Page 21 of Own To Obsess

“So that would mean the shinnos would have less time to prove themselves?” Vasos asked, confused. “I can’t see the benefit of that.”

“There are six months left in the Year of Selection, Vasos,” the high chief explained. “When the blizzards hit, there is no guarantee they won’t last until well past the end of the year. So we may only have three months anyway.”

“I am uncomfortable with this suggestion, my chief,” Lonato, leader of Tribe Thothan said slowly. “The Year of Selection only takes place every twenty-five years, and that’s only if the high chief decides it is necessary. Discarding the shinnos’ achievements discounts all the time he has spent showing his worth of being included in the first place.”

“Shinno Kardos is the one with most recognized achievements, Lonato,” the high chief said. “He has the most to lose if all shinnos are stripped.”

Lonato’s brows rose and he glanced at the other shinnos, some of whom nodded slightly.

The high chief watched Kardos closely for a long time in the silence that filled the temple and then made his way down the steps. When he reached the bottom, he slowly walked to Kardos, curiosity in his eyes. “You have been watching the weather-casts?”

Kardos nodded. “As any good tribe leader would, my chief.”

The high chief tilted his head as he took him in. “I am intrigued that you would make such a suggestion, shinno Kardos, especially when you believe your achievements are your biggest asset to prove your worth.”

Kardos held his eye. “I will always be able to prove I am the right choice, my chief. It matters not if I am required to start again.”

The high chief inhaled and pursed his lips, then turned to the rest of the room. “Does anyone oppose this suggestion?”

A long moment of silence followed, and then Rhaad spoke up. “Are there any restrictions?”

“Other than the usual expectation of courtesy for your fellow shinnos, no,” the high chief said, although there was a slight weariness in his tone. “But due to the contentious nature of this selection, I am imposing a condition. Any underhanded behavior will disqualify those who are participating. Is that understood?”

Everyone in the temple nodded.

The high chief inclined his head. “Then this hearing is over.”

Kardos exhaled slow and long, glad that it had gone the way he hoped. He was still in the running, and he had given the shinnos something else to think about for the next three months rather than making life difficult for him for the next six. Now all he needed to was win.

But first, he needed to address the misbehavior of his Omega.

CHAPTER FOUR

SHAYA

A rush of cold forced her awake, and then warm arms lifted her from the bed. Shaya blinked, squirming with unease at the sudden change in her environment. The security of the bed and blankets suddenly fell away, making her jerk in surprise. But as she squirmed, the arms pressed her firmly against a broad chest—a familiar broad chest with that distinct familiar scent, and she settled against it quickly as she was carried. She looked up and saw Kardos, his strong chin firm as he held her, his gaze straight ahead. Tension twisted in her body as she watched him, the yearning she’d had since she’d last seen him bursting into an excited, twisty quiver, but he didn’t even glance down at her once as he walked.

And within moments he was lowering her onto blankets she was familiar with, on his bed.

He climbed on the bed with her, pulling her night tunic over her head before sliding her into his arms. She sighed deeply, trying to relax into him as she always did, but became sharply aware of the bond in her chest. It was still as harsh and heavy as it was before, and the feel of it made her hesitate. Was he still angry with her? The bond suggested that he was, and yet he had taken her from her bed to his own. What did that mean?

Suddenly his mouth was on hers, and his rough hands ran over her body, flicking her nipples and squeezing the flesh around her waist, her hips, her thighs… dipping between her legs and feeling for the moisture that was already gathering from the moment she was in his arms. She whined when he lifted his mouth from hers, only to sigh when his tongue snaked over her nipple. She clung to the pleasure that tore through her when he pinned her hands down and devoured her with his mouth, licking, biting, and kissing every part of her he could reach, and then he was once again between her legs, suckling on her as though starved, the rumble of satisfaction in his throat sparking something very much like pride throughout her body.

She was unable to stop watching him, drinking in his blissful expression as he devoured her so deliciously as he always did. And when he rose up, flipping her onto her stomach before pressing his thickness into her roughly, she cried out with relief that he was once again inside her. He hips smacked her ass, jerking her roughly as he took her, his hands traveled all over her body, tucking underneath to squeeze her breasts, gripping the back of her neck, and winding around her waist to secure her against his chest as he rutted to a frenzy. His cock plundering deep within her caused that beautiful ache she’d come to love, and the familiar wetness of their mating heightened the erotic rush that was inflamed by his grunts and groans.

The intense pleasure chased away all concern and nervousness that had dominated her, and she submitted to it fully, eager for the release of the pressure that was building—the delightful pleasure that only her Alpha could provide. His large hand found her wrists and pinned them above her head, into the bed, and the restraint tipped her over the edge.

The orgasm that tore through her was an all-consuming relief that she clung to, hoping it would last forever. Bliss and pure elation carried her higher than she'd ever been before, rendering her useless for any intelligent thought or action. She simply reveled in it, cherishing the feel of her Alpha still pounding into her, his growls becoming louder as he slammed harder, expelling the breath from her lungs with each jolt.

When he finally spilled inside her and slammed his knot in to stretch her wide, she sighed deeply and smiled into the pillow under her face. His body dropped on top of hers, pressing her into the bed with his solid mass and heat, surrounding her with his comforting scent.

But as she drifted off to sleep, her senses niggled with an awareness that something had changed, though she couldn’t place what it was. The weight in her chest felt the same but there was something else… her mind couldn’t make sense of it, but something was off.

It wasn't until the next morning that she figured out what she was.

Kardos took her again, seemingly as soon as he woke because she awakened to him sliding inside her and she was already wet and aching for him. Her nipples were already hard and wet with his saliva and she could do nothing but succumb to his rough claiming of her. It was as delicious as it had been the night before and she climaxed on his cock, squeezing down hard on him as she convulsed. Kardos knotted her soon after and lay down on top of her, his thick arms wrapped around her torso, pulling her into him as tight as he could while she buried her face into his chest and stroked her fingers over his skin.

Relief filtered into her that he was still mating her. Maybe he wasn't as angry with her as she assumed he was, maybe he had found a way to deal with what she had done and wouldn't punish her for it.

---