Eclipse Sector (V-Clan #3)

5. Cillian

CHAPTER FIVE

CILLIAN

Fuck.

My fists clenched at my sides, my feet threatening to pace.

No. Not pace. Run .

Because Prince Cael was talking to Ivana.

Mine, my inner beast seemed to growl.

Not ours, I grated back at him. Not ours at all .

Something I’d made painstakingly clear on countless occasions. Yet seeing the hurt in her eyes mere moments ago had unnerved me.

It was as though she hadn’t fully believed me… until now.

Until she overheard my conversation with Lorcan, I thought, grimacing. Fuck . Is that why she’s doing this? Why she enrolled in this social experiment between Omegas and Alphas? Because I pushed her into it through my careless words?

“Come on, you’re the one who said I needed to start looking for a more appropriate mate,” she’d said. And then she’d ended it all with, “I already told Quinnlynn that I’ll happily relocate to Night Sector. Soon enough, you won’t have to worry about my unsavory company at all.”

That all suggested I might be to blame for her joining the Eligible Omega Mates program.

Shit. I need a drink.

Shadowing to the bar, I took a glass from the shelf and poured myself a healthy serving of amber liquid laced with blood. The bubbly crap being passed around the room definitely wouldn’t be strong enough to quell my mounting mood.

“You’re making the Lunar Sector Elites nervous.” The words resembled a whisper on the wind as Lorcan materialized beside me. “Is there a threat I should be concerned with?”

Rather than reply, I swallowed some of my drink, my throat feeling far too dry.

Lorcan arched a brow, his expression imperious. “Cillian?”

“I’m fine.” The words came out through my teeth, the bite in them unintentional, yet there.

“That’s not what I asked.”

“I know.” I took another gulp, then grabbed the bottle to refill my glass. “Everything is fine.” There, that was a better phrase.

But also complete and utter bullshit.

Because everything was not fine.

Not only did it seem that Ivana had enlisted herself as an Eligible Omega Mate because of me, but Kieran had invited me to join the eligible Alpha pool.

Feckin’ bastard, I thought, irritated all over again.

He’d stopped by moments ago, his humored state clear in the cocky set of his mouth.

A mouth I’d wanted to punch.

Because he’d let Ivana join this farce of an experiment.

You look ready to kill Prince Cael, Kieran had murmured as he’d shadowed to my side. Has he done something I should be concerned about?

My teeth had ground together as I’d narrowed my gaze at my oldest friend. He’s flirting with Ivana.

And?

And nothing, I’d snapped. She’s an eligible Omega, right?

Right, he’d agreed. Unless she’s not…

I’d said nothing.

Because what was there to say? She wasn’t mine. She was free to be courted. Hell, I’d encouraged her to pursue other Alphas.

I just hadn’t expected it to be here and now.

Well, the next few weeks should be fun to observe, Kieran had mused next, his Irish lilt heavy in my mind. Let me know if you want to be added to the suitor list. You have until tomorrow to decide…

My fingers squeezed around my glass now as I recalled his offer, my urge to throw my drink against a nearby wall all-encompassing.

What the fuck kind of option is that? I wanted to demand, my mind nearly connecting to the Blood Sector King’s.

Kieran knew I didn’t want a mate.

And especially not Ivana.

She deserved so much better than a distracted Alpha who could never put her first.

Fuck . I downed my drink again and went to refill it once more, only Lorcan’s hand was suddenly in the way.

“Have you heard a word I’ve said?”

My teeth gnashed together. That phrase was that exact same one I’d used on Lorcan just weeks ago during the coronation. He’d been too busy thinking about Kyra to listen to me. Which I’d teased him about at the time.

And then he’d taunted me about Ivana.

A conversation she apparently overheard.

Sighing, I set my empty glass down and focused on Lorcan. “I’m a little distracted.”

“Clearly,” he deadpanned in response. “By Ivana and Prince Cael.”

Hearing him group their names together immediately had me glancing at the couple in question.

Couple , I repeated to myself. Not. A. Fucking. Couple.

Although, they were fucking dancing now.

When the hell did that happen?

I took a step toward them before my mind could stop me, only for Lorcan to suddenly be there, his expression darkening. “Don’t. His Elites are already on edge by the way you keep staring down their prince. Think about what we would do if one of them was looking at Kieran like this.”

We’d kill them on sight, I thought flatly, the words ones I allowed to enter Lorcan’s mind.

Exactly , he replied, switching to a mental conversation. They’re in the back corner of the room to your left. Glance over there. See what I’m seeing. And fucking get it together.

How would you feel if Prince Cael was waltzing around with your Omega? I countered before I could consider my words.

My Omega isn’t an eligible mate, he returned. And last I checked, you didn’t consider Ivana to be your Omega.

I grimaced. It was a turn of phrase.

He snorted. Right.

I just mean that an outsider is flirting with one of our Omegas. We should be protecting her, yes? It was a weak explanation, one Lorcan likely didn’t accept.

Fortunately, he took pity on me and said, “This will take some getting used to.” He shifted back to speaking aloud, his gaze flicking to the far corner he’d mentioned previously.

Obviously, his words were more for the Lunar Sector Elites than for me.

A way to appease them and let them know I wasn’t about to kill their Alpha Prince.

My jaw ticked as I followed Lorcan’s gaze to the Elites in question. Granger and Dixon. Alphas. Old. But not nearly old enough to stand a chance against me.

