I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 91: CP: Making Decision

The examination took longer than usual.

Mira’s expression grew progressively more serious as she worked—pressing carefully on Alex’s belly, listening through water-sense to the babies’ movements, checking vitals that Alex couldn’t see but could read in the tension of her mouth.

Finally, she pulled back.

"The energy deficit is accelerating faster than I anticipated," she said bluntly. "Your body is already beginning to draw on its own reserves. Not critically yet, but—"

"How long?" Alex interrupted. "Before it becomes critical."

Mira hesitated—which was answer enough.

"Three days," she said finally. "Maybe four if you rest completely and Lord Naga maintains constant contact. But realistically? Three days before your body starts cannibalizing itself to feed the cubs."

The words hit like physical blows.

Naga’s entire body went rigid beside Alex. "Three days. That’s—Leo won’t even be here by then."

"I know," Mira said quietly.

"So what are you saying?" Alex demanded, though he already knew. "That I need to decide now? Today?"

"I’m saying the decision timeline just shortened significantly," Mira replied. "Whatever you choose, it needs to happen within the next day. Maybe two at most. After that..."

She didn’t finish the sentence.

She didn’t need to.

[HOST,]

System said urgently.

[She’s not exaggerating. I’ve been monitoring your metabolic rate. It’s spiking. The cubs are growing faster than normal—six apex predator offspring in accelerated development. Your body literally cannot keep up with the demand.]

Alex pressed both hands to his belly, feeling the constant movement inside. Six lives, all of them strong and hungry.

"Leave us," Naga said abruptly to Mira. "Please. We need to discuss this privately."

Mira nodded and slipped back into the water without argument.

Silence settled over the chamber.

Naga shifted closer, his serpentine lower half coiling around the platform’s base while his humanoid upper body leaned in to rest his forehead against Alex’s.

"Tell me what you want," Naga said quietly. "Not what’s medically necessary. Not what everyone expects. What do YOU want?"

Alex closed his eyes.

"I want to survive," he said. "I want these six babies to be born healthy. I want Leo to arrive and find us all alive and whole."

"That’s not an answer to my question."

"Yes it is," Alex said, opening his eyes to meet Naga’s gaze. "Because everything else—my comfort, my preferences, my hesitation—none of it matters if we don’t survive the next week."

Naga’s jaw clenched. "So you’re saying yes. To Zale. To a third bond."

"I’m saying I don’t have the luxury of saying no," Alex corrected. "There’s a difference."

"Is there?" Naga asked, and there was something raw in his voice. "Because from where I’m sitting, it sounds like you’re being forced into this. And I hate it. I hate that our bond—mine and Leo’s—isn’t enough. I hate that some stranger gets to—"

"He’s not a stranger anymore," Alex interrupted gently. "He saved my life. He’s been respectful and honest and—" He paused. "And I think, if circumstances were different, if we had time, I might actually want to know him better. As more than just medical necessity."

Naga went very still.

"You’re attracted to him," he said flatly.

"I don’t know," Alex admitted. "Maybe? I haven’t had time to figure it out. But what I do know is that he’s offering something we need, and he’s doing it without manipulation or pressure. That matters."

He reached up to cup Naga’s face.

"This doesn’t diminish what we have," he said firmly.

"You and Leo are my mates. Five stars each. That’s real and permanent and nothing changes that. But if we need a third to survive—if that’s what it takes to get through this—then I’d rather it be someone who’s already proven he cares."

Naga’s eyes closed, his expression anguished.

"I know you’re right," he whispered. "Logically, rationally, I know this is the only solution. But the instinctual part of me wants to tear this entire reef apart rather than accept it."

"I know," Alex said. "But you won’t. Because you love me more than you love your instincts."

Naga let out a shaky breath that might have been a laugh.

"When did you get so good at manipulating me?"

"I learned from the best," Alex said with a small smile.

They stayed like that for a long moment—foreheads pressed together, breathing in sync, the mate bond pulsing with complicated emotions between them.

Finally, Naga pulled back.

"If we’re doing this," he said, "we do it properly. Not a rushed emergency bonding. We do it with intention and respect for what it means."

"Agreed," Alex said.

"And Leo needs to be informed," Naga continued. "Through the bond. Before it happens. He deserves that much."

"Also agreed."

Naga took another steadying breath, then called out: "Zale. I know you’re listening. Come back in here."

A moment later, Zale surfaced in the main pool—his expression carefully neutral but his eyes bright with cautious hope.

"We’ve made a decision," Naga said, his voice formal. "Alex has agreed to accept a third mate bond. With you. For the survival of the cubs and the bearer."

Zale’s scales rippled with color—shock and joy and something deeper.

"You’re certain?" he asked, looking directly at Alex. "This is what you want?"

"It’s what we need," Alex said honestly. "But I think... I think it could also be what I want. Given time."

"That’s enough," Zale said softly. "I’ll take ’could be’ over ’never’ any day."

Naga’s expression was complicated, but he nodded once.

"Terms," he said sharply. "Before we proceed. I want terms established."

"Name them," Zale said immediately.

"First: this bond is equal to ours. Not secondary, not lesser, not ’medical necessity’ that gets treated as inferior. If Alex accepts you, you’re a full mate with full rights and responsibilities."

"Agreed," Zale said without hesitation.

"Second: Leo arrives in two to three days. When he does, you defer to his judgment on all decisions regarding Alex’s care until he’s satisfied you’re trustworthy. No arguments, no territorial displays."

"Agreed."

"Third: if at any point Alex is uncomfortable with the bond—if it’s not working, if you’re not compatible—you agree to seek peaceful dissolution rather than forcing something that’s hurting him."

Zale hesitated at this one.

"Mate bonds can’t be dissolved without significant trauma to both parties."

"I know," Naga said coldly. "But if the alternative is Alex suffering in a bond that’s damaging him, then trauma is the lesser evil. Do you agree or not?"

Zale looked at Alex—searching his face for something.

"I agree," he said finally. "Though I swear to you, I’ll do everything in my power to make sure it never comes to that."

"Good," Naga said. "Then we have terms. When does the bonding happen?"

"Tonight," Mira’s voice came from the entrance. She surfaced with a disapproving look. "I told you I was monitoring, and I heard everything. If you’re going to do this, it needs to be tonight. Before the energy deficit becomes dangerous."

"Tonight?" Alex repeated, feeling panic spike. "That’s—that’s so fast—"

"Three days until critical failure," Mira reminded him gently. "We don’t have time for slow courtship and careful consideration. We have time for biological necessity and hope that feelings catch up later."

She said while pulling herself onto the platform.

Alex looked at Naga, whose expression was pained but accepting.

Then at Zale, whose aqua eyes were full of something that looked like wonder and terror combined.

Then down at his belly, where six lives moved restlessly.

"Okay," he said quietly. "Tonight. Let’s do this tonight."

[QUEST UPDATE: "The Third Bond Decision"

Status: ACCEPTED

Reward: +100 SP

Current SP: 568

Bonding Ceremony: Tonight

Time until energy crisis: 3 days

Emotional readiness: QUESTIONABLE but improving

Stakes: Still maximum, but now with a solution in progress]

[HOST... are you sure about this?]

"No," Alex admitted silently. "But I’m sure about wanting to survive. That’ll have to be enough."