Chapter Five

When two tall figures arrived at the door, Tonlya laughed. "No room for them either."

The woman came in, smiling with bright dark green eyes and sable hair. "Hello. You said you had an ailing omega?"

Tonlya looked past her and blinked. "Jeezus. A guy like that you have to feed every day."

Ymer made the introductions. "Venka, this is Tonlya. She's the omega. Nohehl, this is Tonlya. I believe you recognize the snakes on the wall."

The huge bronze man with a shaved head finished completely filling her living room. Her dazed senses guessed seven-foot tall and over three hundred pounds of heavy muscle. If he stumbled, she was done for.

He looked at the images of her on the wall, the snakes wrapped around her. "You raised them?"

She nodded. "From littles."

His deep, slow voice rumbled. "What happened to you?"

"The Omega Centre found out that I wasn't a beta, and they have been putting financial strictures on me until I had to take every shift I could during days and sell everything that wasn't essential to life."

"The arm."

"Oh, an alpha decided that as trashed as I looked, I was still suitable to slam up against the wall. He wasn't expecting my bones to break. Nor was I."

Venka knelt next to her, examined her skin, and stroked her cheek. "Why didn't you go to the centre?"

Tamara cleared her throat. "Me. She's my guardian and my sister. Without her, I go into public care."

Tonlya felt a tear track down her cheek. "I am sorry. I shouldn't have told you."

Tamara looked at her. "You should have told me sooner."

The huge man crouched across from Venka and cocked his head. "You like snakes?"

She chuckled. "That is one way of putting it."

Tamara stated, "She considered them family and threw up for four days after she sold them."

Venka stroked Tonlya's cheek. "Poor little duck."

Tonlya felt her head jerk toward the woman's hand, but she paused. It didn't matter. Venka smiled.

She swallowed. "So, did Ymer just pimp me out?"

"I believe he wants his leather designer back." Venka chuckled.

"Oh. Self-interest. Great. What's in it for you? I am not much of a catch."

"I like the idea of easing you back to health and teaching your sister how to be a proper alpha. It is different for us than the males. I would have found life easier if I had someone to guide me."

Tonlya looked at Nohehl. "What's in it for you?"

"Sex and someone with an interest in snakes." He looked at her, and his eyes had serpentine slits.

"That's direct."

"You don't have much time before you sleep. Direct is needed."

She smiled and nodded. "Fair enough. You aren't wrong. I spend more time out than up."

"Well then, little omega. Will you accept us?"

"I am not little. I am five-eleven. It's the main reason the centre never came for me. Not proper omega at all."

"The other question, will you accept us?"

She nodded. "Sure. Why not?"

Venka chuckled. "I will take it. Tamara, can you help me pack for your sister and yourself?"

"Sure. Wait. We are going now?"

"Your sister needs medical attention, and this place is too damned snug for us to be comfortable."

Iris got up. "I will give you a hand."

The boys went after Iris and the others, leaving Tonlya in a room with four alphas.

Nohehl smiled and examined the fingers protruding from the opening of her cast. "There is quite a bit of opening here. How long have you been in the cast?"

"Six weeks. I haven't been able to get it reduced."

He was looking it over and checking the edge by her elbow. "I am going to go to my car for a moment. Stay here. I will be right back."

The sound of his voice had a rumbling hiss, and she settled back in her chair with her eyes closed. She missed her snakes.

One of Iris's men asked, "Who struck you?"

"Oh, one of the Elite who wanted to bend me over. I guess my suppressor was stuttering, or the sky was blue that day. Anyway, when he grabbed my forearm and twisted it behind me, there was a cracking sound and a lot of pain. He'd already struck me twice in the head by that point, so my orbital socket was cracked. After that, he let me go. There were no good handles."

The low voice was back and said, "Where were you?"

"The Shattered Diamond. I was doing costume repairs. I had just finished, and I was on my way out. Proposition, rejection, and a fist to the face." She sighed. "It happened in under a minute, and from then, things have been difficult."

