2.4: The Alliance Commander

"Hello, princess." A voice rang in her ears. A voice she hadn't heard since she saw him dying on the floor in Andruil. She gasped and froze. General Elarion Liandris. "Don't scream, and I'll let you go." He whispered in her ear. She shivered, but nodded. He released her. She spun away from him and huffed.

Turning to look at him, she gasped. He looked identical as he had in the previous world, dark black hair, although it was shorter in this world, cropped around his shoulders, icy blue eyes, and pale skin. Corded with muscle, he radiated strength. He wore entirely black, what looked almost like a military uniform. He had called her princess. She froze, unsure of what he knew.

"Who are you?" They both said at the same time. Elarion growled and stared at her menacingly.

"Hey, I'm asking the questions here." He said. She looked at him and noticed what looked like knives and guns strapped to him.

"Setia Evans, daughter of Trevor Evans." She said. He hummed and stared around the room.

"Darien Keys. Alliance commander-in-chief." He saluted her. She sighed, so he didn't seem to remember her. Why was he here in this world? She didn't see anyone else from previous worlds.

'I don't know why he's here.' Eli chimed in her head. 'Must be an error in the system.' He concluded. Setia internally shrugged and tried to calm her beating heart.

"What are you doing in here?" She asked, hands on her hips. He was skulking about in random rooms of the palace, loaded with weapons. He was clearly up to no good.

"I could ask you the same thing." Elarion — no, Darien, said with a raised brow. She sputtered.

"I'm looking for information." She said indignantly. His lips quirked up in a smile.

"Well, so am I." He said. She growled.

"What is the Alliance?" She asked, remembering his title. He flushed and rubbed the back of his head.

"I probably shouldn't have said that." He said sheepishly.

"Well, I have you trapped in here, so you better tell me." She huffed.

"You have me trapped? Honey, I could get out of here in a second if I wanted to." He purred close to her. She shivered. His honeyed voice was soothing. "We're a branch group that is trying to stop the inter-city wars, and unite against the genuine threat of the monsters that lurk in the wastes." He explained. Setia rubbed her chin. So this was the rebel group she was supposed to be handing her research off to. It looked like she would need to build ties with Darien.

"Sounds like a noble cause. Inter-city politics is tiresome, why war with each other when we have a common enemy to fight?" She mused. He looked at her, surprised.

"So what information are you looking for?" He asked her. She guessed she should probably be forthcoming with him, as he was with her.

"I'm searching for military weaponry, intel." She answered honestly. He raised an eyebrow.

"We could use another Beta on the team." Darien said, pulling a cell phone out of his pocket. He handed it to her.

"I'm interested." She said, taking the cell phone he offered. He nodded to the phone.

"We'll contact you." She struggled not to rush into his arms, to throw herself at him. He might not even be the same person he was before, he could just look the same. She doesn't know this man. But he made her heart pound.

She inhaled and realized he was giving off alpha pheromones. Breathing deeply, she tried not to get lost in it. She broke away from his gaze, realizing she was close to revealing herself as an Omega. It was time for her to get out of here.

"I'll see you soon." She said and ducked out of the room, back toward the party. This must be the meet cute for the rebel group, so now she has a link to them. She just needed to create a link with the alpha.

When she returned to the ballroom, the party was going in full force. Ladies in dresses twirled around the dance floor, with their partners in tuxedos. There were gathering groups of shy Omega females chatting with one another, and the groups of men that scoped them out not far away.

She saw her parents on the far side of the ballroom and moved to join them. As she moved to them, she heard a clang, and the extensive set of double doors at the head of the ballroom burst open.

The Alpha strode through the doors with his entourage. He looked dark and menacing. He wore a crisp black suit, open at the collar. Meeting the gaze of various members of the crowd and nodding, he worked his way toward the front of the room, where there was a raised dais. He stood on the dais and turned toward the crowd.

"Welcome, everyone. It is a pleasure to see you at my home. Enjoy the festivities and welcome our new junior members into our society and adulthood!" The room erupted in a cheer. Classes clinked and people toasted. Setia took a deep sip of her wine.

Already she saw members of the community lining up before the Alpha, many alphas eager to show off their Omega daughters. Daughters looked timid and uncomfortable under the scrutiny of the male crowd. There were Omega sons, but they were hidden more from the public eye. She spotted a group of them in the corner, chatting.

"We'd better get in line and make our greetings." Her father said, tugging her toward the line of people waiting before the Alpha. She sighed and followed.

They waited in line for what felt like hours, as people kissed the ring of the Alpha, so to speak. When they finally approached the raised dais, she saw the brows of the Alpha go up as he took in her appearance. His gaze ravaged her, and she shivered under the heat of it. He looked hungry.

"Hello, Trevor." He said. "Greetings to your family." He inclined his head. Setia dropped into a mocking curtsy. He snorted. Her father elbowed her.

"Greetings, Alpha. Thank you for hosting tonight." Her father said smoothly.

"Did you send what I asked for?" The Alpha said. My father nodded. The Alpha smiled.

"Good. And how are you faring, Lady Setia?" He said her name, and her heart thudded. She flushed and smiled politely.

"I am well, Alpha. I am not used to such public events." She inclined her head.

"You are working for your father, are you not?" He asked her, brow raised. She bit her lower lip.

"Yes, sir. I work with his company that develops tech for the military." She said. He nodded and raised his hand.

"Enjoy the festivities." He dismissed her. She nodded and backed away slowly, sighing in relief. His presence was overwhelming.

The rest of the evening passed at a dull pace, with more drinking and dancing with unwanted suitors that her father pushed on her. She felt she had done her duty as a diligent daughter for the evening and took a cab home.

When morning came, Setia came down the stairs with her bags packed, ready to return to her apartment. Her father was at the breakfast table with a message from the Alpha.

"He wants you on the council, as the representative of my company." He said, his face blanched.

"You are to report for duty this week."