Chapter 3
Rue
I pretend to sleep while waiting for my father to rise for the day. Mother is already outside, busy with her morning tasks. The sticky wrongness I feel between my legs is sending me into a panic. The thought of Father scenting it and turning me in fills me with dread. I’ve tried to calm my racing heart, but each beat still thuds in my chest like an ogre stomping through our camp.
Eventually, the frantic rhythm rouses him. He jerks upright on his mat. My heart stops, now too afraid to pump as he tries to find what woke him.
Mercifully, he grumbles and stands, forcing his legs through his leathers before heading out for the day.
When my heart finally starts beating again, it feels like a kelpie kicked me in the chest. I’ve got to get control over these heightened emotions. Panicking every morning will only make things worse. The wrappings my mother gave me worked. I need to have faith in her.
There are so many layers, each one sprinkled with flakes of soap to mask any sweetness that might escape at night. She’s made a thinner version for the day, which will allow me to move around more easily. Thank fuck. I feel like a pup waddling around in this thing.
Once I’m sure my father is gone, I grab the day wrapping and race down to the stream. I make my way to the secluded area where the water is coldest.
It’s the Awakening Season, when the chill starts to fade and the forest blooms to life. But this part of the stream remains cold for far longer than the rest of it. No one wants to bathe here, and it’s no good for washing clothes. It’s the perfect place to hide.
I strip off my sleeping clothes and wade waist-deep into the frigid water, reminding myself that the cold will keep my secret safe.
I let out a sigh as I peel off the bulky night wrapping. After a thorough wash, I leave the freezing water and get dressed. The day wrapping isn’t as uncomfortable as the night one, but it’s still noticeable enough to be a constant reminder of what I’ve become.
What a joy.
I pick one of Mother’s fragrant soaps and apply a layer along each side of my neck where shifters’ scents are strong. After finding a soft patch of dirt near the water’s edge, I bury my sleeping clothes and night wrappings just as I did yesterday.
This is so much work that I shouldn’t have to do. Being stuck in a situation where this is necessary infuriates me. I’m tempted to say fuck it all, but I can’t shake the image of the Alphas leering down at me as they take their turns. The darkness they normally hide revealed in their eyes as they find pleasure in dominating someone weaker.
No. They will not look at me with those eyes. They will not touch me with their dirty hands. I’ll do this forever if I have to. The work will become routine. Hopefully, I’ll only need to keep it up a little longer until another Omega presents. Once Bock has announced his new Luna, I’ll reveal my designation and be done with all of it. I’ll still have an Alpha forced on me, but at least it will only be one.
And I will have outsmarted the Prime.
After a dull but safe day working alongside my mother, Father surprises us by returning home early. “The Prime wants extra bread for the meal tonight,” he says. “Be on time.”
With that, he turns and walks away. Such a warm and caring father. How lucky I’ve been to bask in his love all these years. Asshole.
Dammit. I was hoping to stay out of sight. We usually eat as a pack, but I’d intended to skip meals with them for a while. It would only take one small whiff of my Omega pheromones to expose me. But it’s clear that my father expects us both to be there tonight.
“What if someone scents me?” I whisper urgently to my mother, trying to keep my fingers from fidgeting.
Fear and helplessness claw at me and beg me to find an Alpha for comfort. It makes me furious, but anger isn’t enough to drown out all the other intrusive feelings that won’t leave me be.
Mother notices my struggle and pulls me close, pressing her forehead against mine. “Don’t worry, dear. Just use extra wrappings and stay by my side. You’ll be fine.”
My scent could easily give me away, but being overly emotional would also draw attention. I can’t afford to be noticed tonight. This simpering Omega shit needs to go. I clench my hands into fists and search for the strong me. The true me. The one who never needed a useless Alpha and never will.
I stand straighter and cross my arms over my swollen chest. I find my missing resolve and drag it to the front, forcing the weak and worried feelings back down. The moisture in my eyes dries up, and I steel myself for the long, uncomfortable evening ahead.
“Let’s get this over with,” I grumble.
The extra wrappings are awful, bunching between my legs, sure to chafe if I move around too much. I despise them, but not as much as the thought of being shared by a group of mindless, oversized Alphas.
Mother and I make sweet breads, hoping the scent will cover any curious noses if my Omega pheromones slip out. I try to swallow my nerves as we head to the gathering area with our offering. It’s a place in the middle of our camp that has been cleared of trees. Their logs are used for seating, arranged in rings around a large fire.
I peek up at the pale moon, shining down from the break in the treetops. If only I could hide there for a while, swimming in whatever the silver swirls are made of. I’d look down on them all–the Alphas, the fae, and anyone else who thinks they’re so much greater than me.
