Page 42 of Alpha Hunger

I stroke my chin. It did not escape my notice Ben associated Melanie with the “damn pills,” which I presume is Betaren. “She has a lot of manpower with military capabilities.”

“I’m surprised this is the first you’ve heard of it.”

“Why are you surprised? The humans elected the mayor. It was a vote, and the majority voted against having Horde patrols in the districts. We have agreed the police force is better suited for dealing with the general public. I have respected your vote.”

“Up until now,” Shannon says. “Seeing as the horn blared for the district.”

“Correct,” I tell her.

“Yeah, well,” Ben says and accepts coffee from his wife. “That vote didn’t work out the way we hoped. The politicians are burying the middle class and making the poor even poorer. Take my kid, for example. Finished college, couldn’t find a job.” He smiles, his eyes lighting up. “Then she walked into the Stronghold, and lo and behold, my daughter came back a PA to the prince himself. Ha!” He slaps his hand on the table.

“You seem proud.”

“Damn straight. Homeschooled her myself. Would make a fine lawyer, if you ask me. Knows all the legal mumbo jumbo.”

“Excellent. I am happy you’ve led our conversation here. I am interested in the man who paid for her college attendance.”

“My brother-in-law?”

“Tell me about him.”

“House Forspar.”

“And you are not a part of that House?”

“No, sir. That’s why I have to pay for protection.”

The protection theme keeps repeating itself. “Who are you protected from?”

“Any who.”

“The Horde?”

“Does that bother you?”

“Not at all. Are your protection people sleeping now?”

“What?”

“Are they sleeping? Because I walked into your house, and I haven’t been shot at.”

Ben laughs.

“I amuse you,” I say. “The issue is, Ben, you failed to register an Omega.”

“Didn’t know she’s an Omega.”

A glance at the quiet Anna tells me someone here is a liar. I plunge onward, punctuating my point. “If I had an Omega daughter, I would ensure her safety by registering her with the Horde. Perhaps petition for space gate travel to Regha.” Funny, these humans. Prior to sending the Horde to Earth, my father asked for Omega volunteers, women who would consider enjoying Regha Alphas. The former human government refused to broadcast our invitation.

When we came and the Omegas found out about the privileges on Regha, the government placed any Omegas who tried to get through the gate inside their jails. For their own safety, they claimed. It was years into the conflict, and as soon as the human media found out why Regha Alphas came, people brought females they believed were Omegas to the gates and shoved them inside, hoping it would make the Horde go away. They persecuted the dynamic, blaming our attack on it. They killed the Omegas, maimed them, disfigured them, until the Omega dynamic became scarce on a planet where there should be many.

“Back in the day, I had enough run-ins with your Horde to know to stay out of your way. I’d bend the knee if I had one.”

I nod. “Is your brother-in-law giving Anna Betaren pills?”

“Probably,” he says. “Is she taking them?”

“I am not taking them,” Anna says.

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