Page 19 of Ulfar

“I never wanted to leave, you know.”

It’s an unexpected turn, but I keep my tone even so as not to spook her. “Your home world?”

Sarah nods. “It’s...complicated. But let’s just say I had to help my father, and signing a contract with the ISA was the best way to do that.”

“Hmm.” My protective instincts are on full alert, but that’s not what she needs right now. I run my hands through her thick, beautiful hair. Up her soft arms. “Get up,” I say at last. “I want to show you something.”

I lead her out of the cottage and over to the stable area, where our large mounts reside. I’ve been here hundreds of times before, but Sarah looks like she’s seen a ghost. I keep a steadying hand on her back.

“It’s okay,” I whisper. “I’ve got you.”

“What are those things?” She whispers. “They’re so...b-big.”

I can’t help but chuckle at that. “Everything is big for you Earth humans.”

And I do mean everything.

“These are our mounts. They are calledakiin our native tongue, and we bond with them as children. We grow up together. Share our triumphs, our fears, our battles. They are an extension of ourselves, in some ways.” Our mounts were more than transportation to all of us.

Sarah’s jaw still hasn’t closed from the shock, but she relaxes a little in my hold. “Like a best friend?”

“Something like that. Enebris has been with me through it all, and will be until the day I die.”

“Enebris.” Sarah tries to repeat what I said, but her human tongue is not equipped for such sounds. Still, it sounds adorable to hear her try. “Is that his name?”

“Her,” I correct her, and point out the one closest to us, in the front stall. “See that one there? That’s her. Want to go say hello?”

I fully expect her to say no, but she takes a step forward, no longer braced against my body. Sarah looks at me over her shoulder and nods. “I want to meet her.”

“She wants to meet you too. Come here, don’t be nervous.”

Sarah approaches theakicarefully, holding one hand out as far as she can. I’m at Enebris’s side, patting her flank and neck as Sarah approaches.

When Sarah’s only inches away, Enebris lets out a huff, stomping her hoof and shaking her mane. Sarah lets out a strangled yelp and flinches backward before I can call out to her. “It’s okay! She’s saying hello. Got a little excited, is all.”

“O-oh.” Again, I think she’s going to call it quits and ask to go back to the cottage. But I’m learning that she’s a lot stronger than she looks, and I’ll be damned if that doesn’t make me want her even more. Sarah takes one step forward, and then another. I see her suck in a deep breath, then her fingers brush Enebris’s mane.

Enebris reacts in kind, tilting her head against Sarah’s hand. She gains confidence quickly, moving her hand up and down in gentle strokes. “She’s beautiful.” Sarah smiles up at me.

“She likes you,” I reply.

“How can you tell?”

She’s no longer the scared omega I met on the first day at the ISA center. Again and again she surprises me with her tenacity and wit, not to mention her seemingly boundless kindness. I wonder if I’ll ever get used to it.

“Let’s just say I know Enebris like the back of my hand, and she is a very good judge of character.”

Sarah beams at the praise, and I step out of the stall to join her at her side. “Shall we go back to the cottage? Or do you have anywhere else you’d like to go first?”

She thinks for a moment before answering. “Do you have a library here?”

I shake my head. “I’m sorry, but the closest physical library is in the capital city. Most people read digitally these days. But I can take you some time, if you’d like.”

The brief disappointment gives way to a peaceful sort of hope I so rarely see from her. “I’d like that.”

And as we walk hand in hand back to the cottage, I can’t help but notice the way the sunlight filters through the trees and falls on Sarah’s face, lighting up every curve and angle just for me.

It’s funny. Not long ago I would have—no,didlaugh at alphas that went all ga-ga over their chosen omegas. Then it happened to me. And you know what? I wouldn’t want it any other way.

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