Stronger than Fate

by Dakila Reed

  This was sweet. This was exactly like how his dreams looked like. And Skye knew if there was any time he should confess, this was it.

  Skye drew a breath and gazed up at his dream alpha. “Rustom?”

  “Yup?”

  “I… I have something to tell you.”

  The other man raised a brow. “Okaaay? Wow that sounds ominous. You suddenly going all serious there. Let’s hear it.”

  Skye gazed down, summoning every bit of strength from the floor beneath his feet. This was it. He was going to say it.

  But Rustom’s hands on Skye’s waist slid so abruptly. It felt more like he was pushed. A scalding cold lingered to where those strong hands were supposed to be. The trance broken in a silent shatter.

  Confused, Skye looked up at Rustom. Rustom’s gaze wasn’t on him anymore.

  Skye could see it though. That glint in Rustom’s averted gaze. Heat. Sudden longing. Fire. Joy.

  “Rustom?” Skye called. Even to him his voice sounded so faraway.

  He slowly followed Rustom’s line of gaze. Past the other bodies swaying on the dance floor. Past the competent servers. Past the decorative gazebo. Under the tower of white natural lilies. Skye felt more than saw.

  The creature surrounded by those pure lilies was staring straight back at Rustom. The man’s lips were red and sinfully moist. Hair so golden he seemed loved by the sun. And the stranger’s green eyes mirrored the exact ones on Rustom’s. Recognition. Possession.

  Skye turned to Rustom, sudden panic filling him. This wasn’t a regular attraction. No. Not at all. He tried to reach at Rustom’s arm, hopefully to stir the man away. The man though brushed him off, his gaze still burning to the man on the opposite side of the roof deck.

  A dread so heavy draped over Skye’s shoulders. That beautiful stranger was just like him. A male omega. An omega who so clearly looked like he stepped out of Rustom’s dreams.

  “Wait, Rustom…” Skye whispered, reaching out to the alpha’s arm. He caught the air.

  No. He wasn’t seeing this. Not now. Not on his birthday.

  But Rustom’s grumbling and feral whisper as he devoured the blond stranger with his golden gaze confirmed it. “Mine.”

  He walked slowly. As if still quite unsure what was going on. His heightened senses had shut down, a deafening silence roared into his ears, followed by a loud sound of something clicking in place. And then everything went on moving back to its natural pace. Dancers, other guests, servers, evening sky. But none of them mattered. Not really.

  Every step he made was growing in urgency, in haste. He had to get close. Had to breathe that in. Successfully making his way into the crowd wasn't all hard. He was big. He was a supreme alpha. The title alone would have made the entire floor spread. He picked on his pace, almost like he was about charging to an enemy, this time a prey wide eyed staring at him. Once under the gazebo with the fake lilies hanging like curtains, his vision blurred for everything save for the deep green eyes staring back at him. He nearly slammed the beautiful stranger against the beam of the gazebo. But he held his hands out not. He just stood in front of the man their bodies almost colliding.

  Rustom dropped his head, the tip of his nose almost touching the top of that blond hair. He inhaled. A fragrance so intoxicating crept into his system like a long and slithering welcome embrace. The air was cool and pleasant though they could have been floating in fuel, igniting instincts sleeping way behind.

  "Whoa..." the earth-bound angel finally whispered, carrying in his tone shock and clear satisfaction in what he himself was scenting.

  "Yes," Rustom agreed in more like a rumble. "Really. Whoa."

  The blond looked up, his impossible green gaze carrying intelligence and humor.

  Rustom felt his chest vibrating, in a low grumbling growl of both joy and naked possessiveness. Long ago, when he was still the kid running and pulling at kites and playing stupid games, he was told fated mates were like miracles. Fragrance so sweet, presence so alluring. They had sounded all like a fairytale. They were. But at this moment he couldn't really care. It wasn't in his nature to go look at one guy and feel a pulsing and raw need. But he was the epitome of one right now. This was freaking ridiculous.

  The blond blinked at him. That mouth so red they were sinfully inviting crept in the form of a smile.

