Page 53 of Scars of His Wrath

"You are not permitted to ask questions," Akoro snarled, his hand squeezing tighter. "You answer my questions. That is what you are here for. Explain to me about true mates."

Naya took a shaky breath. "It is the person you are compatible with. The one who you are most attracted to and who will take care of you and… keep you… safe…." Her words were swallowed by impending tears. She couldn't do it. She just couldn't continue to repeat what Gramma had said knowing that it just wasn't true. It sounded so stupid to hear herself say it directly to the “true mate” who tortured and harmed her.

"And you feel this way with this man?" Akoro asked, his eyes wild.

She blinked the tears away. "He is the only mate I’m going to have."

Akoro pulled her in to him, his face a blazing open furnace about to erupt. “I’m going to ask you this one more time. If you do not answer, our entire agreement is off."

Naya blinked, her tears tracking down her cheeks as she took a breath. "I-I thought you needed?—"

"I need this more," he growled.

Horror gripped her, suddenly realizing the madness of this conversation.

He spoke clear and deep. "Did you fuck this man?"

"No.”

"Is he your true mate?"

"No."

"Who is your true mate?"

"I don't know."

"How would you find out?"

"Usually when you are in the presence of your true mate there is a very, very strong attraction. More than with anyone else. And… it causes an Omega to go into her Haze."

Akoro’s eyes narrowed. "You mean heat?"

"Yes," Naya said. "We call it Haze."

"Why?"

"Because it's like the Omega is a completely different person. Her body changes so drastically that she can only think about one thing. Even her memories take awhile to come back to her afterward. It’s like a fog that takes over.”

Akoro stared down into her face, as if trying to determine how much of what she was saying was true. "So an Omega’s true mate is determined by the presence of her Haze?"

Naya nodded, fully knowing that it wasn’t completely true. There was absolutely no fucking way she was going to tell him that he was her true mate if he didn't know. It made sense now why he kept coming back to the cart. He was probably attracted to her and didn't know why. But even so, his lack of knowledge didn't make any difference to her. He still strangled and used her, and he was still the cruel Alpha intent on destroying her empire. If she hadn’t gone into her Haze around him yet, it wasn’t going to happen now. If she could get to the end of this entire ordeal without him ever knowing, it would be perfect. She would mate with Lonn, and then none of this would matter because Akoro would never scent her the same way again.

"What is his name?" he demanded.

"Lonn.” Lonn could handle himself so she didn’t mind giving his name, and he would have the support of her father. It was smarter to say him than anyone else, and it wasn't as though they hadn’t actually had the conversation. If she’d known Akoro was going to go feral, she would have lied about the whole thing. He’d kept his attraction very close to his chest.

“You haven’t had your Haze with him?”

“No.”

“And you know he’s not your true mate because your attraction isn’t strong?”

“That’s right.”

Akoro slowly released her, his eyes still pinned to her. As soon as she was free, she stumbled back. “Why do you want him as your mate?”

“I told you,” she said. “He is a good man who is dedicated to the empire.”