by V T Bonds
“C’mon, crew. Pick your jaws off the floor. Time to go gab with some aliens.”
My voice snaps everyone out of their awed staring.
After a calming breath, my lifemate takes my hand and leads everyone out the door. A quick jaunt down the hall and a few seconds of waiting for the side hatch to open brings us staring out into wind-tossed sand.
Sighing in frustration over the grit peppering my hair, I pull my scarf over my mouth and follow Vander out into the heat.
Turning toward the Sky-Flyer’s tail, we dart up the little dune into the lower valley on the other side.
Minette’s neon red hair shines in the sunlight, beckoning me to quicken my pace.
Keeping my legs in time with Vander’s strides until we reach the flatter area at the bottom, I squeeze my lifemate’s hand before releasing him.
My heels sink further into the sand as I sprint forward, but I push harder and run faster, closing the distance between myself and my oldest friend like a starving woman to a feast. A cloud forms behind her feet, her mad dash through the loose sand flinging massive amounts of the coarse material into the air, and a sliver of remorse shoots through me as I realize I’ve probably done the same and covered my lifemate in grit.
We collide, her slim yet strong arms wrapping around my lower back while I hug her across her shoulders. She smells different, but I would expect that given the time we’ve spent apart, plus the additions of our lifemates.
“Hell, but I’ve missed you.”
I squeeze her tighter and nod in agreement, pushing down the wad of emotions blocking my throat.
Seeck’s words pull a choked scoff from my chest, his jab exactly what I need to ground me.
“Is she speechless? The world must be ending.”
His quiet sound of pain and Nova’s snap of warning through our invisible connections make me smile. It appears my sister doesn’t appreciate the oaf’s sense of humor.
I grab Minette’s shoulders and force my elbows to straighten, glad when she wraps her slender fingers over my shoulders and mirrors my movement, so we hold each other at arm’s distance.
“You had no issues entering the atmosphere?” I ask her while checking every nuance of her expression as she responds.
“None. Anyone hurt?”
“Nothing more than we can handle.”
“Alpha One is dead?”
“Yes, along with his mate, Georgia.”
“He had a mate? An Omega?”
“Yep.”
“That’s disturbing.”
“Yep.”
“I’m glad you ended what had to be a terrible duo.”
“Oh, it wasn’t all me,” I say, holding in the chuckle rising as I watch over Minette’s shoulder and see her purple behemoth looking between the Alpha Elites, trying to decode who did what on our mission.
“Shya killed Georgia.”
Draukir’s white irises snap to Shya’s tiny frame, and I snort a laugh at his surprise, but his smile overruns it within a millisecond.
His lower-than-should-be-possible voice carries across the desert without him needing to raise his volume.
“It’s always the tiny ones who save the day.”
His expression softens as he stares at Minette’s silhouette, and I suck in a happy breath as I meet my oldest friend’s gaze.
“You did good, sprite. He’s perfect for you.”
Her radiant smile hides the years of strife they’ve no doubt suffered supporting my wild plan.
“I know. I still can’t believe you’ve found someone who’s able to keep up with you.”
She leans closer and sends me a conspiratorial whisper, even though we all know everyone can hear her.
“He stayed right by your side until I grabbed you. I tell you what, he isn’t even breathing hard, which means he must be ready for whatever shenanigans you’ve got planned next.”
“Damn right I am.”
I shiver in glee as Vander’s baritone rumble tumbles down my spine.
Unable to stop my lips from smiling, I move my right hand between us and offer her the little square device on my upturned palm.
“Here’s proof of extermination. Got the mums I demanded?”
Minette snags the little thing between two fingers and twists her wrist to study it from all angles before tucking it into a pocket on the inside of her cleavage.
“Yes, Belmir and Taliya are aboard the Space-Flyer. I wouldn’t let them come out with us, otherwise they’d be all up in our business.”
Her eyes darken and she releases my shoulders before stepping to the side and meeting Shya’s gaze.
“Taliya didn’t handle space travel very well. She’s weak but has already improved so much since we picked her up. I bet moving closer to Shya perked her up some too. I just wanted to let you know, so you aren’t shocked when you see her. I expect she’ll make a full recovery now that she’s back.”
Shya’s eyes flash between gray and pink a few times before she sucks in a deep breath and swallows. Releasing the breath and nodding, she leans against Dirk and responds with a quiet “thanks”.
I stiffen as Minette’s gaze returns to me, her expression making warning bells ring in my head.
“Belmir is right as rain. She says she wants to speak with you, even tried to veto me and follow us out, but my crew knows how to handle these situations. She’s waiting in the cargo bay. Unharmed, so you can thank me now,” Minette declares, ending on a haughty note, popping her hip out and propping her hand on it.
I throw my head back and laugh, understanding her frustration.
Wiping away the tear rolling down one cheek, I mimic her stance and give her an exasperated look.
“What did you expect from the woman who raised me? We may not have understood her motives in our youth, but…”
I struggle to find the words for what I saw when I woke from that fateful operation years ago.
“But she did what she had to so we could survive. Algar-din has worse characters than the ones we eradicated from here, even if they hide behind layers and layers of protection.”
