Unified Omegas (Alpha Elite Series Book 7) Read online

  After rummaging around under it for a few seconds, she stands again and pulls her skirt up to slide a tiny oblong object out of the holster on her clad inner thigh.

  She places it in the center of the table before unbuttoning the top three buttons on her blouse.

  Every male in the room tenses as she strips the shirt off and tosses it onto the floor.

  Even with her black skintight armor underneath, the intimate act sends every Alpha to the edge of their control.

  Kwame’s fingers dig into my nape and his hold on my harness makes the ropes dig into my flesh, and I fight the urge to moan and writhe against him.

  He rumbles out his frustration, bends down, and fills my mouth with his deft tongue. I grind my front against him and pour my passion into our kiss, unable to hold back despite knowing we won’t be able to enjoy one another’s bodies until later.

  With a growl, he tears his lips away and removes his hands from me.

  Rage lashes through me and I tighten my grip around his middle.

  The emotions dancing in his eyes ease the anger caused by his retreat, but with merciless hands he forces my arms off him and spins me around.

  After encasing me in his arms, he shuffles us across the room until we stand beside the couch.

  Everyone else converges to the same area, preparing for the next step.

  Anastasia places her hand over Jumoke’s heart before requesting something, and with reluctance he lets her sit beside him. She sets her spine straight, even when he slouches back and puts his arm behind her. After a moment, she slides her palm to his thigh as though needing to touch him in return. Their bond glows amidst the unseen connections flowing through the room, and tears gather in my eyes.

  Kwame rests his lips on the shell of my ear, understanding my yearning even as I stand in awe of the push and pull between their hearts.

  “You are perfect, Britani. So strong and brave. Once we get through this, I’ll put as many babies in your belly as you want.”

  Lava erupts in my core, and I clench my legs together and grab his arms as though to stop myself from flying apart. He lands a chaste kiss under my ear before straightening.

  I gulp down oxygen, desperate to clear my head.

  Seeck guides Nova to stand beside me, almost brushing his shoulder with Kwame as we gather close. With both palms encompassing her shoulders, he lets Nova stand on her own but keeps her close enough he can rest his chin on the top of her head.

  Dirk sits on the other side of the couch, pushing Jumoke’s hand away while shuffling Shya to sit between him and Anastasia. Shya clings to him, her bright pink eyes pleading with him to let her stay on his lap.

  “No, Little One. You must sit tall and be brave. Watch and listen, because you might catch something no one else does,” Dirk insists, placing her butt on the seat with firm hands.

  His purr, while quiet and directed at Shya, makes Jumoke’s eyes narrow in warning.

  After a quick kiss to Shya’s temple, he offers her his hand. Her tiny fingers wrap around his thumb and he settles his massive paw on her thigh.

  Evie traipses across the room, but before she gets too close to the other Alphas, Vander grabs her arm and forces her to stop.

  She smirks at him over her shoulder before biting her bottom lip.

  “Fine, then. Got my things, gentlemen?”

  Her boot taps an impatient beat on the floor as Vander collects the odd assortment of electronics from the rest of the Alphas.

  After visiting each male, he stands in front of Evie with everything resting on his upturned palms.

  She slips her fingertip into a hidden pocket on the side of her vest and pulls out a weird looking wire. In about five seconds, she fits the seemingly random pieces together and flicks a miniscule switch on the side of the new device she just built.

  After flicking her wrist in a dismissive motion, she steps toward the table. Vander grabs her nape and hauls her against him.

  “Careful, my little queen,” he whispers into her ear, the room so quiet everyone hears him. She nuzzles his neck before pecking his lips with her own.

  “Of course, Papí.”

  His entire body goes rigid, as if she stabbed him in the stomach.

  They stare at each other for a long moment.

  The bond between them pulses with energy, even after he lets her go.

  She connects the new device to the thing she set on the table earlier, then peruses our group over her shoulder.

