All options
– So it's true, – Iris said thoughtfully, – the resonance between the call and the roar can save the World Tree. Do you think Toneri doesn’t know about this?
– Toneri has been hiding a lot from us from the very beginning, – Noah said, – so I think he’s aware. Perhaps by getting rid of Alpha, he planned to use them as they use Omega. But that wouldn’t work either. The roar cannot saturate with the energy of life, the roar is not capable of giving at all. It only takes.
– Typical Alpha thing, just grabbing everything for themselves, – Leo muttered.
– Want to talk about it? – Noah said defiantly.
– Hey! – Iris raised his hands, – this isn’t the time for that. Let’s first decide what to do, and then you can kill each other, alright?
– Let’s wait for Maidena and Nari, – Alpha said quietly, – this meeting is dragging on.
– Strange that he invited only women, – Iris cautiously peeked out the door, – oh, looks like they’re coming.
– Guys, we have a problem! – Nari barged into the room.
– I wish I could say she’s exaggerating, – Maidena ran in after her, – but no! We are really in deep trouble!
– Can we have more details?! – Iris asked irritably, – some specifics? Because the fact that we’re in trouble was clear from the very beginning. Since birth, roughly…
– Toneri has announced the start of Operation Sigma.
– What an original name, – Noah said skeptically, – and what does that mean?
– He wants to gather all his controlled Alphas in one day and create chaos in the city! And while the services are busy with saboteurs, the main Sigma group is to infiltrate the Favorit Tower and kill Adelsen!
– Ha-ha, – Noah’s smile twisted on his lips, – that’s not something even I can manage. How does he plan to do this?
– He’s going there himself! And with his call, he will immobilize him!
– Adelsen is the most powerful Alpha of Katoria. Toneri’s power will only last a few seconds, if it lasts at all.
– A few seconds are enough for Nari to mark him and subdue him, – Maidena said, – Toneri has given her the order.
– If they screw up, they’ll die! – Leo jumped up, – if they don’t have enough time, Adelsen will kill both of them, or worse! He’ll take Nari! And who knows what he will do to her!
– I won’t let that happen! – Noah exclaimed.
– You lost to him once already, – Mai said quietly, – we need to come up with something. In any case, Toneri has a backup plan. In case of failure, he plans to destroy the World Tree itself!
– Has he lost his mind already? – Iris shouted, – by destroying the Tree, he condemns all of us to death. Both Alphas and Omegas. No Tree – no barrier! Without a barrier – hello to the fog! And what is the fog to us? Right, the camellia! And camellias couldn’t care less about Alphas or Omegas. This disease will wipe us all out.
– Where the camellia doesn’t succeed, hunger and lack of drinking water will help, – Maidena said heavily, – after all, the fog destroys fertile lands, poisons water.
– Damn… – Noah cursed, – we’re really in total!..
– What if… – Nari suddenly said, – what if we talk to Saipher Adelsen?
– What?! – everyone exclaimed in unison.
– Nari, – Iris cleared his throat, – trying to defeat Toneri by teaming up with Adelsen is like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. They’re both insane (sorry, Noah, but it’s true). And both have plans for you!
– But what if we can reach out to him? If the Tree can be saved through resonance, surely that’s in the interest of the Alphas?
– Actually, it’s in the interests of the whole world, – Iris said thoughtfully, – but how do you plan to meet him? He is still the head of the corporation!
– We have something he needs, – Maidena tilted her head, – the most wanted runaway Alpha in all of Katoria and the most desired Omega for the Adelsen family.
– No! – Leo shook his head, – that won’t happen. Too dangerous.
– But Maidena is right, – Nari yawned, – we just need to find a way to contact him.
– I have an idea, – Iris suggested, – your friend, the beta. Kanetika, I think. She seems to be working in the management.
– You’re right! It’ll be weird to just show up to her after I disappeared. But she can get his schedule and we!..
– I said – no! I’m against it!
– And I’m not asking for your permission!
– Nari, this is madness! What if he captures you?
– So you’re suggesting we do nothing? Run away? Wait for the Tree to be destroyed?!
– I want to save the Tree just as much as you do! But not at the cost of your life!
– That’s for me to decide!
Nari stomped out of the room, slamming the door loudly. Maidena decided to chase after her. Noah also stood up.
– Listen, – he said, looking at Leo, – I’m not thrilled about this idea either. But no one gets to order her around. I’ll protect her, I promise.
– Stuff your promises!
– Thank you, Noah, take care of her! – Iris covered his mouth with his palm, – as soon as you contact Kanetika, let me know. We’ll come up with a clearer action plan.
– I’m counting on you, Iris, – Noah averted his gaze and also disappeared through the door.
– Let go! – Leo burst out, – what’s wrong with you?!
– You explain that to me. Maybe enough already? She’s not a little girl. You can’t baby her! You can’t decide for her! And you certainly can’t control her!
– And so what!? Just let her die?!
– She won’t die as long as Noah is with her! – Iris barked and then sighed, quietly adding, – if… you want to care for someone, control, nurture… I could be that person? Hand those feelings over to me.
The room filled with the scent of strawberries, the aroma of his pheromone.
– Iris, this isn’t…
– Forget it, – the blonde waved him off, – I’ll go too.
And suddenly Leo grabbed his arm. His cheeks burned, and his heart raced. For the first time, he felt fear. The fear that if Iris leaves now, he might never return. And might never touch him again.