"Ymer, can you remove this cast?"

"Sure. I am going to check security logs."

"Oh, the security guard came out, took a bribe, and dumped me at the hospital."

"The day?"

She mumbled the date, and then her arm was out in the cool air, and large hands were cradling it. She muttered, "Sorry about the smell."

"Your skin is infected."

"Yeah. That tracks."

"This will support it." He moved slowly and wrapped her in something that felt wonderfully familiar. She opened her eyes, and he was wrapping her arm in a snake shed. It was from a very big snake.

"That darling must eat a lot."

The Nohehl smiled. "He does. Even-tempered though and easy to handle if you aren't timid. He's only crabby when shedding."

He finished carefully wrapping her in the shed and then whispered something. The slick but web-like substance tightened, and her hand had support, but she could feel some air on her skin. It felt wonderful, but her arm was so sensitive.

"Flex your fingers."

She moved her hand and smiled. "Thank you. That feels so much better."

"The shed has medicinal properties that will help with the skin inflammation, but I have made a call to get you a breathable cast for the rest of your healing time."

The others came downstairs, and Tamara was frowning. "Lya, where did all your clothes go?"

Tonlya chuckled. "We ate them."

Tamara gasped. "Why didn't you tell me? I have been bitching about having to quit soccer."

"You are my sister. I was trying to keep us going along as best I could."

Tamara got mad. "Why didn't you tell me!"

Venka gasped and grabbed Tamara by the back of her neck. "That would be the reason why. You are growing fast, and she is starving herself to keep you fed and clothed."

Tonlya tried to get up, but she couldn't lift on her broken arm. "Venka, stop."

Tamara's eyes were rolling with panic.

Venka growled at the girl and set her down. "Do not raise your voice to your household omega. Ever."

Tamara staggered. "Why not? She was stupid."

Denel and Bennet gasped.

Tonlya sighed. "If you wonder why she thinks like that... she doesn't see me. She has the same image of me as the one I project in the pictures. She doesn't even know that my clothes don't fit." She scooted to the edge of her chair and pushed herself to her feet. Nohehl wrapped an arm around her, and there was a soft, disapproving hiss.

He asked, "Why can't she see you?"

"I dunno. It's a thing I can do."

"Stop doing it now."

Tonlya nodded, leaned against him, focused on how her body felt from the inside out, and then projected it. The projection and her body soon lined up.

Tamara looked green. "Lya?"

"Yup. I have seen better days. I don't know when, but pretty sure I have looked better." She glanced up at the alpha holding her. "Keep a running tally of any funds expended for my upkeep. I don't owe anyone."

He chuckled. "You will work it off."

Tonlya looked up at him. "Hope you've got lube."

He blinked and laughed. "Venka, are you ready to go?"

"Yeah."

The other alphas lifted the other packs, and Tamara was standing with tears coursing down her cheeks.

Tonlya tried to speak, but Nohehl lifted her in his arms, and her younger sister was escorted out by her friends, turning to lock the door behind them.

They were almost to the cars when large SUVs pulled up. Women with clipboards and buff betas in Omega Centre uniforms headed toward them.

The woman in charge had the nerve to block Nohehl's path. "Where are you taking Tonlya?"

"I am taking my omega for medical care and beginning treatment to recover her body condition. She's thirty pounds underweight and has a broken arm and skin infections. Malnutrition is setting in. If she is under the care of the Omega Centre, she has grounds for a lawsuit if she lives that long."

"She's a late register."

"Did she register?"

"Um, an alpha pointed out that she was exhibiting signs of being a non-typical omega. She refused registry at that time."

Tonlya muttered, "No fucking kidding. You were going to send Tamara to a boarding school and restrict all contact. You locked my bank accounts and bugged my house."

Nohehl said, "So, it seems that the Omega Centre was aware of your existence and condition and wanted to apply pressure. That goes against their caretaking mandate and, considering your current condition, opens them to a neglect suit. They have failed in their caretaking."

The woman smirked. "She can't afford to bring a lawsuit."

