Slaved by an Alpha, Saved by an Enigma

Chapter 18: Veinlight

Lira flinched, her hand tightening around the frayed edge of her sleeve. "It happens when I'm nervous or afraid. My bad nerves activate my Solace."

Eden's neural thread pulsed. "How does it work?"

She looked up at him, eyes wide and glowing faintly. "I can create an invisible boundary around my brothers and I, then the boundary becomes a memory that gives me a "safe space", which then becomes a glow that only those in it can see and feel and know it's there. Our mom used to hum when the lights flickered. She'd wrap us in her shawl and tell us, 'You're safe, my little Solace' and we'd curl up under her warmth and pretend the world couldn't reach us."

Kai's voice softened. "And now?"

Lira stepped closer to him. "Now I can make the light myself. When I'm near you it's easier and can last a little longer because the Pulse is my safe space, so my nerves may have activated it."

The air around her pulsed—warm, golden, fragile.

"She said that's what our gift was," Lira continued. "Solace. Not a weapon. Just... a place to... feel safe."

Cael stepped beside her, voice firm. "We're not broken. We just don't work alone. We just...can't. We've never been able to."

He turned to Eden. "That's why the Architect discarded us. They split us up and tested us separately. Said we were defective because we had no skill and couldn't handle any modifications because of how young we were so they felt we were useless."

Kai's expression darkened. "They discarded what they didn't understand. They had no idea you could possibly have a skill together?"

Cael shook his head. "They didn't care. They didn't even try."

Rune stepped forward, quiet but clear. "We learned on our own. By accident. That's how we escaped. We were so scared that we grabbed hands and that's when I saw a clean path, and Lira out of fear created a gold glow that felt like a safe space because she echoed a memory of our mom, which then activated Cael and his protective veil and it just worked. Just once. But it was enough."

Leo's scanner flared. "Sector 9 spike. They're doubling back."

Eden recalibrated his shield. "We need you focus to do it again. Can you do it so we can get out of here safely?"

Lira nodded and reached for her brothers.

Cael gripped her hand. "Rune, stay close."

The moment they held hands, the air shifted—Lira's light blooming like a warm memory being reborn, Cael's veil wrapping that memory in silence, Rune closed his eyes, his eyes dancing behind closed eyelids. When he opened them again they were completely white and he looked around with his clouded gaze piercing the distortion to see a clear path through that which could not be seen. "I can see a path that's clear just please don't let go of my hands."

Cael explained that Rune becomes visually impaired during his Solace and if their hands break while he is in it he could become permanently blind so it makes him scared to use it.

Kai understanding his fear hugged him close and stepped into Lira's glow, anchoring Rune. "It's ok Rune, my Pulse can help even if you have to let go for a moment."

Eden synced his shield to the Cael's veil. "Kai, i'll lead from the front. Stay close to Rune with your Pulse ready in case their hands separate when running. You can fill in as a substitute until they reconnect. Leo, take the rear and stay on guard."

Kai and Leo nodded and took their respective places.

They moved—triplets and team—through the fractured corridor on the path Rune was navigating. The ley-grid bent around them, the rogue Alphas snarling behind, confused by the pulse and the veil.

They emerged to the safety of the perimeter of Haven, breathless but safe.

Leo scanned. "We're clear. For now."

Kai turned to the triplets. "Great job you guys! You did it! You three are so amazing. So young and able to synchronize like this."

---

Eden sent a message to Jas and Caimen that they had arrived and to prep for entry and to have Narya arrange 2 rooms. 1 for Lira and the other for Cael and Rune. Haven responded instantly—its wings unfolding in light, ready to receive them.

As the stepped over the perimeter, Lira whispered, "Do we get to stay?"

Kai's voice was steady. "You're not just staying. You're home."

Kai stayed with the Omegas for a little while after arriving, soothing, listening, healing, before Narya came to take them to their rooms.

"Goodnight. Lira, let's take a look at that birthmark tomorrow and see what your mom means about activating it." Kai said as they were leaving.

"Ok" Lira said excitedly. "See you tomorrow."

As Eden and Kai prepared to rest for the evening, Kai leaned into Eden's side. "They're just children."

Eden nodded. "But they're alive."

Kai's voice was quiet. "Because of their survival skills."

Eden kissed his hair. "Because of you."

The sanctuary pulsed around them, responding to their unity with a soft surge of light.

And somewhere beyond the veil, the Architect disciplined a group of rogue alphas for failing to track the omegas and letting them escape.

The Omegas were able to sleep peacefully. They didn't have to run anymore because they were under the care of the Pulse and the Enigma and finally had a place to call home and Haven welcomed them.