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One-on-one, I can’t be commanded by an Alpha. I thought I was completely immune until Thane got Rhen to command me alongside him, proving me wrong. It’s a loophole to the serum. Another one being that when I use my aura, they have the ability to pull on and manipulate it.

So, Thane says that I need to learn how to control it. He doesn’t want me to be vulnerable to anyone, not even them, which I think is silly. I trust them with my life. I think this is more about him trying to soothe his guilt over the past, despite my forgiving him. He also believes figuring out how to use it will be a deterrent if I can hold it.

Using my aura will throw people off and hopefully give me enough time to escape. Since Omegas normally can’t use an aura or command, it will make an attacker waiver and second guess what I am, as long as my pheromones don’t get in the way.

It reinforces the need to practice. Raidon drags the coffee table out of the way, and Thane pulls me to the center of the room. “Okay, just like yesterday,” he tells me, rubbing my arms.

Closing my eyes, I try to pull on my aura, searching for it. My heat the other day seemed to do the trick, though, because since then I have been more aware of the light buzzing on my skin, the essence behind it.

“Good, Low. Now push on mine,” Thane tells me. I focus on projecting it, trying to force it over him. His aura makes mine buzz as it draws mine out further.

“Now, try to get me to submit,” he says, and I almost roll my eyes at him. That will not work. Maybe, by some miracle, I can make him sit, but submit? Not a chance. His Alpha aura won’t allow for that. It would be like challenging him.

“I won’t be able to hold it,” I murmur, trying not to lose focus as I feel the edge flicker, wanting to retreat.

“Just try it. No harm in trying,” Thane says and I sigh. My body shakes as I try to hold it over him. A bead of sweat runs down my back as my aura pushes against his. I might as well be pushing against a brick wall; his aura is impenetrable. Thane isn’t a normal Alpha, but an Alpha-of-Alphas.

Gritting my teeth, I try to push on it, feeling it flex as it pushes against his free will. “I can’t,” I force out.

“Hold it, Low. You can do this,” Thane says softly. His fingers grip mine firmly, tugging me closer. “Focus. Hold it. I can feel it,” he assures me.

“Yeah, but as soon as I try to command you, it will drop,” I tell him. I squeeze my eyes shut tighter, as if that will actually add more strength to it and not give me a headache.

“Try. Just try it once, and we’ll call it a night,” he tells me.

I sigh, my entire body heating as I try to focus. I can hear Scarlett babbling happily in her rocker, hear the soft music it plays as it rocks from side to side. Using my aura, my senses enhance every little thing.

Even his touch feels stronger, the sparks rushing across my hands and up my arms. I can hear the beating of his heart, mine, and our mates. Yet Thane’s thumps faster than normal, beating rapidly and loudly.

“Try, Low. I need you to at least try,” Thane murmurs.

His aura won’t allow it, yet I know he won’t let me stop until I at least try, so I sigh and speak the word. “Submit!” I tell him.

I wait for the pain to start, as it often does when playing with his aura or trying to command them. It is unnatural for both them and me, yet as I say it, I feel his aura drop slightly. I try to jerk my hands from his, but he just tightens his grip.

“Hold it,” he tells me, but I shake my head. “Hold it, baby,” Thane whispers, and I open my eyes to find him kneeling before me.

“Stop it,” I grit out, knowing the only way this is even possible is if he’s allowing it. My aura is no match for him.

“I need you to hold it,” he says.

I shake my head, tears brimming in my eyes. I can feel him struggling with his own instincts to not fight me. He is surrendering to mine or at least trying to.

“Say it,” Rhen says, and my eyes flick to him. My hands are clammy, and I’m sweating. My silk nightgown sticks to my skin. I glance down, and it’s like Thane is fighting a war.

“I don’t need you to do this,” I whisper to Thane.

“No, but I need you to,” he tells me. “I don’t want you to be my mate. I want you to be my Luna,” he says, and I suck in a breath.

“Now, make me submit.” He squeezes my fingers, and I swallow, knowing what he’s giving me. If I make him submit, he’ll no longer be my Alpha. We will be truly equal. His command will never work on me, and I will be able to control his Calling. Even if all of them command me or use their Calling on me, it will have no effect unless I allow it.

My voice trembles as I fight not to drop my nearly nonexistent aura. “Submit,” I stammer, pushing against him, and I feel all resistance drop from him.

I can tell it is causing him pain. I feel his agony through the bond as he fights his own aura, refusing to let it resist mine before he bares his neck to me. This is what Charles meant when he said this is something almost impossible for an Alpha to do.

It goes against everything that is engrained in their very being. It’s why Alphas usually fight to the death. They’d rather die fighting than submit and survive. And yet, Thane does it, and I feel my own aura strengthen as he submits, giving me control over him and our mates.

Tears drip down my chin at what he’s giving me, what he makes me do. My aura drops the moment he submits, and my legs give out from under me. Thane’s arms catch me before I hit the ground and pull me close.