The heat in my friend’s electric blue orbs softens, but she argues all the same.
“She signed you over to the Spymaster before you were born, even knowing you could have excelled in a normal life. She didn’t need the money—she just wanted the prestige and status you’d give her.”
“I know. Spying is all she’s ever known.”
“She knew there was a hit on you when you went space-side. She knew the dark ISC had their sights set on you, yet she let you go anyway.”
“I know. She’ll apologize—and mean every syllable. She was stuck, just like we were.”
Hating the strife in Minette’s eyes, I lay my hand on her shoulder and offer her a pleading look.
“Thank you for looking out for me. I see her, the same way I’ve seen everyone here. She won’t betray us. She’s cut all ties from her past and is ready to start new.”
After searching my face for a few moments, Minette squints her eyes and smirks in a devious expression.
“Well, I have back up, just in case you’re wrong.”
She runs a finger over something on her belt, and I snap my eyes to hers when I realize what it is.
“You have a beacon?! How the hell do you have a feckin’ beacon?”
She chuckles before answering.
“Killed my handler. Took it. Modified it. It’s mine now. I thought I’d have to use it on Alpha One, but now it seems like I get to keep it in my arsenal.”
Cripes, this bird knows how to run circles around me.
“Don’t be pressing that shite around me,” I mumble, half-joking while stepping away from her.
My family stays quiet, despite the questions they have, and I thank them for not intruding.
“So why are we here? Why’d you change our location?”
Draukir reaches into his pocket, making every Alpha standing behind me tense.
He pulls his hand out and
shows a flash drive on his upturned palm. Being a smart male, he turns toward Vander instead of me and raises his eyebrow in question.
I try to quell my response as I watch my lifemate assess the situation, but his swift calculation and deep well of wisdom melts my insides.
He nods his head of salt-and-pepper hair and steps forward in unison with Draukir. Two steps from each of them brings them within touching distance. Draukir drops the drive onto Vander’s outstretched hand. They reverse their direction until they resume their previous position.
“Okay, what does that mean?” Jumoke asks with a skeptic tone.
Minette shifts away from me to swing her gaze over everyone.
“I dug into Mai’Cus history. Turns out, it wasn’t always desert. When the ISC first set up their experimental societies, they realized they couldn’t keep people in their cities with the land as prosperous as it was. So they came up with this crazy plan to make the inland less habitable. Listen to this hair-brained nonsense-”
Draukir scoffs behind her, amused with her word choice. She flicks a silly grin over her shoulder at him before continuing.
“They built dams and camouflaged them as landscape, but get this: they needed water for their facilities, so they didn’t want to destroy every water supply. They trenched the rivers, basically making an underground water system.”
She pauses, letting everyone soak up her words before continuing.
“We’re standing over the largest lake on the planet, but you can’t see it. All it would take to access this gigantic pool of water is to drill down about twenty feet. But it gets better.”
As far-fetched as this may seem, my subconscious reaches out and urges me to process the information I gathered when we landed. Following its lead, I recall the surrounding dunes’ shapes and create a map in my head. She’s right, this valley stands out among the rest because of its depth.
“If we break down the largest dam, this area will be the first to recover from the centuries-long drought. My crew can settle here without bothering the current planetary residents. We can slowly integrate into the population when the time comes. That drive in Vander’s hand?”
With my heart recovering from her amazing news, I stand in suspense, infused with her excitement.
“It contains rapid resource renewal knowledge. Which means we could have successful crops within eighteen months.”
“Out here in the desert?” Seeck’s incredulity leaks from his mouth.
Minette takes pity on him, which shows she’s a much better person than I am. She gives him an understanding look before explaining.
“Yes. War ravaged lands, planets suffering through nuclear fallout, frozen worlds, any situation you can imagine—this can fix them all.”
I chuckle, enjoying the elation coursing through me and my fellow Omegas. The Alphas stand in mute shock, varying between excitement and wariness.
“Sounds like we’ll be settling here soon. After all, we’re used to living in a Sky-Flyer already. Plus, we have a baby to build a future for.”
Both Minette and Draukir’s eyes widen in shock, and their chins tilt up as they instinctively search for the bearer of such good news. Their nostrils flair as they scent the air.
Beaming at Anastasia with a truly joyful expression, Minette speaks to both her and Jumoke.
“Congratulations. We’re honored to be part of your support system, in whatever way you’ll have us.”
Anastasia’s stern mask slips away, replaced by wonder and gratitude.
When Jumoke’s mouth opens, she claps her hand over the bottom of his face and speaks over him. The mirth lurking in his eyes flares brighter as he accepts his Omega’s ministrations.
“We more than welcome you to our family. To have your devotion brings us joy. Family is everything. Thank you.”
I blink and push down the playful taunt wanting to flow from my mouth as I see suspicious liquid filling Jumoke’s lashes.
Vander, the ever-wise male that he is, pulls everyone’s attention to him with his question.
“What do we do about the remaining facilities?”
Minette responds, her voice starting out clogged as she works out the urge to cry.
