Page 76 of Evan and the Alpha

23

Sobek

It’s been a long, hot day. The suns have set at last, leaving the land shrouded in pleasing, cool darkness. The sand outside is still hot, releasing its baked-in heat with every press of the feet. I’m glad to trudge up the cool stone steps to the house.

Evan’s already asleep when I check on him. Poor thing. The heat really seems to be wearing him out lately. Min, the human doctor, tells me that’s not exactly unexpected. Still, I worry about my mate. Human pregnancy seems much more demanding, much more dangerous even than what kroakka experience.

Min tells me that I should let Evan rest when he wants to rest, so I leave him sound asleep. He’ll probably wake up a little later, hungry and needing the bathroom, and he’ll wander out to the common room, sleepy and demanding. I check a smile at the thought. He’s very cute.

It’s too bad he’s so tired, though. I would have enjoyed his company. The last few nights, I’ve had Ge-Ro and a couple of other betas for companionship, but they’re poor mates for an alpha worrying about an omega and his child. All they want is grog, but I’m reluctant to get drunk these days. What if Evan needs something? I need to stand guard, and I can’t do that if I’m falling asleep at the table because I’ve been partying with the irresponsible betas.

For a split second, I’m jealous of them. Why did I ever decide to become an alpha? I could be like the betas, carefree and ready for merrymaking. No, instead I’m worrying about territory and mate and child. It seems like a silly decision in retrospect.

Those thoughts, I know, will evaporate when I have Evan in my arms.

Ge-Ro is already at the table, a deck of playing cards and shells on its worn surface. The grog jug stands at the ready, clay cups stacked beside it. I sigh as I settle down on the pillow across from him. “Cards again?”

Ge-Ro shrugs. “What else is there to do in these nights?” He frowns, and I return the expression. There seems to be something off about the burly beta. His gaze flicks to mine, then hastily away again.

There’s something he wants to say, but he’s not sure he should say it. Or perhaps not sure how to say it.

I would press him on the point—it’s just the two of us, and we’ve known each other since we were hatchlings. He can say anything to me. But Yafir makes his entrance at that point, his eyes wild, his chest heaving.

Both Ge-Ro and I tense, ready to leap to our feet. I’m already grasping for my spear, although I know it’s on the other side of the room, near the door.

“Yafir?” Ge-Ro asks.

The younger beta takes a deep breath. He looks wildly at me. “Vince says they’re leaving.”

Ah. Poor thing. Yafir—perhaps foolishly—has fallen in love with the sun spirit alpha. Playing family with Rex, the last hatchling of my parents, and the human alpha did not help Yafir’s nature. I suspected he would make the decision to become an omega, but I did not expect it so soon.

Now, he’s been told his alpha love will be leaving the planet. No wonder he’s distraught. And it’s not much of a surprise that he’s come to me for help. After all, Evan is a sun spirit—a human—himself. Perhaps he can convince his family to stay. Or perhaps I can.

The problem is that I don’t want Evan’s family to stay any longer. I feel sorry for Yafir, but he and Evan’s alpha brother are not mated. The sooner the humans leave, the better for all of us. They’ve done nothing but cause Evan distress, and much as Yafir fancies himself in love with this alpha, it will be much better for him if the humans go.

“When?” Ge-Ro asks.

Yafir swallows. “I’m not sure,” he says. His frantic gaze swings to me; he doesn’t need to say the words for me to know he’s pleading for me to intervene.

I shake my head. “Sit down,” I say, pointing to the pillows. “Have a drink, play cards.”

“Sobek,” he says, the note of hurt in his voice unmistakable.

“If the humans want to leave, then who am I to stop them?” I focus on dealing the cards, not looking at my brothers. I know they’re both looking at me.

“Sobek,” Ge-Ro says softly. I grunt; I don’t appreciate his reproachful tone.

“Please!” Yafir cries. “Listen to me.”

I slam a hand down on the table. “Yafir, I am sorry, but there is nothing I can do. If the humans have decided to go back to their realm, then so be it. I am sorry about your broken heart, but—”

“What about my broken heart?” Yafir sneers. “I’m worried about you.”

I swivel my head to look at him more fully. He shakes his head. “They’re going to kidnap Evan.”

I frown. “Evan?”

Yafir nods. I scoff. “That’s impossible. He’s right here, sleeping.”