Kash View
That jerk of an Alpha; I could not believe his words. It was having me question everything I thought knew. Turning around from the men in front of me, I stormed back to my room. There was school work waiting to be finished and that would help me think about something else. My mind could not handle the new ideas and it did not take long getting me focused into my books and for the happenings of the day to briefly leave my mind.
"Ah! Done!" With the final paper done I only had two exams and my schooling was done. There were no plans at this time for me to look at any colleges. Not being able to experience the whole package was not interesting to me. I honestly had no real plans for after high school. Many think I would be stupid for being like this. I was a grade A student and I could apply to do whatever I wanted, wherever I wanted. However, I also knew that outside the werewolves, there happened to be no second gender. The school could not support me for my heats, in fact, no career could either. I thought I was okay with that and honestly have never questioned it before I met the Royal asshat and his fancy words.
My last made-up plans, were in truth, to stay close to home and help my father and brother out. I was good at many things and could do many of the simple things that get forgotten and put aside until much later and almost late. Pretty much I planned to be the pack secretary. I chuckled to myself thinking how I already snuck into that spot with my begging. My father and brother figured I had that line of thought and let me do it. However, it had been the last couple months, my father started pushing me to find my mate. Soon it was bitter memories of the past few weeks creeping back in, along with the days events.
Now some pompous royal ass thinks he is my mate. My father and brother must be so proud of their little one. They are not even concerned he is a friggin Royal of all people. They are just pleased as pie that someone claims to be my mate. I have no clue what can be going on in their minds right now. Would having a mate really be that special? Or is it just an excuse for them to get rid of me? I assume I would be expected to leave when he leaves after the ball. If I sense him as my mate, would I want to follow him blindly or is there more to the bonding? Fuck, I wish I had someone to talk to, that would not make me angry. Well more angry, I was really past my point as it was.
My education on the second genders was basic at best. Pull up fan-fics from free writing platforms and I bet they knew more than I did. To start, I understood that the Beta gender was neutral ground. They did not release any pheromones and did not react to them. Alphas. Ha! The most arrogant, possessive people out there. They used their pheromones for power. I think. It was not really made clear to be honest and neither my brother or father did that to me. I do know that they have ruts that can be started when placed around the pheromones of omegas in heat and annually. Now for my gender. I know I have a heat around once a month. A little more often than the females here. I was told it was because I did not help relieve my symptoms. As if I would give in. I know that most omegas react to alpha pheromones and orders. They do not even have to be the pack Alpha! I have not noticed this personally in day-to-day life, but do try and keep in check and listen around my father and Jace as pack Alpha and soon to be. Omegas also tend to want protection and support. I guess I missed that memo too, because I hate the way I am treated here.
Looking out the window I could see the moon shining brightly across the grounds. Would I loose what I have, or gain more? My wolf surprised me by speaking out. "I like him."
"Of course, you would." I practically rolled my eyes at his comment. "Why would you though? Besides his looks and pheromones little wolf!" Though usually quiet I found my wolf was very adamant on speaking of this man. "Tell me facts you see, not what you smell."
Worried he could sense the mate bond before me, I could almost sense his tail wagging when he replied. "He is kind, wise and brave. A strong Alpha for us. He is made for us, our other half. That I am sure of, and you will too. I can not fully sense him, but I feel something when he is close."
There it was. I groaned, even my wolf was against me now. "But a Royal? He could be so possessive I won't be allowed to do anything."
This had my wolf chuckle. "And you can now? He will help us be stronger." I could feel my wolf sit proud as he spoke.
"If you say so." My wolf stopped talking verbally and just finished with reminders of his scent. I decided I will remember it to keep my distance. No other reason.
Before crawling into bed I had set my alarm for six, when I am usually still in bed closer to nine in the morning. So, when it went off, only after what seemed a couple hours later, I was confused at first. I did not sleep well. Shaking my head I ran to turn my light on. Not being much of a morning person I had to make sure my alarm would not turn off without light. Quickly I got dressed before quietly sneaking down to the kitchen. Planning to eat and avoid all pack members and non-members today was key. Of course, I did not expect to smack into a brick wall as I turned the corner towards the kitchen.
"What the hell!" I looked up at my wall while rubbing my nose.
The voice to come from the wall, that was now chuckling, was the one person I did not want to see. "You're up early."