“We have entire commands willing to oversee them, with the intention of turning those willing to assimilate into viable citizens. We have doctors and nurses for those who need it. Electricians to fix power issues. Manpower to eradicate those who favor their previous command. It will take time, but we’ll erase the hold the ISC had here.”
“We may pop in and help, here and there, once we realize how boring settled life is,” I say, partially joking and partially serious.
The men behind me relax while most of the Omegas stiffen. Except for Anastasia, the Alpha Elite’s lifemates almost turn feral while thinking about their beloved going back into battle.
Anastasia’s stern voice carries over the wind while her gentle love branches out from her soul.
“It is who they are. We cannot deny them their purpose. They are Alpha Elites: they must protect, not only us, but everyone within reach. It means we must lean on each other when they choose to use their talents.”
I watch as Nova, Britani, and Shya slowly diffuse their angst, stretching through the web of souls to do exactly what she suggested—leaning on each other.
Shya’s tiny but fierce tendrils yank me in, surrounding me in feminine encouragement.
I don’t bother to wipe away the tear trailing down my cheek as Anastasia escorts Minette’s soul into the fray.
Seven Omegas mingle and build the most intriguing nest, securing our beloveds in love and protection.
No matter what the future holds, I’ll never be lonely again. I have my family.
We have hard work ahead, but the labor holds no burden for us.
We’d do anything for our family.
Pulling our Alphas into our quiet huddle, we stand in quiet as peace flows through us.
We’re home, no matter where we go.
Always.
Epilogue
Anastasia
Emotions ache behind my sternum and fill my eyes as I kiss tiny knuckles and ruffle silky hair.
“Tanks, Mama. Wuv you.”
“I love you too, Jumen.”
Clever hazel orbs meet mine, his exuberance filling my soul with joy and awe. I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I thank whoever graced me with such a fate every second of every day.
As my brave little boy turns and scampers back toward the small group a few feet away, masculine arms wrap around my shoulders from behind.
Jumoke’s scent envelopes me, growing my sense of contentment so much I fear my heart may burst.
“What did my little monster need now?” he rumbles against my ear, causing shivers down my spine.
“He scraped his hand against a branch when trying to pick an apple.”
We both chuckle as he tugs on Dirk’s pant leg, demanding the huge Alpha lift him up to the tree again.
“He’s so resilient and stubborn, just like his sire,” I say, unable to mix a single shred of annoyance into my tone.
“Don’t worry. This next little one will be a spitting image of her mother, melting us all with her strength and love.”
His breath ghosts across my ear as he smooths his hands down my chest and settles them on my expanding waistline.
“She’s a blessing, no matter her demeanor.”
“I wholeheartedly agree.”
Tiny feet flutter against his palm, eager to play with the Alpha who created them.
I fill my lungs with a steadying breath, wiping away the single tear escaping from my lashes.
Jumoke kisses my temple in understanding, our souls mingling in my tidal waves of emotions.
“How can my heart feel so full?” I ask, my lost little dears dancing an eternal waltz in my secure heart’s nest and overflowing my joy until it leaks out to those around me.
My lifemate sticks a finger under my chin and guides my attention wh
ere he wants it—on our family.
“Because we have everything we never knew we could ask for.”
Shya sits with a bundle of pink sitting in her lap, the lush grass around her swaying in the breeze. Her mother lies beside her, her knees barely visible as she looks up at the colorful sky and tells a beautiful story of love. We’ve heard the tale of her past many times, her living commemoration of her deceased Alpha dripping with devotion, but Shya’s babe swirls an unruly fist through the air and gurgles in delight as Taliyan’s voice drifts through the air.
Dirk, with both arms full of his brothers’ squirmy kids, smiles at the beautiful picture his lifemate presents.
When Jumen waves a bright red apple in the air, Dirk rumbles his praise and lowers him to the ground before shuffling the other brave little mite to both hands.
With a head full of tight curls the color of sunrise, Nova’s little boy claps his hands together and shrieks out a joyful sound as Dirk stands and lifts him above his head again.
More enamored with the leaves fluttering in the wind than the apple hanging right in front of him, he flails his little arms and babbles in his not-quite-coherent infant language, telling the world how perfect his life currently is.
Nova exclaims her pride over Jumen’s find as he grabs her leg and shoves his apple upward, making sure he has her full attention despite the Alpha plastered to her back. Seeck looks down over her shoulder and joins in, praising my firstborn son on his prowess.
Too happy to contain my emotions, I let my tears trail down my cheeks as I watch our family encourage each other.
Properly gratified, Jumen accepts Seeck’s tussling of his hair before searching for his next target.
Kwame sees my offspring’s intentions and stops pushing the wheelbarrow, barely managing to let go of the handles before excited legs eat up the distance between them.
Crouching down, he still towers over my child’s head.
Shifting away so he doesn’t get smacked in the face by an apple, his white teeth flash as he laughs at Jumen’s antics. He scoops my dear heart up and cradles him, making my four-year-old look like an infant.
He ducks his head and begins a quiet discussion, Kwame’s inner peace calming my rambunctious boy in ways I envy. Britani sets her basket in the wheelbarrow and joins them, helping Jumen balance the big apple when it almost slips from his hands.