Chapter Twenty-Six

Kiandra

I felt an intense warmth coursing through my body. My pussy was aching and swollen, yearning for my Alpha. I knew I was dangerously close to succumbing to my heat, where all I would understand was the primal urge to mate. I buried my face in his pants, reveling in his scent that enveloped me. It took me a moment to snap out of that heat-like state, to remember who I was and what I was doing. I quickly sat up in the nest, which I could barely recall having built, and shook my head.

"Omega," I heard a dark, aggressive voice call out.

Cartan was clearly upset about something, but I couldn't quite grasp what it was. Was it the nest? Had I not constructed it properly enough? My instincts went haywire, and I anxiously started fiddling with some layers of it, thinking I needed to redo it. However, just as I neared the entrance, a hand firmly grabbed my ankle, yanking me out. I hissed and kicked out in defense, but my Alpha growled at me, forcing me to freeze.

His eyes were completely dark as he stared down at me, and as I lay on my back, my Omega instincts told me there was only one thing to do—spread my legs, opening myself up to him. His eyes seemed to darken even further as they locked onto the glistening skin further down my body. However, my Alpha didn't mate with me. Instead, he shook his head, released my ankle, and stormed away in anger. I looked after him with confusion and hurt, not understanding why he had rejected me. He had never said no before, and it stung to see him leave.

"No, remember who you are," I whispered, shaking my head.

This was not good. I was teetering on the edge of madness due to desire, surrounded by Cartan's scent, in his home, on his land, and the overwhelming thought thrilled me to no end, leaving me dizzy and unable to collect my thoughts. However, my attention was diverted when a young woman entered, carrying a small child in a sling on her chest. It was like a splash of cold water, and I quickly covered myself with a fur nearby. She smiled at me, holding something in her hand.

"I've come to help you get dressed, High Omega," she told me.

"Oh…"

I noticed she wasn't wearing the same type of dress I had been, and the one she held in her hand was also different. She was dressed in leather clothes, a long leather skirt, and a top that barely covered her breasts. Yet I could understand the choice of minimal clothing, considering the high temperatures.

"Come, let's get you ready," she said, approaching me, and I stood up.

"Are you close to Alpha Cartan?" I inquired as she helped me into the stola, glancing at the small child on her chest.

She was clearly a Beta woman, not much older than me, and I had lived through twenty-one summers. I knew Alpha Cartan was around twenty-seven. However, the child had a tiny speck of dark hair, and this woman was blond.

"I have known him for a long time, yes," she replied.

"Oh?"

I knew Cartan couldn't have lived like a monk, and the thought of other women being with him now angered me. However, the Beta woman must have noticed the look on my face and began laughing.

"I was in the same clan as him before he was taken away. When he came back, I immediately joined his side. We've known each other since we were children," she told me. "I am Mara, mated to his oldest friend, Tyros."

I knew who Tyros was and realized that I had been acting possessive without reason. Mara began braiding my hair, but not into a single braid. She created one long braid down the middle while leaving smaller ones to incorporate into the larger one. It was beautifully done, much like her own hair.

"I'm sorry we don't have more time for a more complex hairstyle, but a meeting has been called," she explained.

"A meeting?"

"The other clan leaders are eager to meet you," she informed me, but I sensed a tension in her demeanor, which raised some concerns.

Mara led me out of the tent again, walking alongside me toward the large meeting tent. The sun was descending, casting a warm glow across the camp, and torches had been lit around the meeting area, creating an inviting atmosphere despite the late hour.

"This gathering isn't a good one, is it?" I inquired, and Mara shook her head, offering me a small, knowing smile.

"You see that this camp is situated a bit farther away from the others?" she pointed out

I nodded in acknowledgment.

"That's because Cartan has a more complicated history of unaccepted Alpha blood," she continued.

"What do you mean—"

"His past," she interjected, signaling that she didn't want to delve into Cartan's history. "In any case, he has worked diligently to reach his current position, but even now, he is seen as an outsider. To prove his worth, Cartan promised all clan leaders Omegas. Yet, do you see many Omegas here?"

"Is that why he came to our land?" I asked.

"No one was even certain if you truly existed," Mara replied. "Your father kept you hidden, allowing very few to see you. You became almost like legends, especially you. No one knew of a fourth one except Cartan. However, it was agreed that he would find all of you, bring you here, and then decide which clan leader each of you would be given to."

"He mentioned that to me."

"You weren't supposed to be claimed until it had been decided who you would belong to."

"But I claimed Cartan," I pointed out. She gave me a look that conveyed the complications I had created by doing so. It suddenly dawned on me why Cartan had held back from marking me, and why the act had angered him.

"Here, the clans always come first," Mara continued. "To ensure our survival and the well-being of our pups, we work together as one big clan, despite the different colors and sections. A leader cannot be selfish, putting himself first."

"So, when I marked Cartan, it seemed like he was prioritizing himself?"

She nodded, and I let out a string of curses under my breath. "I only did it because—"

"No need to explain yourself. Our High Alpha is a remarkable Alpha. Why wouldn't you want to claim him right away?" she asked, reassuring me.

I didn't correct Mara, refraining from revealing the real reason I had initially claimed Cartan. I simply followed her as we approached the entrance of the large tent, pondering what would transpire during this meeting.

"Do you think the other Alphas will demand that Cartan hand me over to one of them?" I asked as we neared the tent's opening.

"They might, but it's unlikely to happen. Our High Alpha has clearly staked his claim on you, even without his mark," she assured me.

I blushed slightly, realizing that his scent probably clung to every inch of my skin. When was the last time I had taken a proper bath? I shivered at the thought, but that would have to wait. First, I needed to understand what would transpire at this meeting.

"I don't know," I murmured, gazing through the dark opening.

"What?" Mara inquired.

"If Cartan truly wanted me, then why bring me to a gathering of enraged Alphas who also desire me, or at the very least, an Omega?" I whispered, fearing that Cartan may have lied to me and intended to share me.

"He had no other choice," Mara explained.

"How so?"

"They demanded to see you as well."

"Great," I mumbled, biting down on the soft skin on the inner side of my cheek.

I didn't want to enter the tent, but Mara gently pushed me forward, encouraging me to go.

"Should I remember anything? Any specific way to behave?" I asked.

"An Omega knows how to conduct themselves around Alphas," she replied before walking away.

"Wonderful," I whispered, my voice tinged with anxiety, as I stepped into the tent.