Several minutes passed, and Alex patiently waited. Then, "Hey. Omega."

Alex turned at the familiar voice. It was Eliza's alpha. Eliza trailed quietly behind. "Can I help you?" Alex asked politely.

"Yeah, bitch. Where's your excuse for an alpha, huh?"

Anger boiled within her, and a growl rumbled in the back of her throat. "Don't talk about him that way."

"Don't tell me what to do, okay bitch?" The alpha stepped forward angrily, and something must have happened, because the Source grew around Eliza.

Alex took a step back, unsure and defenseless. She tried to reach for the Source, but it wasn't there. "He's a good alpha," she growled, any anger towards Lucifer redirected towards this man.

"Whatever. The point is, you're in trouble."

"Why don't you leave her alone?" Lucifer strolled out of the building, a bag in hand. "What exactly do you want, Zuriel?"

"I want you to do something about your damn omega!"

Lucifer approached, frowning. "I let you keep your money. Isn't that enough?"

"What?" the alpha spluttered. "Hell no!"

Lucifer sighed over dramatically, and reached into his back pocket. "Fine." He pulled out what Alex recognized as his wallet. He pulled out a thick wad of bills, thumbing through them. "Here." He handed the man a hundred dollar bill. "Does this pay for your damages?"

The alpha took it, jaw slack. He looked from Lucifer, to Alex, then back to Lucifer. "I, who are you?"

"Lucifer Novak. Maybe you've heard of my family." Lucifer gracefully mounted Alistair, motioning for Alex to to the same. "Now, if you don't mind, we'll be leaving." Then he trotted off down the street.

Alex followed, quickly catching up to him. "You're rich?" she asked quietly.

"My family, the Novaks, are. My father owns Romans Inc. My brother Michael is in line to take over to the company." He slowed his horse down to a walk. Alex did the same. "I'm the second oldest, but I'm afraid my father doesn't like me."

"Why not?" Alex looked up at Lucifer, brow creased in worry.

"I was a little too rebellious for his taste." Lucifer let out something similar to a sigh. "Michael and I use to fight all of the time. We still do, on occasion."

Alex grunted in acknowledgement, not really sure what else to do. "How many siblings do you have?"

"Five. Michael, me, Gabriel, Balthazar and Castiel."

"Do any of them have omegas?"

"Yes. All of them except Balthazar." He looked down at Alex. "Omegas are rare, and they're expensive. But money's never been a problem for us." He turned his attention back to the road. "You'll probably meet them. Gabriel's and Castiel's omegas are brothers. Sam and Dean. They're like you. Strong willed. But my brothers are soft. They barely care-"

Suddenly Ruby freaked, bolting ahead. Alex panicked, holding on for dear life. She desperately pulled back on the reins.

Lucifer kicked Alistair after them. "Ho." Lucifer's firm voice calmed the horse down. Ruby snorted, ears pinned back. "You okay?"

Alex knew her eyes were wide. "Yea," she squeaked. "I'm fine."

"If that happens again, only pull on one side of the reins." Lucifer demonstrated, and Alistair turned in a circle. "That way, you'll only go in circles."

"Okay." Alex straightened herself, still slightly shaking. "I'm okay."

Lucifer nudged his horse onwards. "We're almost to the base of the mountains."

Alex followed slowly. The mountains had never seemed that big from her forest. Back then, they were only a grey smudge on the horizon. Now, they loomed in front of her, tall and menacing. "They're huge," she whispered.

"Don't worry. There's a path that leads straight through. It's perfectly harmless." Lucifer rode beside her, falling back into their old conversation. "So. My brothers. Like I said, Michael can be a dick. His omega is Adam. I don't like Adam. He's a whiny brat."

Alex blinked. Okay.

"Michael's put him in his place, though." When Alex said nothing, Lucifer let the conversation die.

...

By midday, they had started up the mountainous slope. The grass and trees gave way to rocks and dry shrubs. Lucifer opened the channel between Alex and khul'Shalkrum, warning her to keep an eye out for danger.

"Can you reach that tree over there?" Lucifer asked, pointing to a dried trunk propped between two rocks. "Light it on fire."

Alex blinked, then shrugged. She conjured up a ball of energy, twisting and shaping it until it erupted into yellow flames. The Source died, and she looked over at Lucifer, hurt. "What?"

"Don't hit it," he instructed. "Light it on fire."

Alex frowned. She had never tried anything like that before. She closed her eyes, trusting Lucifer to lead her horse safely. Khul'Shalkrum pulsed through her, and she felt out for the tree.

"Can you feel it?" Lucifer asked quietly. "Focus. Make it move faster."

Alex could feel each particle in the tree. She pulsed the Source into it, shaking the tree on a molecular level. She could feel it as it grew hotter and hotter, and she urged it on. Then, suddenly, it exploded into flames. Alex opened her eyes as the sound of crackling wood filled her ears. The trunk had burst into a large fire.

"Good girl." Lucifer scratched her on the head like a dog.

