Chapter Two

Haravin went through the next two weeks in her normal routine but then came the most dreaded day of all. She had the afternoon off to have her annual checkup.

She went and saw her doctor and got the bloodwork done through meditation and calm that let the needle penetrate her skin. As soon as the needle was withdrawn, there was a gold flash, and she quickly covered her elbow with gauze. "Got it. Thank you."

The tech smiled. "You left a urine sample?"

"Yup."

"Great. You are free to go."

She smiled and grabbed her purse, walking through downtown and getting herself some ice cream because she had been a good girl to do personal maintenance. She looked at her fingers. Maybe she could get a manicure in before she returned to work the following day.

She hummed to herself and walked over the bridge, where she found out she couldn't drown. She had sat at the bottom of the river for two hours before she had walked out and returned home. It seemed that life had something in mind for her, and death wasn't in the cards.

Haravin walked slowly, and when she got her ice cream, she looked to see how far she had gotten and grinned. The museum. It had started everything.

She worked on her ice cream and smiled at the security guard. "Can I bring this in?"

He nodded. "It's fine as long as you don't touch the exhibits."

She beamed. "Thank you."

It wasn't fair. She had probably urged him to break a few rules, but it was a very nice cone, and she didn't want to waste it. Coaxing people to let her get her way wasn't something she did often, but today, she wanted her ice cream cone.

She paid for entry and, once again, got her way. She only had about ten minutes with her cone left, so she licked and walked through the exhibits and past other folk who had the afternoon to spend in a museum.

Haravin walked and saw the same exhibit that had been there that fateful day. She stared at the objects from the Wonder Islands and admired the jewels, the throne, and the examples of clothing made of surprisingly fine-woven cloth.

A voice spoke from behind her. "Are you supposed to be eating that in here?"

She winced. "Technically, no, but I asked when I came in, and they let me." She turned and blinked. Face-to-face with an obvious omega with rich brown skin and icy white eyes. The dark blond hair was cute. Diamonds marched on the outside of his ear, and he wore a necklace with one large stone at the base of his throat.

She absently ran her tongue around the edge of the ice cream, and he blinked. She blushed. "Damn. I didn't mean to do that. I will throw it out."

She took a few steps toward the outer gallery, and he caught her arm. He pulled her in close and smiled. "It would be a shame to waste it."

He leaned forward and licked it, raising dark brows. "Huh. That's really good."

He leaned in again and swiped a huge dent in it.

"Hey." She laughed and tried to keep up, and then they were in a lick fight and only paused when it was down to the cone.

A deep voice muttered, "What the actual fuck."

The omega with her laughed. "That was fun. Where did you get the ice cream?"

"Out front. Kiosk on the left."

"Thank you, miss. I am guessing that you know an omega?"

"A few."

"That explains your lack of hesitation and your defense of your territory."

"Yeah, well, I am about to do some obscene things to destroy this cone, so I will be on my way. Will you relax your grip?"

He blinked and let her go. "So sorry."

She warily slid past the equally dark man who had ocean-blue eyes. "Have a nice afternoon."

She headed to the hub, destroying her cone from the top down in a manner both violent and suggestive. Once she was done, she wiped her hands on her shirt and tiptoed by the gallery again, and to her shock, the museum guards and curators were removing the exhibit.

She slumped. Damn. She had loved staring at that exhibit. It was so soothing. She walked toward them and asked one of the guards, "Where is it going?"

One of the curators turned and said, "It was on loan, and the royal family of the Wonder Islands has recalled it."

"Oh. They still have a royal family?"

"They do. They were just here." He smiled.

"Oh. Sorry to disturb you."

"No problem."

She turned and left before he could ask her if she wanted to go for coffee. The effect she had on men was general fascination. They wanted to get close but didn't know why.

Haravin looked over the artwork and the other exhibits, including one from the Emerald Islands. It was there that she ran into the looming alpha and ice cream-stealing omega.

She turned on her heel and was about to leave. They had been cuddling, and she didn't want to interfere.

"Miss. Come back." The low voice sent little ripples down her spine, but she just calmed herself.

