The roar dissipated instantly; all it took was for Noah to hear her plaintive voice. When the haze faded, Diona turned to her brother.
– Leo, go home, – she said seriously, wiping her tears with her sleeve, – I’m begging you.
– No way! I won’t leave her here!
– Nari asked to be brought home, brother! – Diona spoke in a steel, strained voice, – respect her wishes.
– But!.. I won’t leave you here with this!...
– With whom?! – the Alpha bared his teeth.
– Leo! – Diona stood between them, arms spread wide, – get out! Now!
When she said that, Noah barely caught the faint scent of her pheromones. They smelled like peaches. Her call was too weak, but it worked on her brother. He lowered his head, shot one last angry glance at Noah, and left. When the door closed behind him, Diona fell to her knees. The Alpha helplessly knelt beside her.
– Are you… okay? – he asked cautiously.
– Of course not! – the girl said with a trembling voice, – I barely had the strength to apply my roar here! I almost fainted!
– I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to!..
– Men… – Diona exhaled, – Alphas, Omegas, Betas… you’re all the same! All you want is to compare your strength! Who is stronger! Now the whole room is filled with your pheromones. Might as well open a window.
– I… we don’t… it’s just… – Noah suddenly began to stutter.
– If I hadn’t stopped you, you would have probably injured my empty-headed brother, – the girl smiled, – forgive him; when it comes to Nari, his self-preservation instinct just turns off.
– I noticed, – Noah muttered, – the fearless Omega. Although, I don’t even know who is braver of you two. You hung onto me so desperately. Aren’t you afraid of me?
– Afraid?! – a nervous laugh burst out, – your roar didn’t even have a chance to sound in full force, and I was already on the verge of hysteria. I’m afraid of you so much that my legs turned to jelly when we were alone here. You, Alphas, are so damn scary.
– Then why are you here?
– Because Nari trusts you.
– What?.. – Noah glanced at the unconscious girl.
Her pink hair clung to her sweaty forehead, and dried blood stained her cheek. Occasionally, she would twitch slightly in her sleep. Diona struggled to get up and covered her with a blanket.
– Our Nari is like that, – Diona smiled, – always ready to help and save, even if it harms her. She said that you shouldn’t be feared; you’re different. And please don’t tell her I told you this. But she admitted that she feels safe with you, unlike with other Alphas.
– Did she really say that?
– You have a goofy smile right now, – Diona sank into an armchair.
– Sorry, – Noah regained his composure instantly, – so… will you tell me what happened?
– Everything happened as Leo said, – the yellow-eyed girl shrugged, – someone reported that Nari witnessed what happened at the Arena. Yomiya interrogated her for several hours. She drained her with her roar. And when she didn’t get what she wanted, she started hitting her… but thankfully, the overseers stopped her in time. After all, Nari is Adelson's favorite.
– She’s his favorite?
– He personally put a collar on her, – Diona nodded, – that’s why Ado hates her. Good thing she only hit her once…
– I’ll… break both of her hands…
Noah's voice sounded like the growl of a wild animal. A dull, vicious growl. Diona flinched in her chair.
– Sorry, – the boy exclaimed, – I didn’t mean to!
– It’s nothing, – the girl shook her head, – I’m fine. Tell me, Noah, aren’t you the same Beta who constantly helped our Nari?
– Well… if that’s how you can put it…
– Why did you help her?
– Hard to say.
– She was determined to save you, – Diona smiled, – she even argued with Leo. And she sat by you, healing. I’m even a little envious…
– Envious of broken ribs? Or ripped wounds? – Noah smiled.
– She didn’t run away from you, – Diona said with a sad smile, – while she constantly runs away from me. Just like that day when the control service was in the city.
– So the medicine was for you?
– Yep, – the girl nodded, – but the medicine was just an excuse to run far away.
– I guess she had a reason for that! – Noah spoke passionately, – she doesn’t seem like the type to abandon a friend in a tough moment!
– You say that as if you grew up with her, not me, – Diona looked at her friend with tenderness, – she really has a reason. And I don't hold a grudge. It's just that sometimes I want to be selfish.
– Is it inappropriate to ask?.. – the Alpha inquired cautiously.
– I’m dying, – Diona replied without a second thought, shocking the young man, – no one says anything about this. The doctors maintain the illusion that I have chances. But that’s not true. I realized it when I saw Nari’s expression during my first attack. You must have understood what her call is, right?
– Healing.
– Almost. She hears and feels. When she heals, it’s as if she reads a person like an open book. All their flaws, diseases, pain. And she feels how people die. She has already… witnessed one death. She sat in bed trying to help… and probably doesn’t want to experience that again. So during my attacks, she tries to keep as far away from me as possible. Although I can see that it’s hard for her…
– I’m sorry…
– Oh, you’ll be sorry, – Diona smiled, – you know, I’m fine as long as Nari and Leo are around. If only we could make up with Iris, that would be wonderful.
– Inariya’s call can’t heal you?
– If it could, she wouldn’t be running away from me. So every time I get worse, she feels how slowly I’m dying. Or maybe not slowly.
In the room, it became quiet for a few moments. Noah felt uncomfortable for the first time. Here, in front of this little Omega who looked at him from under her brow. She was clearly wary of him but didn’t run away. She sat here next to her friend. And for the first time, someone tried to talk to him not as an Alpha. But simply, as a person.
– Listen, Noah, – Diona broke the silence, – do you want to take Nari? With you? To your Sigma?
– I’ve had such thoughts, – he said, – but I won’t do it against her will. If she wants to leave with me, I would be glad.
– What exactly is this Sigma?
– It’s a group of people who want justice for Omegas.
– And that’s why you attacked the Arena? Many Omegas were also harmed during the attack.
– Everything went a bit off-plan. Our target is the upper echelon of the Favorite.
– Adelsons?
– Not just them. We want equal rights for Omegas, thanks to which the World Tree still lives. The way you’re treated is unacceptable!
– And for that, you’re literally ready to fight with the Alphas?
– Yes.
– I can understand the Omegas, and even a little Bitas. But you?..
– I had a reason to join Sigma.
– Do you think Nari would also find such a reason?
– She doesn’t seem like someone who enjoys this way of life.
– Yes, you’re right here. But Nari hates violence.
– Sometimes, without violence, you can’t achieve goals.
– Maybe you’re right. But Nari is a dreamer by nature; in her ideal world, everyone is happy, the World Tree doesn’t wither, and camellias don’t exist. Unlike many other Omegas, like Leo, she doesn’t truly hate Alphas. So you’ll have to put in the effort to convince her to side with you.
– But I don’t want to convince her… I want it to be her own desire. I want her to want to leave with me! – Noah abruptly declared.
– Whoa, – Diona looked at him mischievously, – clear… well, you’re still interesting.
The girl got up from the armchair and headed for the door.
– I’ll go now; I need to calm Leo down. You take care of Nari. She should wake up soon.
– Of course!
– She loves cold water with lemon and sugar syrup. The sugar is on the third shelf above the sink. And the first-aid kit… seems to be in the lower cabinet.
– Got it.
Just at the door, Diona paused for a moment.
– Noah.
– Yes?
– Do you like Nari?
The young man was silent. Diona smiled.
– Don’t mind me; I'm just talking nonsense, – she waved it off and disappeared through the door.
Noah remained standing in the hallway.