Sleep hovered just out of reach, his awareness of Master Quin’s presence so sharp and overwhelming that every breath felt heavy. The heat radiating from the alpha’s body was impossible to ignore, the scent of him wrapping around Ersa like an invisible chain. He squeezed his eyes shut, willing his body to calm—to forget the aching need twisting through him and the insistent pulse of his hole.

Fuck, he was horny.

He clung to the edge of the bed, desperate to keep the space between them, wishing he couldn’t feel the magnetic pull of Master Quin’s warmth or smell the alpha’s heady scent that stoked the fire inside him. Sleep , he told himself fiercely. Just sleep. One night—he’d given him one night. That should have been enough.

But it wasn’t.

Ersa let out a silent, frustrated groan, confused and overwhelmed by the sudden intensity of his body’s response. He’d never been like this before—so needy, so restless. It was as if he wasn’t even the same omega anymore.

“I saw the marks on your arm earlier.” Master Quin’s voice rumbled through the dark, startling him. The sound was low and rough, tinged with regret. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hurt you.”

Ersa’s heart thumped hard against his ribs, but before he could respond, the alpha went on. “I’ve ordered a bed for the nursery. It’ll arrive tomorrow. I think you’ll be more comfortable there.”

He was being dismissed.

The words landed like a stone in Ersa’s chest. He stared into the darkness, throat tight, unsure what to say. But Master Quin was right—it didn’t make sense for them to sleep together. It had seemed like a good idea last night.

“Okay,” he whispered, his voice barely audible.

“Good night, then,” Master Quin said, turning away.

Ersa lay there, still and silent, his body humming with unsatisfied hunger. He stared into the dark, counting the seconds. It wasn’t until hours later, when Benjn’s wailing shattered the quiet, that Master Quin rose to soothe the cub. The moment the warmth of the alpha’s presence left the bed, Ersa’s body finally relaxed, the tension ebbing away. As if it had been waiting for that exact moment, sleep finally claimed him, so deeply that he didn’t even hear when Master Quin returned.

The next morning, Ersa woke up alone. The bed felt too big, too cold without the warmth that had been there the night before. He stared at the empty space where Master Quin had slept, a strange heaviness settling in his stomach. Pushing the feeling aside, he forced himself out of bed and dove into his morning routine with Benjn.

Feeding the cub was still a battle—tiny fists flailing, little mouth stubbornly turning away—but Ersa was determined. He kept his patience, coaxing and soothing, praying that Dr. Alora’s experiment would work and that Benjn would reach a healthy weight soon. They still had a few days before the false pregnancy symptoms were supposed to start showing… at least, Ersa hoped they would.

By noon, the new bed arrived—a stark, uncomfortable reminder of the strange and delicate situation he found himself in with Master Quin. Ersa stood back, Benjn in his arms, watching Vina directing the delivery men where to set it up. The bed fit neatly against the opposite wall, but its presence made the room feel different. He kept telling himself it was practical, the right decision… so why did it feel so wrong?

“I must be going crazy,” he muttered under his breath, shaking his head.

Once the workers had finished, Vina followed them out, her soft murmurs of thanks drifting away as the door clicked shut, leaving Ersa alone with his morbid thoughts. To stop himself from thinking, he walked to the bed and set the cub down on the new bed. Benjn’s face broke into a wide, gummy smile, and just like that, the tight knot of confusion inside Ersa eased.

“I think we should move the settee to the window,” Vina suggested, coming back into the room with an armful of fresh sheets and covers.

“Let’s give Vina some room to work,” Ersa said, scooping Benjn up from the bed and cradling him against his chest. The cub squealed happily, his tiny hands grabbing at Ersa’s shirt. With a soft chuckle, Ersa carried him over to the crib and gently set him down. As soon as his back hit the soft bedding, Benjn’s chubby fingers stretched toward the wooden stars dangling overhead, his eyes wide with wonder. The stars twirled slowly, casting playful shadows on the walls as he batted at them with soft coos.

Ersa turned back toward the bed, moving to help Vina smooth the fresh sheets and tuck in the corners. The rhythmic motion of their hands working together filled the room with a quiet calm, broken only by the occasional giggle from the crib.

“I baked some starberry crumble squares,” Vina said after a moment, her voice light and inviting. “When we’re done here, how about some tea in the backyard?”

Ersa raised an eyebrow, curiosity piqued. “Is your baking as good as your cooking?”

Vina’s lips curled into a teasing smile. “Only one way to find out,” she said, the playful challenge in her tone sparking something competitive in him.

“Okay, I’m in.”

They finished making the bed quickly, their movements efficient and easy, and soon they found themselves in the cooking station. The warm, rich scent of fresh pastries filled the air, wrapping around Ersa like a comforting blanket. Vina opened the oven and pulled out a tray of golden, crumbly squares. Steam rose from them in delicate tendrils, and the tart scent of starberries hit him first—sweet and sharp with a hint of something effervescent. The sparkling bits of fruit glistened within the soft, buttery crumble, and Ersa’s mouth watered at the sight.

Vina arranged the pastries on a tray alongside a pot of fragrant tea and delicate cups. Together, they carried everything out to the backyard. The sun was warm but gentle, casting golden light across the soft grass. Ersa had already spread a cozy blanket and scattered a few pillows, creating a perfect little haven.

As soon as Ersa set Benjn down, the cub kicked his legs excitedly, giggling as he reached for the nearest pillow. The sound was infectious, and Ersa couldn’t help but smile as he settled in beside him.

For the rest of the afternoon, they lounged in the grass, sipping tea and savoring the warm, crumbly squares. Each bite was a perfect balance of buttery sweetness and tart, fizzy starberries, the flavors bursting across his tongue in a way that felt almost magical. Laughter and easy conversation flowed between them.

As evening fell and the sky outside turned a deep shade of purple, Ersa moved through his nightly routine with practiced care. The soft glow of the room’s lights cast warm shadows as he cradled Benjn, feeding the cub until his little eyelids began to droop. Humming softly, Ersa brushed a gentle hand over the cub’s soft curls, his heart swelling with affection. Once Benjn was full and drowsy, Ersa carried him to the crib, tucking the soft blankets around his tiny frame. The cub let out a contented sigh, his tiny fingers twitching as he slipped into sleep.

Just as Ersa stood back to admire the peaceful sight, he heard it—the faint sound of movement from the next room. Master Quin’s room.

Ersa’s breath caught, his body going taut with sudden awareness. The soft rustle of clothing, the creak of floorboards—each small sound sent a spark of anticipation racing through his veins. He froze, his gaze locking onto the door that separated their rooms, his pulse pounding in his ears. He waited, every second stretching impossibly long. He could almost feel the alpha’s presence through the walls, the warmth of it brushing against his skin like an unseen touch.

But the door never opened.

The footsteps faded, and the silence that followed pressed down on Ersa like a heavy weight. The sharp pang of disappointment took him by surprise, twisting in his chest like a knife. He scowled at himself, shaking his head as if he could banish the ridiculous ache blooming inside him.

Get it together , he thought bitterly, forcing himself to focus on adjusting Benjn’s blanket one last time.

With the cub safely settled, Ersa made his way to his own bed. The sheets were cool against his skin as he slid beneath them, but the space around him felt vast and empty. He stared at the ceiling, his mind refusing to quiet. The ache of loneliness grew sharper, a hollow space inside him that seemed to widen with every breath he took.