Chapter 56

Luka’s POV

I spent the next few days with Draven and Noah getting to know the people of Omegas.

“That looks lovely, what is it?” I asked the leathery woman at the market booth.

“Those are Papples. Please try one.”

The woman handed me the hard purple fruit. She made a biting motion. Noah and Draven smiled at one another, and I felt like there were shenanigans in the works. I bit into the fruit. It was sweet, but also sour. My jaw locked up, and drool ran down my face.

Draven and Noah howled with laughter, as did the woman.

“Good?” she asked.

I chewed slowly, wiping my face. Draven gave the woman some money, and we walked on. As soon as we were out of sight, I smacked him in the stomach. “You could have warned me.”

He shrugged, “And miss that. Not in a million years.”

“If all of these people are from different packs, how do they get here?”

Draven pushed back his light brown hair, dancing around a small boy with a ball. “Several times a year, Father and I would go out and visit the different packs. Posing as traveling sells people. It helps us get closer to the omegas because we chose smaller towns. We talk about a different way to live, and some want to come with us. We bring them here to find out what they are good at or what they like to do. We build them a home near their work. We pay them well, and they get three days off every week along with two weeks of celebration days.”

I took in the many booths and all the interesting clothes and fabrics. “Celebration days?”

“Days they get to celebrate not working. They use them however they like.”

“I like that. It is worth celebrating a day off as an omega.” I picked up a beautiful royal blue silk and rubbed it against my cheek, and then against Noah’s. His eyes sparkled at me. He handed the man some money. “She will take it.”

“Noah, I can’t let you buy this for me.”

“Have a dress made.”

“I will.” I went to kiss him on the cheek when he turned his head and pressed full, soft lips against mine. Heat shot to my toes, and I leaned into it, though I shouldn’t have.

“I’m sorry,” I said, covering my cheeks, which I knew were bright red. Draven raised both brows at me, and my cheeks heated even more.

“When do you plan to go to the omegas again? I know there were many unhappy omegas at the Red Moon Pack and Long Lake.”

“That is up to you.”

“Me?”

“Yes, you are Queen?”

“But why am I Queen when you’re here and mother and father?”

Draven draped an arm over my shoulders, pulling me close as if he were about to tell me a secret. Noah walked behind us. I could feel his energy more than I wanted to.

“You are the oldest. I’m just a sad younger brother.”

“But I’m a female.”

“That means nothing here. You are firstborn, and father and mother are retired. They act as mediators at times when I needed help in the past, but they like the simple life. Mother likes to come to town and sew with the other retired ladies. Believe it or not, Father likes to help the farmers and the builders. I think he likes the workout.”

My eyes went wide. “They don’t sit around wanting others to wait on them?”

“No. Don’t get me wrong, you have seen the maids and the cooks. But mother and father cook, I do my own laundry, and I like to mow the grass. Suppose all the workers walked out. We would be just fine. That is what is great about this place. We all help where we are good at.”

It all sounded so awesome, I didn’t know if I fully believed it.

Over the next few weeks, Father and Mother showed me the ledgers and accounts. Draven took me to meet all the farmers, mill workers, miners, bakers, cleaners, etc. It was endless. Everyone was so lovely.

I heard many heartbreaking stories about the packs they had come from and what their lives had been like before leaving for Omegas. I felt their pain, understood the challenges because I had faced them too.

I knew what I needed to do—I had to help my people. I thought about all the omegas and how they were treated. They had every right to have a good life and be happy; I wouldn’t let them be treated as I had been. I thought of the little girl from the closet and how she gave me flowers. I would love to see her happy.

I bit my lip as I strolled in the moonlight of the castle garden. It had become my nightly ritual before going to bed. It gave me time to process the events of the day. Brushing my hand over a few white roses, I thought of Caleb and what he might be doing.

Could I go back? Could I handle seeing him? Did I want to see him? I didn’t know. Not feeling the bond here made it easier to forget I had a mate.

Sitting on a stone bench, I ran a hand over the blue slacks I had made out of the fabric Noah bought me on our outing in the market. He was growing on me. I touched my lips, remembering the kiss. It had been simple and easy, not asking for anything.

I unbuttoned my white blouse and ran a finger over Caleb’s mark. My body instantly hummed with need when I remembered that night. As much as I yearned for him physically, I miss talking with him about our days. It was such a small thing, yet I held on to it tightly. I wanted that back.

In the distance, I heard soft feet on the stone pathway. Mother.

“Good evening. I saw you sitting.” She squeezed my hand and sat beside me. “You looked like a sculpture with the way the moonlight cast over you.” She brushed my hair back and held on to my hands.

This was her thing, touching me. A week or so back, I asked her why she did this. She said it was to reassure her that I was really there.

It healed a piece of me to hear that.

“Are you okay, my dear? Is there something you want to talk about?”

I gazed into her eyes.

“I’m not sure if Draven told you. I have a mate. He is the Alpha King.”

“Oh, my. The King of Kings.” She patted my hand. “That is what we call him here.”

“He struggled because I am an omega, and his people see us as inferior. There were constant challenges and tests to our relationship.”

Tears pooled in my eyes. “Before I came back with Noah, our wolves fought. I never saw him so out of control. I don’t know what to think. Have you and Father’s wolf fought before?”

She cleared her throat and straightened. “Several times.”

I gasped, “No.”

“Yes, after you were taken. I wanted to go to the other world and tear it apart to find you. He tried to stop me. And we fought. I knew I wouldn’t be able to sense you. You were so small. But I prayed that I could catch your scent. I knew I could find you.”

A tear ran down her soft cheek, and I wiped it away. “He stood at the gateway. I tore at him and tore at him. He was cut to ribbons, bleeding and near dead. He kept getting up. He kept fighting me. He wouldn’t let me pass. I was so angry. Finally, I saw I was going to kill him. I asked him why he wouldn’t let me leave. He said he couldn’t live without me. He said he knew he would lose me, too. And he couldn’t make it through losing us both. It destroyed my anger.”

Tears rolled down my cheeks now, and she wiped them. “Aren’t we just a sad bunch tonight?” She kissed my forehead. “People do crazy things when love is at stake.” She stood and walked back inside.

Is love at stake?