Page 10 of Dark Company

“Once the sacred seed took hold of her, the knot deflated, allowing him to pull out from her. The intermingled slick and seed that poured forth from her body created the first beings. Over time, Xiarius bestowed his sacred divinity upon those that were strong and virile—Alphas—while Ilaria bestowed her blessing on the ones that would complete them—omegas.”

Her eyes drift close for a moment before she continues. “This makes the omega so sacred. We are the only receptacles that can truly take the divinity of an Alpha. Beta women can try to accommodate, but it is painful for them. They were not created with the divine purpose. We omegas were.”

“If what you’re saying is true, and I am somehow a hidden omega, why are there no Alphas here?”

“Ahhh. You sound like the younger omegas who have no accurate knowledge of how an Alpha works. With divine purpose comes divine madness. Many, not all, are deluded by their own grandeur. They think because they are touched by the divine that they are then gods to those under them. But it isn’t so. We keep to ourselves, surrounding us with betas that help during estrus. We throw ourselves at the mercy of Xiarius himself when the heat becomes too much.”

Dawning filters into my brain. That’s why they keep it so warm. In school, we learned about omegas, heats, ruts, and estrus, but they never told us what happened during those times. It was a sacred joining of Alpha and omega. That’s all we knew. But now, I understand what that joining actually is, and it both entices and terrifies me.

“Every omega in our care sacrifices their maidenhood to Xiarius. When you become of age, you too will do the same. It is how we thank him for his protection as our one true Alpha. He stands guard over us omegas, allowing us the use of his body. Giving of our innocence is the least we can do.”

Fuck.

She wants me to give up the one thing that is considered sacred in Stanlion and give it to a statue? What will I do if I ever go back home? No Alpha will ever want me. My brain takes another turn, this thought more terrifying than the first. That’s why Brennen wants me after the sacrifice. He wants to take my body as his own, shoving his less-than-divine phallus into me.

“Please, don’t make me do this.”

“It is the only way, my child. It is better to give up your barrier early on than to wait until estrus is upon you. This way, you can choose how you lose it instead of having it ripped from you by a male that’s drunk off the scent of your pussy.”

“But I’m not an omega.”

The motherly smile twists into a fierce frown. “When will you stop deluding yourself? No mark on your arm can change the blood flowing through your veins. Even if your eyes didn’t give it away, your stature would. You’re too small to be a beta.”

“There are omegas here with other colored eyes. Not just gray. They are gray because of a deficiency. That was why I begged you to let me wear my lenses to protect me from the sun!”

“My sweet, innocent child. I am not sure who told you these lies or allowed you to believe them. Gray eyes are the mark of the divine. Not every omega has them, but everyone that possesses gray eyes is an omega. Male and female both.”

“But Annora -.” My voice dies as I crumple onto the sacrificial dais.

“She lied to you, my child. I do not know what possessed her to do so, but she lied to you. You are an omega. And if you don’t believe me, sacrifice your virtue on the day you come of age. A beta cannot handle the divine knot, but you will. I’ll even have the physicians on hand to catch you before you tear, if that’s what you’re worried about.”

Anger slithers up my spine, forcing me to sit upright. “If I need the help of the physicians, will you leave me in peace?”

“By the word of Ilaria, I will force nothing else onto you.”

“Then we are agreed. What must I do?” Apprehension gnaws at my gut as we stand there, me looking down at the older woman.

She seems so small and frail, even more so than before. Is this what it means to be an omega? Small, diminished, and on the verge of breaking? Though her stance is strong like mine, I still detest looking at my potential future. That is, if I am actually an omega. With each passing day, the dreams of growing big and strong like the other betas seem to slip through my fingers like the shifting sands of the desert.

Ignoring my existential crisis, the Clan Mother turns and starts to head back into the tent, forcing me to gather the bucket and rag and climb down to follow her. As we slip back inside, the other two betas appear at her side and walk with us until she’s settled back into her spot.

They stare at me, unmoving like the statue I just cleaned, and for a moment, I wonder if they were, in fact, living statues. The urge to reach out and touch them is almost unbearable. Will I find the pliant flesh of a human beta? Or will it be unmovable stone but just as warm?

Once more, fire climbs up my cheeks, infusing my face with a humiliating warmth, but still, they say nothing. They watch me as if I’m a creature to be dissected in one of the many classrooms I used to frequent. Will they show me a kinder mercy than I did those poor animals and insects? How many times did I tap on their glass, silently begging for them to notice me?

“The week leading up to the sacrifice, you must be carefully maintained.” The Clan Mother’s voice cuts through my thoughts like a hot knife searing across my brain.

The raspy tone sets me right back on edge. Just that one sentence is enough to make my heart pulse until I’m sure it will fly right out of my chest. To her, the word sacrifice seems to be simple, common, like it has no actual bearing. Yet, for me, this is still a frightening and nebulous idea.

With a flutter of her skirt, she shuffles about on the cushioned chair. “You will be treated like the royal goddess you are with primping and pampering—everything you need to prepare your body for this change. But first, the physician must inspect you. Some omegas, in very rare cases, cannot accommodate the divine and must be expanded. So far, no one in my camp has needed this, so do not worry.”

Pausing, she motions again for the beta on her left. “Jakrob will be the doctor in charge of seeing that everything goes accordingly. I suggest you do not fight him. Though his dynamic indicates he is a beta, he has the strength and ferocity of an Alpha. He is not only our physician, but he is also my defender.”

The man steps forward, his eyes boring into mine as if he’s trying to control me even before the examination starts. I won’t stand for this. Jutting up my chin, I step forward, forcing my gaze to hold strong and not falter. We stand there in our stalemate until the Clan Mother clears her throat, the hint of a laughter threading around us.

“That’s enough, Karis. Jakrob is not a beta to be trifled with.”

“But Clan Mother, I cannot allow him to examine me. No male other than my Alpha may look upon my divine anatomy.” I break my gaze so that I can plead with her.