Venka chuckled. "No, but we can. We are taking her for a full medical workup. When we have a full care plan, we will send you a bill."

The guards stepped between Nohehl and his car.

Iris and her collection stepped up and blocked them. Glamours dropped, and the dark elves were all there and staring at the collection crew. Iris gleamed like a full moon.

The tweens were standing together and scowling at the bureaucrats.

The interlopers scrambled back into their vehicles and took off.

Tonlya asked, "Did you get it?"

"Yeah, Lya. I've got it." Tamara was grim.

"Great. Thanks, everybody. We had better get out of here before my neighbours call the police over a bunch of black guys standing in front of my house. They have already called them on me once for prostitution after I lost my keys to the house."

Venka asked, "What?"

"Yes, according to them, I was loitering next to the road. I was waiting for the locksmith."

Nohehl laughed. "Right. Let's get you to that appointment. They are waiting and will be careful."

Lya murmured, "Hooray! Put it on my tab."

He chuckled and settled her in the back seat of a very tall SUV. Venka got behind the wheel, and Nohehl slid in next to her, holding her hand. Tamara was in the front seat, and her expression was worried when she looked back at Tonlya.

Lya was exhausted and relieved to rest. Nohehl supported her, and she dropped off.

* * * *

Iris watched them drive off and blinked away tears. "Oh, fuck. That was not what I thought would happen."

Oren hugged her. "I have seen that body condition before in homeless people who are spending their money on pet care. Her own body ceased to matter if she could keep her sister in good condition."

Iris shuddered. "Geez. I wonder who watched Tamara two months ago."

Denel blinked. "Hey, that's right. She was with one of her family friends. That's what she said anyway."

Iris nodded.

"Where was she two months ago?"

"She was on that Alpha versus Beta show. She was off somewhere in the world, risking her life for a charity and a small payday. We won't know if she won until the show's release."

Ymer said, "I doubt that she will have triumphed over alphas. She's so frail, and most omegas don't have the instinct for that kind of aggression."

Iris looked at him. "Do you want to know how aggressive an omega can be? I will be delighted to show you; just give me that knife and hold still."

Brexel cleared his throat. "I recall how aggressive you can be. You kept the boys safe on a number of occasions when they were trying something dangerous. You didn't hesitate."

She smiled brightly. "That is correct. I just needed motivation. If Tonlya is motivated enough, she's terrifying. She's also very good with her hands."

Bennet nodded. "Tamara said she used to fix cars."

Iris smiled. "I recall that. Two years ago, I mentioned that my car was running rough while she was doing a fitting, and she left her stuff and did a diagnostic on my car without anything. She then reached into the running engine, twisted something, and the rough idle just smoothed out. Then, we went inside and got back to the bustier."

She shrugged. "I think she can do anything she sets her mind to."

Oren nodded. "Yeah, I guess I am operating on an older way of thinking."

Ymer laughed. "That is an understatement."

Brexel took Iris's hand. "So, what do you want to do this Saturday?"

"Let's see, I don't have to be on my feet. The boys have a birthday next weekend, and seeing them, I don't think the adventure park is going to cut it. Paintball and a house party?" Iris looked at them.

The boys looked excited. Hunting their friends was how younger alphas blew off steam.

Ymer checked his phone and nodded. "Right. Why don't we go out and look at one of my properties to see if it has the makings of a pack house."

The boys looked up. Denel asked, "Do we get our own rooms?"

Ymer laughed. "Yes. There are plenty of rooms, but it hasn't been occupied by anyone other than caretakers in a while, and we need to see if it needs changes. Afterward, we can go for lunch."

"Wait. You have a pack house already?" She stared at him.

"I work with money, Pet. I invest, and I purchase homes that need a lot of love. This is the first time that I am free to change it for my own purposes." He smiled and tapped her chin.

"Room for the dogs?" She tried not to meet his very warm gaze.

"Oh, yes. A few hundred acres. One of us will be able to run the boys to school in the morning, or we hire a driver."