  “Pull up yer knickers. Starting the signal now.”

  Chapter Three

  Britani

  Shock flows through the room as she begins her machine.

  I’ve never seen anything like it. I’ve used an interactive holographic map and video communication devices, but this… this is more. It projects across the entire room, making me feel like we’re looking through a portal into another dimension.

  The individuals on the other side look so lifelike I wonder if I could reach through and pull them into the space beside me.

  Once the initial shock wears off, I stare so long my eyes feel dry from lack of blinking.

  A woman with almost neon-orange hair stands amidst beasts unlike any I’ve ever seen. Her stance conveys such authority I have trouble focusing on anything else, the outlandish creatures filling the room behind her falling into the background despite their elaborate clothing and intelligent eyes.

  “About time you showed your face,” the woman says, piercing Evie with such a caustic expression I shrink back against Kwame.

  Evie pops her hip to the side and braces her hand on it, looking peeved right back.

  “Right, little biddy, as if you haven’t been seeing me every night. All night long.”

  A moment of intense silence passes before both women throw their heads back and laugh.

  Stunned into stillness, no one else in the room relaxes.

  “Relax, Draukir. It’s a thing called teasing,” Evie says between gasps of frivolity.

  The huge form standing at the woman’s side doesn’t move, but my focus snaps to him when he speaks.

  “I am well aware of what it’s called. Minette has been teaching me for the past fifteen years,” he twists his neck and looks down at the tiny woman beside him.

  Their proportions rival Dirk and Shya’s, but I suspect Minette isn’t tiny. She seems about the same height as Evie, which means Draukir must be truly gigantic.

  So shocked by the ridiculously low timbre of his voice and his overwhelming size, it takes me a moment to realize he’s glowing.

  His skin gives off a royal purple hue, and as Minette looks up at him, my jaw drops open.

  She’s purple too.

  Kwame tightens an arm around me while pushing my jaw back up with a finger, and I startle.

  While I lean on him, lost in the new world opening up to us, he stays vigilant.

  He watches the events unfolding while keeping a close eye on me.

  Love swells my heart so fast I fear it’ll burst.

  Evie sweeps her arm around the room, introducing each of us before wiping all traces of mirth from her face.

  Minette gives a round of introductions as well, but my brain refuses to keep up. Between the fangs, scales, fur, and vivid colors, I can’t even tell who might be male and who might be female.

  “We have two thousand and eighty-two battle-prepared Space-Flyers headed your way,” Minette says, squaring her shoulders with pride.

  “Cripes, Minette. I do love a gal who delivers,” Evie responds, running a hand through her hair before continuing.

  “When you told me you were ready, I felt your assuredness, but I didn’t realize…”

  The fierce Evie stands at a loss for words for a fleeting moment.

  “Evie, we’ve had ten years to prepare. We may have had to be extremely covert, but we can’t ignore the ISC’s atrocities anymore,” Minette says in a solemn voice.

  With hard eyes, she continues.

  “Every leader you see behind m
e has lost too much to recover from on their own. They need this, just as much as you do.”

  She swings her gaze across everyone on our side of the communication device, her eyes so full of emotions my gut clenches.

  A thin string between her and I awakens, too fragile for touch, but there all the same. As I watch it flicker to life, I notice the many tiny branches weaving within the web of souls already so chaotic from my lifemate and his brotherhood.

  No, not from the brotherhood.

  It originates from Evie.

  “They need a home. I need a home. We come to save you, not because we’re gallant, but because we’re desperate.”

  I swallow the unease emanating from my soul, understanding most of it comes from Kwame.

  Vander shifts, resting his palm on Evie’s shoulder.

  She flicks her gaze up to him, the lines around her eyes softening as she does.

  She opens her mouth to speak, but Minette beats her to it.

  “I’ve vetted every individual in this room, as well as each crewmember of their ships. No one wants to invade. We want a haven, even if it’s in the middle of the desert. Everyone has a price on their head, the bounties too much incentive for us to find shelter anywhere else.”

