Chapter 1

Liz

Breaking News! ATTACK ON JUN'GALE IMMINENT.

Liz stared at the headline and fought down panic. Forcing her fingers to drop her favorite tail, she picked up the stack of newspapers and hoisted it onto the library's intake cart. With heart pumping and mind racing, she met the delivery boy's smile with a wobbly one of her own.

"You okay, miss?"

She'd never needed to hide anything in her life, but if she caused a scene, the head librarian would give her extra tasks after closing time, and she needed to get home—as soon as possible.

Nana was on Jun'gale, finally living the free and eclectic life she'd always wanted. Liz needed to get home and tell her mom so they could warn her grandmother. Knowing Nana, she'd dig in her heels and want to stay where she was happy. She'd refuse to leave.

They needed a rescue plan. They needed to save her.

"Oh, yeah, I'm fine. Just ready for the day to be over."

White teeth flashed and pale purple arms reached out for the next stack of newspapers. The boy, who probably wasn't but a year or two younger than her, took her comment as a cue for him to help. She hurried to pick up another heavy pile of paper, even though her limbs seemed to weigh twice their normal amount, not wanting him to lug around more than his fair share.

From the corner of her eye, she checked out the male she'd deemed a child and tried to chastise herself, but found she couldn't.

She'd always had the characteristics of an omega—slight stature, delicate features, and a fierce streak for the people she loved—so when she'd presented as one, she'd been relieved. Now that she'd weathered two heats and felt more in tune with her own needs, the male delivering newspapers seemed so much more juvenile than he did a few months ago.

Plus, with his slim build and average stature, he would probably present as beta, which made it even more difficult for Liz to think of him as mature.

Living on Numania—a beta populated planet—she hadn't met many alphas, but the few she'd seen made all the other males seem puny. Which was ridiculous, because even this boy who hadn't presented his dynamic yet was taller than her.

As soon as every newspaper stack for tomorrow's morning news sat on her rolling cart, she thanked the violet-haired delivery boy and pushed the cart into the towering, ornate building. Luckily the drop off area in the back of the library had no stairs or ramps, because there was no way she could have gotten the heavy cart up them.

Liz glanced around at the people perusing the shelves as she maneuvered the bulky tray from the rear entrance to the storage room behind the checkout desk. Most were betas, but a few smaller ladies sitting together at a corner table were obviously omega.

As the group stood to collect their things and say goodbye to each other, Liz envied the open friendship between the women but shrugged it off as the storage room door shut behind her. She flicked on the light and swallowed the wave of angst gnawing at her sternum as the newspaper headline caught her attention again. Her eyes focused on the bold letters, the knot in her stomach growing as her fondest memories ran through her head.

Nana had always been there for her. Liz had spent more hours than she could count listening to her grandmother's sweet voice as she read whichever silly book she'd chosen to embellish that evening. One day, when Liz's classmates had ruthlessly picked on her for being so small, she'd sought her place of safety—her nana's lap—and had listened in awe as her elder cursed the blindness of youth.

While snuggling her closer, she'd listed every unique characteristic Liz had, from the tips of her ears to her tiny feet, and claimed them beautiful and unconditionally loved. The heartfelt words had sparked something inside Liz, and since then, she'd never doubted how she looked again. Being the only red-skinned, three-tailed girl in the class had made for some uncomfortable situations growing up, but Liz always held her own thanks to the heated words of her nana.

Pushing off the door, Liz approached the newspapers and read every word visible around the ties of the stack. She wanted to run home and forget her job but couldn't afford to be fired if she wanted to buy her own communication device.

The door opened behind her, making her spine stiffen and her ears swivel. She turned toward the sound and relaxed her shoulders as she met vibrant blue orbs surrounded by pale orange glasses. Flicking her long blonde hair over her shoulder, Staci smoothed her palm down the constantly ruffled feathers of her neck before smiling at Liz.

"I finished shelving the returned children's books. All that's left is kicking out the last few people and setting up the newspapers for the morning."

Liz forced herself to return Staci's smile and nodded her understanding.

"What's wrong?"

Ever intuitive, Liz's closest colleague sensed her stress without a word from Liz. Or maybe Staci knew something was wrong because Liz was silent.

Liz pushed her wayward tails behind her and spoke.

"Would you be okay closing by yourself tonight? I really need to run home."

Staci shrugged before squinting and letting out a groan.

