It was some time before Zehr and Cora were able to disentangle themselves from one another, but when they did, Cora felt a lightness in her spirit. She had always scoffed at the gushing of newly mated omegas, believing all the starry-eyed looks and excited whispers to be nothing but the product of overactive imaginations and too much optimism.

She had been so wrong.

She lifted her eyes to her alpha and a smile tugged at her lips as she saw him absentmindedly touch the fresh bond bite at his neck. He was wearing a green tee, and the soft jersey material of the shirt perfectly showcased the new mark.

She ran a hand through her hair and did her best to pay attention to what was going on around her, but it was a difficult task to accomplish with erotic images of her alpha screaming her name swimming through her mind’s eye.

Zehr had brought her to meet a few members of his clan, all higher elders from the look of the tattoos that covered their hands, necks and arms. At first Cora had shrank back in intimidation at the sight of so many elders, a sight that had always inspired fear in her as a Moonwater omega. But a comforting word from Zehr and his hand at the small of her back had calmed her.

“They are pack. You are safe with them,” he had rumbled, giving her a reassuring smile, and indeed the elders had welcomed her with warm smiles and open arms.

“Are you comfortable with that?”

Zehr’s question jolted her from her thoughts and Cora blinked owlishly at him.

“Sorry?”

Zehr chuckled and reached out to tug on a lock of her hair. “I have to go for a few minutes. There’s…” He waved a hand at the elders nearby and rocked back on his heels. “A meeting I need to be a part of. I’ll go and listen for a few minutes, give them enough instruction to cool tempers. Will you be alright until then?”

Cora nodded automatically. She wouldn’t be a burden to her alpha, not now, not ever.

“Of course. Go on, I’ll be here.” Cora smiled at him and reached out ready to press herself close, to touch her lips to his as some of her magic starshine spilled out of her and onto him, but Zehr only nodded quickly at her words and stepped back.

The step away was small, but to Cora it felt like a yawning gulch. She swallowed hard, wondering how she had gone from feeling bright, shiny, and happy to alone and second-guessing herself.

Her hand fluttered to her chest, fingers rubbing at her sternum where the seat of her magic was.

It ached.

Cora’s eyes widened when realization dawned on her. It wasn’t just the bliss of a new bond, but her magic itself that had been humming like starshine and sparkles through her body.

Now that feeling was dulling, and she almost groaned out loud. It hadn’t been romantic nonsense earlier when she had thought her magic had recognized Zehr.

It truly had.

Her magic was now, it seemed, bonded just as much to her alpha as it was her. Or rather her response to her alpha.

She pursed her lips, not enjoying the thought of her magic being at the mercy of her heart. Her eyes darted up tot Zehr, who was looking away from her at that moment.

Bond-fueled magic could prove to be a problem, especially when only a moment before she had felt connected to her alpha, tethered to him by their bond bites, but now she was right back to where she had been that morning when he had said the words I don’t know.

She would be lucky if she could magic her way out of a paper bag at this rate.

Zehr gave her a quick nod and without a word turned away from her, and like a light switch the flame of her magic stuttered and nearly went out.

Cora rubbed a hand against her chest and worked to control her breathing. It hurt the way he could turn so easily from her. A new bond was supposed to be intense, but already Zehr was moving on to more pressing matters. She took another measured breath and blinked against the tears that pricked her eyes.

Why was she getting so emotional?

Of course, he had to attend a council meeting. The shifter world hadn’t been the most stable since his father’s murder.

He alone was the one responsible with guiding the clans into something resembling peace.

Steeling herself against the feeling of loneliness, of her hindbrain screaming at her that she had been abandoned, Cora wrapped her arms around herself and turned to survey the empty camp around her. Everyone had vanished alongside Zehr to the meeting.

Now the small space where three paths met, forming a crossroads, was empty with only the rustle of the trees and chittering of nearby pixies for noise.

“Cora!”

