“I’m glad,” she said softly. “Then you will respect my decision when I say I choose the Huxley-Grey Pack. As you say, the Goddess decides, and to say that their finding me was anything less than divine intervention would be to spit in her eye.”
Yep. I’d popped a boner. Fuck, she was gorgeous. My dad cleared his throat, frowning at me, and I shrugged sheepishly.
Theodore, one of the younger Legion Generals, frowned. “You haven’t even met any of the other Omegas or Packs, how can you know that the Huxley-Grey Pack is the right one for you?”
Theodore was an entirely reasonable guy with a lot of ambition, and a good heart. I hated him. I knew exactly what Pack he meant—he wanted her to consider his Pack. I was about to get myself thrown in lock-up for hurdling a table and smashing my fist into the pretty face of a Legion General.
Naja, obviously seeing the same hopefulness, gave him a soft look. “I’ve met Wilkie several times now, as well as his Pack, and I’m not inspired.” Theodore winced. Yeah, Wilkie wasn’t known for his tact and not exactly a poster boy for the Manix either. Naja chewed her lip. “Look, I understand what I represent. But I won’t be a broodmare, or a baby maker, for anyone.”
“Anyone but the Huxley-Grey Pack. Hardly strong stock to continue our legacy with,” Legion General Eldridge grumbled, and I snarled loudly. My dad reached out to grab my arm, but he was snarling too.
“Let’s get one thing straight. I don’t give a fuck about your legacy, and honestly, if the rest of the Manix are like you, then good riddance,” Naja said coldly. “This Pack is full of males of worth, who would have protected me without expecting anything in return. They are my choice.”
Theodore threw Eldridge a cold look. “We appreciate that, Omega. We aren’t trying to change your mind.” He looked around at the other Alphas, but no one seemed to be willing to back him. “Perhaps you’d consent to our medical staff running some tests to see why you are an Omega, since this is a trait that disappeared from our own females generations ago? Also, congratulations to your Pack on the successful breeding. Our race will celebrate the birth of your cubs.”
Naja nodded, and I felt relief for my people. Test tube Omegas were going to be no good to this generation, but perhaps the next generation may be able to experience the joy we were feeling.
I cleared my throat. “That brings us to our second point. Naja is being hunted by a tiger shifter who is the head honcho of a cartel that wants to sell her to the highest bidder.” I paused as I watched that sink in. “My Pack would appreciate any aid the Legion could give us in protecting her.”
I could see the Alpha General wanted to tell us to fuck off, but Raiden’s father, a man who was just as decorated and strong as the Alpha General, nodded. “Of course we will help you protect the last remaining female Omega. She possibly holds the key to our future in her DNA. We wouldn’t be so short-sighted as to let her fend for herself.” He grinned at Naja and Raiden. “Besides, it's been a decade since we’ve had a good fight, and the men are getting disgruntled.”
I rolled my eyes, but Naja smiled. “Thank you, Sir.”
Silence fell over the room, and I took that as our cue to leave. Apparently, so did the Alpha General. “You’ve rubbed all our noses in it now, Gatlin. You can leave. We will send up Murphy and Merrick tomorrow to work out what defenses you will need. You are dismissed.”
I saw Gatlin’s whole body vibrating with tension, but Naja tugged on his hand and he followed us out, his eyes never leaving the other Alphas in the room.
Joshua, Raiden’s father, caught up with us in the hall. “Wait a second, I’d like a word.” We all stopped except Naja, who met Mom further down the hall and took Luisa back into her arms. Joshua stood in front of Raiden. “Son. I’m so... “
“Excited, ecstatic, over the moon, proud. Any of those would work, Joshua,” my mom snarked, and Joshua rolled his eyes.
“All of those things and so much more. You’ve created a miracle.” He grabbed Raiden’s shoulders and dragged him into a hug.
That was the real miracle of the day. Joshua wasn’t a hugger. He was a man of very little outward emotion.
Raiden stood there stunned, before lifting a hand to pat his father’s back. “Hopefully there's more than one miracle in there, though we’d be ecstatic with just one.”
Joshua stepped back, and if I didn’t know the man, I’d say he was a little misty. “Of course. If you need anything, please let me know. Your brothers and I would be only too happy to help.”
He didn’t mention Raiden’s sister, who was truly under Wilkie’s thumb. He looked over at Naja, suddenly spotting Luisa in her arms. “Who is this?”
Oh shit, yeah, we’d kinda forgotten to mention she already had a kid.
“My sister, Luisa. I have raised her as my child since our mother died during childbirth.”
Joshua swallowed hard. Naja couldn’t have known that it reflected so closely what had happened to his mate. He gave a sharp nod. “You’re a good sibling. I best get back in there before they decide on something ridiculous. I hope to see you again soon?”
Raiden nodded. “Of course, Father.”
Joshua turned on his heel with military precision, and then it was just us left. “Let’s do a quick tour of the town and then you can take your pretty Omega home. What do you say?” Mom said softly. One of my dads must have caught her up on what happened in the Alpha General's office.
Maxton wasn’t a big town. It had twelve square blocks of housing, a store that was more like a commissary, the Legion barracks and building, and then surrounding farms, mostly livestock. It was too hard to stay off the map and plant full crops. The town itself was built on the banks of a large mountain lake that was carefully fished so that it could provide a source of food for years to come.
But there was a cafe to get coffee, plus a small park for children. A bar to play pool and find a warm body for the night. A school and a mechanic. Maxton’s population was generally happy with small town life, and most people stayed, either because they formed a Pack when they were young, they were scared, or they were just generally happy maintaining the status quo. Some left, and I couldn’t blame them. Some people had ambitions bigger than what Maxton could provide. The Legion stayed in constant contact with them, and if you didn’t check in once a week, they’d send the Legion Force down to kick your ass for worrying them.
I shook my head. “Just the commissary, then I want to take my Omegas back to my territory.”
Raiden punched him in the arm. “Enough of this ‘my Omegas’ business. You are beginning to sound like a General.” I grimaced and he laughed. “I’d like to stop at the commissary though, to order some baby things for Luisa and for the cubs.”
