the bottom of the cliff, I feel the slight weight of the female shift, and I tighten my hand on her butt. Even though the sak aren't known for chasing past the perimeter of their territory, there’s always a first time for everything. Especially during their breeding season when, like us all, they’re extremely territorial.
Honestly, I don’t think anyone’s tested it before. We’ve all heard the horror stories from our ancestors. Because of the circumstances, I had to.
Lowering Sunny to the ground, I turn to Pascel, reaching for the bag she arrived with. When I reach out though, she snags my hand in both of her smaller ones, tugging at toward her and staring at it, puzzled. “How did you do that? Where did they go?”
What’s she talking about? It takes a moment before I realize that she’s referring to my retractable nails. She twists my wrist from side to side, looking for their source. What game is this she’s playing?
Certainly, she doesn’t believe that we’re that gullible? I know she’s been insisting that she’s not from our planet Alta, and she didn’t control the flying craft that she arrived in, but that makes no sense. Now, she’s acting like she isn’t even familiar with our species’ traits?
Grabbing her hand holding mine, I lift it up over her head, inspecting the tips of her fingers and the nail bed. We can press the nail out voluntarily by applying pressure to the tip of the finger just under where they slide out. When I don’t see even a slit in the skin, I realize that she really doesn’t have them.
What in the hell? As I squeeze my own nail out for her inspection, different reasons this could be possible tumble through my mind. Perhaps she’s some kind of genetically altered version of our people?
Something that some adventurous scientists in our underworld developed? Maybe she escaped from captivity? There have always been old tales of Omega females deep underground, hidden away for the elite. Looking her up and down, I realize she’s small enough. That’s so farfetched though…
I focus on her face, but see no signs of deceit. Only fascination. Her large, brown eyes study my nail carefully, even going so far as to reach out and run a finger along it, as though enthralled with what it’s made of. Could this strange female really be an entirely new species?
I divert my attention to Pascel, who’s slightly behind her and holding out his hand. I know what he wants, and at least he’s asking. Nodding my assent I have given him leave to touch her, I turn away as he grabs her hand and inspects it the same as I did.
It won’t do me any good to watch him, only make my blood boil. Ignoring the sak above us on the ridge, I look higher overhead at the weaning sun. The echo sun has already dropped along the tree line, and I know we’ll lose its light here shortly. As it is, we only have a brief period of time before we need to get back.
I want to return to our encampment as quickly as possible. And not only because she’s a magnificent prize and I don’t want to be challenged for her by any other Alphas, but also because her scent is intensifying. Pascel is already sniffling, puzzled as he glances up at me.
“Do you think—” the female’s words are cut off as our devotional reminder rumbles through the ground beneath our feet. Dammit! Well, it isn’t ideal, but at least we made it off the ridge before we were reminded of our duty. Glancing over my shoulder, I see a small cluster of praline trees and move into the shade and protection of the closest one.
Dropping to my knees, I place my hands palm up on the ground, lowering my forehead down in supplication and reverence. “Oh Blessed Mother, we give you honor and respect, understanding that you are our Provider and Protection in this tumultuous time. We lean on you, our Omega Giver, knowing that your favor will return in due time. With patience, we humbly wait for—”
Pascel’s voice echoes to my left where he’s followed my lead to the ground. I don’t hear our new female, which gives me pause as a shadow falls over my head, totally obliterating the bit of light filtering through the leaves. What’s she doing?
Grabbing her arm, I yank her down next to me quickly. This is taking it too far! She should