“I don’t think so,” Angie says, following me into my room. “But I doubt they planned for it. It’s not the way they do things. Damn, it’s potent in here.”
“I’ll call Willow,” I say and press the button on the comm next to the door.
“Tell her to hurry,” Angie says, pulling the front of her shirt up over her nose.
#
“I got here as fast as I could. What’s—Holy shit. What is that?” Willow asks as she steps into the room.
“Oh, good. You all are here.” Strykr marches in. Sutton, Zayd, and Razyr follow.
“What is going on?” I ask, joining Sutton and Zayd, who share a concerned look.
“Everything will be fine, omega.” Zayd places a comforting hand on my cheek. “I will not abandon you.” He shifts his gaze to Sutton. “Either of you.”
“Will someone please explain this?” Willow asks, holding her finger under her nose.
“And can we have this conversation somewhere else?” Angie adds before burying her face in Razyr’s chest.
“We need to contain it,” Strykr says with a commanding tone that brings an eerie quiet to the room. “I need a moment to think.”
“What happened to you two?” I ask my males while Strykr paces, and the others whisper amongst themselves.
“The scent of you on both of us was too much for the other unmated alphas to ignore this time. It sent them into a frenzy,” Zayd explains.
“Kydax held them off while we escaped to the med comb,” Sutton adds. “Razyr called Strykr and…”
By the looks on Angie’s and Willow’s faces, they’ve been brought up to speed. Though none of this explains why the other omegas and unmated alphas are having such a negative reaction.
“Razyr offered to do more tests, but Strykr isn’t convinced that answers are what we need,” Sutton says, solemnly.
“What does he think?” I ask.
“I believe we need to avoid setting a bad example,” Strykr says, answering my question, though I don’t think that was his intention.
“I understand that the three of us being together is unorthodox, but how is it wrong? Layla is an omega. She’s with an alpha. And, I know we haven’t discussed it,” Sutton says, turning to Zayd and me. “But I would be happy for Zayd to claim you. I believe our bond,” Sutton takes my hands and holds them to his chest, “will only grow stronger as a result.”
“Zayd cannot claim an omega who is already bound to someone else. It defies the Accord,” Strykr demands.
“But I have no objection. Doesn’t that count for anything?” Sutton argues.
“The precedent this union sets could cause chaos. It already has.” Strykr’s tone grows impatient.
Zayd steps forward. “Perhaps it is only because we have not experienced this type of union before. Maybe, in time—”
“No.” Strykr barks, cutting Zayd off. “We have worked too hard to achieve even the smallest amount of order on this planet. I will not sacrifice the frail peace we have for an unnatural union.”
“I agree. Two alphas with one omega is not right,” Razyr interjects.
“Sutton is not an alpha,” Strykr insists, sounding offended by Razyr’s suggestion.
Razyr steps forward to address Strykr directly. “He may not be Throkyn, but he is most certainly an alpha. How else do you explain his ability to match us physically? No other designation can.”
“But his venom heals.” Strykr is struggling to accept Razyr’s assertion.
“He is human. This is merely another of a number of differences between us,” Razyr explains.
“If they are both alphas, why haven’t they fought each other to the death to claim Layla?” Willow chimes in.
