Page 77 of Omega Sanctuary

My feelings stung inside me, like my organs were dipped in venom.

"I thought it would be less oppressive this time," Nova's voice was small. "Last time it was annoying, but I felt flattered. Wooed."

"Did you meet your alphas at a gala?"

My question hung in the room. I never asked her about her alphas, her pain too fresh.

Nova froze, but then she sighed. "One of them. Berrett. He was such a jerk at first."

Her face lit up, and she actually laughed a little. "He was so sure I would fall for him, so confident."

"What finally won you over?" I leaned my head against her. I could picture it, a gala like the one we had just attended. A smug but gorgeous man, and Nova falling for his charm despite her best intentions.

"His attention was so addictive." Nova sighed. "Like I was the center of his universe, because I was. He told me later, after we bonded, that he was so cocky because he knew we were meant to be together."

I swooned. I couldn't help it. "Nova, that's like a fairytale."

Nova smiled at me. It was sad around the edges, but she still shone with love. "It was."

And then it ended. I held her tight against me. "I'm sorry."

"I know." Nova opened her hand. Silver along her palm showed the faint remains of a bite mark. "I'm lucky to have had them in my life."

I sighed. Maybe that's what it was. They kept telling me bonding someone was for life, it was the closest connection I would ever feel.

How was I supposed to know who I wanted to spend the rest of my life with?

"How long did your alphas court you?"

"Months." Nova sat up. "Months and months. I'm not planning on rushing anything this time."

"You shouldn't," I told her. "We have time."

Nova sighed, a heavy sound that had the weight of the world in it. "I hope so."

Rain poured down on the dirt road, turning everything to mud. If we didn't need to rest our horses, I would have pushed forward.

Judging from Hashir's haggard face, he would have preferred the same.

We led the horses off the road and created a lean-to by laying tree branches against the side of a large tree. It wasn't perfect, but it was the best we were going to get this evening.

Hashir took care of the horses while I set up the shelter. I looked at the side pocket of my knapsack. My two-way glass made a slight bulge in the pouch.

It had been a two weeks since I'd seen Zara, and I was slowly losing my mind.

I missed her laugh, her food, the scent of her wrapped around me. I picked up the glass and touched it before I could remind myself she was training. She was probably overwhelmed and being wooed by alphas.

Jealousy spiked inside me. Not at the thought of her having an alpha, but the idea that I wouldn't be there to snarl at them if they put one toe out of line.

The glass swirled. On Zara's end it would send up a small plume of smoke, letting her know I was available on the other end.

Hashir handed me some bread. "Here. Better eat now."

I took it.

"Another dead end. No one wants to talk to a guardian and a bondless alpha."

I grunted. Hashir was right. I'd hoped my connections would get a lot a further, but when we asked about the missing omegas, the temple priestesses didn't know what we were talking about and asked us to leave.

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