"Yes? Sorry. I didn't want to interrupt."

The omega smirked. "If people walked off every time we cuddled, we would be alone constantly."

"Of course." She folded her hands in front of her.

The alpha asked, "Do you know where this place is?" He showed her Ford's address on his phone.

"Oh, certainly. It's fifteen minutes from here. Are you driving, or do you have a driver?"

The omega smiled. "We have a driver."

"Just tell him to go to omega alley or omega lane. It's the big house with red flowers in the front and statues of cats on the drive."

He stared at her. "You have been there."

"Uh, I have temped there. They have a lot of parties and are always looking for domestic staff."

The omega smiled. "You can come with us and show us, then the car will take you where you want to go."

"Oh. I couldn't. I mean, the directions are clear."

The omega curled up against her. "Please?"

She sighed. "When do you need to be there?"

"Any time." The omega leaned in and began to scent her surreptitiously.

"Okay, I will just go to the restroom and then meet you... where?"

They looked at each other, and the alpha said, "Here."

"Fine. If you aren't here when I come back, I will just leave and wish you a very pleasant day."

She nodded and eased away from the omega, who looked like he wanted to start licking her.

She pulled out her phone and texted the entire pride. Who is expecting visitors from the Wonder Islands? They are going to be at the house in twenty minutes.

Ford answered. Geez. Sorry. I know this is your day off. Can you bring them in and get them cocktails or something? Make them comfortable.

Dude, you owe me another day off. So far, this one has been weird.

Yes, ma'am.

She got to the bathroom and did what she had come there to do. Arousal and bladder issues felt the same, so she just took care of the options.

She washed her hands and wished it was a perfumed soap, but it wasn't. After having her doctor fishing around in her vagina, her body was defending itself against intrusion by giving her body a power wash. The lube was annoying and sticky.

Haravin cleaned up and returned to the exhibit. She sighed in relief when they weren't there. Not wanting to court disaster, she followed the familiar path to the exit. She left the museum, smiling and waving at the people who were smiling at her and walked down the long path toward the street.

She texted Ford, I lost them, or they lost me.

Shit. Can you get home and greet them?

Olivia is home. She can greet them.

Olivia piped in. Olivia has another chapter to go, and Ambrose is out ordering dinner for tonight.

Fuck. I will be there as soon as I can get a cab.

Thank you. She could almost see Ford's smug face.

She brought up her cab app and was about to summon a vehicle when a hand cupped her elbow.

She turned toward the alpha touching her, and her blood ran cold. "What do you want, Mark?"

"I need to talk to you, Harvey."

"Not today. I have to go to work."

"Tomorrow then. It's important." He smiled.

"Right. Whatever."

"Miss!" The alpha's voice boomed.

She looked toward him, desperation in her mind, and she turned back to Mark. "I have to go. Say goodbye to Tim for me."

"You mean hello."

"Whatever." She walked determinedly toward the alpha, leaving Mark behind.

She didn't look back.

The alpha sighed. "We decided to follow your example, but you are very quick."

She shrugged. "I work for a living. No time to dawdle."

He nodded. "This way to our vehicle."

She walked next to him, extending her stride to match his.

The limo was waiting, and when the alpha opened the door for her, she realized that she was just blindly getting into a vehicle with strangers. She glanced back and saw Mark. She dove into the limo.

Haravin verified the address with the driver, and then she sat back and rubbed her temples.

The omega lunged toward her and pressed his nose into her neck. "You smell of fear."

"Yeah. Little bit. I wasn't expecting to run into him... ever."

"An ex-lover?" The alpha looked disapproving.

"No. Ex-dance partner. Ex-best friend. Ex-guy sleeping with my roommate and telling everyone he was sleeping with me because Timmins hadn't been confirmed as an omega yet. That kind of ex."

"Timmins is the omega?"

"Yes, he is. Don't get me wrong, they are perfect for each other, but he didn't have to drag me into his affairs in the public eye. My parents disowned me because of the affair."

The omega was an inch from her and said, "Ouch. You smell good. Like dessert."

