“You’re back!” Faria screamed as soon as he walked into the war room. “I need you, Mac.”
“Yes, I’m back, but I need a favor,” Mac said. “Could you please send leftovers to the commune house? The omegas haven’t eaten in days.”
“Anything. Just get to work. Everyone hates my spirits. They want you.” Faria guided him to the table. He called one of his beta assistants and told him to send food to the commune house.
Mac breathed out in relief. He rounded the table and got to work. “What did you do while I was away?”
“I closed the leisure room for three days. What do you think?” Faria grumbled.
Mac mixed the drinks while Faria loaded the serving bots. They worked like that for a few minutes before they could breathe again. “Don’t ever leave me again,” Faria said, pulling him into a hug.
Mac pushed him away with a laugh. “We need to train someone else.”
“That’s not going to work. I trained you, remember? But our spirits don’t taste the same. You have a gift, Mac. I don’t know what I’ll do if you ever leave here.”
“I won’t leave.” Mac loved it there. Besides, Faria was the first person to give him a chance. He wouldn’t throw his kindness away.
“I hope so. What’s going on in the commune house?” he asked. Mac sighed and filled him in on Elama’s mismanagement of the house and state funds. “What are you going to do?”
“I don’t know. I’ll help where I can,” Mac said.
He'd have to think of something. He couldn't bear the thought of those omegas suffering in that house.
He worked for a couple more hours before he returned to the commune house. He headed straight to Jamue’s room. The omega sat on his bed, looking better.
“Thank you for the food,” he said forlornly.
Mac sat on the bed and pulled him into his arms. Jamue cried.
“It’s alright, don’t cry. Everything is going to be fine. I promise.”
Jamue straightened, wiping away his tears. “Sorry. I get cranky when I’m hungry.”
“Don’t be sorry. We should go and buy something for you to cook later,” Mac said, getting to his feet.
Jamue dragged him down. “No. You can’t use your credit. You worked hard for it. We should all find jobs and work to support ourselves like you are.”
“You would be doing that if there were enough jobs for omegas out there.”
Jamue grimaced.
“I connected with my parents while you were gone. I told them I’ll do it.”
“Do what?”
Tears filled his eyes. “I agreed to get bonded with the alpha they’ve chosen for me. They were trying to save me from this. I rebelled against them because I thought I could make it alone. But I can’t do it.” Jamue buried his face in his hands and cried.
Dammit.
Mac tightened his arms around him. “Shhh...Everything is going to be fine. You can come and live with me. I’m your alpha, remember?” Mac said. Jamue pulled back and stared at him. Hope bloomed in his eyes, but it only lasted for a few seconds. “I’m serious,” Mac added.
“Really?”
“Yes.” He pulled him back into his arms. “You and I, we stick together, remember?”
Jamue laughed, hugging him back.
“What’s this?” Jamue asked, running his finger over the claiming mark.