16. Caja

Chapter 16

Caja

I feel raw.

Exposed.

Vulnerable.

Abused.

And so satisfied that I can barely think straight.

It's… it's an exotic combination of sensations, ones that leave me clinging to Enrique for hours on end. Even now, I'm gripping his hand like it's a lifeline. And I suppose it is. We're in a foreign land, filled with strange scents and unfamiliar faces.

Several of those faces are turned our way now as we exit the building. Enrique stands tall, his Alpha strength on full display.

I try to feign a similar confidence at his side but instead rely on my ability to mask emotions instead.

Except, with Enrique, I don't feel like I have to hide.

He broke through some sort of wall inside me, freeing me into the world for the first time. Making me experience life. Embrace my existence. Just… feel .

He squeezes my hand, causing me to glance up at him. "It's okay, Caja. No one will touch you."

"I know," I tell him honestly. Because he'll protect me. I'm certain of it. I can feel his need to guard me, his desire to keep me calm, his promise to never leave my side.

All those emotions whirl in our bond like a kiss to my senses.

Just as I'm sure he can feel my unease. My concern with our surroundings. My faith in him to keep me safe.

He's my anchor now.

My Alpha.

My mate .

A loud whistle sounds from ahead as a familiar face appears in the crowd. Elias .

I blink in surprise, having not expected to see him here.

"Looks like you waited to knot her on the ground," Elias says by way of greeting. "Good job, Riq ."

Enrique grunts. "You have a strange obsession with my knot, Lias. "

Elias considers him for a moment. "No, that doesn't work. I'll stick with ‘Enrique.'?"

"Then I'll stick with ‘Elias.'?"

He nods. "Good. Anyway, I'm glad to see you both have finally surfaced. It's been a long fucking week, and I'm missing my mate back home."

Enrique dips his chin in understanding, his hand squeezing mine. "I don't think I could survive that long away from Caja."

I smile inside. Because I don't think I would survive that long without him, either.

"I would have gone back earlier had I realized how long the cycle would be," Elias says, palming the back of his neck. "But at least I've learned a lot since being here. It seems Xavier has been grooming his Alphas for an attack on Bariloche Sector, in an effort to save their Omegas. But we?—"

"Beat us to the punch," a dominant voice says as a large Alpha with intimidating features parts through the crowd. "Now we just have to figure out how to bring those Omegas home."

Elias nods. "We're working on that. It'll be a slow reintroduction. A few Alphas are going to come back with us to Andorra Sector to start that process."

"You mean with you ," Xavier interjects. "Enrique still has a choice to make."

Enrique frowns. "What choice?"

"Xavier here has it in his head that you're going to stay here as his second-in-command," Elias explains as he folds his arms over his wide chest. "I told him there's no way you're going to do that when you can have access to my toys in Andorra Sector. But he insists on giving you the choice."

Enrique's frown deepens as he glances at Xavier. "Second-in-command?"

The big man shrugs. "It's an open position, one I think you're well suited for."

"What about Fran and Philippe?"

He snorts. "They insist on being my pack enforcers, and neither of them is interested in leadership."

"Yet you assume I am?"

"From what I've seen, yeah. You're a natural."

Enrique just stares at him. "You've barely seen anything from me. I just got here."

"Yeah, and you're already challenging my decisions and choices. So…" He waves a hand. "Obviously, you're suited for the position."

"Questioning your decision to give me a job without really knowing me doesn't qualify me for a job, Xavier," Enrique argues.

"You punched me," he throws back, stalking toward us. "And you refused to submit."

"Because I wanted to get to my Omega," Enrique grits out. "And you were in my fucking way."

Xavier gestures to his massive form. "Most people don't try to go through me."

"Most people don't try to block me," Enrique counters, the two men almost chest to chest now. "And it was a unique situation."

"One you reacted to without hesitation," Xavier points out. "Just like you're doing now." He looks at Elias. "He's absolutely going to be my second-in-command."

Enrique snorts.

But Elias grins. "Yeah, I'm seeing it."

"Seriously?" Enrique asks him, incredulous.

"Look around," Elias murmurs, causing me to do just that.

And what I find is that everyone in the area has taken several steps back, all of them gaping at Enrique.

