Page 77 of The Other Omega

“For the hunt, yes. No other weapon is permitted.” She settled back in her chair. “For the river harvest, Darius was permitted only ordinary clothing, a rope and his gathering bag. He collected the mussels by hand during the winter drawdown.”

I was still trying to picture Darius standing in a freezing river wearing ordinary clothes when Astrid added, “Caius, meanwhile, harvested the glacier crab using only the traditional hand tools.”

I glanced at Caius, my mouth falling open.

“Does every Alpha in High Mountain have to do something so difficult?”

Astrid laughed, and the others joined her.

“No, Elowen. Every Great House observes its own customs. We are Vaelor, a military House, and a capable Alpha must possess judgement and discipline as well as strength.” She rested her forearms lightly against the table. “Some choose trials that test their endurance, while others devote years to mastering a skill requiring exceptional patience and intelligence. Both are worthy achievements, provided the challenge is genuine.”

“Consider Lucien, for example,” Maren said. “Lightning pear trees grow naturally in the upper mountains, usually in crevices where the surrounding rock has been struck by lightning. They are exceptionally difficult to cultivate elsewhere. Lucien spent years learning how to care for them, and now several grow in your garden, all healthy and bearing fruit. I enjoy lightning pear preserve throughout the year now.”

I looked down at the pear slices on my plate.

“That’s incredible.”

Maren gave me a proud smile, and I turned to Lucien, wondering how much work went into the few slices he’d given me.

“We begin preparing our Alphas in childhood,” Astrid said. “By the time they choose their trials, many have already spent years developing the skills they will need.”

She looked at them with so much affection that I found myself looking back.

I’d spent the whole journey worrying about whether they would like me. It hadn’t even occurred to me that they might have spent years preparing for their Omega, only to get me instead.

“I’m beginning to think I should have brought something other than myself.”

I looked down at my plate, suddenly a little overwhelmed by how much care had gone into filling it.

“You have travelled a very long way to sit with us, Elowen.” Astrid’s voice was gentle. “Let us be pleased that you’re here.”

I smiled at her, then at the five men around me. “Thank you. I’m happy to be here.”

Conversation gradually picked up again, and before long everyone was talking about things I knew very little about. They were kind enough to use the Common Tongue for me since I couldn’t understand Kottarsht, but I still struggled to follow some of it.

My mates joined in every now and then, although I kept catching one of them watching me.

Sometimes I didn’t even have to look up to know.

I’d eaten nearly everything on my plate when Lucien passed me a dish of pastries. Their sweet smell made my mouth water all over again, and despite already being full, I took one and broke the golden parcel in half over my side plate.

One small bite was enough to make me moan before I could stop myself.

The midnight berry filling and buttery pastry were so good my eyes nearly rolled back, and I turned straight to Alaric.

“Oh, you have to taste this. It’s incredible.”

I lifted the untouched half towards him.

He looked at it, then at me, before leaning forward and taking it straight from my fingers.

My hand stayed hovering between us as I watched him chew. He looked just as serious about the pastry as he had about everything else that evening, and I had to stop myself from asking whether he liked it before he’d even swallowed.

“It is excellent,” he said, and I lowered my hand, smiling.

“Isn’t it? I’d actually pay for this recipe. It’s that good.”

I glanced at the piece I’d left on my plate, already looking forward to finishing it.