She looked at him, her eyes going hard and emerald. "Do you climb over all betas, or am I special?"

"Oh, with eyes like that, I think you are very special."

She blinked, and her eyes were normal. "Sorry, didn't mean to flash you."

"You know, I think you did." He tapped her chin.

The alpha was scowling darkly but didn't say anything.

The omega lay against her and cuddled up on the bench seat.

"I am not sure that your alpha will appreciate beta scent on you. It will probably throw off his groove."

The omega snorted. "Nothing throws off his groove."

She swallowed, and silence was in the vehicle for the additional twelve minutes it took to get to the house.

The omega blinked. "Are we here?" He rubbed his chin along her shoulder.

"We are here. Ford has asked me to greet you and get you settled."

The alpha sat up in surprise. "You?"

"Housekeeper. Today was my day off." She eased the omega to a sitting position and slid toward the door.

The driver opened the door, and she darted past the alpha, who had been trying to grasp her.

She walked to the house, nodded to security, opened the door, and inclined her head. "May I get you a beverage or something to eat?"

The omega smiled. "Ice cream?"

She nodded. "Bowl or cone?"

"Cone, please. One for him, too. He's a bit grumpy, but that came with the crown. I am around to lighten him up."

"Oh, excellent. Chocolate or vanilla?"

"Surprise me."

"Strawberry it is."

She put the small stand out, put a cone in each, and loaded each cone with a scoop of vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry she had made the previous week. She handed the omega the first and the alpha the second.

He examined it, sniffed it, and then took a long lick. He grinned. "It's good."

"Would you like to sit out on the patio and just relax until everybody gets home? It will be in the next thirty minutes or so."

The alpha nodded. "Please show us where we can relax."

Haravin walked out to the back patio and the conversation areas that Olivia had installed. "Here you are. Is there anything I can get you?"

The omega patted the seat next to him. "Please remain with us."

Haravin thought about what she could be doing, but if Ambrose was picking up food, there wasn't anything for her to do except set the table.

"I am sorry that no one is here yet."

The alpha continued licking his ice cream cone. It looked tiny in his hand. "We are hours early."

The omega pulled her down to sit next to him. He offered her some of his ice cream. She licked delicately at the strawberry and smiled. "That one turned out pretty good."

"You made this?" The omega stared.

"Sure. It isn't hard. It's just milk and cream and eggs and sugar and other stuff."

He turned the cone and licked where her tongue had just been. She blushed.

They shared the cone one lick at a time, and when Ford arrived, she was beet red and jerked away from the omega she was curled up with.

Ford chuckled. "It seems I arrived too soon."

She got up, nodded to them both, and left the back patio. She looked to Ford. "How many are expected for dinner?"

He paused. "I didn't ask you to host them in order to trap you."

"It's fine. How many?"

"Nine and the babies if you will stay here."

She paused. "No clever jokes?"

"No. Why were you curled up with him?"

"He asked me to and used that stupid omega charm."

Ford grinned. "The one that makes you tell me to take my pouting face and shove it up my ass?"

"Yes. That one. Who are they anyway?"

"Oh, The alpha is Kekoa, the king of the Wonder Islands, and the omega is Alohi."

"Oh. Delightful. Well, that explains why they were at that exhibit."

"Exhibit?"

"I ran into them at the museum. I was trying to retrace my steps and that was the first time I have had a day off and in the right area during open hours."

"How was your medical appointment? Are you close to a heat?"

"It was an annual physical. The gyno part is basic and only takes a minute. My ovulation status isn't an issue. No one cares."

Alohi wandered in with a smile. "I am mildly interested. So, are you the one Ford called us for?"

She turned scarlet. "Ford."

"Olivia said I could."

The omega in question had been coming into the kitchen, but she changed direction and made a break for it.

"Come back here, Olivia," Haravin barked.

Olivia slunk back into the kitchen.

"I am sorry. I should have told you, but they were on the way so fast, I wasn't sure how to bring it up. They met the criteria."

"Uh-huh. I don't know how even to bring this up."