Respect and fear seem to be reflected in their wide gazes. Some of them are even bowing their heads.

Enrique curses.

Elias merely grins even wider.

And Xavier nods. "I'm right."

"The fuck you are," Enrique grumbles. "I don't even like you."

"You don't have to like me to be my Second," Xavier points out. "But I'll grow on you as you get to know me."

"I haven't accepted," Enrique snarls at him. "I don't accept."

Xavier shrugs. "Maybe talk to your mate first. We have a lot to offer here. Including a way to help your brother." He starts to turn.

Enrique steps after him, pulling me along with him. "What can you do for my brother?"

Xavier pauses, glancing back over his shoulder. "Oh, now you're suddenly interested?"

"Don't fuck with me, Xavier. What can you do for Joseph?" Enrique demands, his dominance pouring off him in waves.

The other Alpha slowly rotates to face him again, his own dominance battling Enrique's.

I shiver, pressing more firmly into Enrique's side.

He instantly relaxes, his hand releasing mine so he can wrap his arm around me. "Lo siento, peque?o tesoro," he says softly. I'm sorry, little treasure .

"Estoy bien," I reply, telling him I'm okay.

Xavier glances between us, then folds his arms over his chest in a manner similar to Elias. Only Xavier doesn't appear nearly as amused as the other Alpha. "You may have noticed Philippe's lucid state," Xavier says. "Yes?"

Enrique simply dips his chin in response, but I feel the tension trailing along his arm.

"Well, we've developed methods here on the island to help undo Carlos's mindfucks," Xavier tells Enrique. "But it'll require Joseph to come here."

"What about Savi?" my mate asks.

"It would be best for her to stay in Andorra Sector while we evaluate your brother's condition. It might take years to bring him back."

Enrique swallows, his unease prickling our bond as he repeats, "Years."

Xavier gives an affirmative incline of his head. "It's not an easy process. But we know it works."

"While we haven't been able to do anything other than sedate him," Elias adds. "However, we've also only had him for a little over a week."

"What exactly would you do to him?" Enrique asks, still focused on Xavier.

"That's a process I can't explain in a few sentences, nor is it something I want to share right now." He glances at me, making it clear he doesn't want me to hear the process. Probably because he doesn't think I can emotionally handle it. "But Philippe can give you a demonstration, if you're interested in seeing what we do."

Enrique is still studying him intently. "That sounds ominous."

Xavier grunts. "Because it's an intense fucking process. But it's not like your brother just waltzed into his current state, either. That took years of torture. It's going to take a lot to break him free of it."

My mate says nothing, just continues to stare at Xavier.

Elias clears his throat. "It's your choice, Enrique. Ander and I will understand if you would rather stay on Venom Island. From what I understand, you have some old friends here, too."

Enrique remains quiet, but I can feel him considering his options. He finally looks at me. "Caja would be the only Omega here until the others are able to visit, yes?"

"No," Xavier says, causing Enrique's eyebrows to wing upward before he returns his gaze to the other male. "We have thirteen Omegas under this dome, all of them mated. Now fourteen with Caja."

"How?" Enrique asks.

But Xavier merely smiles.

"Apparently, they've befriended dragon smugglers," Elias mutters. "Something about the rocks in certain mining areas of this island provide for excellent trading. Give a dragon a box of stones in exchange for a few Omegas, and voilà . You have Venom Island."

"I never confirmed that," Xavier tells him.

"You didn't have to," Elias bites back. Then he looks at Enrique. "So what's it going to be? Fancy guns or a job?"

"A leadership position that comes with promised assistance in nurturing your brother back to health," Xavier clarifies dryly. "And we can trade for guns, should that be something of interest to you."

Elias grunts. "Mine are not tradeable."

Xavier shrugs. "Yours are not the only ones available."

"They are one of a kind, though," Elias points out.

"As are other grades and types," Xavier drawls.

Enrique just shakes his head. "I need to talk to my mate."

"Fine, fine," Elias agrees. "But hurry up. I want to go home today."

Enrique nods, then pulls me away.

We walk in silence for a while, Enrique seeming to take in the various structures built into the lagoon-like landscape.

There's a large tower with waterfalls all behind it, streaming down from a mountain.

