Page 32 of The Accidental Omega
He shrugs. “I’m an alpha in an established, well-off pack that was recently blessed with an omega. What do I care what others might think? Besides,” he steps into Zallan’s spread legs and his hand cups Elizabeth’s face, “I would never turn down more time with you.”
Zallan’s handheld makes an urgent sound. He sighs and digs it out, as Nara takes Elizabeth’s hand and helps her stand. He leads her over to where he is cooking.
Zallan grunts, frustrated. “Shit. The nanofliers are backordered. Again.” He frowns, tapping out a response.
Elizabeth looks up, holding a spatula. She tilts her head as she asks, “Nanofliers?”
Zallan opens his mouth but pauses. His eyes take us all in. Nara’s face is soft, Ry’s guarded. I shrug.
Traditionally, omegas aren’t involved in any pack concerns that aren’t related to the raising of kits or basic household things.
We kept our omegas protected. Safe. Yes, some prefer to help outside of the home, especially city packs, but omegas are generally sheltered from stress.
And look where that got us.Perhaps if we had not downplayed the Red Paralysis, kept the knowledge from them, we would not have lost them all.
“Tell her,” I say, eyes on Zallan.
Everything is new to us; both to our pack specifically, and to our planet. We are only now, in the last few turns, getting any number of omegas matched.Who knows what each pack does in the confines of their own homes?
Her head turns. “Why would you not?”
There’s an edge in her tone.
Ry frowns, sighing. “Tradition,” he growls.
Please let her drop it.
She glares but Zallan cuts it off. “Yes. Nanofliers. They are... bots? Drones? Do either of those translate?”
She looks back to his face, “Yes, both.”
“Well, we ordered another contingent for the Setias Community—”
“But why?” She questions. “And why wouldyouhave done that?”
Ry growls again, “Do not interrupt.”
She levels him with a glare that would turn most’s Celnoe’s tails but he looks back calmly.Shit, she’s a wild little thing.
But I catch Zallan looking chagrined and I cringe.These are probably things we should have spoken of in more detail with our little omega.
“As you may recall, our pack, Gathea, founded Setias eight turns ago. We’ve grown from three founding packs to nearly thirty. We are not just the founders, I am the Governor here. That means I manage... well, just about everything.”
She seems to absorb that but then looks around, the stream burbling happily, Autious sinking behind the mountains, its light disappearing, the darkening forest surrounding our small clearing buzzing happily.
I chuckle, guessing at her confusion. “We have a town square not far from here, but each pack designs their own home, which must meet certain requirements, including undisturbed woodland. But we all meet in town square twice a phase.”
She frowns. “What’s a phase?”
Nara responds, “Eight nights.”
Elizabeth nods as she flips a ferczen berry on the grill.
“Okay, so you’re in charge of like... major decisions and procurement?”
Zallan smiles, “That’s a good summation. Also for trading our product.”
She turns, grabbing plates. She’s the most at ease I’ve seen her. I love it. Love seeing her slot into our lives.
