“Sadly, no,” I deadpan.
Lux snorts. “You have options now, Ziam,” she responds.
Our eyes all flick to Octavia who, after a beat, blushes as she catches our meaning.
I clear my throat to save her the embarrassment, “I was going to make rytyl eggs and hyras toast.”
“Perfect, Zee,” Ati says, laying a quick kiss on the side of my head.
I nod and turn to the stove, grabbing the coffee. I set out four mugs, including Octavia’s new tiny one, and split the dark, rich liquid between them, adding yellowhedge milk and glohas sweetener to top them off.
Lux delivers them as I get out pans.
“So, Octavia, how was the nest last night?” Ati asks in a light tone.
I force my face to remain neutral, even though I am standing at the stove and so my look is not visible to Octavia.Her behavior hurt Atiox. I dislike my aleron hurt.I am just as protective of him as he is of me. That is the beauty of a pack.
“Uh, fine,” she answers, voice tight.
I wonder if she can sense his emotions on this.
In yet another attempt to change the topic, I say, “Did you read your manual? Did it explain our pack structure, Octavia?” I toss a look over my shoulder at my pack. Her pretty face merely looks confused.
“Manual?”
“Yes, your introduction to Celnoe,” Lux says, sipping her coffee smoothly.
I turn, holding a plate piled with eggs, in time to see her head shake.
“I didn’t get anything?” she says, confused.
Ati growls and Octavia flinches.
Lux must see it too, for she starts to purr and extends her hand to cover Octavia’s where it sits on the table. My heart soars to see her allow it.
“That is unacceptable,” Ati responds. “I will contact the office.”
“Oh no, please don’t!” Octavia’s voice is nearly a plea. “I... I don’t want anyone to get into trouble.”
Atiox frowns. “The Earth office deserves it, sending you unprepared.”
Her head shakes hard enough for her short hair to shake, brushing her chin and upper neck. “No, it was probably the prison’s fault.” She freezes as soon as the words leave her mouth.
The silence sits around us for a long moment.
Finally, Ati’s voice is strained as he says, “This word translates as a place to keep criminals.”
Octavia’s face pinks, and she dips her head. “That’s right,” she whispers.
I snarl, fury rising inside me.My omega was locked in a cell?That is unacceptable.
But at my noise, Octavia’s shoulders rise, though her head falls more. “It...” she says quietly, “I did something that should have been done by our representatives. It was the right thing to do. No matter what the courts said.”
As I roll the meaning of her words around my head, Lux responds, “Sweet girl, whatever you did does not matter to us. You’re ours, and we’re yours.”
Octavia looks at her slowly, but I interrupt without intending to, “What did you do?”
Her large, nervous eyes flick to me, and I watch her take a calming breath. “I gave families, who were struggling to put food on their tables, more money.”