Glancing up, I see the sheen of glass hovering above it, confusing me greatly.

"It's a dome," he tells me. "I have no idea how they made it, but I'm guessing dragon shifters had something to do with it."

"I've never heard of dragon shifters," I whisper. But then, I wasn't all that familiar with vampires either until Guerún.

I frown, thinking of her, and then the others.

"Do you think they're okay?" I blurt out, causing Enrique to frown.

"The dragon shifters?"

"No, sorry, the other Omegas. Guerún, Hel, those Arctic wolves…" I trail off, swallowing. "They didn't land here, did they?"

He shakes his head. "No, they didn't. And honestly, I don't know. Ander said there's no way to track where they landed, and all the islands are out of X-Clan jurisdiction. We wouldn't even know where to start hunting or whom to work with to begin the hunt."

I shiver. "Oh."

He pulls me close, the two of us pausing on a path near one of the waterfalls. "I'm sorry, Caja. I… I don't know how to help them."

I bite my lip. "I don't know either." And I hate that. I hate that we can't help them.

But this world… it's about survival.

I've known that my entire life.

And I'm certain the other Omegas learned that lesson early on, too.

Enrique pulls me into a hug. "I'm sorry," he repeats.

"It's not your fault."

"It is," he whispers. "I was the Alpha in charge. They were under my protection, and I failed them."

I shake my head. "You didn't purposely crash the jet, Enrique. I would never blame you, or even Hel, for that." I swallow. "If this experience has taught me anything, it's that fate has a plan for all of us. And her plan for me was to bring me to you."

Which suggests her plan for us was to guide us here.

Just as her plan for the other Omegas was to send them to whatever island they landed upon.

"Maybe those islands have secrets," I whisper aloud. "Just like this one seems to." I'm referring to the surprise I felt in our bond when Xavier spoke about this compound, specifically about being able to help Joseph.

"Maybe," he agrees, resting his chin on my head. "For the other Omegas, I hope you're right."

"I hope I am, too," I tell him, swallowing. "So what do you want to do?" I ask, curious about his thoughts. I think it's pretty obvious that we should stay, but he doesn't seem very keen on remaining here with Xavier.

"I can't help those other Omegas," he says slowly. "But I can help Joseph, and potentially the Omegas mated to the Alphas here."

"By staying," I murmur when he doesn't add that clarifying comment.

"By staying," he echoes.

My chin inclines in understanding. "Then we're staying."

He glances down at me. "As simple as that?"

I shrug. "I have nowhere else I want to go, Enrique. Since you told me my Alpha was dead, all I've ever wanted—all I've ever hoped for—is to be wherever you are."

His eyes search mine. "How could you be so trusting of me from the start?"

"Because you saved me," I tell him.

"Several Alphas saved you, tesoro. I only broke you out of that cage."

I shake my head. "It's not that, Enrique." I palm his cheek. "You saved my heart. My soul. My very spirit. Just by showing me that some Alphas can be kind. You gave me a reason to live. To look forward to a future. To want more than what I thought my existence should be."

It's not something I can easily explain. It's just… an awakening he provoked inside me. A change in the direction of my mind.

"You made me want to breathe again," I whisper. "So yes, it's as simple as that, Enrique. If you want to stay, we'll stay. Because I will forever be by your side."

He leans into my touch, his eyes falling closed. "You're the new beginning I never knew I needed, tesoro," he murmurs. "I was lost before, unsure of where I would even end up after Bariloche Sector settled into dust. And I certainly never thought I would end up here, with you beside me."

I draw my thumb across his sharp cheekbone. "There's nowhere else I would rather be."

"There's nowhere else I would rather be, either," he admits, his dark eyes opening once more. "You're my future now, tesoro. My everything." He presses his palm to my flat belly. "And I'm going to spend our lives proving that to our family."

I go up on my toes to brush a kiss against his lips. "You're already everything I could ever want, Enrique."

His arm circles my lower back as he holds me against him. "Oh, tesoro. I'm going to be so much more. I promise." He kisses me before I can reply, his possessive touch warming me to my very spirit. "To our new existence," he says.

"To our new existence," I agree.

A new life.

A new purpose.

An unexpected… happily-ever-after.