I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 86: CP: Meeting Again

Naga’s serpent form cut through the brackish delta water like a living arrow—scales propelling him forward with powerful undulations, hood flat against his skull to reduce drag, every sense focused on the mate bond pulling him toward Alex.

The Tangled Delta was living up to its name.

Waterways split and rejoined in impossible patterns. Some channels ended in dead-ends choked with vegetation. Others looped back on themselves. The whole system was a maze designed by chaos and erosion, with no clear path through.

But Naga had advantages.

His serpent senses could detect subtle changes in water flow—fresher water meant channels flowing from upstream, saltier water meant routes connecting to the ocean. He followed the salt gradient, trusting his instincts and the bond’s directional pull.

Nine hours, he thought grimly. Zale said nine to ten hours if I don’t get lost.

He’d been swimming for four already.

The sun was past its zenith now, angling toward late afternoon. His muscles burned with the sustained effort, but he pushed harder.

Through the bond, he could feel Alex—resting, safe, but surrounded by others. That mer-prince’s presence was like an irritating buzz at the edge of Naga’s awareness. Too close. Too attentive. Too... interested.

Naga’s jaw clenched around a growl that bubbled up from deep in his chest.

He’s protecting Alex, Naga reminded himself forcefully. That’s GOOD. That’s what Alex needs right now. Don’t be jealous of someone providing necessary care.

But the instinct to be the ONLY one providing that care was nearly overwhelming.

A fork in the waterway ahead—three possible routes.

Naga paused, tasting the air with his forked tongue, sensing the subtle differences.

Left channel: fresher water, flowing from inland. Wrong direction.

Middle channel: stagnant, choked with algae. Dead end.

Right channel: brackish with stronger salt content. Ocean-bound.

He took the right channel, swimming even faster now.

Hold on, beloved, he thought toward the bond. I’m coming.

And through the connection, faint but present, he felt Alex’s response: I know. I’m waiting.

****

Meanwhile, in the Eastern Marsh:

Leo was absolutely miserable.

The marsh route was exactly as terrible as Granite had warned. Thick mud that sucked at his paws with every step. Hidden pools of water that appeared solid until you stepped on them and sank. Clouds of biting insects that found every exposed inch of skin despite his fur.

And it was slow.

Every careful step had to be tested. Every stretch of ground evaluated for stability. One wrong move could mean plunging into quicksand or a sinkhole, and getting stuck would delay them even further.

"How much longer?" Leo asked for the hundredth time, swatting at another swarm of bugs.

"Hours," Granite said, his massive bear form handling the terrain better than Leo’s lion build but still struggling. "The marsh is wide here. We have to cross carefully or risk—"

His paw suddenly sank three feet into hidden mud.

"— that," he finished grimly, pulling himself free with effort.

Leo wanted to scream.

Instead, he focused on the mate bond—that steady pulse of Alex’s presence, distant but constant. Still safe. Still alive. Still waiting.

I’m sorry, Leo thought desperately toward the connection. I’m sorry I’m not there yet. I’ll be there soon."

No response came back—Alex was probably resting, conserving energy—but the bond itself pulsed with warmth. Understanding. Patience.

Naga will reach you first, Leo thought, both grateful and bitterly jealous. At least one of us will be there soon.

"We keep moving," Granite said, reading Leo’s expression. "Steady and careful. We’ll get there."

"When?" Leo demanded. "Tomorrow? The day after? A week from now?"

"Three days," Granite said firmly. "Maybe less if we push through the night. But we WILL get there, Leo. I promise you that."

Leo wanted to believe him.

But three days felt like an eternity when Alex was in pre-labor, surrounded by strangers, without his mates.

He took another careful step forward.

Then another.

And another.

Hold on, Alex, he prayed. Just hold on.

****

Tidehome Settlement, Late Afternoon:

Alex woke to the sound of excited voices.

"—moving fast through the northern channels—"

"—definitely a serpent, massive one, swimming like his life depends on it—"

"—has to be the mate! The bearer’s serpent mate!"

Alex sat up too quickly, making his head spin and the babies protest with simultaneous kicks.

Kai was immediately at his side, steadying him.

"Easy! What’s wrong?"

"Naga," Alex gasped. "They’re saying—is he here? Is he close?"

"The watchers spotted a large serpent entering the delta about an hour ago," Kai confirmed, excitement in his voice. "Moving directly toward the settlement. It has to be your mate."

Relief so intense it was almost painful washed through Alex.

Naga.

He focused on the bond—and yes, there it was. Much stronger now, much clearer. Close. So close.

Maybe an hour away, if that.

"I need to—" Alex started to stand.

"You need to stay RIGHT THERE," Mira’s voice cut across the chamber. The healer emerged from one of the pools, her expression stern. "You’re in pre-labor. You don’t get to go swimming out to meet him."

"But—"

"WE will meet him," Zale said, surfacing beside Mira. "We’ll intercept him at the delta entrance, explain the situation, and guide him here. You stay put and rest."

