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“I—uh… Where is my room? The one I was in before?” she said to no one in particular.
Two of the guards nodded and began to walk. She followed them and the others surrounded her. The corridors were strangely quiet. It might have been because she was in a wing of the palace that was exclusively for Akoro’s private use, but even when she got to corridors she recognized, hardly anyone was around.
After entering her room, she climbed into the bed and curled up drawing the blankets in to surround her like a cocoon, snug and tight. Only then, when she was surrounded by only her own scent, did she let herself cry for the first time.
She cried for the strength she thought she had to see this through, she cried for her papa and mama who would be devastated to know what happened to her, she cried for her little Omega sister Idaya that one day she may face a similar situation, she cried for all the Omegas who woke up to find themselves fucked against their will in their heat, just because of instinct and biology. She cried until she couldn’t cry anymore, until she was painfully dry and numb.
Her memories came back to her within the hour; it started with a memory of her mouth on his, sucking and pulling his bottom lip, and then the rest flooded back, hitting her all at once.
She tightened herself in her cocoon, horrified at the way she'd behaved with him. The things she did, the things she’d thought. How her people would be ashamed of her if they knew. She was supposed to be the Guardian of Omegas, she couldn't even guard her own legs and keep them closed. She was a disgrace. Her eyes prickled again at all the things they'd done. He’d taken such animalistic pleasure in her, but nothing was as bad as the pleasure she'd taken back.
Her Hazed self had revered him, thought of him as the best thing in the world just because he’d looked at her—wanting to please him, wanting to be good for him. While it was true that he’d fed and watered and knotted her with the care an Alpha was supposed to give, the complete abandon of all logical thought was the entire reason why Omegas had been so abused in the past.
When she had read the history books, she always thought she would rather die than allow herself to be used like that. And yet, it had happened. And by her own mate, no less.
Naya pushed away the thoughts running through her mind and let herself drift into sleep. She just wanted to go home and forget she’d ever met her beast of a mate, but right now, she couldn’t see how that would happen.
She woke when the bed jostled. Someone was disturbing her cocoon, drawing the blankets away. Naya let them. She didn't have the fight in her anymore, maybe she never did. Maybe her entire attempt had been a foolish one. She should have let him kill her when she first arrived, before they could ever find out who they were to each other.
The bed dipped and a huge figure joined her cocoon, pulling out her careful tucking, but she didn't care. The Alpha scooped around himself around her, large against her small. "Why did you leave my bedroom?" he asked, irritated. "That is where you should be."
Naya said nothing, allowing him to fix her wherever he wanted. He could do whatever he wanted, he was stronger than her. He pulled her up so her head rested on his bicep, wrapping his arms around her, and pulling her against him so they were snug bundle within the cocoon, but when he saw her face, his whole body bristled.
"You are upset." The words were harsh.
Naya said nothing. What was the point of responding to him? Anything she said he would have an answer for, except a good reason why he had still fucked her when she said no.
The Alpha made a displeased sound. "You are upset with me, tmot zia." He stroked his fingers across her scalp, sending a thrilling sensation through her aching body. She relaxed into him and then cursed herself for doing it.
"You cannot be angry with me," he said, still stroking. "You know that once an Omega is in her Haze, an Alpha’s rut is just as compelling. It couldn’t be helped. If it hadn't been me it would have been someone else; the only Alphas who have been around you are Nrommo and Oppo. Would you have preferred one of them?"
"I would have preferred none of you," Naya said, her voice low. "You forced my heat on me. If it was going to happen, it should have happened when we met, after you had been torturing me."
The soft growl at the back of his throat trembled in her stomach. "It was always supposed to happen. It was just delayed. My brother has been caring for you, and he thought it necessary to give you extra protection from going into your heat, on top of the steps we’d taken."
"You mean with these stupid bands?" Naya realized she wasn't wearing them. She frowned up at him. "Why aren't I wearing them? And why did your guards escort me to my room without them?"
"You don't need them right now.” His voice was heavy with satisfaction. “You smell of me."
Naya's face dropped and she dragged her eyes away. "Your methods of suppressing an Omega scent are ridiculous," she mumbled. "It's outdated. At least your brother was doing something that would protect me. He heals me. Nothing you have done has been for either reason."
Akoro growled. "I don't want to talk about Oppo."
"I don't want to talk at all!" Naya suddenly yelled. "You are in here uninvited." She pushed him, fighting against his overbearing nature, his imposing presence and the arms that pulled her and comforted her without her permission. But she was like a tiny, irritating gnat against a giant—it made no difference.
"When you build a nest, it is not just for you," Akoro said, pulling her even closer to him. "It is a sign that you want to feel safe. And that you want your Alpha with you."
Naya froze. Had she built a nest? No… It couldn’t be. This wasn’t a nest… but then, she hadn’t done this cocoon thing before. She sought out memories about what she read, her heart racing at the idea. Fuck, he was right. She scowled. "A few days ago you didn't know anything about true mates, and now suddenly know everything about Omegas?"
“It wasn't that I didn't know,” Akoro held her eye, "but I wasn't expecting it. This information has been buried in our culture. Once I sought the information out, there was plenty there."
Naya lowered her eyes, wondering why information about Omegas would be buried, but a more important question pushed that aside. "What does this mean for your invasion?"
"Nothing." He held her eyes. "You do not understand our culture yet, but a true mate pairing is considered highly rare and coveted if it happens at all. It cannot be ignored or disregarded just because you come from a land facing invasion. The invasion must still happen."
Naya's heart sank. If he had been willing to stop the invasion, she might have found a way to accept what had happened. If she was going to be used and abused, it might as well be for a good cause.
"Once you are feeling better, you will continue the meetings with my council until at least until your memory comes back," Akoro was saying. "And then we need to talk."