  Jumoke’s rashness gets the better of him and he interrupts her. “Then why should we let you live here? If you’re going to bring that much attention to Mai’CuS, then why would we want you here?”

  “Listen to the plan, you daft wanker,” Evie snaps.

  Minette chuckles.

  “I missed you, Evie,” she says with such soft affection the anger leaks right out of the dark-skinned Omega.

  “I missed you too, Minette.”

  Vander squeezes Evie’s shoulder, his support obvious through their bond.

  “The plans, Evie. Every detail.”

  Minette’s eyes scour Vander as he speaks, a quirk in her brow relaying her disbelief.

  She sees his sharp intelligence and tactical skills, despite his act.

  His nonchalant stance makes tendrils of envy dance up my spine.

  I’m quaking in my shoes despite being wrapped up in my lifemate’s arms. He’s facing this head on in the same no-bullshit way he attacks every problem.

  “I sent several encoded messages over the last few weeks. Did you get them all decrypted and rearranged?” Evie asks Minette.

  “Of course.”

  “You understand the situation?”

  “You’ve got a rogue chapter of the ISC in residence. I must say, they picked a good lookin’ bunch of specimens for their most diabolical weapon,” Minette all but purrs before smirking and sending an expectant side-eye toward Draukir.

  His hand lands on her nape, the action almost lazy. I almost choke on my tongue as he returns her smirk, revealing an extended fang.

  “Not rogue, Minette. The ISC supports them, so they are not acting alone. They’re willfully breaking every intergalactic law spanning across the known galaxies,” Draukir says in his otherworldly, deep rumble.

  “Right. We have the blackmail prepped and ready to go,” Minette declares.

  “What blackmail?” Anastasia asks, making Jumoke’s cheek tick in frustration as everyone’s attention swivels to her for a moment.

  “The messages I sent them. It’s a detailed log of every experiment this branch has performed, every correspondence they’ve had with ISC’s main hub, as well as any other incriminating bit of evidence I’ve gathered over the last thirty-five years,” Evie says in a flat tone.

  A shiver runs down my spine as her words settle into my soul.

  Thirty-five years.

  The monstrosities she must have seen…

  I drop the thought, thankful as the conversation continues.

  “So, while we negotiate with the ISC, who’ve been struggling with public relations recently and would love to be rid of the threat to their image, your goal is to distract Alpha One so he doesn’t suspect our interference,” Minette says.

  “What are you negotiating for, exactly?” Vander asks, the calculation in his eyes making me feel a little lost.

  We need Evie and Shya’s mothers back. Their hearts ache with every beat because of the separation, and I know he feels it, so I don’t understand why he’s asking the question.

  Without hesitation, Minette responds.

  “Our freedom. Every individual in my ranks, as well as the ten of you, will have our records expunged. There will be no bounty on our heads. No crosshairs to worry over.”

  The complicated layers settle on my shoulders as I realize the magnitude of what we’re dealing with.

  There’s so much more than just “defeat our enemy”.

  Kwame caresses my hip with his thumb, the tiny movement comforting me.

  “Mai’CuS will be given Rights Holder status, meaning we will be our own planet, able to make our own decisions and defend ourselves in any manner we see fit.”

  I rub my back on my lifemate’s chest, making his ropes tug on my ribs. It helps me feel less like my head is about to explode.

  “Belmir, Evie’s mother, and Taliya, Shya’s mother, will be dropped at the coordinates at the time you specified in your message, unharmed and in good health.”

  Shya’s eyes flash pink as she stares at Minette’s face, the burst of emotions consuming her as she hears her mother’s name. Dirk shifts her onto his lap, framing her with his massive biceps, but keeping her angled toward Minette.

  “In return, we’ll destroy the head of this chapter and keep our knowledge secret.”