Head snapping up, Cora felt her breath catch at the sight of a familiar face. It was one of her dearest friends, Maggie, another Moonwater omega, who burst from the trees to rush forward and embrace her friend.

“Maggie!” Cora crashed into her friend and hugged her tightly.

“Where have you been? It's been a week!” Maggie squeezed her back tightly and then leaned away to look her over. “Let me see you, are you alright? What happened?”

Cora’s throat tightened at that and she coughed.

“A lot.”

“Like what?”

“Well, I ah, I have an alpha now.”

“No!” Maggie’s eyes widened in disbelief. “How?”

“Well, in the usual manner...”

Maggie rolled her eyes and jabbed a finger at Cora. “Show me this instant.”

Cora shoved her hair to the side. Maggie clasped her hands over her mouth, but it didn’t quite mask her shout.

“WHO BONDED YOU?!”

“Shh.” Cora drew the other omega close and glanced around, relieved to see that the clearing had stayed empty. “Keep your voice down.”

The last thing she needed was it getting out and to her clan, well, her ex-clan before she had even come to terms with it herself.

“Sorry, sorry.” Maggie winced and then asked, “But who? They must be important to have your things sent for.” She held up Cora’s familiar blue duffle bag. “Not that I’m complaining. I was sick and tired of looking at the same awful alphas.”

“They sent you?” Cora laughed, taking the bag from her friend.

Maggie nodded.

“Something about trash should meet trash.” She rolled her eyes. “The normal stuff. You know how charming and unimaginative that lot can be.”

“I do. Absolutely terrible, but whatever the reason I’m happy they sent you. I could use a friendly face right about now.”

“Why? What’s wrong? Are you not happy with your mate?”

Cora hesitated. “I don’t know,” she answered in an echo of Zehr’s earlier words, and she almost rolled her eyes at herself.

What a pair they made.

“What do you mean you don’t know?”

“He’s, ah, very powerful.”

“So I was right about him having status!”

Cora nodded but said nothing else which prompted her friend to give her a pinched look.

“Who is it? Do I know him?”

Cora sucked on her bottom lip and turned away, eyes on the trees. “Yes.”

“But he’s not of our clan, so how is that possible?” Maggie asked, touching her arm.

Cora sighed and looked away from the trees, the straps of her duffle bag twisting in her hands as she battled to find the right words. It was harder than she had imagined.

Funny. She would have thought she would be shouting it from the rooftops, like any normal omega.

Too bad Cora had never been a normal omega.

“I know it’s going to sound…crazy, but my alpha...”

“The Fireheart alpha?” another familiar voice interrupted.

Unlike her pleasure at Maggie’s, this voice filled her with fear and dread, and she whirled around to face the speaker. She raised her duffle bag up to her chest and squeezed it.

The voice belonged to an alpha and elder of the Moonwater Clan, a shifter she had feared during her time as a clan member.

A shifter everyone feared.

Rork.

Even just thinking the name sent a chill of fear down her spine. Old habits were hard to break and she shrank from the alpha as he took a step closer. Maggie followed suit and soon the omegas were pressed close together as Rork sneered at them.

“I wouldn’t go so far as calling her his mate. Not yet.” A blonde stepped out from behind Rork, a woman this time but an alpha all the same.

Liliana.

Beautiful and just as cruel as Rork.

“Don’t think it’ll take?” Rork asked with a grin.

“Not a chance. Magic trash like her? She’s half-witch, after all…not fit to lick my boots, let alone Zehr’s.”

Cora bared her teeth. “Don’t say his name.”

“Cora…” Maggie gave her a worried look and put a gentle hand on her friend’s arm in warning.

“Or what?” Rork raised an eyebrow. “Not normal for an alpha to leave his new omega all alone like this after a heat. Do you think he’ll care if we have a little fun with you?”

Cora blinked, stunned.

