Page 43 of Daughter of Garnet

The tiger stalks toward me, and I worry I'm going to have to defend myself against an attack when he lowers himself to the ground and crawls on his belly until he's lying on top of my foot.

His weight feels like nothing, but the relief I feel at the contact is almost immediate.

Is this what they've been telling us about how Alphas and Omegas need each other? It must be, because my mind feels quieter, and a rolling, warm purr leaves my throat.

The smell of cedar overwhelms me, and I know it must be him because it feels like my soul is on fire with it, like it is the only thing that matters to me. When I dip my head down to bury my nose into his fur, he answers my purr with his own and starts to rub his face against my leg.

How massive am I if he feels so small next to me?

We lay together until the sun dips below the horizon. Night has fallen before the sabertooth's body ripples and is replaced by the trim, nude form of Dominic.

"Hey, Omega." He has never sounded this soft when he's spoken to me. I didn't know he was capable of such gentleness. "Are you going to shift back and let me meet you?"

Even if I knew how, I'm not so sure I would. He's going to be furious when he realizes who I am. I'd prefer he never know than to be rejected by him again.

"You're a beautiful dragon, but I'd love to see the Omega you live within. Can you please shift for me?" Almost to himself, he mutters, "How did I not know there was an Omega dragon?"

Dragon. That's what I am.

It's a creature I've heard mentioned a few times in books of lore, as myths and legends. It never occurred to me that a dragon was an option for an Omega form.

Aren't Omegas supposed to be weak and need protection? The only part of me that needs protection right now is my heart.

The pure adoration in his voice has my form rippling, my dragon willing to relinquish control, but I fight it. I don't want him to know it's me, because the kindness will stop.

"You know what we are to one another, don't you?" My mind goes blank, and I shake my massive head in answer. "Well, let me introduce myself to you. I'm Dominic, and I'm your scent match. Do you know what being scent-matched means?"

The words tickle a memory of Menegerie Management, where Dominic was talking about scent-sympathetic Alphas and Omegas, before the twins asked about the other types of bonds.

"We're a perfect fit. Fated to be together. The Gods picked us out for one another." If the Gods picked this, why didn't Ilota warn me? He looks up and down my massive form and hums to himself. "And how lucky am I to be matched to the person Blessed by the Fire Goddess for the first time in memory?"

If he could tell instantly, others will be able to, too, which means I am not safe and need to swear him to secrecy. Panic claws up my throat, and I know I need to shift, but my dragon still feels like a presence looking over my shoulder, not something that is a part of me and will cooperate with my desires.

He strokes a hand up my leg, and though it is small, I can feel the sparks it leaves in its path.

I take the opportunity to admire his naked form, soaking up the way he moves with quiet grace. A predator's gait. His left leg from the knee down is a kaleidoscope of geometric shapes, overlapping and moving together in a beautiful and dizzying way.

"Are you scared you'll get in trouble because you're not supposed to be out here? You shouldn't be. I'll protect you. You won't have to go back to Omega housing now that we're a match. You can stay with me."

His touch and sweet words work on my dragon, and my form starts to ripple and twist, the pain present but not nearly as bad as it was shifting into this form.

I can feel the dirt and grass on my bare skin, and I bury my face in my arms before he can see me. I'm trying to put this off as long as I can, but I know in moments he'll walk away from me again.

"Look at you." His words come out in a reverent whisper. "What's your name? Let me see your pretty face."

I take a fortifying breath, knowing everything is about to change, and raise myself to a kneeling position. The embarrassment I should feel for being nude takes a backseat to the rejection I know I'm about to face. Our gazes clash, and Dominic stumbles backward. The betrayal in his expression breaks my heart.

"Zoe?" My name sounds like a curse on his lips. "I fucking knew it. I knew it, and you lied to me. You lied to me!" The fury in his tone has me scrambling away from him.

"I wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. You have to believe me."

"Bullshit!" He slams his fist into the tree next to him. "You knew, and you still lied to my face."

"I didn't want to lie to you, but Ilota told me I had to."

He scoffs. "Convenient that a Goddess no one has heard from in centuries tells you to lie to your scent match." The way he says those two words, as if it's the worst news he's ever gotten, has bile rising in my throat.

"It's the truth!" I can feel the presence that I now know is my dragon pushing under my skin, demanding to be let out and see if he'll stay with us in that form. "I'm sorry, Dominic. I wanted to tell you."