Iris lifted her hand. "I can do it. My car is crappy, but I can manage if the boys don't mind."

Denel grinned. "I don't mind."

Brexel sighed. "Two words, Stronghold Elite."

"Oh. Right. Dang it."

Oren rubbed her shoulder. "We will deal with it."

She nodded. "This takes getting used to, but so does spending the day in less than four-inch heels."

Ymer grinned.

Iris suddenly remembered. "Boss, I need your phone."

He calmly handed it over. "Why?"

"I have to cancel that emergency reservation. These guys are way too big for jumping around the adventure park."

She finished the cancellation, got confirmation, and handed the phone back. "There. I couldn't figure out which paintball course would be closest, so I will let that be up to you guys."

Brexel looked at his phone and grinned. "Old habits."

"Yup. But don't worry. You are getting a new credit card in two months. I don't have that authorization or due date memorized."

Bennet chuckled. "Yet."

"Don't you two have homework or something?" Brexel narrowed his gaze at his adopted son.

Ymer held up his hand. "That is important, but so is seeing the new house. Grab the dogs, and let's go. I will give Brexel the address, and Oren and I can escort Iris there."

Brexel stiffened. "Hey."

"There are parts of the house that will be of more interest than others for her. Soundproof parts."

"Oh. Right. Fine, we will be ten minutes behind you. I am going to grab some snacks for everybody."

The boys hooted and darted off to do whatever they needed to. The dogs caught on and danced on their paws, and when the address had been shared, they were off to Ymer's SUV, and Oren decided to stay in the back with her to cuddle.

Ymer glanced at them when they were on the highway. "I am keeping track of you now. I am owed an hour for your time with Brexel, and now, the clock is ticking on your time with Oren. I will average it out."

She didn't have a chance to comment; Oren had a fairly thorough command of her mouth.

She recognized the area they were driving through. It was very exclusive and very expensive.

The huge gate at the drive caused her to wrench her head from Oren's. Her body was humming, but the enormous manor that they drove up to was distraction enough to push Oren aside.

"Here we are. Home sweet home, once we make a few adjustments." He pulled up to the front of the house.

In the distance, landscapers were at work, and things were getting tidy.

Ymer got out of the car and opened the rear door. She scooted herself away from Oren, and her third took her hand to help her out. He pulled her against him and ran a hand down her back. "You have no idea how glad I am that we were the right combination for you. To imagine you in the same shape as Tonlya makes me ill."

"I hope she's doing okay. I would like to say that I would never be in her position, but if anything happened to Brexel, I would do anything to keep the boys safe."

He squeezed her. "The boys have their uncles to fall back on. I am more worried about you at the moment."

She snorted. "I am fine."

"With the Elite coming after you? We need to be on alert."

"Right. Why do I keep forgetting about that?"

"Perhaps the shot to your skull had an effect on your memory? More likely that there is a magical block that keeps you from thinking about them. The odd thing is, only an Elite can place that kind of block. Like Oren. The mind is his playground."

She leaned her head to the side, and Oren was watching them with an innocent expression. "Let me guess. Once he latches on, he can read your mind."

Oren twitched. "Yes, but you are playing dirty."

She grinned.

"Where are those photos, by the way? I would like to see the complete collection."

She snickered. "A friend wanted to practice boudoir photos, so I did some warm-up shots with different outfits. The images are on a thumb drive somewhere in my effects."

Ymer asked, "What does the drive look like?"

"Pink with a glittery teddy bear on it."

He opened his hand. "This one?"

"Wow. What is your specialty?"

He grinned. "Finding things. Money, success, your clothing, thumb drives."

She reached out and put her hand over the drive in his palm. She curled her fingers, and it was gone.

"Oh, I am not letting this out of my sight until I see the contents myself." He chuckled and wove his fingers with hers. "Now, let's go and look at your new domain."

She was pulled into the house that was smelling of lemon and beeswax. Cleaners were working it over in preparation for the family to arrive. Ymer didn't waste time.