Page 133 of The Ashpaw: Part One

“So the rites were created to encourage attachment before the ceremony sealed the mating bond. The shared meals and hunts, scented tokens to be worn throughout the day, sleeping in the same furs… all performed in the hopes to approximate the strength and depth of the connections alphas and omegas develop without any effort at all.”

Fern felt the room’s eyes on her and could feel the question forming in their minds.

What connection had she developed with Darion?

And knowing the answer only caused her greater anguish, because there was no connection to speak of. If it was truly so easy, so effortless, then why did he make it seem so difficult?

Kyntha’s mother folded her hands neatly.

“And now you divide those instincts between my daughter and an omega.”

Darion did not respond, but his shoulders dropped ever so slightly, and a defeated exhale breathed through his nose.

“So what do you propose?” Alastair asked.

Katreena looked towards her mate again, handing the discussion back to him wordlessly, as though they’d already planned this conversation before arriving.

“While I can’t say I’d choose any differently were I in Darion’s place,” he began, “Surely you can agree, Alastair, that this arrangement is disadvantageous for all parties.”

Darion’s muscles tensed, and his hands twitched.

“I think the solution is rather obvious, don’t you? I mean, to have an omega serve as a Naravekh at all is below her station. She should be properly mated, and with three young, strapping, mate-less alphas in this very room—”

“No.”

Darion’s voice cut through the room quickly and efficiently, killing the idea before it could escape.

Katreena gave a quiet sigh. “Don’t you see, Alpha Darion? You have already become more attached to the omega than any alpha should be to his Naravekh when the mere mention of her mated to someone else causes such a reaction.”

Alpha Darion gritted his teeth and then spat back as he stood, palms flat on the table. “And so what? I marked her, bound her to the clan, and claimed her as mine. All within my rights, no matter the timing or order.”

He gestured towards the two women on either side of him.

“Kyntha will be my mate and bear my heir, and the omega will bear the others needed to fill my Council. If anything, an omega Naravekh will take the pressure off Kyntha entirely to conceive more than is required.”

A lone tear fell down Fern’s cheek, her eyelashes fluttering as they closed to keep the rest from joining.

She knew he saw her as nothing more than a broodmare. Had said so himself the night he’d claimed her.

But it still hurt every time she was reminded of how little she meant to him.

And then Kyntha burst into tears, sobbing pitifully. “B-but what if I want to bear all of your pups?”

Who is stopping her? Fern thought.

Her wolf similarly rolled her eyes.

Darion moved at once to comfort her, cupping her face and whispering in her ear when her father snapped. “Kyntha, compose yourself.”

The tears and sniveling stopped almost immediately, and Darion looked at Dane, confused and irritated. He kissed her on the cheek and sat back down.

“Cyran,” Dane said. “Tell me what you’ve just observed.”

The young alpha, who’d been reclining in his seat, sat up straight with a small groan, running his hand down his face as he inspected Kyntha, Darion, and Fern in succession.

“Both my sister and the omega were in emotional distress. His instinct led him towards my sister.” Then he shrugged. “Either the pull of an omega isn’t as strong as the history books suggest, or the courtship rituals have done what they’re supposed to do. His loyalty is towards Kyntha, his future mate.”

Then he inspected Fern again, more closely this time. “And if so, it stands to reason that it won’t be such a hardship for him to concede his claim to me so I can take the omega as my own.”