Just great!
For the nth time today, Nevada stood in front of his closet and was more than annoyed.
The only clothes that he could stand were ruined, so now he was forced to wear the little young master's unique fashion.
He took out the sky blue blouse with wide sleeves and laces.
He looked like a sheltered little brat. So far from his real image.
Aware of the fluctuations of his emotions, Nevada plopped down his bed and called for the system.
[The host is starting to adapt to the world. Omegas in heat are emotional and cannot stabilize their own pheromones. Because your soul was not yet completely integrated into the world, you were still able to have control over your instincts.]
"In my next heat, will I lose reason?" Nevada asked.
According to what he read, due to desire, most omegas blank out and act on instinct during their heat.
[Heat experiences vary. There is no certain answer to the host's question.]
Nevada sighed.
He was finally starting to feel calm again. He was usually collected, a skill he picked up after years of hiding his sexuality.
Recalling what had just happened, he couldn't help cringing.
Was that really him? Blurgh.
'Son?' Nevada heard Theo's voice in the mind link. 'Come to the dining hall. We have guests.'
There was no need to ask who the guests were.
Previously, Nevada really was invited to some meetings with his father, but because he was still young, he was not exactly included.
For example, he has never met Shiloh before. Shiloh said that he was still too young when he first saw him.
That was because Nevada was a popular adopted beauty.
His origins being unknown was a common knowledge among the packs.
Thus, the other packs did not acknowledge him as a formal heir and did not let him be involved in any serious affairs.
Nevada never met the important people.
Still, he persevered in his studies and was dutiful with the responsibilities his father gave him.
He did his best, yet right now, it seems he was only good for marrying off again.
Nevada snorted.
"Father, Mother," Nevada greeted his parents first when he arrived at the dining hall.
Theo was seated at the head of the long table while Miranda was on his left. The chair on his right was empty. It was his seat.
At the other end, there was Shiloh whose gaze never left him since he arrived.
Nevada then turned to Shiloh and his company.
Bowing a little and nodding his head, with eyes down, he spoke in a gentle and respectful manner, "Welcome to our guests, Alpha Shiloh, Beta Lucas, and the White Moon Pack. I hope you enjoy your meal."
The seat on Shiloh's left was also empty, but surely, not for long.
He walked towards his spot and lamented in his heart, "This is probably my first and last time on this chair."
"Then let us eat." Theo raised a hand to offer the food.
This gesture reminded Nevada of his real father during his 25th birthday dinner.
"I hope the dishes are to Alpha Shiloh's liking," Miranda said with a small smile, picking up a bowl to put food on Theo's plate.
Oddly, Miranda was also being identical to his real mother, who was being careful and trying to feel him out.
The only difference between when his real parents were setting him up was that he was prepared this time. He wasn't stiff nor uncomfortable at all. He acted more naturally.
Maybe also because he knew none of this was real, so he wasn't as agitated.
Since Nevada already ate, he only served himself a bowl of soup which he happily sipped while the big guys talked business.
But because the food on the table were mostly the original Nevada's favorites, he was obligated to take a few bites, lest his parents think it strange.
Especially Miranda, who was watching him, perhaps worried about his condition.
"Uncle Theo," Shiloh suddenly shifted the topic in the middle of their conversation. "The little Nevada?"
Nevada's left eye twitched at the word "little".
Although he realized he was being considerate, not mentioning 'that' word so directly at all, he still irked him.
Theo coughed once as he put down his spoon and fork.
He replied with an affirming tone, "Yes. The rumors are true."
"Then?" Shiloh asked again, hinting at Nevada who was still eating like a prince on his seat, as if they weren't talking about him.
"As you can see, our Nevada is quite special." Theo glanced at Miranda, before he continued, "We think he has a special constitution. You may have already noticed, but our Nevada is not like other omegas."
Nevada could feel different gazes from the people at the table.
Aside from his family, there were six people on Shiloh's side who were all from the White Moon Pack.
Nevada picked at the food without glancing at anyone.
He was full of manners as he held onto his wide sleeve while poking at a piece of meat to bring into his mouth.
Truly as if he doesn't hear anything and was just minding his own business.
Miranda explained, "He doesn't show signs other than the occasional leak of pheromones. Even his scent is barely noticeable without wind. He isn't reduced to the stereotype of omegas who lose all reason when in heat."
Theo nodded and also added swiftly, "This is the evidence. So, Alpha Shiloh, do consider our condition."
This time, Nevada looked up at his father, wondering what he was talking about.
He tried to remember anything else from the plot, but aside from them agreeing to hand over the pack to Shiloh, to volunteer to walk to prison themselves, and to leave their son alone, there was nothing else.
No matter how much he tried to recall, it was White Moon who brought a proposal, not the other way around.
Noticing the slight changes in Nevada's expression, Miranda gave another anxious smile to him as she spoke in his mind, 'Dear, we will explain later. We are sorry, but please cooperate for now.'
'I don't have a clue about what father is talking about. Mom, please tell me in advance,' Nevada answered, also talking to his mother in the mind link.
'Dear, just know that we won't let you get hurt. We will explain everything later.'
"Alpha Theo, this is just ridiculous," Beta Lucas interjected as he gave a sideways glance at Nevada.
"Have you ever heard of an omega before who inherited a pack and became an alpha?"
Nevada was shocked, but he immediately composed himself.
Although Shiloh was quiet, the sides of his lips were visibly drawn up. His eyebrows also slightly raised up, and he seemed to silently agree at what his beta had said.
While they were busy debating, he called for the system again, "What is happening?"
[To answer the host, the original Nevada should be weakly lying in bed and suffering from his heat. However, since the host appeared alright, your parents thought you were special and are now fighting for your position as the next alpha of Blue Crescent.]
"Is that okay? Will the plot change because of this?"
[The initial plan was to change only the minute things so that the original Nevada survives. But since the main system is not ringing any alarms, this means that this change is acceptable.]
Nevada could almost hear the complaints in the system's mechanical voice while it was explaining.
As if blaming him for such a big change.
But who wouldn't?
If he really proceeds with this choice, more unexpected events would happen. The plotline in his hands, where all events are listed, would be useless then.
That means the system has to work even harder.
Their goal was just to survive until the time of the original Nevada's death.
Not to rewrite his whole story!
Although it would be easy if Nevada had power and influence as an alpha, he figured the road would be longer that way.
Straying too much from the story would also affect his cheating. Knowledge was his biggest advantage.
Weighing the pros and the cons, Nevada decided to stick to the original plot.
Nevada paused, putting down his fork and glancing at his father.
Theo saw him at the corner of his eyes and understood what he meant.
He sighed as he gave him permission to talk.
"Father, I don't think I'm fit to be a leader," Nevada uttered. "Most of the pack members already looked down on me before. Awakening as an omega only made the rest unwilling to stand by my side."
Nevada spoke in a neither fast nor slow manner.
He was calm, as if the truth he said did not affect him. His parents were heartbroken. They knew he was right.
They were more than clear that even though he becomes an alpha, he could only use coercion to make the pack heed him and that would one day backfire.
However, they hoped that Shiloh would be a strong figure behind him, which would make others think twice about going against their son.
It was a risk they were willing to take just so Nevada would have the power to protect himself.
He wouldn't be able to protect himself from Shiloh, but he was the perfect shield from other wolves and packs.
"It should be fine to choose one from the options given by White Moon," Nevada continued, the corners of his lips rising up as he turned his gaze to them. His eyes weren't smiling.
"We can only wage war, or submit to Alpha Shiloh. But we can't afford the former, right?"