Jumping away I yelled more. "What the fuck! Why are you not wearing a shirt?" The view was enough to draw envy over anyone. The body before me was hard as rock. The chest and abs right down to the mermaid line perfectly defined for anyone's pleasure. You could wash clothes on those abs. I looked back up when he chuckled once more and I saw he had a shirt, but it was currently being used as a towel. "Seriously, do you not have your own cabin? Why are you here, and sweaty, and half naked?" My voice was a little freaked out.
"I went for a run. Your brother invited me for coffee. I believe that answers all your questions." He was smiling like a devil. His smile was actually nice, but I was mad at him. I could not stop and enjoy the view. Could I? "I was told you are not a morning person, and yet here you are, waking others with a loud voice."
Nope, definitely not stopping to enjoy the view. "I am not talking to a half naked man." I tried to walk past but he quickly stepped over and blocked me.
"Why not? I am sure you see much more when you shift?" He grinned with suggestion and I cringed. Stupid alpha.
I settled on glaring at him instead of ogling. "Let me by. As for shifting, I do it alone. I see nothing I don't want to." Ducking under his arm I ran into the kitchen to grab food and run back to my room. I had no plans to see anyone unless duty absolutely called for it.
"Before you get too far Kash, I believe your father wanted to see you today." I could hear his voice yelling to me as I dug around in the fridge.
Running past him the second time, now with some food in hand, I finally responded. "Yeah, well he knows where I live."
"I love your tenacity. It matches what I would want in my mate." I was not sure I heard him right, or if I wanted too, as I ran off.
Going back to my room I could now only think of the sculpted wall I ran into. "Shit!" Mind was so not heading in the gutter. I made sure to lock my door now that I knew an unwelcome guest was in the area and placed my food stash on the table.
"Fruit, sandwiches and even some cake. Enough for the day anyways." I grinned until I realized I forgot any form of liquid. Turning to the door I now grimaced. Today was not going well for me. I knew he was in the kitchen with my brother now having coffee. Why did my brother even invite the jerk over? He has his own cabin for fuck sakes. Jace knows how I feel around others and should have went to his cabin keeping him from me.
My temper was getting the best of me now and I felt it was a good time to get my drinks before I chilled out. Maybe I would be lucky and anger the Royal jerk enough to leave. He had better put his shirt on. Grabbing one of my baggy tees as a back up, I stomped back to the kitchen. Before I got to the door, I could hear Jace and the dumb alpha chatting like old friends. Oh man! He had better not be telling him embarrassing stories. Hearing a chuckle I guessed he was.
"You know I can sense you standing outside the door. It is a mate thing. I do not even have to smell you; which I can as well." Just his tone had me imagining his stupid smile. My brother chuckled with his words.
I entered the kitchen and just as I thought he still did not have his shirt on. I threw the one I had on me right at him. "You are visiting. Have some decency to cover yourself!" I stormed right to the fridge.
His laugh had me want to turn back and glare but I did my best to ignore it. It was Jace's comment that had me throw a water bottle at both of them. "Hmmm. Is it him caring for you or coveting you, I wonder?"
"Ugh! You are both assholes. I will be in my room and no one is invited. I mean no one at all! I do not care if the building is on fire. Leave me be!" Grabbing my own water bottles I stormed back to my room, followed by the laughter of both. Great, my brother loves him.
The whole day ended up being very quiet. The sun was now setting and not even my father came up even though I was told he wanted to see me. I closed my laptop after shutting down my new game, and looked out the window. Tomorrow was the ball and my birthday. I know my father and Jace would have been busy welcoming the other packs. We expected over twenty packs from all over. I remember helping with the invitations. They would have their alphas and lunas, along with warriors, and the chosen members to find mates. A huge headache if you ask me.
My guess is the Royal pack was one of those packs looking for their mates. I tried to think of anything I knew of him but nothing came to mind. Well, at least nothing personal anyways. It was common knowledge he led the packs in our part of the range, our pack was the most southern of his territory and on the edge of the other half of the Royals. His uncle, I think, held the other half that used to be one pack. The Royal Crystal Lake pack. If I remember they refused to come as they had other engagements. My father always invited them since they bordered our lands, but they always found a way to refuse. I felt it was some sort of power play between the Royals. Not my business.
My thoughts were interrupted by a soft knock. Without even opening the door I knew who it was just by the sound. "What do you want Jace? I told you that I needed to be alone today. Can I not have at least one day to myself with everything going on?"