Mother leads us to a section of log near the outer edge of the area. We wait for the Alphas to take their choice of the meal before Mother gets some for us. An annoying Beta named Arya joins me, and I pick at my food while she chats about the Alphas she’s smitten with. I’ve found it hard to make any friends in my pack. Most of the shifters my age think Alphas are simply glorious. I can’t offer more than a hum or an occasional word as she drones on and on in my ear. I hate Alphas. And I’m just too on edge to pretend to care.
Luckily, she’s a talker. I’m able to nod along and hide behind her wordiness. Mother gives me small nudges of encouragement with her shoulder, and I’m able to get through the meal without anyone else paying me any attention.
As soon as Arya leaves to go flirt with her favorites, I slip away into the woods to relieve myself. I venture far from the gathering area so I can hide any scent I release while I’m without my coverings. Plus, it takes time to get through all these layers. I don’t want to risk anyone happening upon me and seeing them.
Once I’ve finished, I rewrap myself and head toward my family’s tent. I showed my face. I ate. There’s no reason to return to the meal.
Unfortunately, I don’t get far before seeing the silhouette of a large Alpha approaching through the trees. I freeze, hoping whoever it is will just pass me by.
As he draws nearer, a beam of moonlight crosses his face. It’s Cirro, an Alpha who has shown too much interest in me over the past couple of years. He’s handsome but a bit too eager. And he’s an Alpha, which is a hard pass for me. I’ve avoided intimate interactions with him by saying I want to wait until I’ve presented. He seems to have forgotten that, though, as he steps too close and corners me in the dark.
I take the single step back that I’m able, jolting as the trunk of a small tree digs into my shoulder blades. Cirro normally gives up quickly when he sees my resistance. It seems as though he won’t be so easily swayed this time. I’m pinned and have no choice but to hear him out, hoping I can convince him to let me leave.
“Hello, Rue,” he says, with a hint of a purr to his voice.
Dammit, Cirro! A purr might actually work on me now that I’m an Omega. Who knows what I’d do if he full-on Alpha rumbled at me. I’d probably throw myself into his arms or melt into a whimpering puddle at his feet. I need to shove off his sultry mood. Fast.
“Hi, Cirro,” I say plainly, trying to keep my tone neutral. “I was just heading home. I fear I’ve eaten too much, and my stomach is unsettled. It’s nice to see you, though.”
I’d hoped mentioning my stomach would deter him, but it doesn’t work. He moves even closer and takes my hand. His skin feels threatening, like he could uncover my secret from this simple touch. As I stare down at his fingers, a wave of nausea passes through me. My mind conjures up images of dozens of Alpha hands like his roaming over my naked body.
I try to pull my hand away, but he stiffens and grips it tighter. He puts a hand on my waist and tugs me against him. It’s a silent warning not to disrespect him like that again. I’ve never feared him before tonight. But this is a far more aggressive side of him than I’ve seen.
I can feel this new part of myself almost scolding me for my reaction. It urges me to submit and be thankful for this Alpha’s attention. To purse my lips and puff out my chest for him.
Fuck you, Omega. I’m not giving him that satisfaction. What I truly want is to shove him into the line of snapping bollus plants behind him and watch them tear into his flesh.
But I’m not so foolish. I have to let him win this silent battle. Pissing him off won’t help me here. There’s still a chance for me to get home undiscovered.
“What is it about you tonight,” he murmurs, his hot breath sticky against my skin.
His nose traces my hairline and carves a path down my cheek. He slides his hand from my waist to my lower back, letting his pinky finger rest right above the swell of my ass. A sigh slips from my throat at the same time a shudder of disgust ripples through me. How do I defend myself when part of me is happily aligned with my aggressor?
His lips graze my jaw as his nose wanders dangerously close to my neck. I’ve scrubbed it twice today, but his Alpha senses are strong. The potent soaps and herbs I layered on my skin have little effect. He nuzzles my throat and hovers his nose directly over the strongest scent spot.
My body seizes up. My breaths become shallow and difficult to find. His Alpha ears have surely picked up my racing heart. I bet he thinks I’m into this. An angry growl forms in my chest, but I’m too afraid to release it. He could become offended again, or worse, find it arousing.
His nose finally strays from my neck, but my relief is short-lived. There’s no time to relax before he leans in and brushes a soft kiss against my lips. If he were a Beta, a kiss like this would have sent chills down my spine. It’s the perfect kiss; sweet, tender, tentative. Everything I imagined a first kiss to be.
But it feels like poison. The chills are ones of fear and desperation, not excitement.
“You know I adore you, Rue. Be my mate…” he murmurs before kissing me again, more confidently this time.
I pull back and lean my face away. “I still haven’t presented, Cirro. We need to wait.”
