Page 87 of Rebel Fates

“Won’t you let us try?” Rok interjects.

Gemma turns abruptly to look at our most resistant mate. “You?I thought you didn’t want me around.”

“I didn’t,” Rok says with sorrow. “But when I healed your cuts, I saw your soul. I understand the pain you’ve suffered in your life. Wounded. I will do my best to make you forget. To heal.”

“Because you were abused too?” she asks skeptically.

“I will never allow you to feel the pain of rejection again. I know from experience how deep it cuts,” Rok swears. “We all can start over. Together.”

She shuffles over to look him in the eye, still on her knees. “And are you ready for that now?”

“I think with you, we are. You make us better males. I can become the devoted mate I always intended to be.”

Rok’s eyes fill with sorrow and hope. I would accept him as my pack-mate all over again at this moment. He is so vulnerable. I don’t think I’ve ever seen him be so honest.

Gemma faces Serrat, and says, “I don’t want to push you out of your position. I know nothing about being a leader.”

“Then I will teach you what I know.” Serrat’s voice is low and sincere. “And I will gladly follow a fierce female such as you.”

Her skin flushes with heat and the golden color deepens.

She leans in, sniffing Serrat.

His eyes dilate to almost completely black. That close, he could take her neck in his jaws, claim her without her permission.

Breathing raggedly, she turns to Crax. “Will you let us go free if you get your information from our mating?”

“Is this what you want?” Crax tilts his head. “All of you?”

Gemma bites her lip, and I want to nibble that lip myself. But her eyes go soft and sad.

“I don’t want to be a slave anymore,” she says in a quiet voice. “But I think I’ve been one my whole life. A slave to my abusers. A slave to my fears. What if this whole situation is just another cage?”

“It could be,” Crax agrees. “However, to not live at all isn’t freedom either. This is your choice. But according to the research I’ve done ontransformingomegas, the alternative is that you will probably die if you do not choose a mate during your transformation.”

Gemma gazes up at Crax, and I sense she is considering her options.

“What do I need to do?” she asks with determination.

“Don’t worry. We will do what we can to make sure you survive us,” I say and instantly regret saying aloud.

39

CHIMERA

GEMMA

“Survive you?” My eyes go wide. “Why did you say it like that?”

Crax sighs, irritated, “Because as Serrat mentioned, sometimes omegas don’t survive the mating process.”

“I guess I didn’t really believe him.” She grasps her own neck protectively. “Is it because the males kill her?”

“Not on purpose…usually. But deathcanhappen because it takes resilience to be claimed, even for the males. There is potent substance in a mating bite.” Crax adds, “And your body will shift even more to become compatible with theirs.”

“Do you expect that since we triggered this transformation of hers, that might limit some of the risk?” Rok asks eagerly, being the scientific one in the group.

“That is my theory.” Crax seems to glare at Zeek, even though we cannot see his face, but his voice is scolding. “That’s why I didn’t want to emphasize a negative outcome.”

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