Page 35 of Dark Company

“Are you fucking stupid?” Her screech of indignation slams into me, shocking me into movement.

There’s no way I can allow her to talk to me like this in front of the men. If she’s going to give me a dressing down, then she’ll damn well do it where I won’t lose face in front of my men. Rank is tenuous amongst rebels, and only the Alpha of the highest caliber can hold the reins. Leon could take over, but this is my mission, and I will damn well see it through.

That it’s gone so head over ass is not through any fault of my own. I never dreamed of stumbling across such a venomous treasure trove of the prickliest omegas ever birthed on this planet.

Standing up, I wrap my hand around the omega’s arm and haul her to her feet before dragging her to the tent. Once inside, I push her to the ground and stand over her, positioning my face above hers. “You will either learn to address me with respect or not at all. Do you understand me?”

“Not only do I understand you, but I can also smell you. When was the last time you bathed? Is that why you haven’t helped Karis with her heat? She probably won’t care. In fact, I’m sure she’ll like the way you smell.”

“That is not the point. The point is, I will not take the princess of Stanlion. At least not without permission.”

She stills. In fact, it’s the first time she’s seemed taken aback since I’ve seen her. “What lies are you spilling from your lips in such a sweet cacophony of sounds and untruths? Stanlion has no princess. If you can’t fuck the girl, then give her to someone else who can.”

Anger washes over me, prickling me from my scalp to my toes. That this omega dares to call my virility into question is beyond me. It doesn’t matter that I’ve never bedded a woman. Month after month, the High Echelon pulled gallons of cum from my body. That should be enough proof than I can and will be enough for any omega if I chose to fuck them.

Ignoring her barbs, I instead shift the subject. “They are not lies. You’ve been away from Stanlion far too long, omega. There’s been a change, a revolution. We now have a king, and his queen is this omega’s sister. I may not be educated in the ways of politics, but that makes Karis a princess in my small-minded estimation. Or do you wish to call that into question as well?”

“Princess?”

“Yes.”

A tendril of unease unfurls between us as we stare at each other in this stalemate. “If she is as important as you say, you have to help her. This is her first heat. Without someone to guide her, I’m afraid it will destroy her.”

I turn back to glance at Karis, noting the discomfort crossing her face. Though she appears to be asleep, her body continues to contort, as if she’s still fighting the restraints.

“Are you choosing not to listen?” Alexi’s frantic voice cuts into my thoughts. “She’s been under the influence of suppressants. We don't know what this heat will do to her. You must help her.”

Helpless, I stare at Karis. I can’t do anything. It will only make matters worse. “You cannot ask me to do this. I -.”

“Either you satisfy her, or I will.”

“You will not fucking touch her.” Possessive rage fills my body as the omega has the audacity to rise and make her way over to Karis.

Is it just the fact that she’s my princess? Or is in that I want her to be my princess, my little Karis, and my omega? I’ve never felt the need to claim ownership of another person until now. I could already feel it when it was just Karis and me, but now that this omega is proving to be a sexual threat, it’s all too much.

I reach out to stop her but pause as she simply lays a hand against Karis’s forehead. “She’s burning up.” Turning to me, she stares up at me with water eyes. “Please. You have to do something.”

“You will not make me break my vows.”

Turning, the omega curls up her lips and reaches out towards my face. Before I can stop her, she rips out my respirators and flees the tent, no doubt sure of her execution. And she would be correct. I take a step in her direction but freeze as the smell of untainted omega heat reaches my nose.

It’s nothing like the artificial heat the High Echelon pumped into my room. This is rich, rippling along the air. I can almost taste it when I open my mouth to take in a deeper breath. Karis smells like every delicious thing I’ve craved, but had been denied.

Comparing her to the artificial scent is like comparing the bland rations I ate to the sumptuous fair that was always set before the members of the High Echelon. My mouth watered then too, but I could restrain, telling myself that the mission was worth more than a few mouthfuls of their food. The rations kept me strong, containing the nutrients needed to be at my best. Indulging was never good for the mission.

Karis is not good for the mission.

But I cannot resist.

Now that I’ve scented her, she will never be free from my grasp. She is mine, and I will fight the gods themselves to keep her by my side. Storming over to the tent’s opening, I fling it back and scan the area for the omega who seems to know far too much. Catching Leon’s curious gaze, I motion for him to come over just moments before I see the conniving little omega bitch that’s bringing on my rut, forcing me to fuck Karis, when all I want to do is keep her safe.

I only have a few minutes before I fully succumb, and things need to be put in order. Grabbing her once more, I take her over to Leon and thrust her into his arms. “Let neither of the omegas out of your sight. This bitch tore out my respirators, forcing me into a rut.”

Even as I’m speaking, my voice lowers, becoming far more gravelly and rough for my tastes. The words themselves are harder to get out, harder to conjure up. Instead, all I can see are images flashing before my eyes. Of Karis spread out before me, taking my knot deep inside her body, of her moaning my name as I give her the one thing only an Alpha can give her.

“Keep safe. Watch. Guard the tent. No one can be without respirators.” The words come out in punctuated gasps, as if they’re being ripped from my throat.

I need help. I need something. With a growl, I pull the omega away from Leon, completely changing my mind, and drag her behind me, forcing her into the tent. She’s the one that got me into this mess. She’ll make sure I don’t harm Karis in my mindless state. At least, that’s the plan; however, the moment she’s inside with me, I can’t abide her presence. She’s one more thing that will get in between me and my mate.