"Mrs. Burtang is overseeing tonight. Don't make me deal with her alone."

"Oh come on, Staci. She likes you. Besides, if I stay, she'll give us even more to do. If I'm not here, you'll probably be home within the hour."

After scowling for a moment, Staci shrugged again and sighed.

"You know, you're right. I don't know what's twisting her snout, but whatever it is, she sure doesn't like you. Clock out before you leave, and I'll tell her you had a family emergency."

Not close enough to call her a friend, Liz thanked Staci and waved as she hurried to the back of the building. She curled her tails around in front of her, protecting them from the doorframe, and rushed out into the street.

***

Too impatient to wait for the elevator, Liz hurried up the stairs, banging open the worn door at the top and sprinting down the hall. Although the building had outdated wallpaper and faded carpet, it was clean and sturdy at least, which was more than many families could boast on their side of town. Pulling her key out of her pocket, she rushed into her apartment, careful to lock the door behind her before she went searching for her mom.

A glance at the hall clock showed she'd barely made it home before her mother left for her second day job. Her shoes squeaked across the linoleum as she took the turn into the kitchen a little too fast.

The click of the old phone's receiver settling into its resting place accompanied a frustrated sigh. Liz's heart jumped into her throat as she studied her mom. With head hanging and both palms on the countertop, Chelle's sandy brown hair gleamed in the overhead light. Her defeated posture dropped the bottom out of Liz's stomach. She tried twice before she forced out a single word.

"Mom?"

Chelle straightened her spine and rolled her shoulders before turning to face Liz. Before her mother could open her mouth to speak, Liz's anxiety got the better of her.

"Was that Nana? You heard about the attack on Jun'gale? You told her? What did she say? She's coming here, right?"

Lifting a hand to stop the flow of questions, Chelle motioned Liz closer and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. After a squeeze, she held her daughter at arm's length and sucked in a tired breath.

"Yes, I heard about the probable attack. That was Nana. She refuses to leave Jun'gale."

The floor dropped out from under Liz's feet, shooting her heart back into her throat while she grabbed her mother's forearms. Flexing her fingers on the slim muscles, she cleared her throat and managed not to shriek at the woman.

"So when are we leaving to get her?"

Sleek brows furrowed as Chelle's expression tightened.

"She's fully capable of making her own decisions. The news sensationalizes things, so it's likely the attack will never even happen. I have to go to work, and you have responsibilities. We don't have the time or money to traipse across the solar system to save someone who doesn't want to save themselves."

"But—"

"No, Liz. My mother has gotten herself out of worse situations. We're not going. She'll be fine."

As the last syllable left her mouth, a chime rang through the air, pulling Chelle's attention to the cracked tablet on the counter.

"That's work. I have to go. I'll see you tomorrow morning if I don't pick up another shift. We're so close to having enough for the down payment for a nicer place."

Liz dropped her hands to her sides and balled them into fists so she wouldn't wring her tails and give away the anxiety fluttering in her stomach.

"Liz, she'll be fine. Get some sleep tonight so you can study well tomorrow. There's no reason to worry yourself over something that's only a possibility."

When the tablet rang again, Chelle pecked her daughter on the forehead before scooping up the device and dropping it into the small black bag slung across her torso. Without a backward glance, she hurried out of the kitchen.

Liz didn't move until the door closed behind her mother's retreating form. The second she knew she was alone, she swept her tails around her leg and smoothed her fingers into the silky fur. Eyeing the ancient phone on the counter, she sighed and wished she knew how to use it. Even if she did, she couldn't make her mom pay for another off-planet call.

Ears perking as an idea formed, Liz sprinted down the hall into her tiny room and flung open the bottom drawer of her desk. After pulling out the little ugly box in the back corner, she dumped out the credits she'd saved and counted them.

She had enough for one round-trip ticket to Jun'gale, plus a little more for food and a hotel room. It wouldn't be enough to bring Nana back with her, but she had more credits in her account. The second she made an electronic transaction, her mother would know, so she had to use the credits in her hands until she was too far away for her mother to stop her.

A wave of heat rushed up from Liz's toes as she contemplated the dangers of her half-thought-out plan.

It didn't matter. She couldn't worry over what might happen to her when she knew her nana was in actual danger. All she needed to do was get face-to-face with her. The second her omega grandmother saw her, she'd do anything to get her precious Liz to safety.

And if Nana was busy ushering Liz away from danger, then she'd be safe, too.