Chapter 57

Luka’s POV

It had been weeks since I came to Omegas. The summer breeze wrestled around me as my horse made a slow descent from the sloping hillside. It smelled like fresh-cut hay and wildflowers.

I learned the seasons here were the opposite of those in the Outer World. My days continued to be filled with growing responsibilities as I became accustomed to my role as Queen. Draven was so helpful. I don’t know what I would do without him.

I cast a glance at Noah, trotting his horse beside me. His horse was as black as a crow and just as demanding. He pulled at the reins, wanting to run, but Noah kept him under control.

My smaller golden mare kept eyeing Noah’s stallion. She, too, pulled at the reins. As soon as we hit the bottom of the hill, I let her break for it. Noah’s stallion cried out, and Noah laughed, letting him go for it. We galloped across the flat grassy plain for at least a mile, and then both horses slowed to a walk.

It had been forever since I rode a horse. There were nights when all in the Long Lake mansion were asleep that I snuck out to the stables and rode my favorite horse, Sandy.

One night, Declan caught me and had Sandy killed. I never rode after that.

“Well done,” Noah said. “You ride well.”

“Thanks.” I patted the mare’s neck. “That felt good.”

We came to a creek, and Noah dismounted. “Let them get some water and rest before we go back.” Noah took my reins, and I slid off.

I rubbed some water on my neck to cool off. Noah pulled a bag from his horse, walked to the shade of a nearby tree, and tossed out a blanket. I eyed him suspiciously. He had been coming to whisk me away quite often these last few weeks. I did enjoy him.

Noah was easy to talk to and always himself. He shared his knowledge, emotions, and truths, even when they were uncomfortable to hear. I was growing to respect that even when it caught me off guard. It never came from a place of judgment. It was always with compassion that he took on topics of all kinds.

“Come. I brought lunch.”

“Had this planned. I see.” He smiled—a smile that touched every part of him. He smiled with his whole body. It was something to see, and I would be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel things I probably shouldn’t.

I threw myself down and stared up at the light, wispy clouds that swept the sky. The sky was a brilliant blue here—rich. I loved it—never pale like in the Outer World.

“What a beautiful day.” Noah’s gaze swept over my body. I could recognize his energy when his focus was on me, as I had learned with Draven, father, and mother. People's energy here was like a signature.

He stretched out next to me. Elbow against the ground, head propped up by his hand. I peeked over at him. He grinned.

“Why are you always watching me?”

“I like watching you. You are beautiful.”

I slapped his arm playfully, my body blushing to my toes. He snatched my hand and held it, rubbing his thumb over my knuckles.

“You make me uncomfortable when you say nice things to me.”

“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, " he said, pressing his body against mine. “I want you to look forward to seeing me. You deserve to be praised; you are amazing.”

“Oh, Noah. You are hopeless. You know that.”

He brushed a strand of air from my face. “It is only hopeless if you don’t care for me in return.”

Noah’s amber eyes were melting me from the inside out. How did he always know the perfect thing to say to make me feel good? I looked away. He lifted my hand and kissed it lightly.

“Do they have fated mate bonds here?” I found myself asking, not sure how that worked here.

“There is not a fated mate bond here as in the Outer World. Our energy is higher and does not seek out another to heighten it. Here, we choose our mates out of love.”

I pushed to my elbows. “No turning a certain age and being overtaken by another's scent?”

“No.”

I fell back again. Wow, my mind was blown. Finding a fated mate was such a thing in the Outer World. Was it really an energy thing? I never thought about it that way before.

“Is that really all it is for finding a fated mate. One energy seeking another energy that will elevate the two?” I asked.

Noah laid on his back now, hand tucked behind his head. Fingers laced with mine. “When we choose a mate here, it is because we choose each other, and a mate bond is forged. The bond forged cannot be rejected. It is for all times. Choosing a mate is taken seriously because it is forever.”

“Wow. That is beautiful. I never understood in the Outer World how someone could love another, turn a certain age, and be drawn to another. It could be someone you hated. Like Declan and me.” I was silent, “And Caleb.”

Noah sat up, draped his well-developed arms over his knees, and tossed a stick onto the grass. He didn’t say anything. Only watched the horses.

“Did I say something wrong?”

He glanced over his shoulder at me. I leaned forward, wrapped my arm around his, and leaned my head against his shoulder.

“Luka, I care about you.”

“I know. I care about you, too.”

He put a hand over mine. “That day in the market. I think about it often.” He looked at me, and I let go. Emotions I wasn’t familiar with bloomed in my chest.

He reached behind my head, his fingers warm and firm. Hungrily, he gazed at my lips and drew me in. I closed my eyes, waiting, wanting to see what a kiss from Noah would be like now that we were alone.

His lips were soft. They parted, and his tongue brushed my lips, asking, but not demanding. My hand drifted to the back of his neck, and I deepened the kiss, tongues gliding over one another in a dance of need and yearning. He cupped my face. I wanted to give him all of me, but I didn’t have all of me to give.

He pulled me into his lap, and I straddled him. I kissed him with all the passion I had ever had toward him. I sent every desire I had for him into it. My heartbeat faster at what I knew I was about to give up. This would be our one and only true kiss.

I needed it to be everything I dreamed of so I could walk away.

His hands ran down my back, and then he held me close, trailing kisses down my neck and to the tops of my breasts. I pulled his chin back to mine. I kissed him for the man he was and the man I wished he would be. I could see a future that was so bright I didn’t know what to do.

My heart was breaking. He deserved better than a broken girl like me. A tear ran down my cheek. I pulled away, rushed to the mare, and rode off. I didn’t look back. I knew what I had to do, and I wouldn’t do it. Not yet.