“On second thought. Fucking try me.” My finger twitches, eager to pull the trigger when the alpha dares to smile. “I admire your tenacity, but I mean you no harm, omega.”
“Don’t call me that. Don’t fucking call me that.”
“That is what you are.”
“I’m not an omega. I’m Mrs. Sutton Nash. I’m his wife.” My breath hitches when I flick my gaze to my husband’s lifeless body. “Was… His wife…” My strength wanes. My muscles shake. My legs threaten to give out any second. I want to be strong for my husband. Save myself so he didn’t die for nothing, but the adrenaline is wearing thin.
“Very well, Mrs. Sutton Nash. I am Lieutenant Enforcer Zayd. From the Alpha Center. I have a transport. If you would allow me, I will take you and your husband to the Center. You will be safe there, and your husband will be given a proper burial.”
Fatigue sets in, and the barrel sinks to aim at Zayd’s feet.
When Zayd takes a step forward, I snap it up again. “How do I know you won’t force me to bond with you? I know how this works. There’s no one here to challenge you. It’s what your kinddoes. It’s what that alpha was here to do. How do I know you won’t do the same thing?”
“It is my duty to uphold the law. Enforce the Accord. I will not take what is not freely given.” There’s a pain in his eyes I can’t explain. Like it hurts him to admit it. I wonder if I should refuse his help, not take the chance, but as he sinks to one knee and bows his head, showing me the ropes of his charcoal hair tied in a large bun on the crown of his head and threaded with more than a dozen iridescent beads that sparkle brighter in the full moon’s light, my racing heart slows. The shotgun falls to my side before I collapse. My knees crash into the dirt path outside our little house the alphas built for humans to live in here in the Delta district, the outermost district in the colony.
After more than a year on the move through the Badlands, waiting for the alphas to finish building, we got on the list and moved in. The colony was supposed to be safer than the Badlands. Safer from humans, maybe, but not alphas.
“You swear? On your life? You won’t force me to mate with you?”
Raising only his head to look me in the eyes, Zayd says with conviction, “I swear on my life, Mrs. Sutton Nash. I will not force you to mate with me.”
“Then we will go to the Center with you.”
Chapter 2
Zayd
Myalphainstinctsscreamto claim the omega sitting next to me on the ride back to the Alpha Center. I swore I would not, and I will keep my promise. It is the law.
“Why did we have to bring the alpha?” Her voice catches on the sadness filling her throat as she tries to stop the tears.
“He is not from the Center. If anything about him can give us a clue as to where he has been, we need to know. There are most likely more out there like him. Do you have any idea what direction he came from?”
She shakes her head. “We didn’t know he was there until he tried breaking in the front door.”
“Did he say anything?”
She nods this time. Struggles to swallow before answering, “He told Sutton, m-my husband, he said, ‘she doesn’t belong to you.’”
“Did you know this alpha?”
“No.” Her answer is angry. Forceful. I have offended her with my question. To stir any feeling in her that does not soothe her breaks my heart.
This job forces me to go against my instincts. I have been doing it for long enough that I feel I have lost touch with my instincts altogether.
“I am sorry for upsetting you, Mrs. Sutton Nash. I hope you understand I am only trying to figure out how this alpha found you and why he broke the Accord and killed your mate.” I have my guesses, but I cannot tell her about the ship that went missing when we first arrived on this planet. Nor can I bring attention to the other women who have gone missing, whom we believe other alphas like this one have been snatching human mates. No need to spread more panic until we have more answers.
The sweet omega’s breath shudders. Tears roll down her round cheeks that I want to catch with my tongue, to lick away her pain.
I wordlessly curse my hardening cock, fighting back the primal need to claim her. It is good to know that instinct still functions. The same instinct the dead alpha in the back of my transport had when he caught wind of her sweet citrus and vanilla scent.
“I understand.” She fidgets with her tiny fingers in her lap. I have to fight the urge to reach over, wrap my hand around them to calm her.
The transport console blinks and beeps, signaling its next turn as it drives us back to the center of the colony.
“When did you first scent—did you know you are an omega?” I ask.
“I’ve had my suspicions. Nesting. Certain needs. Sutton…” She buries her face in her hands. Her body shakes as she sobs.