  Rustom was already surprised at how much this was affecting him. He had to slow down. He looked away, turning to the side to inhale something not much filled of the stranger. But it wasn't just possible. He was clouded in it. "Shit," Rustom cursed the evening sky before looking back at the green eyes waiting for him. "Who would have thought?"

  "Why? Don't believe in fated mates?" the blond asked.

  Rustom already was loving that timber, that bedroom drawl. "I don't. Not until now."

  The blond stranger cocked his head to the side, his gaze trailing up and down Rustom's body. "Well, on the contrary... I've been waiting for you. For years."

  "Yeah?" Rustom started invading, penetrating further into the stranger's space. The other didn't seem to mind.

  The blond smiled, raising one delicate hand to whatever space was remaining between them. "Reece Alkia."

  Rustom took the hand. Felt his skin sizzle in that obvious electric shock. For a delicate-looking built, the hand he gripped may be smaller but was calloused and damn firm and steady. Reece was no delicate lily.

  "Rustom Vera. Can't wait to know you better."

  "Likewise."

  For such a short span of time, Rustom gathered a lot of things he wouldn't even pay attention to had it been someone else. He liked how Reece would slightly tilt his head to the side when thinking. And so he asked, and gave Reece the important things in return that better be laid out right away than later.

  As for Reece Alkia, he was the only omega son of Sierra Gena's supreme alpha. It somehow explained the regal way Reece carried himself with. Sierra Gena's district was one of the wealthiest in terms of gold. Their territory literally was on a massive gold depot. Somehow it dearly fitted him and his blond hair and his pale skin and his bright intelligent gaze. He looked so pristine, precious and important at the same time. All of which made Rustom want to sully Reece.

  "I almost didn't want to go in this gathering," Reece shot a glare at the many numbers of leaders giggling with each other. "For all this looks like, I could already tell a lot of back stabbing."

  Rustom scooted closer to Reece, never touching or laying a finger on what seemed like a silk-smooth skin. They could do that plenty in due time. But right now, he was more interested at knowing this piece of work that was messing with his brain and self-control.

  "That's politics for you."

  One corner of Reece's lips curled upward. "I hate politics. But my fated mate is a supreme alpha. Just my luck I guess."

  "You don't look all displeased."

  "Oh, I'm not," the blond chewed on his lower lip briefly. "Believe me. You don't know half of what I wanna do right now."

  Funny how news spread like wildfire. Rustom was of course aware that people have been watching his every move, listening to his every remark. It shouldn't have surprised him. But it still did. Specially when the old supreme alpha of Sierra Gena came to him shaking his hand tightly. The man's eyes crinkled at the corners with relief. For what, Rustom had still no idea.

  "My son is very eager to get to know you. He's an impatient one to be honest."

  Reece who was standing behind his father stuck his head out and rested his chin on his old man's shoulder. They didn't resemble each other. Where as Reece had soft features, the old man despite his age had sharp angular ones. The old man placed his own hand over his chest, chuckling softly. They clearly had a good relationship with Reece obviously being doted upon.

  "Rustom," Reece began. "Obviously I can't tonight. But would it be alright to go and visit Sierra Nadre one of these days? I'd like to see your district and get acquainted there."

  "Actually... I am thrilled. Pleasure is mine."
/>   "Oh sure there will be some pleasuring. No questions about that," Reece remarked sneakily.

  The old man rolled his eyes, tapping Reece's cheek fondly. "Reece. You're not getting claimed yet. At least not yet. That's not easy."

  "Huh?" Reece deadpanned. "What's not easy is the million formality practices before the claiming. I want to get to know my Alpha better as soon as possible while getting myself used to the life of an alpha mate. I've waited for this. You know that."

  Rustom couldn't stop the surge of pride in him. 'My Alpha'. Two words but he almost came undone. Just simply spending the rest of the remaining evening with Reece had made Rustom slightly drunk. Not with alcohol but purely with the little tidbits of what kind a person Reece was. There was the occasional brushes of their arms, the tempting grin. He made flirting so subtle but intentions not all discreet. Reece with his angelic face was a deceiving cock tease. And while Rustom had never been the one to get attracted to omegas with very much outright flirting tendencies, heck, in more ways than one it turned him off, yet looking at Reece's challenging stares, open suggestive licks of his lips, Rustom was just in plain awe. Everything about Reece was blinding him. In a good, good way.

