Omegas Gambit 1/4

Chapter 9

When Asami opened the door, she wasn't surprised to see Mako standing outside, his usual hard expression softened slightly by embarrassment. There was even a hint of a blush on his cheeks. She almost felt sorry for him. Almost. Maybe if he hadn't interrupted us.

As frustrated as she was at being denied a proper mating, Asami knew none of this was Mako's fault. As a beta, he had no frame of reference for what she and Korra were going through, and it was a lucky thing he didn't. Without him, they probably would have spent the next several days holed up in a hotel room saturated with the smell of sex instead of saving the world.

"Thanks, Mako," she said, relying on the part of her that appreciated his clear head instead of the part that wanted to strangle him. "I know that couldn't have been easy. And I'm sorry you had to hear..."

"I don't care about that," he said with a wave of his hand, although he wouldn't meet her eyes. "It's instinct. I get it."

Asami sighed. It's far more than instinct. At least, it is for me. She glanced over her shoulder in time to see Korra exit the bathroom, tying up her trousers. Her hands were clean, but she still smelled like sex and sweat, and the bulge at the front of her pants was only slightly less prominent than it had been for the past few days. "Updates?" she barked, aiming a harsh stare at Mako. Asami gave her a sympathetic smile. Poor Korra was falling back on her other alpha instincts since her attempts at rutting had been interrupted.

Mako straightened, relieved that the natural order had returned. "I caught Aiwei peeking out of his window fifteen minutes ago, just after you left. It's in my logbook."

"So why did you interrupt us?" Korra's voice came out tight and strained, more growl than anything else.

"Look." Mako gestured toward the window. "It's sundown, and he hasn't made a move to go anywhere. Something's not right."

Korra's hands clenched into fists and her brow furrowed. Asami indulged herself for a few moments, admiring the taut muscles of Korra's arms and imagining how it would feel to be at the mercy of so much raw power. Unfortunately, the fantasy didn't last. "I'm going over there," Korra snapped, heading for the exit. "This needs to end now."

Mako's worried expression changed abruptly to one of alarm. "Korra, wait. You can't just burst into his room. You're going to ruin the element of surprise!"

"What?" Korra paused at the door, rounding on him with bared teeth. "Since when do you get off on telling me what to do?" Even though Mako was taller, she seemed to tower over him, leaning right into his face. His eyes darkened, and Asami felt a slice of desire in her belly even as she flushed with embarrassment. It was obvious that Mako could smell her scent all over Korra, and thanks to her heat, the possessive thought was actually pleasant.

Mako didn't flinch, but Asami sensed the subtle shift in his scent. He was intimidated by the display of dominance even though he wasn't showing it. "Korra, I understand Asami's heat has been hard on you, but..."

"No, you don't understand," Korra snarled. "I don't care how many of her heats you think you satisfied. You have no idea what I'm going through, and what she's going through is even worse. She's supposed to be mine, and that stupid, stuck-up, lying traitor with his ugly nose-chain and you are the only two things in my way! Stand aside, or I'll make you."

Asami started to intervene, but before she could move, Bolin stepped between them. His posture was submissive, but Asami knew he wasn't afraid. Omegas were natural peacemakers, and they were experts at defusing volatile situations. "Korra," he said, putting a gentle hand on her shoulder, "Mako isn't trying to take Asami away from you. He just wants to get Aiwei so you'll be safe. We all do. We're on the same side here."