Page 38 of Fall of the Alpha

“Where are the unmated Omegas?” she asked Aria. The other Omega had spent the whole afternoon with her and Alek, telling them about Zone Three and about the Territories. It hadn’t escaped Bella’s notice that she was particularly effusive in herpraise for Cora, Trace, and Malachi—though Bella had trouble thinking of him as anything other than the Wolf still.

She snuck a glance over at him, where he was talking with some of his soldiers. As if he sensed her looking, his head lifted, their gazes clashing. Heat filled her cheeks at being caught, and she hastily looked away. She could feel her skin prickling and was sure he was still looking at her.

“They have their own space.” Aria’s gaze went back and forth between Alek and Bella as she realized how what she said sounded. “Theywanttheir own space. The Alphas can visit them there, and they have total control over who comes in and out. It’s not that they can’t go out if they want to, but then they have to contend with the Alphas constantly following along behind them, trying to court them. Especially because it tends to cause fights.”

So, the Alphas and Omegas weren’t as civilized as it seemed from the view in this room.

Aria made a frustrated noise as she looked at Bella’s expression, which must have given away some of her thoughts.

“It’s not like that…” Aria huffed. “The Alphas have a lot of aggression to work out. That’s why there are fight nights. That, and it’s entertaining for the Betas from the Zones, and it brings in a lot of money. It means they can see the Alphas fight from a safe distance, so they know there’s a threat, but they don’t feel threatened. An Omega would never be deliberately harmed during a fight. None of them are scared to come out for that reason, but they just aren’t always in the mood to deal with all the pheromones.”

That made sense. Something about what Aria said about the fight nights also tickled something in Bella’s brain. Her father had noticed the Betas of Zone One were growing more relaxed about spending time in the Territories, yet they were still fearfulof the Alphas. He’d been uncertain whether it was a good or bad thing. Now, she realized, it might have been a deliberate thing.

A show of aggression, of what the Alphas were capable of, to help keep Zone One from thinking they could attack the Territories with impunity, while also keeping the Zone residents from feeling directly threatened. It was incredibly clever. If she could only tell her father…

“Does that mean that’s where Bella will go?” Alek asked, his voice low. Aria gave him a hard look.

“No, I believe Bella has already been claimed,” Aria said calmly. Something about the way she said it made Bella think that Alek knew that already. He wantedBellato know it.

She looked back over her shoulder at the Wolf, and her insides clenched before she quickly turned away again. Before he could notice her looking.

Claimed.

Is that what she wanted?

She didn’t know.

She was drawn to the older Alpha, that much was undeniable. Even though a big part of her didn’t think she should be. After all, she hadn’t been given a choice, the way it sounded like most other Omegas had.

On the other hand, if she was given a choice, who would she choose?

“When an Omega goes into heat, there’s always at least one Alpha on hand to service them. Sometimes, they make a match of it; sometimes, they don’t. Alphas sign up to be part of the rotation, though sometimes, an Omega will express a preference beforehand… but if their chosen Alpha isn’t available…” Aria shrugged, casting a glance at Bella, as if wanting to make surehermessage was being heard. “It’s excruciatingly painful going through heat without an Alpha.”

When Bella had gone into heat, she’d needed an Alpha. She would have begged if he’d made her to make the pain stop, but she hadn’t needed to. He’d been there the entire time, even though he had an entire territory to run.

What did itmean?

And what did she want now that she wasn’t in heat?

Now that it was her own body craving his touch, not just her instincts?

The sound of wood scraping across the floor behind her made her turn again. The Wolf and the others were getting up from where they were sitting. He looked over, his gaze meeting hers, and his hand lifted to gesture to her.

“Come here, Pet.” His voice was low, but it carried, and Bella found herself getting to her feet without thinking. It was only once she was standing that she remembered she’d been mid-conversation.

Apologetically, she glanced over her shoulder.

“I…” She couldn’t think of what to say.

“Go.” Aria smiled at her with understanding, even as Alek glowered. “You shouldn’t keep your Alpha waiting.”

“Bye.” She gave them both a little wave, which Aria returned cheerfully while Alek sighed and mustered a smile for her. She could tell he wasn’t happy with her being out of his sight, but she knew she would be safe.

The Wolf was still holding out his hand when she reached him. She slipped her fingers into his, feeling something settle within her as soon as they were touching. Like she could fully breathe again, though she hadn’t known she couldn’t until now.

His hand pulled her closer, releasing hers so he could wrap his arm around her waist, his fingers curving possessively around her hip. Bella swayed against him. It felt as though her body came fully alive at his touch, at the scent of him as she inhaled, at his nearness.

“Come with me, Pet. We need to talk.” His growling voice was as gentle as it could be.

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