Page 23 of A Mate for the King
“Cora!”
Head snapping up, Cora felt her breath catch at the sight of a familiar face. It was one of her dearest friends, Maggie, another Moonwater omega, who burst from the trees to rush forward and embrace her friend.
“Maggie!” Cora crashed into her friend and hugged her tightly.
“Where have you been? It's been a week!” Maggie squeezed her back tightly and then leaned away to look her over. “Let me see you, are you alright? What happened?”
Cora’s throat tightened at that and she coughed.
“A lot.”
“Like what?”
“Well, I ah, I have an alpha now.”
“No!” Maggie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How?”
“Well, in the usual manner...”
Maggie rolled her eyes and jabbed a finger at Cora. “Show me this instant.”
Cora shoved her hair to the side. Maggie clasped her hands over her mouth, but it didn’t quite mask her shout.
“WHO BONDED YOU?!”
“Shh.” Cora drew the other omega close and glanced around, relieved to see that the clearing had stayed empty. “Keep your voice down.”
The last thing she needed was it getting out and to her clan, well, her ex-clan before she had even come to terms with it herself.
“Sorry, sorry.” Maggie winced and then asked, “But who? They must be important to have your things sent for.” She held up Cora’s familiar blue duffle bag. “Not that I’m complaining. I was sick and tired of looking at the same awful alphas.”
“They sent you?” Cora laughed, taking the bag from her friend.
Maggie nodded.
“Something about trash should meet trash.” She rolled her eyes. “The normal stuff. You know how charming and unimaginative that lot can be.”
“I do. Absolutely terrible, but whatever the reason I’m happy they sent you. I could use a friendly face right about now.”
“Why? What’s wrong? Are you not happy with your mate?”
Cora hesitated. “I don’t know,” she answered in an echo of Zehr’s earlier words, and she almost rolled her eyes at herself.
What a pair they made.
“What do you mean you don’t know?”
“He’s, ah, very powerful.”
“So I was right about him having status!”
Cora nodded but said nothing else which prompted her friend to give her a pinched look.
“Who is it? Do I know him?”
Cora sucked on her bottom lip and turned away, eyes on the trees. “Yes.”
“But he’s not of our clan, so how is that possible?” Maggie asked, touching her arm.
