Page 82 of Collateral Omega

"No. I'm going to wait for my mate. He'll come back to me." Xaine said. He focused on work and thought of nothing else. But he found himself gravitating to everything that reminded him of Holi. They made him feel better and less lonely. He bought Holi’s old home and roamed the rooms like a ghost. Holi’s scent still lingered in the house but faintly. Xaine loved spending time there. He could imagine himself living in that house with Holi.He just had to wait. No matter how long it took.

***

Five years later,

Holi

Holi couldn’t believe he was back here again. But he couldn’t resist. The inauguration party job offered a lot of credit. It was a big change from the low-paying jobs he and Blaine had to take in the rural town they moved to after they left the capital. And there weren’t many to go around. They spent some months without work. But since he was there to recuperate and find himself, Holi didn’t mind. He stretched his arms over his head and then went back to filling the serving bot.

“This is my last job,” Holi told Blaine over his shoulder. “I’m dead on my feet.”

“Me too,” Blaine said. “My super rich alpha is going to sweep me off my feet soon. And I won’t work a day in my life.”

“I mean it,” Holi said with a laugh. Blaine was crazy. He made the past five years bearable.

“I mean it too. Didn’t you see them in there? I only have to choose one, and I’m set.”

Holi saw them. His stomach squeezed tight, thinking of Xaine. But he didn’t like parties or crowds. The alpha wouldn’t come to the party. Everyone came out to witness Deltta Kohle’s second inauguration. After everything that’s happened on their planet, they needed some joy. Holi hoped everything would go back to normal now that Deltta was back where he belonged.

“Are you done or daydreaming over there?” Blaine asked.

“I’m done. Let’s go,” Holi said. He turned the bot on, and they made their way back into the party hall. Holi moved among the crowd serving them food. He stopped walking when he thought he saw someone familiar.

“Jamue? I thought that was you,” Holi smiled.

“Are you alright?” Jamue stepped close to him. “Holi?”

He waved him off. “I’m fine. Just tired. I’ve been running around all day.”

“Really?”

“I work for the food service company.” Jamue noted the serving bot behind him.

“Holi…”

“Don’t…don’t do that. Don’t pity me,” he said. He might not be rich like them, but he was doing well. “It was good to see you. I haven’t seen you since…” Holi’s eyes drifted over Jamue’s shoulder. Holi couldn’t believe his eyes. It was him. Jamue’s true mate. “You found him! It’s really him, isn’t it? The alpha you met five years ago. You found him.”

Jamue grasped his arm. “You know what happened to me five years ago? Tell me.”

“You don’t remember?”

Jamue shook his head.

Holi bit his bottom lip worriedly, looking around. “Your father is going to kill me for this.”

Jamue grasped his hands. "Holi, please."

“Fuck, I’m dead anyway. Do you remember what I told you about claiming marks? Do you remember, Jamue?”

“I remember.”

“I lied. It wasn’t me, Jamue…it was you.”

Jamue’s grip tightened on his hands. “What do you mean it was me? Did an alpha claim me? Was I bonded to someone?” The desperation in his cousin’s voice was heartbreaking. Holi opened his mouth to tell Jamue the truth but stopped.

“Holi!” Uncle Isa’s voice split the air. Holi jerked away from Jamue, terrified. “Keep your mouth shut if you know what’s good for you.”

“Sorry,” Holi bowed and backed away.

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