Although, a quick sweep of their minds told me they were contemplating how to take me down should I become a problem to them.

At least, Granger’s mind indicated that. Dixon’s, however, was harder to hear, his thoughts murky at best.

Interesting , I mused. It seems Dixon is capable of blocking my gifts.

Oh? Lorcan’s intrigue was piqued. Similar to Orion? Or is he fighting you like Myon?

The two Alphas Lorcan referenced were ones I’d interrogated a few weeks ago regarding a potential murder. Both of them had proved difficult to read. An anomaly for one in my position.

Similar to Orion, I replied, referring to the Alpha’s natural ability to keep me out of his mind.

Myon had been able to thwart my attempts because he was old and powerful. However, as I wasn’t currently interrogating Dixon, he had no cause to shove me out.

Hence, his talent appeared to be more intrinsic in nature.

Just like Orion.

But not like Ivana. The thought came to me unbidden, causing my gaze to return to the gorgeous blonde twirling in the arms of another Alpha. Her mind is simply… quiet. Not a block, just soothing. Calm. A beautiful place to merely exist.

Only, now her thoughts were wrapped up in the male waltzing her across the dance floor.

She smiled up at him, her expression a bit shy. It wasn’t the same smile she often bestowed upon me—the one that brimmed with confidence and knowledge. The one that had me scowling back at her each time.

Because I hated that I couldn’t have her.

That she tempted me to want to break all my rules.

That she made me want to be selfish for once in my life.

Gritting my teeth, I tore my gaze away from her. I need to go for a run . The words were for Lorcan. Between Kieran’s offer to let me join the mating program and Ivana’s… I trailed off, not wanting to talk about what Ivana had overheard.

Because it didn’t matter.

What’s done is done , I told myself, careful not to send that statement to Lorcan’s mind.

Kieran and I can supervise, Lorcan murmured in reply, his gaze already on the crowd. Everyone seems to be behaving. Even Tadhg is putting forth an effort to appear charming, and we both know how brutish he can be.

I followed Lorcan’s gaze to Tadhg as he bowed to kiss an Omega’s wrist. Sylvia , I recognized from the candidate introductions earlier. I didn’t know much about her, just that she was one of the Sanctuary Omegas.

If anything changes, we’ll howl for you to return, Lorcan added, his words encouraging me to depart.

My fingers curled into fists at my sides, my throat suddenly tight.

With a stiff nod, I teleported to the other end of Iceland.

It was completely out of character for me to leave in the middle of an assignment, to allow Lorcan and Kieran to handle such a large event on their own. But I recognized that my mental state was compromised. That I couldn’t focus on being a good Alpha at the moment, nor could I be trusted to protect my people.

Not when all my attention was consumed by a single Omega.

Damn it. I tore off my clothes and shifted in a blink, my wolf’s massive paws landing on the ice as a growl ripped from my animal’s throat.

My wolf was furious .

He wanted to charge back to the party and rip Prince Cael’s head from his shoulders. To sink his teeth into Ivana’s delicate shoulder and declare her as his . Then howl his claim for all the V-Clan sectors to hear.

Not going to happen , I told him, earning myself another snarl. Run it out. Pound your frustration into the earth. But we are not going back for Ivana .

He growled again, not fully understanding my words but clearly interpreting the meaning behind them.

Fortunately, he knew better than to try to challenge my authority.

However, that didn’t stop him from tearing across the icy landscape on an unknown trajectory.

Fury and frustration echoed in our wake, my animal’s aggression an untamable beast.

This was why I needed to run. To escape the stuffy confines of that celebration. To turn my back on my responsibilities.

Fuck .

I’m not this Alpha, I told myself. I’m stronger than this .

Yet, in this moment, I’d never felt weaker.

This—right here—is the reason I can’t take a mate. Why I had to let Ivana find someone else. Because I couldn’t afford to disregard my responsibilities for another wolf. Even one as beautiful and strong as Ivana.

I have to let her go. Entirely.

But for tonight, I would allow myself to mourn the loss.

Tonight, I would be selfish.

Let my wolf free.

Run off this wild energy.

And say goodbye, once and for all.

She already hated me for what I’d said. While most of it had been out of context, I wouldn’t try to explain myself. I wouldn’t apologize. I’d just let her… be.

My punishment for those words would come in the method of having to watch her fall for another Alpha. One who would be a better fit for her. Take her away from Blood Sector. Make her his in every way.

And leave me to my solitary fate.

The way it should be.

The way it has to be .

I would agree to help with the Eligible Omega Mates program. To guard the Omegas involved while they considered Alphas mates. But I would not be among the eligible pool—something I confirmed to Kieran now with a brief thought.

His only reply was a hum in response, the sound not saying much at all. But I didn’t need his commentary. Because I would not be changing my mind.

I’d resigned myself to a solitary fate long ago.

Ivana deserves better , I reminded myself as my wolf continued to tear across the cold ground. Ivana deserves the best .

Something I would ensure she found since Kieran had placed me in charge of Omega security. Ivana Michaels would not settle for anything less than perfect. I’d make sure of it.

There was no other choice.

She was a prized jewel. A beauty unlike any other. An Omega with the spirit of an Alpha. And any potential mate who didn’t see that—who didn’t respect and adore that—wouldn’t be permitted to go anywhere near her.

Because she was still mine to protect for now.

And I would protect her until someone worthy enough stepped into her path…