Omega's Truth - Nora Phoenix Page 0,101

possible again. Several neighboring countries had offered their help as well. The first planes with emergency supplies had already arrived, restocking both hospitals and the two largest grocery stores. Rationing had to ensure food would be distributed fairly, but Mills hoped that within a few months, the city would be able to return to normal again.

The toughest challenge, though, would be changing the laws. York had made steps that had promptly been demolished by Armitage’s power grab. Lidon had been right about the country moving forward. Dictating change top-down wouldn’t work. It had to come from the people. They had to see for themselves that this was what was best for them and best for the country. But how to accomplish that was a question Mills didn’t have an easy answer to…and neither did Palani and Lidon.

Over the last week, more and more details had become clear. The sad reality was that Armitage hadn’t sanctioned a lot of what had happened. He’d thought that, as the general, he’d have complete control, but the remaining members of the AWC had gone rogue, using his revolution to settle old personal scores. And when Armitage had found out, he hadn’t intervened, hoping that if he let them carry out their vigilante justice, they’d settle down…and support him. But in the end, he hadn’t been able to make any of his supporters happy, not even when he’d given them what he had believed they wanted. If he thought about it, it almost made Palani sad for him, which was ridiculous. It had to be because he was exhausted.

It had been a week now, and he was beyond ready to go home. He’d crashed on the bed in the room he shared with Lidon, praying the alpha would come back soon so they could sleep. He was so tired he could cry.

“Hey,” Enar said softly from the doorway. A huge smile broke across Palani’s face.

“Hey, you.” He moved to get up from the bed, but Enar waved him back.

“Stay there. I’ll join you.”

Enar kicked off his shoes, and then he crawled onto the bed, straight into Palani’s arms. Palani clamped his arms around him, breathing him in. “I’ve missed you so fucking much.”

Enar buried his face against Palani’s neck. “Me too. I think it’s been the longest we haven’t seen each other since we’re together.”

Palani groaned. “It reminds me of that first week when Vieno had married Lidon, and we were separated for the first time in years. God, my soul was split in half… And this week, it’s been ripped apart as well, without you and Vieno.”

“I need you.” Enar trembled against him.

Palani pushed his mate’s face back, taking in the stress lines, the red-rimmed eyes, the way his forehead wrinkled when he had a tension headache. “I’ve got you, Doc,” he whispered and pushed his own exhaustion back. “Let me take care of you.”

Enar’s lips instantly opened. He took his time kissing him, lazily roaming his mouth, reconnecting with his mate, with his taste, his sweet lips, his tongue, which could be so shy or so bold, depending on what he needed. And right now, Enar had nothing left to give. He was empty. Palani recognized the signs. Enar needed to take, and so Palani would give.

He made love to his mouth until Enar lay panting underneath him, almost passive in his need to submit. “My gorgeous mate,” Palani whispered. “You get more beautiful every day.”

Enar’s smile made his heart sing, and he kissed him some more until both their lips were swollen and hot. Then he nibbled his way down his jaw. Enar’s stubble rasped deliciously against his skin, and he nuzzled his neck. A soft pull on the hem of his shirt had Enar lift his arms, and Palani pulled him out of his scrub top.

A gasp sounded, and he peered over his shoulder. A young beta soldier stood in the hallway, staring at them with his mouth open, his cheeks fiery red.

“Fuck off,” Palani told him, but he couldn’t even muster real anger. He’d left the door open, hadn’t he? He couldn’t blame the kid for watching.

The soldier hurried off, and Palani sighed as he got up and closed the door, then stretched out next to Enar again, his mate lying there with the weight of the world in his eyes. Palani slowly undressed him, kissing every inch of skin he uncovered. Enar must’ve showered before he came; he still smelled of soap. “Mmm,” Palani hummed. “It’s been too long,