  “Those are big demands. Why wouldn’t they just crush us and get rid of Alpha One on their own?” Vander asks.

  Minette chuckles.

  “There may have been a shift in politics recently. A few… prominent… solar systems have been questioning the ISC’s integrity. The main hub can’t risk sending more than a few hundred ships this way without causing more suspicion,” she says, the sly look in her eyes making my gut tighten.

  Evie’s expression darkens and she gives a low growl.

  “Woman, that’s too dangerous. I told you to focus on the armada,” Evie says in a low, angry voice.

  The hairs on my nape rise.

  “I did. I focused on our success. This was necessary.”

  Minette and Evie stare at one another, the silent conversation flowing between their souls more like a battlefield than a discussion.

  “What’s done is done. I’d do it again to save you. Hell, I’d do it a million times over if it meant we’d all have a chance at happiness,” Minette says, her voice thick with emotions.

  She isn’t just talking about herself and the countless individuals she brought with her.

  She scans the room again and the bond between her and I strengthens further, making me acutely aware of the souls already woven together.

  Draukir hovers on the outskirts, his support to his Omega as obvious as his body’s size, but he makes no move to infiltrate the intricate balance.

  “So, our standing is much better than I anticipated. You’re running circles around me, bird, and making me feel inadequate. Bitch,” Evie mock snarls, draining every ounce of strain from my muscles even as I wonder at the banter between these two ladies.

  “Yeah, well, I have to compensate for every time you beat my sorry ass in training,” Minette shoots back.

  “Are you prepared, should they send more than a few hundred ships to secure Mai’CuS?” Seeck asks. Nova stands as still as a statue as all eyes swing to them.

  “Yes, Seeck. We’re willing to fight to the end—you won’t find a single deserter among us—but it won’t come to that. They’ll send up to a thousand vessels, no more. Even with a squadron barricading your air space, we’ll have enough firepower to annihilate every ship that threatens us. You’ll be safe from any space attacks.”

  Minette’s surety shines from every other face behind her.

  Seeck nods his acceptance and settles his chin back on top of Nova’s head.

  “The b
ig stickler is ya’ll. We can’t send you any backup without alerting Alpha One, but he’ll intercept our transmission to ISC if he’s not distracted,” Minette explains.

  Evie said we’d have to attack, but my hands grow sweaty as the magnitude of our actions settle on my shoulders.

  Kwame leans down, putting his lips back on my ear while offering his smooth comfort straight into my soul from our bond.

  After giving my bondage a tweak and making me melt into submission, he kisses below my ear and sends a silent song into my heart.

  His tune speaks of adventure and trials but ends with love and safety. I suck in a breath and fall further under his spell.

  Evie’s voice breaks my trance.

  “We’ll take out his comms. Strike him where he least expects it—in the facility he hunkers down in. He’s still not aware I’ve gone rogue, so we have the element of surprise. Even if we didn’t, these Alphas can handle anything.”

  My breath hitches as the massive men around me soak up her praise with the glee of children. Their faces don’t show it, but they enjoy the pride in her voice.

  Vander doesn’t miss a beat.

  “We pulled up the blueprint. We’ll take out his long-distance communication, cut the power to his site, destroy the comm lines between all facilities, and cause some damage while we’re at it.”

  Minette focuses all her attention on him again.

  “That’s a tall order for ten people,” she says, throwing back the same expression he gave her when he asked about their preparedness.

  “We aren’t people. We’re Alpha Elite.”

  The sentiment settles over everyone, and when I look up at my lifemate, my heart swells with pride.

  He’s more than I ever thought to ask for.

  I’ll do anything for him, just like he’ll do anything for me.

  Together, we’ll protect our family.

  Chapter Four

  Britani

  Evie ends the call and dismantles the device. She passes the pieces to Vander who returns each one to the Alpha who handed it to him.

  “Step one complete. Everyone clear as to the next step?” Evie asks, checking her nails instead of meeting anyone’s eyes.