Page 155 of Galaxy Circus Act One

“You sound exactly like Natalia. Same shit as the male omega bullshit, but yours is aimed at my intimate and his blood rose, but I know the truth. As much as you try to lock it down, and I don’t know how you hide your scent from your mate, but I can feel your attraction to Lila. You may be trying to convince yourself it isn’t real, but you do your mate a disservice by denying him more connections, whether they be lightning cat or not. Just think about it. I thought alphas were programmed to do whatever they could to make their omega happy, and from the way his scent changed, your words make him unhappy.” Xavier doesn’t wait for Max to respond as the elevator comes toa halt on our floor, and he and Saxon stalk out of it, not afraid to turn their backs on us, which tells me exactly how confident they are in their powers and strength.

Maxsim is still growling under his breath, and his tail twitches behind him aggressively, sparks flying with his rage.

Fuck, I need him to calm down so we can finish the task we’ve been assigned. It wouldn’t be good if he attacked two of Lila’s mates and the Adams’ sons-in-law instead.

“Hey, hey,” I purr, placing my paws on his cheeks and physically turning his head so he’s no longer glaring after them. I brush my lips across his and stroke a paw over his back, trying to smooth down the bristled fur. “It’s okay. I know the truth, although you aren’t really showing it at the moment. You would do anything to make me happy, and I know you think you hid your reaction, but I could scent your attraction to the little Earth girl as well, despite your denials. You just need to work through all your issues before you’re ready to admit it, but the warlock is right. When you spout all that crap about her not being a lightning cat or good enough, you do sound a lot like that bitch and her mother, which is why the lightning cats are on the brink of extinction. All the male omegas were killed, no alpha females are being born, and it’s their fault. We don’t want to be like them, and I know that’s not you, you’re just reacting out of jealousy.”

His rumbles die off, but he shakes his head, knocking my paws away. “You are my omega, and you are enough,” he declares and drags me out of the elevator after them.

I sigh deeply, but I allow him to tug me along. He might think I’m enough for him, but what about what I want? I want to get to know the little Earth girl better. There’s something about her that draws me in, a compulsion of sorts that won’t let me look away when she is close by, and I want to know why. Why do I feel an achy longing for her, and is it possible she could feel the same for me? I’m not blind, I could see the interest in her eyes whenshe looked at me and Maxsim, and her scent thickened when we entered the room, but was that because of her kraken mate wrapped around her or something more?

All of that will have to wait for now, though, as Maxsim pushes through the other two who paused at our door to wait for us. He uses his pawprint to open the door, and we step into the frigid atmosphere.

“She is probably in her den,” he grumbles, obviously putting our previous discussion to the side. “Watch out for her lightning, fangs, and claws. She will come at you with no hesitation when she gets cornered,” he warns them.

General Saxon actually chuckles, and although he isn’t wearing a lot, the cold doesn’t seem to affect him when he replies, “I could do with a little bit of exercise.”

Xavier rolls his eyes and shivers before waving a hand, and I watch with open-mouthed awe as his magic shimmers around him, coating him in a barrier that must protect him from the extreme cold in here. “Of course you would look forward to a fight. Did you not wear yourself out enough while bonding with Lila?” he asks, his eyes twinkling with amusement.

Saxon smirks and shakes his head. “I fed so well, I’m practically vibrating with energy. Fighting the lightning cat will help dispel some of it.”

Xavier purses his lips in envy, and I can’t help when my scent changes to match it. I try to picture what a Vilaxian blood rose mating might consist of, but I come up empty. Maybe one day I could ask them, because from how healthy Saxon looks and how worn out Lila appeared, it must have really been something, and I’m intrigued.

“Yes, well, don’t underestimate her. She’s sneaky and conniving,” Max grumbles, leading the way between the door and our dens. The area is covered in a thick blanket of snow, with a copse of trees off to the side and more rocklike structures.We use the space to frolic around when we want to spend time outside in our natural environment. It’s the best we have for now next to the real thing.

We haven’t even made it halfway across when a streak of light blue bolts from the entrance to one of the caves, specifically Natalia’s.

“She’s making a run for it,” I shout, pointing in her direction.

Xavier scoffs. “It’s not like she can get far.” He lifts his hand to use his magic, but Saxon catches it and shakes his head.

“Like you said, she can’t go anywhere. If you block the door, I’ll chase her down.”

Xavier rolls his eyes. “Vilaxians and their need to war.” He snaps his fingers, and a pair of reinforced cuffs appears in them, which he hands to Saxon. “Fine, go fetch.” He turns and waves his hand at the door, and a shimmer of magic surrounds it, leaving Natalia with nowhere to go.

Saxon grins wickedly, and in a flash, he disappears into the trees after her.

“Will he be alright on his own?” I ask the warlock who shrugs.

“Unless she suddenly became an elite warrior with any special tricks up her sleeve?” He looks at Maxsim in question, and he shakes his head.

“No, apart from shifting and lightning, our species doesn’t contain any magic, and Natalia is probably the worst warrior. She’s always had her mother’s minions do everything for her,” Maxsim admits, but his tail twitches, and he’s pacing back and forth like he’s dying to join the chase. It’s the alpha predator instinct kicking in. All lightning cats have it, but it’s particularly strong in alphas.

Xavier can obviously feel his need, because he moves a little closer to me and nods in the direction Saxon went. “Go, I’ll make sure your omega is safe, I promise. I know you have had nothingbut trouble with her, and you deserve to get your revenge as well.”

Maxsim pauses and looks in my direction. I give him a reassuring smile. “Go, the warlock will look after me. Make sure she doesn’t get past the general,” I encourage him, and with a quick kiss on my cheek, he takes off, shifting on the fly.

“Woo, that was impressive.” Xavier whistles as we watch Maxsim sprint across the snow like it isn’t half a body thick in places. “You’re a lucky omega. He loves you very much,” he tells me with a smile.

“Yeah, and I love him just as much.” I sigh.

“But you’re also attracted to my intimate, no?” Xavier questions. He doesn’t sound upset about it, just intrigued.

I shrug then jump in surprise as a sharp yowl echoes through the trees. I sidle a little closer to the warlock so our arms touch. “She’s pretty and she smells good, and I want to rub all over her,” I admit bashfully.

“Yeah, I feel the same way.” Xavier chuckles, putting his arm around my shoulder and giving me a side hug. “You should probably talk to your alpha about that and decide what you would like to do.”

I shake my head. “But she already has four, possibly five, mates. What would she want with two more? We come as a pair, and I won’t leave Max out,” I say stubbornly.