Kekoa stood behind Alohi and said, "The exhibit was being set up. A woman with wide eyes was behind me, and when I took a step back, I knocked her over. I set you on a bench, and there was a tremendous crack."

"Right. That was me changing."

Alohi smiled. "You change shape?"

"Yeah, but I won't do it in here."

"Why not?" Kekoa asked.

"I would drop into the basement." She sighed. "Do you want to see it? This way."

She walked back out on the stone of the patio and felt her clothing seams pop as she grew, and her eyes showed her the world from a different angle.

She looked at them, and Kekoa was still slightly taller than she was. She knew that because he walked up to her and smiled. "Hello, treasure."

"Hello, Your Majesty."

"Are you heavy?"

"Very."

He smiled and silvered over with onyx hair and diamond-clear eyes. He spoke slowly. "Me, too."

She would have blushed, but the gold didn't do that.

Alohi was staring with his eyes wide. "Wow. You two are like the myth."

Kekoa smiled. "I suppose we are."

There was a crack, and the stone under their feet gave way.

She dropped back into her daily wear and apologized to Ford. "I am so sorry."

He waved it off. "It's fine, but I am mourning the chance to watch you square off against Benjiro."

She smiled slightly.

Kekoa smiled. "May we talk with you for a bit?" He had resumed his normal ridiculous proportions.

Alohi looked at her with wide eyes. "Please?"

She frowned. "Fine."

They walked back to the seating area, and she sat in a separate chair until Alohi's eyes welled up. "Don't you like me anymore?"

She snorted and got up, settling against him until he put his head on her shoulder. There was nothing like being the comfort object of a man her own size.

Kekoa asked, "You are in good health?"

"Yup. Fit as any beta out there."

"Have you been sexually tested?"

She frowned. "I don't follow."

"Disease tests?"

"Oh. Unnecessary."

He scowled. "Necessary."

"I haven't ever..."

He blinked and leaned back. "Oh. But you are not young."

"Betrayal while young leads to caution when older." She shrugged. "I just never felt the need."

Alohi lifted his head and stared at her. "Never?"

"Never. Not once." She shrugged again. "It's never come up."

Kekoa nodded. "Please be tested."

She opened her mouth and then closed it with a snap. "I hope you have patience. It takes me three weeks to get an appointment with my doctor."

He scowled and looked at Ford. "What are the options?"

"The McKenna Clinic. They have many betas going to them."

Kekoa got his phone out, looked something up, and then made a call. He indicated that he wanted a full panel workup on his beta. He listened and nodded. "Tomorrow at ten."

She felt ill and nodded. It was hard enough to get her own doctor to use the smallest size. She was pretty sure that an omega-focused facility wasn't going to have the right gear for her.

Alohi said, "It's fine, and you only have to do this once. Then you can be with us and won't have to worry."

She sat there with Alohi on her shoulder, picked at her dinner, and Kekoa was frowning at her. She excused herself after dinner and called her cab home.

Haravin waited outside and jumped when she heard, "Leaving without saying goodbye?"

Alohi and Kekoa were standing in the doorway, and she checked. The phone showed her car was five minutes out.

"Um. There isn't much to say. I have to find myself at McKenna Clinic tomorrow morning at ten. Ford and the pride are getting their own breakfast."

Alohi frowned. "If you are worried, it's just a swab and bloodwork, and you are good. The internal exam is easy."

Haravin dug her nails into her palm. "I have a different experience. It's painful, humiliating, and the helpful comments from medical staff are mortifying."

She dragged in a deep breath. "But it's fine. I will get this over with, and then we can discuss what happens next."

Alohi asked, "Do you have a passport?"

"Yes."

"Good. That's one thing we don't have to mess with."

Her vehicle pulled up, and she darted to the door. She yanked it open and got inside. She buckled in and said, "To the address, please."

"The Monarch Hotel?"

"Yes, please. One stop at the apartment on the way. I just have to grab a bag, and I will be right out."

"Sure."

He drove her home, and she grabbed a few changes of clothing and extra shoes, plus her passport. She returned to the car in four minutes, and they were on their way.

She didn't know how Mark had found her, but she didn't trust him. She would never make that mistake again.