Chapter Two

Ryder Strang didn’t often deal with the Klinok, since he knew they sold all sorts of contraband on their market ships. The ships changed locations on a frequent basis to avoid Coalition enforcers, but since he’d found himself in range of one, it had seemed as good a place as any to sell the rathium bars he had been smuggling. Since he hadn’t acquired them through strictly legal means, and he certainly had no permit to be carrying the quantity he had aboard in his secret hold, he was happy to be rid of them as quickly as possible.

He’d finished his business, selling the rathium bars for a tidy profit in under eighteen minutes, and his credit account felt much heavier now, though it was all digital. He was heading back to the Remedy, his sweet little freighter that he’d paid for himself through hard work, even if it hadn’t all been legitimate and aboveboard Coalition-approved labor.

As he was moving through the crowd, he realized there were several Alphas gathered together. It wasn’t unusual to see so many humans, since his race had spread practically to every part of the galaxy, but it was startling enough to see so many Alphas together that it caught his attention. He moved closer, disgust soon filling him when he saw a notice announcing it was an auction selling beings. The headline highlighted two Omegas would be up for sale.

Ryder shuddered at the thought. He’d never been lucky enough to encounter an Omega before who wasn’t already mated to an Alpha, but he couldn’t imagine being so desperate for the experience that he would buy and enslave one. As an Alpha, he viewed it as his duty to protect any Omega who fell under his care and taking away her choice to be with him certainly didn’t mean taking care of her in his eyes.

He started to turn away in revulsion, wishing he could find a way to stop this travesty but knowing he was vastly outnumbered, when something made him look back. He couldn’t control his feet as he moved closer, pushing at the crowd and receiving some pushback that had him growling his way through.

His gaze locked with the pretty little Omega on the stage before him. She had ebony skin, thick curly hair, and a pleasing roundness to her frame that had his Alpha sitting up and taking notice. He was nearly overwhelmed with the urge to claim her, and he hadn’t even smelled her scent yet, since the box she was trapped in filtered out her pheromones and prevented a frenzy.

As the emcee stepped forward, he couldn’t look away from her. She mouthed the word Alpha, and his own lips formed, “Omega,” unconsciously. He took another step forward as the emcee started the bidding with the announcement this Omega and the other one waiting to be bid on had both been given enhancers, so they were already in estrus and immediately prepared for breeding. That sent a roar of excitement through the crowd, and even Ryder shivered with pleasure at the thought, though he hated the instinctive reaction that being an Alpha near an Omega in estrus brought about.

He had every intention of walking away. He didn’t agree with what was happening, but the more he stared at the suffering Omega, the more he was determined to save her. She was clearly writhing in pain and need, and he was sure any of the other Alphas in the room who got her wouldn’t hesitate to use her however they chose. Her pleasure and care would be the last thing they’d worry about after paying for her.

The thought was abhorrent, and before he knew it, he was raising his hand to bid. It was a tense few minutes, and he started to sweat as the rathium proceeds dwindled. Before he knew it, he’d spent almost a year of expenses, but he was the winner of the pretty Omega in the box. He moved forward to pay, going to the bursar at the edge of the crowd, who told him she would be delivered to his ship within the next half-hour.

“Make it ten minutes,” he said with all the anger he could display. He wasn’t about to have the poor Omega suffer even longer than necessary.

The bursar, a pale Beta male, started to sweat. “I’ll see what I can do…Captain Strang.” He looked down at the reader to acquire Ryder’s name before handing back his card.

Still uneasy about his actions, and worried about the Omega, Ryder moved through the crowd again. He stormed away from the area of the auction, heading back to his ship. He’d only gone a couple of corridors when he realized he was being followed. It set his teeth on edge, and a low growl emitted from his throat.

He reached for the laser pistol at his hip, grasping it as he spun around to face whomever was stalking him. He was unsurprised to find two Alphas, and they likely planned to set upon him, maybe even kill him, for an opportunity to steal his Omega.

