Page 31 of The Accidental Omega
“Ry made it!” I offer quickly. I want her to adore him like we all do, but her human sentiments seem to make it hard for her to accept his role.
Her eyes turn to him and he reaches behind his head, rubbing his shoulder. “It’s nothing.” He shrugs, “I thought you needed one your size, is all. I’m, uh, working on a stool and chair for inside as well. But I might need to make a step stool for you as well.”
A smile lights up her face and she crosses to Ry, climbing into his lap without hesitation and curling up against him.
I watch his body tense and surprise flicker across his face as she settles on top of him, but then he lets out his little smile that means he’s pleased and, very slowly, in case she objects, puts his arms around her. She speaks softly to him and I grin, turning away.
Nara settles the large grate over the firepit.
“What are we having?” Elizabeth asks with interest.
“These are patties made from nuts of the tristl plant, with spices and binder. They are very versatile and provide long-lasting energy. We’ll eat them on hyras rolls,” Nara points, “That is a vyrd fruit that I’ve been marinating. It’s tender and nutritious. And those are ferczen berries. Toasted, they are sweet and chewy.” Nara tosses me a look. “Wells’ favorite.”
She looks between us.
“What is it, my dear? I can practicallyfeelyour question,” Ry rumbles, his arm around her waist where she still sits in his lap.
“It’s just... I knew I’d be joining a pack... and that you all would beclose,but I didn’t realize you were... lovers.” She shrugs. “I don’t mind, of course! It’s just not common for more than two people to partner like that on my planet.”
We all absorb that but it’s Nara who barks out first, “Well, that’sstupid.”
All of us laugh and he turns to grab the patties to put over the flames.
“Yeah, it is, isn’t it?” Elizabeth says. She watches Nara shuttle the fruit over to the fire pit. “Can I help?” she offers, adding, “I like cooking.”
Nara makes a displeased noise. “This ismyduty. I find much pleasure and honor in fulfilling it, little omega. You will have plenty to occupy your time soon.”
She crosses her arms. “If you mean babies...”
Nara arches a rich blue eyebrow. “I meant suckling our cocks and taking the seed offourCelnoe alphas’ deep inside your body.”
She blinks those gorgeous eyes, but says nothing.
Trying to ease tension, I ask, “What did you do with your time, on your planet, Elizabeth?”
She wiggles off Ry’s lap and crosses to her chair, sitting with a pleased look on her face.
“As a job, I worked with a non-profit wildlife rescue. I have a degree in biology.” She laughs, but it’s tinged with sadness.I do not understand all her words, but I dislike her sorrow.
“Pretty worthless now, huh?” She shakes her head, braid swinging. “Anyway, for fun I like to cook and do hot yoga and thrift... er, go antiquing?” She looks at our faces, trying to see if the words translate. Her face is melancholy. A shrug. “Stuff I can’t do anymore, I guess.”
The silence between us stretches. I am sure my other pack mates are wrestling with the context of her words to make sense of the ones that didn’t translate, as I am.
But her sadnessdoestranslate. As clear as Zatura’s sword itself.
Zallan stands and scoops her up from her tiny chair.
She makes an annoyed noise, but he rearranges her so her legs are around his body and he tucks her head under his chin. He starts to purr as he sits again, holding her firmly in the circle of his arms.
“Wedari, your sadness hurts my heart,” he rumbles. “What can I do to abate it?”
We all nod, taking comfort in the fact that our omega is allowing Zallan to hold her and purr for her.
Nara puts down the cooking utensils and crosses over to them. His gentle hand lands on our omega’s back and he rubs up and down slowly. “Sweetheart, I... I can’t say I understand, but if cooking with me would bring you joy, then... it would please me to have you beside me.”
She lets out a loud snuffle and lifts her head from Zallan’s shoulder, those sad, wet brown eyes turning to Nara.
“Really?” She asks, with another snuffle, “You wouldn’t be... insulted?”
