Page 11 of Consort

His nose finally strays from my neck, but my relief is short-lived. There’s no time to relax before he leans in and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. If he were a Beta, a kiss like this would have sent chills down my spine. It’s the perfect kiss; sweet,tender, tentative. Everything I imagined a first kiss to be.

But it feels like poison. The chills are ones of fear and desperation, not excitement.

“You know I adore you, Rue. Be my mate…” he murmurs before kissing me again, more confidently this time.

I pull back and lean my face away. “I still haven’t presented, Cirro. We need to wait.”

I hate the quiver in my voice. I’m not sure whether I prefer he takes it as giddiness or the fear that it truly is. I try to pull my body away, but he grabs my hips and holds me firmly against him. I squash the trembling that’s been building inside me so he won’t become too excited by it.

“You’re almost twenty, Rue,” he mumbles into my neck as he scents me again. “You must be a Beta. We can move forward. The Prime will approve.”

Hearing Cirro mention Bock makes me want to hurl. I swallow it down and pull away, just slightly this time, hoping to create some distance without him noticing.

“Don’t you want to wait for an Omega?” I ask, grasping at anything that might help. “They’re meant to be Alphas’ mates. Maybe some Omegas will present this year, and you’ll be closer to having one.”

He chuckles softly and moves one hand to caress my face. “Why would I wait for an Omega? I want you.”

For a moment, I’m touched by his unexpected sweetness. But any endearing feelings I found for him evaporate with his next words.

“I could just borrow the Prime’s Omega when I need my knot tended to. But I’d get to have you all to myself. Now, what do you say? Mate me?”

I snarl and fail to hold back an angry growl.How dare he say that to my face?It’s one thing to think it, but to casually tell me you’ll fuck someone else when the craving hits is insulting. It’sdisgusting. And yet, he acts like it’s perfectly normal.

Because, in our pack, itisperfectly normal. Normal to the Alphas, at least. No one would dare utter a word against the Prime, but can I really be the only shifter who finds his actions repulsive?

I wrench free of Cirro’s grasp and storm off toward my tent. My heart pounds in my chest as I pray that my mother is already there. But whatever has come over Cirro this evening won’t allow him to accept my dismissal.

A low growl rumbles past his lips, and I can’t stop my Omega instincts. A rush of slick drenches my undergarment so thoroughly it soaks right through the thick wrappings Mother made for me.

Cirro notices right away. He appears before me and blocks my path. He grabs my arms and stares down at my neck. Tears spill from my eyes as he spits on his hand and rubs away the herbs I used to mask my scent.

His fangs shoot out, and he licks the pointy ends as he processes what he’s discovered. His eyes take on a predatory glow, golden and terrifying. I’m afraid he might rip my clothing off and mount me here and now.

But he only buries his face in my neck and moans. “Oh, Rue… I won’t be able to take you as a mate, but I’ll be able to mate with you and an Omega at the same time. Isn’t it wonderful?”

He straightens and looks back toward the gathering area with pure joy lighting up his face. “Once I deliver you to the Prime, he’ll be pleased with me. He may grant me more time with you. Maybe even the first turn after he’s had his own.”

He turns back to me and beams like his words should make me swoon. I feel betrayed, not only by Cirro or the Prime who’s meant to protect me, but by fate itself, once again. Shame presses down on me, grappling with the rage that threatens to break free. Fear swells my veins as it races through my bodyunrestrained. A sob escapes as the nauseating force of emotions drives me to my knees.

Cirro crouches in front of me and effortlessly pulls me into his arms. I remain limp, revolted by him but unable to do anything about it.

“It’s okay,” he whispers in my ear. “I know it must have been shocking and frightening for you when you presented. I won’t tell anyone you’ve been hiding it. Go wash away all these scents you’ve hidden beneath. Then, I’ll take you to the Prime and claim you just presented. I won’t allow you to get in trouble, sweet Omega.”

Being called by my wretched designation feels like defeat. Cirro thinks he’s being merciful, a savior in his own eyes. But in reality, he’s just sealed my fate. I’d almost rather Cirro tell the Prime I’ve been hiding. I want him to know the lengths I’ve gone to avoid becoming his mate.

I’ll swallow my disgust and do whatever I must to escape him. If fate wishes to torture me further and denies me that chance, I will speak my mind. Bock can do as he pleases with me, but I’ll never give him the satisfaction of believing I desire him or his Luna’s title. I will never submit to him. I’d rather die for my defiance than feign a respect for him that I do not hold.

Omegas are given three moons to come into their designation. During this time, they learn what to expect from their bodies and their role as an Alpha’s mate. Typically, this would be one of the Luna’s responsibilities. Without her here, it will fall upon one of the other two Omegas in our pack. I don’t look forward to having them try to brainwash me, but it will give me time to plan my escape.

I can find a place where no shifter would go and be free of Alphas forever. Maybe closer to the castle. Closer to the fae. It’s risky, but it’s smart. They’d never expect a weak little Omega to walk into danger like that. I’ll claim the right to solitude thatthey’ve denied me. I’ll be much happier lonely than I would be used and dishonored. Mother is clever and resourceful. She can teach me how to survive on my own. I can do this.

A rush of hope lifts me to my feet, and I allow Cirro to guide me to the lake. To hungrily watch me as I bathe and escort me to the Prime. But not to my future. Screw fate. It can throw whatever it wants at me, but I’ll be carvingthatpath for myself.

Chapter 4

Durin

The nobles stand frozen at the sight of Mitah’s lifeless body. They should be used to gruesome scenes like this. But a common fae triumphantly standing over a high-ranking noble’s mutilated body is something they likely don’t encounter often.

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