Alex glared up at him, but inside relished at the praise. But she wouldn't be treated like a dog.

Lucifer ignored her. "Can you put it out again? Can you make it rain over the tree?"

"I don't know." Alex had never tried to manipulate water. "I've only practiced with energy and fire."

Lucifer looked thoughtful for a second. "Then we'll just leave it," he finally decided. "It will burn down in a few minutes." He kicked Alistair forward, and the horse broke into a fast walk. Alex followed.

...

The sun was setting before they emerged from the rocks. Like Lucifer had promised, everything had gone smoothly. As Alex stepped out from behind a large boulder, she gasped. The land below sparkled with light. She had never seen anything like it before in her whole life.

"Dialon." Lucifer barely stopped to admire the view. "It's a small city in comparison." He stopped, glancing back at his omega. She was still staring at the city, eyes wide in amazement. He smiled, amused. "Alex. Come along. We'll see the city up close soon enough."

Alex tore her eyes away from the sight, nudging Ruby down after Alistair. The buildings were even taller than the ones in Tar Sons, and they lit up the night like fire. "It's amazing," she whispered as she caught up with Lucifer. "Is this the technology you were talking about?"

Lucifer laughed. "Darling, you haven't seen anything yet." They continued down the mountain. "You'll be able to see a car. There'll be plenty of cars here. Even more than there are horses." He pointed to a black path. "They drive on roads like that. Since they're so close to the mountains, they get quite a bit of travelers coming over, so there's always room for the horses." He looked over at Alex, who was still staring at the city. "Alex," he rebuked, though his voice held amusement. "We'll be there soon. But we have to keep moving."

Alex reluctantly obeyed, however, as they got even closer, it was harder to tear her eyes away.

...

Before long, they were walking along the hard paved streets of the city. Lucifer ended up leading Ruby, letting Alex look around. This was nothing for him, but he knew Alex had never come close to seeing anything like this. "There's a horse stop just down this road," he told her, turning the horses off from the main street. "We'll put the horses there and walk to a hotel."

Alex nodded, only half listening. The buildings were huge. So huge the tops were lost in the clouds above.

"Alex!" Lucifer's voice held amusement and impatience. "Keep your eyes on the road, omega. You'll walk into something."

"I can't." Alex tore her eyes away, focusing on the alpha. "It's just . . ."

Lucifer smiled. "It's okay." He pointed to a stable. "There." He nudged Alistair towards stable door. When they reached it, he dismounted. "Take them inside and unsaddle them. I'll be right back." He disappeared around the side.

Alex dismounted as well, leading them into the stable. Alistair stomped his front foot, refusing to move, and Alex tugged on his reins firmly, clicking her tongue as she observed Lucifer to do when he wanted his horses to move. Once inside, she looped Alistair's reins around a metal bar, and began to unstrap Ruby's saddle. She slid it off, staggering only slightly under its weight. Then she hung it on the far wall on a peg before turning back to the horses. She jumped.

Lucifer was standing behind her, holding out the saddle pad. "You forgot this."

Alex took it, blushing. "I was getting there," she whispered back.

Lucifer turned back to his horse. "It is considered most respectful to start with the alpha's horse," he said quietly. "That goes for anything of mine, too. As an omega, you must put yourself second to your alpha."

Alex dipped her head, rolling her eyes so he couldn't see. "Sorry. Didn't know."

"Well, now you do." Lucifer led Ruby away, leaving Alex to start on Alistair.

...

When she had finished, Lucifer had returned holding Ruby's bridle. He motioned for her to bring Alistair to him. Alex did, tugging the stallion after her. He didn't seem to like her.

"I put Ruby out in the pasture," he told Alex when she reached him. "Come. I'll show you." He led her back outside and through a gate. Alex spotted Ruby a few yards off. Lucifer let Alistair's into through the gate, and the stallion galloped over to its friend, snorting loudly.

Lucfer placed a hand on Alex's shoulder. "Come on." He led her back into the tack room, where they hung the bridles, then continued out into the city. Lucifer took his omega's hand, threading his fingers through hers. "Thee's a nice hotel less than a mile from here."

Okay." Alex let Lucifer guide her, and she turned her eyes upwards once again. Lights made the buildings glow with majestic colors. She smiled. Lucifer tugged on her hand, leading her down the street.

A loud noise came from behind her, something like the grumble of thunder. Alex spun around, squeezing her eyes shut at the bright light. Something sped by her, and Alex turned to Lucifer, eyes wide. He grinned, obviously amused at her reaction. "That's a car," he chuckled.

Alex watched the 'car' drive away. Light bounced off the metallic back. "I don't think I like it," she admitted.

Lucifer laughed again, tugging her further down the sidewalk.

Alex inhaled, then wrinkled her nose as a sudden rush of unfamiliar scents flooded her. There were people crowding the sidewalks, and Lucifer tightened his grip on her to keep her close. Alex followed him through the crowds. There were mostly alphas, but she thought she saw the familiar flash of a silver collar once or twice. Another tug on her hand had her hurrying after Lucifer.