Alphas antagonizing a newly mated omega was unheard of, but their treatment of her was beyond the pale. She had no idea what to say next, though Liliana saved her from speaking when she chuckled and pinned her with a cold stare.

“You know what else I seem to remember about new bonds?”

Rork grinned. “Please, do tell.”

“Distance breaks them down all the more faster. Something I think our almost-king would definitely know and use to rid himself of this witch.”

Cora’s fingers tightened on her duffle bag. That wasn’t why her alpha had left her. He had a meeting to attend. He would be back. She tried to talk herself down but she knew her distress was apparent from the way the alphas’ eyes lit up in excitement. This was sport for them, a hunt of sorts, and they sensed blood in the water.

All-Mother, why was her magic still missing?

What she wouldn’t give to let loose a blast of magic right into the faces of her tormentors. As a Moonwater clan member, she had never dreamed at using her magic to defend herself. The recharging period of her abilities was too sporadic and unpredictable to wield it as a weapon. But now she didn’t care.

Too bad she couldn’t get so much as a spark from her fingers.

“I have to go,” she whispered, blinking back tears. “Thank you.” She nodded at Maggie, who stared at her in astonishment. Cora knew the news of her alpha’s identity would shock her friend; it still floored her and it was her relationship. She wished she could explain to Maggie but there wasn’t time. Not with the pair of alphas advancing on her.

“Aww, don’t go, Cora!” Liliana stepped in front of her. “We did follow your little friend with the hopes of paying our...respects...to you and your new alpha.”

Cora jerked away from her and backpedaled, only to run into the hard chest of Rork, who laughed and leaned close, his breath tickling her ear.

“I can still be swayed to take you on when he’s done with you.”

“Don’t touch me,” Cora bit out, jerking away from Rork. She glared at him and moved to step around him but his hand shot out and wrapped around her bicep.

“Think you're better than us now that you have a royal knot in your cunt? Bitch.” Rork jerked her roughly toward him until she was only inches from his face and he bent low over her.

“I’ll remind you where you belong, you half-breed magic trash.”

“Stop!” Maggie yelled as her friend fought to free herself.

Rork laughed at Cora’s clumsy struggles and leaned closer to her still, nosing at her bond mark. Cora thought she might throw up from it, and she almost did when she felt his tongue snake out to touch her skin.

“No!” she screamed, no longer able to hide her tears as she lashed out, raking her nails across Rork’s face with a shriek. The alpha let out a howl of pain as her nails found purchase, ripping at his skin, causing blood to well up in the cuts across his face. Rork reared back, eyes wild, blood dripping down the side of his face.

Only then did Cora realize what she had done, but it was far too late to escape the enraged alpha in front of her.

She had just lifted her chin in defiance when Rork struck, his big hand swinging toward her in a blur, promising a blow that she couldn’t hope to block.

The next few seconds passed in a blur and an explosion of pain as she ended up sprawled on the ground, duffle bag smashed beneath her as Rork stood over her radiating a rage so dark Cora could smell it.

“Bitch. Time to teach you manners.”

Rork cracked his knuckles in a gesture long familiar to Cora. There was no mistaking what would happen next, what always happened when a mean alpha like him was angry. Cora lowered her head, preferring not to see the blow coming, her thoughts on Zehr.

He would find her and all of this would be a bad dream.

Her magic stirred in her chest. Even it knew she was right.

Zehr would come, he would, would, he would—

A roar, loud, angry, powerful, and most of all nearby stopped Cora’s focused chant. Her magic surged and finally bloomed in her chest, giving her strength to push herself shakily up.

It was her alpha.

It didn’t matter if the bond took or not, if her magic made her wrong, or if he hadn’t wanted her in the first place. What mattered was that she belonged to the Fireheart alpha and no one touched his mate.

No one smart, anyway.

But no one had ever accused Rork of being smart.

Cora raised her eyes to the now motionless alpha and gave him a smile stained with blood.

“You’re in trouble.”