The thought unleashed a protective instinct he’d never experienced before. He was naturally nurturing and caring toward those who were weaker, since that was his biological imperative, but this was a new kind of intensity and need to protect. He shot one of them as the other Alpha ran toward him, dropping the human to the floor.

He didn’t have time to turn his gun on the other before the second Alpha plowed into him. Ryder went with the attack, rolling in midair so he was the one who landed on top. He pounded his fists into the Alpha’s face several times until the body went slack beneath him. He didn’t know or care if he’d killed him. To be so disreputable as to attack and try to steal his Omega warranted no concern for the fate of the two Alphas who had acted so dishonorably. They were the kind who had successfully overcome the biological imperative to protect, instead embracing their own selfish urges and desires.

He stood up, leaving the trash behind him. Since the Klinok market ship wasn’t exactly an aboveboard establishment, he doubted they would be the only two bodies left behind that day. The Klinoks likely had some way to deal with disposal, and it was certainly something that would never see the light of day in a Coalition report. It was truly a lawless zone, and he knew from previous experience the Klinoks didn’t care what you did as long as you paid for the purchases they offered.

He broke into a sprint, covering the rest of the distance to his ship and entering through the airlock. He was inside and waiting when two Klinoks showed up eventually, far later than ten minutes. He thought about unleashing his anger on them at making her suffer that much longer, but when he looked at the Omega, all his concern was for her. He gestured for them to bring her inside through the airlock. As soon as she was safely secured, he said, “Get out.”

The Klinoks might not speak his language, but they clearly understood his intent. They lumbered through the airlock, having to bend down to clear the doorway, and he sealed the ship behind them.

He turned to her, concern and desire warring inside him. He wanted more than anything to claim her, and he hadn’t even smelled her pheromones yet. Instead, he clung to his principles, which told him it wasn’t right to impose his will upon her.

He approached cautiously as she clawed at the box, her desperation even higher than it was when he’d bought her. He put his palm against the clear box, and she did the same. “Alpha, please.”

At least she could communicate through the box. He was grateful for that. “What’s your name?”

“Alpha.” She was practically mewling now.

“I need to know your name, honey.” He made his voice firm, hoping she would respond to that.

Her gaze was unfocused, and she looked a little dazed, but her dark eyes focused on him eventually, and he was entranced by the rich brown shade. She licked her lips in an enticing fashion as she said, “Daisy.”

The way she drew out each syllable made him shiver, and his arousal raised another notch. His cock was straining against the confines of his pants, and it took every ounce of willpower he had to say, “I can help you. If you don’t want to mate to end the estrus, you can stay in the box until I can find you some suppressant. That should ease your suffering within an hour or so. Is that what you want, Daisy?”

“I want you, Alpha. I need you. Please.”

He trembled, feeling himself on the edge of giving in. “You don’t even know me, honey. I want to make sure you get a choice in all this. Do you think you can wait a few hours for relief?”

She whimpered, and her lower lip, which was lusciously full and completely bite-able, extended in a pouting fashion. “It hurts, Alpha. Help me.”

It was his biological imperative to do just that, but there was more to it than acting on instinct. He wanted to protect her and take away her suffering, but Ryder was drawn to the Omega herself. He’d never really considered he’d have the opportunity or the option of having an Omega of his own, having figured it was a pipe dream due to the rarity of them, along with his lack of a stable lifestyle that might attract the typical mate.

Now that she was before him, he couldn’t resist the temptation any longer. He pressed his palm to the box, pleased to find they had calibrated it to respond to his biometrics before leaving it, and the walls fell downward with a slight clattering sound. Her scent hit him then, and Ryder was completely lost.

As she rushed him, jumping into his arms, he caught her and held her tightly against him before burying his mouth against her throat, nuzzling her scent gland and licking frantically. She was the one in estrus, but he was suddenly close to rutting, and he was certain he wouldn’t be able to hold back the urge. He would have to remember to be careful with her, to ensure she enjoyed the experience, but he wasn’t certain how he would do so as his mind hazed over with animalistic passion, the Alpha inside roaring its pleasure at finding an Omega to breed.