Page 98 of Knot Gonna Lie
“I have my betas with me,” I replied, steeling myself as I turned toward the alpha towering behind me. Forcing myself to remain calm, I kept my gaze averted, peering over his shoulder to spot my betas loosely surrounded by a group dressed in fancy white-and-gold robes. “But it seems you already know that.”
“Where’s your alpha, omega?” He let out a hum and bent down so our heads were level, locking his amber eyes with mine. “You must be a new arrival. I haven’t seen you around, and I know all omegas on my planet.”
My planet.
Alpha Zeke.
The owner of Planet Tera 9 and Head Alpha of the large, tiered clan that ruled it.
“You don’t have to tell him, Elara,” Stella growled as she tried to fight her way past two of the robed figures. “We haven’t done anything wrong!”
Licking my lips, I pulled my gaze from the nosey alpha and peered at my troubled betas, hoping for guidance from them. Maia was frantically working her wristband, and Stella kept trying to force her way to me. The fear in their eyes stunned me to the core.
What had I landed in here?
“May I help you?” The words felt weak upon my lips, but I couldn’t allow my nerves to get the best of me. “I don’t believe I caught your name.”
“Everyone knows who I am, Elara.” The suave alpha grabbed my hand and slowly brought it to his lips, planting a gentle kiss on my knuckles. His amber eyes held mine as if daring me to resist his charm. “I’m Alpha Zeke, Head Alpha of this planet, and I want to know where your alpha is.”
“What do want with my alpha?”
I tried to pull my hand away, but he tightened his grasp, preventing me from escaping. The smirk on his face dared me to fight him, but I wouldn’t give in.
“Rumor has it that the two of you caused a lot of havoc on Syzygy Station, and now, they’re looking for ways to prevent a repeat.” He let out a deep chuckle and finally released my hand. “Tell me. What attracted you to him?”
“I admired how protective he was…” I licked my lips. “He respected me and attempted to correct the mistakes of another alpha.”
“It wasn’t his scent or his appearance that made you feel confident about choosing him?” His eyes narrowed as he tiltedhis head, studying me. “Or perhaps…did you know about his company and the fortune that came with it?”
“Fortune had nothing to do with it. I knew nothing about who he was or what he owned,” I countered, offended by his implication. “No amount of money can make up for what an alpha lacks as a person. I knew it was my time to leave the station, and I wanted to be tied to a decent alpha. Luca came into my life at the right moment, and now, we are mated.”
“Every omega wants to be pampered—”
“And every alpha wants an omega.”
“You don’t have to tell me that, omega.” Alpha Zeke let out a low growl. “I know what alphas and omegas want. If I didn’t, I wouldn’t have my position.”
“While I can’t deny your success, I don’t understand what I’ve done to gain your attention.”
“You’re the omega of a powerful clan.” Sucking in a deep breath, he closed his eyes and hummed in satisfaction at what he smelled. “Not only do you have beauty that could capture a room, but your scent is also divine and brings others to their knees. I’m a powerful alpha in need of powerful allies, and I’m willing to do many things.”
“What do you mean?”
Warning bells rang within me at his veiled threat.
This was a dangerous male, and we were guests in his territory.
Stories of alphas from the past swirled around me. They had lived by their own rules, not at the mercy of laws made by the gammas. Alphas in the time of the Great War would kidnap omegas—mated or not—if they thought they were of any use.
Some were tortured as bait to bring their alpha and clan out of hiding. Others were used and killed to make their enemies rage with insanity.
I prayed to the Stars that the past wouldn’t repeat itself.
I knew tensions surrounding the gammas who ran the station were running high, especially since the unbonded alpha to omega ratio was no longer even.
Alphas were starting to become desperate—and I might have placed a target on my neck.
Instincts kicked in as my hand flew to Luca’s claim, and I pressed my thumb hard against the skin, hoping our connection was strong enough for him to pick up my emotions. I needed my pack. I had been on the station for far too long and had lost touch with how the world outside worked. It had been a mistake to believe that I could spend the afternoon shopping in the bazaar with the ladies of my clan without a problem.