  When the evening came to its end, when most leaders have gone home and the ones still left were too drunk to get a move on, Rustom and Reece both walked side by side. Their knuckles brushing. It felt good. Rustom had not in one moment thought that meeting one's fated mate could be this... explosive. It was like his world changed itself to accommodate and place this person in the center. They hadn't even known each other well yet. But future, claiming, marriage... they didn't sound far fetched.

  There was a waiting car outside of the hotel entrance. The driver opened the door for Reece which pretty much sealed the end of the night. Rustom watched the car and its taillights vanish at a curve. His mouth was still locked in a smile he couldn't break away from. Reece. The name was so easy in his lips. Even the sound was sweet in his mind.

  He looked up unconsciously. The moon was half hidden and veiled behind thick cluster of clouds. The vastness of the sky above made him halt.

  "Shit."

  He fumbled into his trousers, pulled out his phone and saw a million missed calls from Skye. He drew a breath, pressed call and braced himself. Knowing Skye, he'd surely get an ear-bashing. It didn't take long for the other to pick up. But when Skye didn't say anything, not even a greeting, Rustom knew he was in trouble.

  "Skye? Where are you? I'm sorry. Something came up—"

  "It's okay," Skye cut in. "Caught a free ride with Adviser Tiago's convoy."

  Rustom raked his fingers through his hair and laughed. He couldn't picture Skye with Adviser Tiago stuck in one car. "Wow, best friends already?"

  Skye didn't laugh and Rustom knew that kind of silence.

  "Skye, I'm so sorry. I'll make it up to you. I'll just..." Rustom closed his eyes, seeing so vividly the chilling, languid carefree Reece by his side. This was a pivotal point of his life. His blood was fucking alive. His senses strung and tight. His jaws were tingling, flexing for that bite of flesh. This was a new experience. And Skye was there. For sure he saw what just took place. "You understand right?" he let out and he was sure there was a dumb excitement in his voice. It'd been always easy letting his guard down around Skye.

  "My phone's almost drained."

  The call dropped abruptly. No impatient 'bye' or a grunt. No nothing. Rustom stared at his phone, his face vaguely reflecting from the blank screen. For a few seconds before heading to his truck he contemplated calling Skye back. As much as he was in a good mood right now, a corner in his joyful mind felt a tingling of protest. He tucked his phone back into his pocket with a sigh and drove back alone and thinking.

  * * * *

  The next Monday morning was much too bright for him. His eyes were protesting, his sluggish bones felt like they've grown suddenly seventy years old. Getting out of bed had been an exertion. And no. It wasn't because he was having dreams of Reece tangled and spent on his sheets. Initially his dream was steering in that direction. He was still clothed and beneath him was a naked and very willing gorgeous man, all spread and slick. But for the freaking love of whatever god was out there, the bed with Reece faded like smoke, leaving him in a dream of a night full of utter menace and despair.

  The dampness in the air licked at his skin. The darkness was burning bright it severed all kinds of hope or light. He took one cautious step after the other, his shoes sinking disgustingly into the mud. And there he saw him.

  Of all the people he could be dreaming about, he couldn't fathom why Larri Devlin was showing up in his subconscious. Larri Devlin sprawled naked, very dead and face down in that black swamp was enough to drain him of his sexual fantasies for the night. He laid on his bed so restlessly, tossing and turning before finally giving up the notion of sleep.

  "Morning," Rustom greeted. Or at least tried to.

  The elderly woman polishing the wolf statues at the entrance of the district hall smiled sympathetically. "Good morning, Supreme Alpha. You're awfully early today."

  He dragged his legs as he stifled a yawn. "What can I do? I'm an outstanding model for everyone."

