Page 7 of The Monster at the End of This Molt

The big house, as Tim called it, reminded me of small-town community buildings. Just inside the main doors, they had a little chapel for dragon worship, followed by numbered rooms I assumed were for guests. There was one door on the opposite side of the short hall.

"My office," Tim said. "I'm the head of our little community."

"Oh." Betas only led when a community didn't have any female kobolds. "Congratulations?"

He grinned. "Now you know why I can't wait for the big dragon shindig at The Pavilion. I don't know what I'm doing, and I could sure use some guidance."

I laughed. "My sister would guide you into a nuclear wasteland with her experiments. Let's hope you aren't fated to her."

"Sister?" He grabbed my elbow and tugged me down the hallway toward the delicious breakfast smells. "Tell me all about her."

Even without Tim guiding me, I could have found my way to the large dining area and kitchen beyond. My bond with Weld pulled me forward, even when Tim stopped to inspect the menu written in bright neon colors on a black chalkboard.

Weld sat at a small table in the corner of the dining room. The table had only one chair. Thankfully, there were plenty of empty chairs nearby. I answered a few more of Tim's questions while we filled our plates, and then he wished me well, heading for the first long table nearest the kitchen. Several other betas and an alpha and omega pair had saved him a seat at the head of the table. Their voices echoed in the large space, reminding me of home.

I took a deep breath to counter the sting of homesickness. Weld was my home now. If he wanted to stay here, so be it.

When I reached Weld's table, another omega had swiped a chair from a nearby table and sat directly across from him. The wrinkles around the omega's eyes made them look at least ten years older than me, but I'd learned not to judge age based on looks. Weld looked the same age as my siblings and me, even though he was our parents' age.

Not to be outdone, I pulled up my own chair and slid it toward the middle of the two-seater table, facing the wall.

"Good morning!" This time, I stuck out my hand to the other omega in greeting before I sat down. "I'm Robin. He/him pronouns if you please. What's your name?" I hadn't stated my pronouns since my college days back on Earth, but it was always good to let people know what pronouns to use when they wanted to talk about you behind your back, and this omega looked like they would have some choice words.

"Lemon." When they shook my hand, their face squeezed to a point, like they'd bitten into their namesake, rind and all. They didn't smell like a lemon, though. They smelled jealous.

"He was just leaving," Weld said. "Not that I wanted him here in the first place."

"He/him pronouns!" I said as Lemon stood, scraping his chair legs along the tile floor. "Good to know. See you around, Lemon!"

"Not if I have anything to say about it." Weld's words dissolved into a snarling growl that reminded me more of a grumpy dragonet. He kicked Lemon's chair, and it fell on its back with a bang, making Lemon jump.

"Put that back where it belongs," Weld said.

"Yes, Alpha." Lemon scurried to do as required. I caught another whiff of him. Instead of scared out of his wits, as I would be, he smelled hopeful.

"I think he likes it when you order him around," I whispered.

"The kid's had a rough life."

"Kid?" I laughed. "What does that make me? A hatchling?"

Weld cocked his head to the side as though I'd said water was wet. "Scoot over, will you? You're too close."

I glanced behind me to confirm Lemon had indeed put his chair back at a table and was now skulking toward the doorway. I slid my plate and metal cup to the opposite side and carried my chair to its new position, sitting in the spot Lemon had vacated.

"Better?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Tell me about Lemon."

"What's there to tell? He's an omega without an alpha, and there aren't many single alphas in these parts."

"Are there many single omegas?" My voice squeaked a little on the last word.

"There weren't until his tail fell off a few months ago." Weld rolled his big green eyes, and I could understand why my parents wanted to throttle him sometimes.

"He's younger than me?"

---