Page 116 of Omega Sanctuary

I knew that look, the company is here so we will talk later, but I didn't know why she was looking at me like that.

"Rayth and Asano, good to see you both again."

They stood up. Asano grinned, real warmth on his face. "It's nice to see you again."

Asano talked about his paintings and Deja spoke of the temple until we all reached the lane in front of the estate house.

"Good evening to you both." Deja nodded at them.

"We'll see you later," Asano said as Rayth tucked his arm around him.

I followed as Deja ushered me into the waiting carriage.

We were alone.

I cocked my head as soon as the door shut. "I thought I was supposed to be making nice with alphas?"

Deja pinched the bridge of her nose. "Unbonded alphas. Asano, while sweet and charming, is an omega, and Rayth is his alpha. It might be...fun...to share time with the two of them, but you need your own pack."

Resentment, worry, and fear boiled up inside me. "So once again you're changing the rules."

Deja shook her head. "You need a void to control your magic, and you're arguing semantics."

I flinched. "I've been practicing."

"And it will take you years for any sort of real mastery." Deja gave me a level look. "The sort of peace you enjoy around the prince will be the same peace an alpha bond will give you."

"And Rayth..."

"Is already bonded. It will not be the same. It will be better than no bond at all, but not the same."

I blew some air out of my mouth. "I don't even know Rayth well enough to know if that's what I want."

Deja frowned. "You should want your own pack, Zara. Asano is wonderful, and there's comfort in someone knowing your struggles. But you need your own pack, not dalliances in other packs."

"Didn't you try to tell Yvenna who she should and shouldn't bond?" I snapped. Outside, the moonlight turned the hills to silver, but anger stole all the beauty away.

"Yes." Deja frowned like she swallowed a lemon. "Their energy was wrong, Zara. They would have consumed each other."

"Maybe you should worry more about your missing omegas and less about my sex life."

"I am," Deja said, the skin around her eyes going tight. "If you do not master your power and have an alpha bond to do it, I fear you will become one of my missing omegas."

I paused and looked at Deja.

She squared her shoulders. "Hate me for pressuring you, but you are one of mine, and I will do whatever I need to protect you from Yvenna. Even from yourself."

I sighed, tired of this same conversation. "I will try harder."

Deja sat back. "Tell me what you need. Galas clearly aren't your element. What do you need to feel as though you're getting to know the alphas?"

I bit my lip. I didn't have an answer. "Let me think about it. But in the meantime, I'm baking more. It helps me focus."

"Very well."

At a standstill, we were quiet the rest of the trip back.

That night was my worst yet. I tossed and turned and at four in the morning, I gave up and used some flour and yeast I pilfered from the Healer's House to start some bread.

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