He met Alex’s eyes with surprising gentleness. "I promise I’ll bring him to you safely. No tricks, no delays, no territorial nonsense. Just straight to you."

"Thank you," Alex said sincerely.

Zale nodded once, then dove back into the pool with Mira following.

And Alex was left to wait—which was somehow worse than traveling had been.

The minutes crawled past.

Kai tried to distract him with conversation, offering more food (which Alex couldn’t eat through the nervousness), adjusting blankets (which didn’t help), suggesting rest (impossible when Naga was so close).

Finally—finally—the mate bond surged with proximity.

Close. Right outside. Here.

Alex’s breath caught.

And then Naga’s voice, muffled by water and stone but unmistakably HIS: "WHERE IS HE?!"

"This way, Lord Serpent," Zale’s diplomatic tones.

"Please, he’s resting in the land-dweller chambers—"

"ALEX!"

The pool in the center of the chamber exploded in a spray of water as Naga erupted from it in full serpent form—thirty feet of scales and muscle and desperate relief, hood flared, eyes wild until they locked on Alex.

Everything else vanished.

Naga shifted mid-lunge, humanoid upper body forming even as his serpent lower half propelled him forward, and then he was there, hands cupping Alex’s face, forehead pressing against his, breath ragged with emotion.

"You’re alive," Naga gasped. "You’re alive you’re here you’re safe you’re—"

His hands moved to Alex’s belly, feeling the babies kick in response to their father’s presence.

"They’re okay?" Naga demanded. "Truly okay?"

"We’re okay," Alex promised, tears streaming down his face now because Naga was HERE, solid and real and smelling like river water and determination. "All of us. We’re okay."

Naga made a sound somewhere between a sob and a laugh and pulled Alex into his arms—careful of the belly, mindful of the babies, but desperate for contact.

"I thought I’d lost you," he whispered against Alex’s hair. "When I felt you fall through the bond, when the terror came through—I thought—"

"I know," Alex said. "I’m sorry. I’m so sorry—"

"Don’t apologize for being PUSHED OFF A CLIFF," Naga snapped, pulling back enough to meet Alex’s eyes. His serpent pupils were contracting and dilating rapidly—a sign of extreme emotion. "Don’t you DARE apologize for that."

"The bear who pushed me," Alex said quickly. "He was grieving. He made a terrible choice but he wasn’t trying to kill me, he was just—"

"I don’t care about his intentions," Naga said flatly. "He nearly killed you and our cubs. That’s unforgivable."

"Naga—"

"We’ll discuss his fate later," Naga interrupted, clearly trying to rein in his rage. "Right now I just—I just need to—"

He pulled Alex close again, burying his face against Alex’s neck, breathing in his scent like he was memorizing it.

"I’m here," Alex whispered, running fingers through Naga’s damp hair. "You found me. I’m here."

They stayed like that for a long moment—just holding each other, confirming reality, letting the bond settle into steady reassurance instead of desperate worry.

Finally, Naga pulled back enough to look around the chamber properly.

Kai had retreated to give them privacy, standing near the entrance with Reef the guard.

And in one of the pools, Zale floated—watching the reunion with an expression that was equal parts relief and something that looked like wistful longing.

Naga’s eyes locked on him.

"You," Naga said, and his voice dropped to something dangerous. "You’re the one who’s been attending my mate."

"I am," Zale confirmed, not backing down despite Naga’s obvious threat level. "I’m Prince Zale of the Mer-Tribe. I found Alex floating in the delta at dawn, brought him here, ensured he received medical care."

"And claimed protection responsibility," Naga added, clearly having gotten a full report from someone during his brief intercept. "What does that mean, exactly?"

"It means Alex is under my personal protection while in mer-territory," Zale said carefully. "It means I ensure his safety and wellbeing. Nothing more, unless he chooses otherwise."

The two apex predators stared at each other—serpent and mer-prince, both powerful, neither willing to back down.

"Naga," Alex said firmly. "He saved my life. His healers confirmed the babies are healthy. He’s been respectful and helpful and I am NOT having you start a territorial fight with someone who’s been nothing but kind."

Naga’s jaw clenched, but he nodded once. "Fine. I’m... grateful. For the care you’ve provided."

The words sounded like they physically hurt to say, but they were genuine.

Zale’s expression softened slightly. "You’re welcome. Your mate is extraordinary. It was my honor to help."

"He is extraordinary," Naga agreed. "And he’s MINE."

"And Leo’s," Alex added pointedly. "Let’s not forget my other mate who’s currently struggling through a marsh to get here."

Naga’s expression immediately shifted to guilt. "Leo—he’s still days away. The marsh route is slow."

"Two to three days," Zale confirmed. "If he and his companion push hard. The marsh is treacherous."

Naga’s coils tightened unconsciously—clearly torn between relief at being here and guilt that Leo was still struggling.

"He’ll make it," Alex said firmly. "And when he does, we’ll have our family together again."