I swallowed heavily.
“There is a chance that our scientists are wrong and that their predictions may never come true. Her alpha gene may never bow to her omega one, no matter who I send to handle her. It is possible that whoever I direct to take care of her may have to kill her and take the throne of Valgertha for himself. Either way, I want this taken care of right away.”
As he spoke, his gaze found mine once more.
“I have instructed our biologists to search for a compatible alpha that might trigger the hidden omega inside her. I had assumed that we would have to search far and wide for a genetically strong enough alpha that would be her match, but it turns out that alpha is here with us tonight,” he said suggestively, all while continuing to stare at me. I tensed my fingers, digging my nails into the palm of my hand.
“It was with even greater surprise that this particular alpha is unmated and not yet bonded to an omega of his own,” he said carefully.
I swallowed anxiously, tensing my jaw as I did so. If he was really insinuating what I thought he was, this would no doubt be the most important mission I’d ever been assigned.
“One of our very own sages, in fact,” he explained, still keeping his gaze level with mine.
I didn’t dare say a word.
“This sage has been one of the most loyal followers I’ve ever had. He’s worked tirelessly to uphold the Brotherhood’s objectives, sacrificing much in the process. He has taken charge on the battlefield and succeeded in a great deal of especially important covert missions over the years, and now, he is either going to mate the powerful Freya, or he’s going to kill her and take the throne of Valgertha for himself. The Sage of Zymos is going to carry out this mission for the good of the Brotherhood,” the Ghost finally revealed.
He was sending me. Freya and the city of Valgertha would be my mission.
“I will leave it up to you how you accomplish either goal, Sage of Zymos. I just expect it to be done.”
I lifted my chin and nodded once.
“I will see that the will of the gods is done, Ghost,” I replied.
“Good,” he answered. For a long moment, he paused, before he looked back over the rest of the members gathered in the sacred ring.
“As for the rest of you within the branch of Zymos, you will follow your sage and infiltrate Valgertha and the surrounding territories. The remaining branches will begin gathering supplies in preparation for the event that the situation with Ravenrath escalates any further. I want you all to prepare for war without panicking those you lead. Carry out your mission without appearing suspicious. In the following weeks, I will travel to meet personally with all of your sages, and I will give more specific instructions upon my arrival for what you will have to do in the coming months.”
All the masked faces bowed their heads.
“This meeting of the Alpha Brotherhood is now concluded. You may all leave, aside from the Sage of Zymos,” th
e Ghost instructed. I stood in place as everyone around me funneled out of the clearing in the woods. The lanterns flickered and our leader waited until we were completely alone before he approached me.
“Sage Aric,” he said softly. This time, his voice was softer and didn’t carry the hard weight of a man who led a secret organization that had existed for centuries. Instead, now he sounded like a friend.
“Ghost,” I replied in turn, nodding my head in both deference and greeting.
“You’ve done very important work for us for a long time. I wish to challenge you with this mission, as well as reward you with the honor of an omega of your own. There is a chance it won’t work out as the scientists predicted, but it is highly likely that her omega will be unleased for you to claim,” he said.
“I would be happy to do this for you,” I responded.
As a part of being a member of the Alpha Brotherhood, we did not take a mate unless it was instructed to do so by the Ghost. To take an omega without permission would involve quick termination of one’s status, as well as the complete forfeit of the right to live. As such, I was not pair bonded to another. I had never even considered it.
That didn’t mean I was naïve to the ways of sex. I’d fucked a fair number of beta females in our more elegantly run brothels, and I knew what needed to be done once an omega entered into her heat.
“Freya will be strong-willed. She’s never been conquered by anyone. Our inside sources speak to her ferocity, both on and off the battlefield,” he warned. “We need to take her, whether it be dead or alive. I would much prefer her living and by your side though. She could be a very powerful ally for us.”
“I will conquer Freya. Before she knows it, she will be bare and properly dealt with as an omega needs to be, regardless of the alpha blood pumping through her veins,” I answered.
“I have no doubt,” he replied, his eyes crinkling with a smile. “The gods have big plans for you. Now, be on your way. I will be in touch.”
I nodded once, before turning around and exiting the way I came.
It was time to claim the Queen of Valgertha for my own.
* * *