"I came to talk to you about tomorrow. I know you have been unhappy and I feel responsible for a large part of that. Agreeing with father is not always the best course of action for you." I could hear him sigh across my room.
Taking in a deep breath I wanted to push him away, but knew it was bound to come up and had to be dealt with. My birthday and potentially the mate bond opening to me tomorrow. Then of course the ball, and my first meeting with other packs. The mate bond scared me most. Just because I was born during the eclipse, did not mean my birthday was late at night. In fact, it would kick in after midnight tonight, making it harder to avoid the whole thing tomorrow. It felt like I could be loosing all I know without a choice. "Give me a second."
Opening the door, I could see how tired Jace was. "Did you even have a chance to sit today? You look like shit."
He chuckled softly. "Had a quick bite at lunch and even some dinner before the last of the packs arrived. I have never seen so many wolves in one place. I still worry about security." Walking in he rubbed his head, a motion he did when he had a hard conversation to do. There was more to his visit than the ball.
"Spit it out Jace." I crossed my arms in defence. Whatever it was, I was not going to like it. The anger in me was caused by the unknown, and here my brother has more. I could feel my wolf prickle at the thought as well.
"Father and I talked and think it best you meet with Alpha Atlas for breakfast. Maybe get to know him and feel the bond early." He lifted his hands in defence when I dropped mine in complete shock. "Look! It is better you feel the bond before the ball. Have it settle down and become easier to manage. We feel the commotion of your bond happening should not be during the ball."
"You assume there will be one." I huffed this was not right. "Why do I not have a say in this? This was my first chance to break free and see other wolves! I was actually going to be a part of something, abet small, but still something!! How can you do this to me??" As much as the ball angered me, I was excited to actually be part of something. It made it a little easier that my so-called mate already showed himself.
Jace smiled uncomfortably. "I asked father about that. His response was that he will talk to Alpha Atlas and see what he thinks. The little research we have for a bond like the two of you is not promising."
"The fucking Royal get to pick what I do? Again, my opinion does not matter. You both always do this. What do you mean by not promising? You think the Moon Goddess has more jokes up her sleeves for me? It would be funny not to at this point! Fuck, Jace. Both of you always trying to protect me from my own life. My own mistakes. Can't train because the pack refuses to harm me. Can't go to school because of my heats, when I could have booked a week off a month for something else. I have no friends and it is your fault. Who even has a say over the mate thing? I sure don't, do I?" My temper was winning. I could barely hold back my tongue now and Jace was going to hear it all by the end.
"Kash. It is okay. You know how father gets. Look I came to talk to you more about fated pairs anyways. I just relayed father's message first." Finally, he sat down. "This is a talk both father and I kinda were unsure how to speak to you about, or if we would ever have too. I actually spoke to the few omegas here for advice on the topic because I thought it would be important."
"Why? What difference does that make?" I sat on the edge of my bed. The bad feeling was growing in the pit of my stomach. I hated to look at my brother when speaking, I always had to look up. When I am upset it set me off on a whole other level. Taking a deep breath I waited.
I knew he was waiting for me to calm down a little more before proceeding. When he felt me relax a little more into a quieter mindset he continued. "We both noticed you have been a little, well to be blunt, acting like your pre-heat the last few hours." His face went red as it always did when speaking of my heat. "ESPECIALLY the last few hours." He really put the emphasis on the last few hours.
It threw me for a loop as I was not expecting this talk, but he was right. My wolf was more active and I was a little, well, bitchy lately. Easier to set on edge of stuff that would be minor. "What does it have to do with the fated pairs talk? What exactly is a fated pair anyways? A mate is a mate, right?"
He chuckled. "Well, we all hope to find our mate. However, sometimes the goddess blesses us with our fated pair. With a mate we feel the connection, the bond as we call it. But after talking with Alpha Atlas, we all feel you might be a fated pair. With our fated we will sense more then the usual. We will know how they feel, both physically and mentally. It would also be like you are connected by GPS, because you will always know where each other are. Alpha Atlas feels some of this already. Most of it happens after you both mark each other, but the presence of it will be there before. For example, he can sense your close but will not have more than a general direction until the marking. He would then be able to track you better than a spy satellite."
I grimaced. "Okay creepy. That does not explain why you went to the other omegas. Second gender does not make a difference, between mates and fate, does it?"
