– But if you know this, – Mai said hesitantly, – then Adelson knows too?!
– Of course, he knows, – Toneri shrugged, – he’s not keeping her for no reason. He has been preparing her for his successor from the start. Ha… ironic. It could have been you, Noah. You could have gotten her without a fight. And now, she will soon become your brother's toy.
– Shut up! – the alpha barked.
With one sweep of his hand, he seized the omega by the neck and lifted him off the floor. His growl filled the entire room, the tension seemed so high it could tear the space apart from within.
– Noah! – Mai grabbed his elbow, – stop this immediately!!!
– Let it be… – Toneri wheezed, – a special omega deserves a special alpha. Didn’t you know?..
– Noah!!! – Mai grasped his hand tighter.
The boy shoved Sigma’s leader away. Toneri trembled, but his expression was dazed; he was laughing.
– Tell me, Noah, – he coughed, – do you know why your daddy chose her? You don’t think it’s a coincidence?
– I don’t care. I won't let anyone touch her. Not even you! – Noah growled.
– Dominant Omegas are a rare occurrence, – Toneri continued nonetheless, – they’re as rare as Alphas who can bear children. Can you imagine what offspring a pair of two dominants might produce?
– I said – I don’t care! – Noah was getting angrier.
– Such a shame, such a shame… aren’t you curious?
– I already said… – Noah’s voice faltered.
Toneri stepped up close to him. Suddenly, his scent became unbearably sharp, and Noah realized with horror that he couldn't move.
– Alphas… – Toneri whispered in his ear, – your arrogance is astounding. You actually believe that everything is in your hands, that only you decide.
– What have you… done… – the boy struggled to speak.
– Mmm… let me broaden your perspective a bit, my dear dominant alpha, – Toneri continued sweetly, – when two dominants form a pair, their offspring are guaranteed to acquire incredible abilities. Appearance, talents, intelligence, call or growl. Such children will be special in every way. A child from such a union will undoubtedly become an exceptional dominant. Now imagine, if a child from such a union is born an omega. What will happen if a strong dominant alpha becomes their mate? Their offspring will be even more remarkable. It works like an accumulation effect.
– That can’t happen…
– You think so?
– I am sure!
– Oh, Noah, Noah, Noah… let me tell you a little story! – Toneri licked his lips, – don’t look so stern, don’t look. Better listen. Once upon a time, there were two Alphas. The strongest, the most powerful. Two best friends. One was meant to become a king, and the other a duke, his right hand. In the glorious kingdom of Katoria, they were to lead the two mightiest families and rule together. To seal this alliance, the duke was to marry the princess. At the engagement of his sister and friend, the king gave them a generous gift. He gifted them an omega who would become the mother of their children. A beautiful, pure, innocent dominant omega. She was impeccable, unrivaled. And then, the unthinkable happened! The young duke… fell in love! He demanded her love, feelings, emotions. And the omega reciprocated. Their secret connection was wonderful. Oh, how they loved, how they loved… Soon, the omega was pregnant… and the lovestruck duke wanted nothing more than to live somewhere in seclusion with her and their child. But he knew that the family would not allow them to be happy. They had to run.
– What’s… all of this for?!.. – Noah still tried to resist Toneri’s call.
– Shh now! You’ll miss the most interesting part! – the omega waved his hand, – listen further. The young duke turned to the only person he trusted. His friend, the future king. He asked him for help. To escape, to hide. The king helped. One dark night, he took them away and hid them. Only he knew where they had disappeared. The duke and his omega lived happily until the child was born. A beautiful, tiny girl… the omega gave her a lovely, unusual name. And that was the only thing the parents could give their daughter. She hadn’t even turned two months old when they came for them. Can you guess what happened next?
Noah was silent. Cold sweat beaded on his forehead.
– They burst in at night. He led them to them himself. He thought it would be fun: to give them a ghostly hope of happiness and take it away himself. No matter how strong the young duke was, he was one against a whole pack of alphas. The omega died trying to escape with the child. A terrible waste. Had she been kept alive, she would have given the world yet another amazing child. But, but… the mother was dead, the father was gone. The little orphan found herself in an orphanage, where she was raised for the young prince.
– Nari… her father… he’s from the Neis clan? – Noah whispered.
– Oh dear, – Toneri feigned surprise, – did I poorly cloak the story? Did you guess right away? And have you already mapped out your happy life with her? The future? What do you think she’ll say when she learns the truth? How will she look at you when she realizes that your esteemed father ruined her life? Killed her parents? What will her look be then?
Noah stared at the floor. The omega touched his cheek.
– Let me explain how it will all be, – he said.
– Toneri, please!.. – Mai tried to stop him, but fell silent.
The room filled with a nauseating aroma of overripe fruit. The smell was so thick, sharp, that Noah felt dizzy. He sensed he was sinking, going down deep into the water. It was getting dark, cold. Toneri’s voice became muffled, as if coming from somewhere far away.
– You will go to the Arena again, – the voice said, – and you will bring me 13-22. She will make a good ally for us. And you will make sure she follows every one of my orders. I hope you understand?
– Yes… – like enchanted, Noah spoke. His eyes were clouded.
– And you, – Toneri turned to Mai, – you, my dear, will ensure this fool doesn’t break free again.
– Yes, sir… – Mai bowed her head.
– Well, that’s just wonderful, – the omega smiled, – you’re free.
Mai and Noah obediently turned and walked away. In the corridor, the girl grabbed his hand and pulled him away from the leader’s room. She knew he would soon come to his senses, but the order of Toneri would already be etched in his mind, and she could not change that. Mai was a weak, recessive Alpha. Her growl was weak; she almost didn’t feel the pheromones of omegas and hardly heard their call; it didn’t affect her. And that’s why, only she had understood from the very beginning that the trap was not actually omegas…