“Stay here. I’m going to find your dad and brother. They should be here by now.” He walked in the opposite direction, leaving him to meet his cousin. Jamue's cheeks heated.
“He couldn’t wait to meet me, huh?” he asked, looking towards the direction his father had disappeared. “He always acts like he doesn’t know me. I don’t understand him.”
Jamue tried to think of an excuse for his father. He couldn’t. His father was overbearing and controlling.
Holi was kind. He would have liked to have a deeper relationship with him, but he couldn’t go against his father.
Holi turned back to him, smiling sadly. “Enjoy the party, cousin,” he said.
“Wait.” Jamue gripped his arm.
Holi sighed. “Let’s not make your father angrier than he already is. I know my place. My father got bonded to a poor alpha. I'm not on your level.”
Jamue let him go. He watched him disappear into the crowd.
Shit. He didn’t need this right now.
Jamue leaned against the wall and closed his eyes. He had enough problems. He couldn’t handle the family drama as well. He pulled air through his mouth and fought for calm.
The music changed to a lively beat. Everyone laughed and danced.
They enjoyed themselves, while he waited anxiously to meet his alpha.
His alpha... Jamue grimaced.
He wasn’t ready to belong to anyone even though he’d been trained to become an alpha’s omega all his life. He wished he had more time.
Not with your heat five days away, you don’t.
Fuck.
He rubbed his hand over the concealing strip. It was starting to itch because he was stressing and sweating all over. He wished he could take it off. But he couldn’t. His father would kill him.
Jamue groaned, smoothing his fingers over the strip.
“There you are,” Amuel said, dragging Niid along. “You look pasty. Is everything okay?” He placed a hand on his forehead.
“I’m fine,” Jamue said sadly. “I’m just…I’m meeting the alpha tonight.”
“Oh, no wonder you look the way you do. Pray yours is not like mine.” Amuel cringed. “I’m moving into a commune house as soon as my heat hits. I’m not getting bonded to him.”
Surprised, Jamue stared at him. “You are?”
He couldn’t imagine leaving his family and moving into a commune house.
“I would rather rot in some commune house than get bonded.”
Jamue held his breath. Amuel made it sound simple.
He looked around the room for his father. He didn’t see him. He was probably with his intended alpha.
Jamue turned to Niid, not wanting to think about it too much.
“And you? Are you moving into a commune house too?”
Niid blushed. “No. I’m moving in with an alpha.”
Amuel laughed. “Look at that. I think he likes his alpha!”