Page 41 of Omega Sanctuary

"It was. A contest to see who could win you." I started a tub of laundry and Nova added some soap.

"They were all obnoxious." She rolled her eyes. "You shouldn't stay around alphas like that until you're bonded."

I sighed. "Even Hashir?"

"Hashir's energy is better, but he's not bonded. We don't know what will trigger you."

I frowned at my shirts. "I feel like I'm a bomb about to go off."

"It's not far from the truth," Nova said.

"What is so bad?" I huffed. "What could happen?"

"Best case scenario, you fall into a lustful trance and sleep with any man close enough for you to see, unable to really sate your lust."

I frowned. I didn't want to be so out of control that I did...that.

"Wait, that's best-case scenario?" Chills dropped down my spine.

"Worse case..." Nova frowned. "You've heard the stories. Your magic could explode, literally. You could charm every person in the city."

I sat down, my ears ringing. "How..."

Nova shrugged. "Magic unpredictable."

I rubbed my temples. I was doomed. "And bonding to an alpha..."

"Will help you control it."

"And Valens being a guardian..."

Nova smirked. "I mean, it couldn't hurt anything. But no, he's not an alpha and can't bond you the same way."

I flushed. "He barely looks at me."

"Valens feels guilty." Nova snapped out a skirt, dunking it into the water. "He's supposed to protect us, not seduce us."

My skin got hot at the thought of him seducing me. Touching me. Slowly, slowly building to something inevitable. I almost fanned myself and the temperature in the room jumped up.

"So you're going to have to make it clear." Nova eyed me. "Very clear that you're not in heat, and you still want to bed him."

I shivered again, rubbing my hands over my arms. "I'm not good at flirting."

"You could kiss him. For starters."

"He doesn't want me..." Embarrassment stole some of the heat away. "I mean, of course he doesn't..."

Nova raised her eyebrow. "He wouldn't try so hard to avoid you if he wasn't struggling to keep his hands to himself."

I bit my lip. I couldn't voice my real fears. It was too much like begging for attention. I wasn't the prettiest girl in the room.

I was used to being looked over.

Valens wouldn't so much as flirt with me for fear of making me feel pressured, but how else was I supposed to know he wanted me?

Nova seemed so certain. I wished I shared that confidence.

Nova put her arm around my shoulder. "It's confusing right now."

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