Jace looked down. "If he really is your fated. It could put you in heat. That is why we feel that it should be away from the ball. The pheromones between you two alone will drive the packs wild. There is no telling how you will react either. If we are right, it even explains your symptoms as of late. "
There it is. The one thing he had to say to make me snap. "Hold up! You fucking think I would let my heat control my decisions and destroy what you have done?" I was furious and hurt. "I do not care how low you think I am. I would NEVER do anything to wreck this ball. You both worked hard to arrange it, and I would be damned if you think I would honestly destroy your hard work. Get the fuck out!" I could not look at him anymore. I was beyond hurt by his words. To think father thought just as low of me. I never heard him leave.
I had been pacing for a while now. I understood him to a certain point. I can not control my pheromones like others, and they are much stronger during my heat. However, do they expect me to act on them? When have I ever acted on them? Of course, if I did the usual my wolf would be allowed to take over, and that could be a fight or two. They could have just said it would not be safe to go to the ball. I most likely would just stay in my room like today. Well, knowing my temper it would not be that easy, but still, it would be better than this approach. Heck, have the stupid Royal stay away and let me do something for once!
Looking at the clock I laughed. "Okay, I guess it is just me once more. Man. Fuck those guys." Staring at the one fifteen flashing on my clock I sighed. "Happy fucking birthday to me."
My birthdays were usually like this. Never celebrated on the right day. Another over protection by my father. The pack knew the truth, but Alpha's orders were absolute. I grabbed the piece of cake I snatched from the morning before and munched on it. Stale but sweet. Realizing my own brother could not even stop by for our annual cake and gifts that he did on my birthday, made the cake in my mouth turn bitter.
Making sure to lock my door once more and shutting my alarm off I crawled into bed. I was going to sleep in. Ball be damned. Since I am not going, there is no need to do any meet and greets like originally planned.
My dreams were all over the place. Sometimes wolf form and other time human, but always running in the forest. I could not tell if I was running away or towards something, but I tossed and turned and eventually woke laying on the floor covered in sweat. Great. Just like they assumed my heat was early. Grabbing my blanket, I ran out of my room and down to the basement where my cell was before the pain crippled me where I was. Thankfully I met no intruders, aka, a cocky royal and was able to arrive without issues.
Entering my cell, I saw that it was already stocked with water. I never ate but it was important to stay hydrated. Again, it set my mood lower as this meant that they prepared it just in case. "Ugh! The assholes." I felt angered, but again, what can I really do about it. At least it was ready. I moved my blanket to my favourite corner and built a mini nest. The one thing omegas have is this instinct to nest. We gather favourite items with comforting smells and build a little sleeping area. Mine is always just my one blanket. No extra smells. After my nest was built I circled the cell making sure it was secure. It was not needed but again the omega in me did this. I was told once I bonded it would be my alpha's job and that I would stay by his side until it was considered safe. What a bunch of bull. As if I would let someone else near me at this time. Walking back to the door in my last step, I made sure it was locked and sealed. Then I shifted.
My wolf, unlike my human form was closer to a full-sized wolf. Still what others in the pack would call pup sized, but at least it was bigger than a normal wolf. His coat was thick and glossy and I prided myself with it. Sue me, it was prettier than my human form. My right ear never stood up fully with a small flop, but I liked it. The colour? Well, it was not exactly normal. It is almost black at the roots but faded to a silver. I know grey wolves are common, but my grey was more of a metallic in colour.
Shaking my whole body as the pain started to set in, I curled up in the blanket I set down. I started to let my wolf fully take charge to assist with pain management. I hated to be in human form. The pain was great since I never did anything to help myself. Not to mention the mess from the slick. If you are not familiar with heats, let me tell you. My body wants sex and lubes itself for prep. It only gets worse when my heat peaks. A very messy and painful process. The other omegas told me it would be better if I followed through in the desires and accepted the heat. But not once have I done it. This is my body, and the omega in me can wait until I say I am ready.
Letting my wolf take over, I do not get the mess and the wolf can control most of the pain. The thing that we gained along with it was the anger. I was much more violent in this form during this time. I become protective of my nest and territory. Again, I was told a marked omega would leave it to his marked mate as he would be much more volatile and in rut. A very dangerous combination. This is why the cell. It protects others from me, more than myself from others.