  Rustom felt slightly better after hearing the elderly woman giggle. Maybe coming up to work when the whole district was still asleep or in the process of waking up had its good points. Made him see some he rarely didn’t.

  Once locked up in his office, he willed himself to be busy. Budget allocation. Infrastructure proposals. Defense meetings. Nothing out of routine to say the least. The amount of work waiting for him was a welcomed distraction. All he wanted was to be buried with thoughts of Reece. But his dream about Larri weighed him down.

  At least when the soft chime signaling for lunch break filled in the entire district hall, Rustom had finished more than half of his work for the day. He stretched his arms behind his head and turned to the massive window on his left.

  He allowed himself to finally relax. Allowed himself to drift slowly like the thick clouds scattered in the summer sky. He lazily brought his gaze to a small box sitting on his table. Hopefully Skye was in a better mood by now so he could give him his peace offering.

  Just as he was about to close his eyes, a jolt of heat spiraled down his spine. It was so sudden he nearly sent the swivel chair toppling behind on the floor. He threw his gaze back out the window and headed out of his office. He walked in a steady manner, nodding and greeting back the employees he passed by.

  It was there. Barely. But still too calling that he couldn’t ignore. He’d just been introduced to this scent in a few hours but had nearly implanted itself in his senses. He couldn’t be wrong.

  Stepping out of the district hall and standing just outside the massive canopy, he observed. The regular sounds and scenery of a busy workday was in full motion as usual. People were heading out for their lunches, or getting into the building early for their appointments.

  He trudged down the few number of steps until he reached the side of the road. He bit back a smile, trying to gauge down the inexplicable and surmounting satisfaction at what he was seeing.

  Reece was sitting under the red-roofed waiting shed. The man was pure air and water to Rustom. One look and his drab day swirled to the opposite.

  “I didn’t know your terms ‘one of these days’ mean, ‘the next day’,” he started, walking the distance to his delectable mate in white shirt and jeans. “You should have come inside the hall and asked for me.”

  The blond omega turned to him with eyes round with surprise. “I swear…” he said almost breathlessly, “the jolt would give me a heart attack one day.”

  Rustom sat beside Reece, his gaze never leaving the other. “Same here. It’s like this internal built-in radar I guess.”

  Reece smiled even more. His blushing skin from the heat so beautiful in the greenery surrounding them. “I was actually planning on barging into the hall and surprise you but… I mean, we’re not yet official. And my father at least raised
me with manners for all the spoiling he did.”

  There was a small gray travel bag in between Reece’s legs. Rustom was more than happy to accommodate him.

  “It’s my break. We can drop off your bag to my house and have lunch.”

  The breeze blew at their faces, the blond strands framed that heart-shaped face so softly Rustom couldn’t believe this was all real. Reece had been beautiful last night. But in the brightness of day he was spectacular. He was really his dream incarnate for the lack of other way to describe it.

  Reece tilted his head to the side with a sweet bashful smile. “What?”

  “How do I say it? You’re perfect.”

  It was obvious Reece was biting off a self-satisfied smile. "Flatterer.”

  Rustom laughed, his hand finally resting on Reece's right shoulder. "It's because I don't lie. Our female omegas are all beauties, not to mention with brains sharp as razors but they don’t affect me like you. Our only male omega here, well... I can’t describe him. He’s out of the question."

  With a drawn up brow, Reece peered into Rustom's eyes. "You have male omega here as well?"

  "Yeah, we do."

  "And you don't know how to describe him? That's weird for an alpha."

  “Well he’s a very important friend and Skye is just… Skye. He’s my best friend and sometimes I even forget he’s an omega.”

  Reece narrowed his eyes even more, the green of his eyes oddly dark despite the sun brightening his face. He had a funny look on his face as though he was trying to figure out something. "Skye, huh? An alpha, best friends with an omega? And you... haven't touched him?"

  Rustom sighed and gently pulled Reece into him. "I see your jealous wolf right there."

  "I'm not— well I am. Slightly. Which is fucking annoying because I just met you last night,” Reece hissed. “I don’t share Rustom. I’ve never been good at sharing.”