Page 70 of Alpha Hunger

“Because you’re an Omega, and Omegas stay with Arkin.” In fact, I’m brainstorming how to proceed with the new threat, namely if my Collectors should start collecting Omegas again and placing them inside the Stronghold, something—ironically—the late king Domins did on Regha. It worked well until he burned the complex down.

“Anna is an Omega,” Christy counters. “And she’s going.”

“Anna is a princess.”

Christy gasps and puts a hand over his heart. “I’m a queen!”

I chuckle.

Christy winks, thinking he has won, and leaves. Arkin will have to handle him. I’m good handling one Omega with obedience issues. This morning and right before she left, Anna made me a list, said work makes her feel in control of her life. Work therapy, she called it. I’ve never met an Omega with my father’s work ethic, but I’m grateful the Great Serpent blessed me with one.

The front formation of her twelve-Collector unit enters the courtyard. Anna walks with them. She wears a simple black dress. I can see she’s been crying, and I wonder if it’s the best time to deliver the news. We leave deep in the night, so we have to part ways from her mother. The Collectors show her into the manual lift the Omega and Beta population use on Regha. It’s an open iron cage hanging from thick rope attached to the top of the building. Anna hesitates before it, but fists her hands and steps inside. A pair of Collectors pull the rope, and Anna grips the bars, knuckles white.

I catch the swinging cage and pull it inside.

She steps out and fixes a stray brown hair that fell over her eyes. A smile plays on her lips as she looks me over. I strengthen my posture, standing a little bigger. “Are you ready?” she asks.

“Yes.” I sit on the throne and tap my knee. She joins me, and I arrange her to sit sideways. Big brown eyes stare up at me. “The lawyers came,” I start.

“Okay.” She nods.

“Congratulations. You’re the new CEO of Hordesmen Enterprise. Christy has been promoted to your PA. Tamika returns to work tomorrow.”

Anna chews on her lip. “You’re firing me again?”

I chuckle. “I promoted you.”

“I don’t want a promotion.”

“You do not have to ride with the Horde.”

She wraps her arms around my neck. “No, but I have to ride with you.”

Cue arousal. Here I was trying to be sensitive to her loss and needs, giving her choices. Human women love choices. That’s the first lesson I learned from Mother around the same time I caught Father sleeping in the hallway.

A knock, then Arkin steps into the office. I wave him inside, and he stands on my right, gaze on the floor.

“Melanie’s former household arrived,” he says. “Two housekeepers and a cook.”

“Because?”

“A road trip.” Arkin smiles. “They think the Horde is going on a road trip to Mexico. They’re all excited. Makes me want to go too.” He chuckles. Dreikx’s tracking abilities inside the city are limited. However, he waited outside the perimeter and tracked the imposter to Tijuana before the male went underground.

“Take the staff back to the mansion and prepare the home for our return. Anything else?”

“The king will expect news.”

“He will wait.”

“Your mother will expect news.”

“What is this? A guilt trip?”

Arkin looks up, eyes on me. “If you have bonded, they will want to know.”

“After I execute my mission, I will report.”

“Oh yes,” Anna says. “I have something.” She reaches into her purse and hands me a small box. “A gift for you from my aunt.”

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