-Flint-
"I always imagined at least 5 or 6 pups running around." Koda sighed before throwing his head back and downing the last of his whiskey with a grimace at the taste.
I frowned. At least he was able to lay with his mate, even if it wouldn't allow his omega to be inseminated.
"There's still hope." Conri crossed his ankles as he stretched out on the sofa across from me. "We still have a lot to learn about these omegas."
I continued to sip on my own glass of whiskey, though I was holding my liquor much better than Koda and his grumbling.
After being kicked out of the home theater, Koda dragged me to the top floor to Mingan and Conri's living quarters. He had just finished explaining to Conri about the successful though unexpected mating between he and his mate.
"Is one pup enough for you?" Koda turned to me, ignoring Conri. "Even though your mate can't have your pups, at least you had Conri, right?"
I pursed my lips. Koda's drunken words stung. That topic was another I was trying to avoid. Obviously I was happy to have at least one pup, and though I once thought I was too old to raise anymore pups, imagining my fiery mate plump with a baby in her belly made my heart ache.
Instead of answering, I took another swig of my drink.
"Mom found an expert on GEOs." Conri interjected, and I was glad for the change of subject. "She's bringing them here as soon as she makes preparations."
"That's fantastic!" Koda hiccuped.
I leaned forward from my place on the adjacent armchair. "A scientist? How can we trust them?" I growled.
"Two of them are." Conri explained. "Their daughter is a GEO."
"The fuck?" I nearly shouted. "Sick bastards."
Were they like the scientist still locked up in our holding cells? Calling their science experiments their children while they studied them?
"It's not like that." Conri pushed himself up from his laying position. "They're activists for the GEOs."
"So they adopted one?" Koda questioned, his mood turning more serious.
"It seems like it." Conri nodded. "Hopefully they can shed some light for us."
My tense muscles relaxed visibly and I let my head fall back against the plush arm chair. I had so many worries about my mate, and I knew next to nothing about her. Relief pooled in my belly at the prospect of learning about her.
"How soon can they be here?" I asked as I refilled my glass with the brown liquid.
"I'll get in touch with Mom in the morning." Conri said with a yawn.
I nodded. Though I was no longer with Aspen after she found her mate at least 20 years ago, I was still on good terms with her. Our marriage had only been one of convenience so she could have my pup and act as a temporary Luna, so there was no hard feelings when she found her mate. He happened to be an activist for the mistreatment of Omegas in the mid zone, so I suppose he had the connections that allowed them to find an expert on GEOs. I never thought much of the other Alpha due to his soft nature, but I was suddenly glad for him now.
"There you are, Conri."
Conri and Koda both jumped at Mingan's silent entrance into the living room. She sauntered toward us but stopped to lean forward against the back of the couch.
"Congratulations, Koda." She shot him a knowing look, to which he reddened instantly.
I couldn't help but snort at his boyish mannerisms, all the while trying to shove down the jealousy welling up inside me.
"You two are welcome to stay in a guest room since your mates are having a slumber party here." Mingan added with a gentle chuckle. Conri must have linked to her and filled her in on the current events.
"Thank you." Koda said eagerly, his red face not lightening.
I nodded in hopes of also conveying my gratitude. I wasn't surprised that Koda wanted to stay near his mate, and I felt silly for having the same desires.
Mingan turned and retreated into her room, chuckling all the way. Conri let out his own bark of laughter, apparently amused at the matching blush on my face. I glared at him, but the delighted look on his face never left.
Before Koda or I could stutter out anything intelligible, Mingan poked her head from her bedroom. "Come to bed, Mate." She didn't use her alpha voice, but her low tone and half lidded eyes hinted at her less than innocent intentions.
This time, Conri blushed furiously, but his eyes lit up as he stared back at her. "Yes, ma'am."
He shot us a mischievous look and wiggled his eyebrows playfully as he shot up. "Sorry guys. Duty calls."
I took the hint and downed the last of my drink. As soon as I stood, my head swam and I finally felt the effects of the alcohol.
"Let's go downstairs." Koda chuckled as he led the way out the door. "We can play a few rounds of pool before we hit the hay."
I sighed, but followed nonetheless. It seemed Koda felt as restless as me. Despite the alcohol warming my stomach and fogging my mind, it was hard to ignore the pull of my mate.
Before leaving the room, I snatched the half empty handle of whiskey.
-Dot-
My drowsy eyes peeled open to the image of a wolf glowing on the screen. Lines of text scrolled past it, what Waya called credits. I didn't remember anything about the movie, so I must have fallen asleep toward the beginning. The rhythmic sounds of breathing and gentle snores lead me to believe the others had fallen asleep as well.
Sometime during the night, Spots had cuddled up halfway on me, and now his skin felt too hot on my sweaty body, and my bladder felt full. He whimpered something in his sleep as I carefully wiggled my way from beneath him, but he quickly settled down once I freed myself.
As soon as I stood, my head swam, and the cold sweat did nothing to cool me. I palmed at my eyes until an explosion of color painted the back of my lids, but it did nothing to help either.
Maybe if I could find a bathroom, I'd feel better once I relieved myself and splashed some water on my face?
I stumbled forward and pushed through the door clumsily. My breath came as heavy wheezing, and my head continued to spin. Everything seemed supersaturated, but like I was viewing everything from a window. It was like I was trapped in the thin space between dream and reality, oscillating between each.
There was a heated pressure below my belly, tickling at my insides and making me flush. Even outside of the video room, the air suffocated me.
Which way was the bathroom again? I'd been there before, but I couldn't get my brain straight. I might as well transported to an entirely different world for all I knew.
Hugging the wall, I struggled to keep myself vertical as I picked a random direction in search of my destination. An involuntary moan escaped my mouth. It wasn't pain that caused it, but it was still a feeling wholly uncomfortable and utterly debilitating. I screwed my eyes shut and kept scooting along, panting heavily.
I pushed open another door that I'd manage to reach after what felt like a lifetime. My fluttering heart sounded in my ears. A discordant CRACK sounded causing my to cringe, but my eyes snapped open when I heard his velvety voice.
"Kitten?"
My daddy stood from his leaning position over a table littered with colorful balls. He held a long pole, like a deadly weapon, in one hand while the other gripped the edge of the table. He looked dark and foreboding, staring at me with dangerous intensity.
Something reached my nostrils and I knew it was him. I needed more of it.
I staggered toward him, never breaking eye contact. My mouth began to salivate, and the fire in my stomach burned ever hotter.
"You're in heat." He rasped as his lidded eyes trailed down my body.
I didn't know what that meant, but with each step closer to him, the more my heart pounded.
"Flint, we need to-" someone began to speak, sounding miles away.
"Get out." The Alpha snarled.
My heart leapt in excitement. I should have been scared, and I was in a way, but something else filled me and blocked everything away, because in that moment, I knew one thing about the man.
"Mine." I growled.
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GOT IT