I hate the quiver in my voice. I’m not sure whether I prefer he takes it as giddiness or the fear that it truly is. I try to pull my body away, but he grabs my hips and holds me firmly against him. I squash the trembling that’s been building inside me so he won’t become too excited by it.
“You’re almost twenty, Rue,” he mumbles into my neck as he scents me again. “You must be a Beta. We can move forward. The Prime will approve.”
Hearing Cirro mention Bock makes me want to hurl. I swallow it down and pull away, just slightly this time, hoping to create some distance without him noticing.
“Don’t you want to wait for an Omega?” I ask, grasping at anything that might help. “They’re meant to be Alphas’ mates. Maybe some Omegas will present this year, and you’ll be closer to having one.”
He chuckles softly and moves one hand to caress my face. “Why would I wait for an Omega? I want you.”
For a moment, I’m touched by his unexpected sweetness. But any endearing feelings I found for him evaporate with his next words.
“I could just borrow the Prime’s Omega when I need my knot tended to. But I’d get to have you all to myself. Now, what do you say? Mate me?”
I snarl and fail to hold back an angry growl. How dare he say that to my face? It’s one thing to think it, but to casually tell me you’ll fuck someone else when the craving hits is insulting. It’s disgusting. And yet, he acts like it’s perfectly normal.
Because, in our pack, it is perfectly normal. Normal to the Alphas, at least. No one would dare utter a word against the Prime, but can I really be the only shifter who finds his actions repulsive?
I wrench free of Cirro’s grasp and storm off toward my tent. My heart pounds in my chest as I pray that my mother is already there. But whatever has come over Cirro this evening won’t allow him to accept my dismissal.
A low growl rumbles past his lips, and I can’t stop my Omega instincts. A rush of slick drenches my undergarment so thoroughly it soaks right through the thick wrappings Mother made for me.
Cirro notices right away. He appears before me and blocks my path. He grabs my arms and stares down at my neck. Tears spill from my eyes as he spits on his hand and rubs away the herbs I used to mask my scent.
His fangs shoot out, and he licks the pointy ends as he processes what he’s discovered. His eyes take on a predatory glow, golden and terrifying. I’m afraid he might rip my clothing off and mount me here and now.
But he only buries his face in my neck and moans. “Oh, Rue… I won’t be able to take you as a mate, but I’ll be able to mate with you and an Omega at the same time. Isn’t it wonderful?”
He straightens and looks back toward the gathering area with pure joy lighting up his face. “Once I deliver you to the Prime, he’ll be pleased with me. He may grant me more time with you. Maybe even the first turn after he’s had his own.”
He turns back to me and beams like his words should make me swoon. I feel betrayed, not only by Cirro or the Prime who’s meant to protect me, but by fate itself, once again. Shame presses down on me, grappling with the rage that threatens to break free. Fear swells my veins as it races through my body unrestrained. A sob escapes as the nauseating force of emotions drives me to my knees.
Cirro crouches in front of me and effortlessly pulls me into his arms. I remain limp, revolted by him but unable to do anything about it.
“It’s okay,” he whispers in my ear. “I know it must have been shocking and frightening for you when you presented. I won’t tell anyone you’ve been hiding it. Go wash away all these scents you’ve hidden beneath. Then, I’ll take you to the Prime and claim you just presented. I won’t allow you to get in trouble, sweet Omega.”
Being called by my wretched designation feels like defeat. Cirro thinks he’s being merciful, a savior in his own eyes. But in reality, he’s just sealed my fate. I’d almost rather Cirro tell the Prime I’ve been hiding. I want him to know the lengths I’ve gone to avoid becoming his mate.
I’ll swallow my disgust and do whatever I must to escape him. If fate wishes to torture me further and denies me that chance, I will speak my mind. Bock can do as he pleases with me, but I’ll never give him the satisfaction of believing I desire him or his Luna’s title. I will never submit to him. I’d rather die for my defiance than feign a respect for him that I do not hold.
Omegas are given three moons to come into their designation. During this time, they learn what to expect from their bodies and their role as an Alpha’s mate. Typically, this would be one of the Luna’s responsibilities. Without her here, it will fall upon one of the other two Omegas in our pack. I don’t look forward to having them try to brainwash me, but it will give me time to plan my escape.
I can find a place where no shifter would go and be free of Alphas forever. Maybe closer to the castle. Closer to the fae. It’s risky, but it’s smart. They’d never expect a weak little Omega to walk into danger like that. I’ll claim the right to solitude that they’ve denied me. I’ll be much happier lonely than I would be used and dishonored. Mother is clever and resourceful. She can teach me how to survive on my own. I can do this.
A rush of hope lifts me to my feet, and I allow Cirro to guide me to the lake. To hungrily watch me as I bathe and escort me to the Prime. But not to my future. Screw fate. It can throw whatever it wants at me, but I’ll be carving that path for myself.