Chapter 03
Ethan
Javier”s registry office was a reflection of the family”s prosperity. Several tables separated by polished wooden dividers lined up in perfect order, like soldiers on a parade. In the center, a larger table, with a state-of-the-art computer, reigned supreme. Next door, near the window, some white upholstered chairs invited patient waiting. Every detail exuded opulence and power. And all this again contrasts with the initial appearance of the city.
As soon as I sat down at the table next to Javier, a wave of silence fell over the room. The staff, like ghosts, came and went with silent steps, their faces as impassive as masks. The tension was palpable, almost suffocating.
Suddenly, one of them approached, bowing in reverence before Javier.
— Mr Javier, the residents of White Chapell complain about the delay in delivering documents. Impatience takes over the community.
Javier snorted, his face twitching in disdain.
— Hurry up, these White Chapells! — he clicked his tongue. — Connor, take the documents yourself. I don”t like sending such important things by email, but if you”re so desperate, pay the delivery fee. And Connor, have them sign the delivery receipt. No one is going to tell me they didn”t receive the papers. And don”t forget to check the border.
The employee nodded, disappearing into the fog of silence that hung in the air. Soon another approached, bringing a stack of documents and a banal topic about planting. Javier quickly sent him away, but his mind was already elsewhere.
The morning passed at a frantic pace. People came and went, each with their own problems and demands. Javier, always meticulous and relentless, resolved everything efficiently, but without showing any empathy.
Until a couple entered the registry office, breaking the monotonous rhythm of the morning. The fifteen-year-old boy was sporting feminine attire that contrasted drastically with the brute masculinity of the man next to him, who looked almost thirty. A chill ran down my spine, an inexplicable fear taking hold of me.
— I came to get the documents for the wedding. — The man, with a firm and authoritative voice, addressed Javier.
— The test was waived by young Victor”s family and the ceremony can be held in two days. Do you want to perform in the chapel? — Javier asked, without even looking at the man, his eyes fixed on the documents.
— No, we will do something more intimate at our house. — The man replied, ignoring the question about the chapel.
A heavy silence settled in the room. Javier pursed his lips, examining the documents carefully.
— Julian, I admire and respect your position, but Victor is very young. He was introduced into the village less than a year ago. Are you sure about that?
— Javier, I have always followed the law. Victor and I want to hold the ceremony as soon as possible. He”s a... — The man hesitated, looking at me for a moment. — We will have puppies at home in a few months. Be consistent, I did this and I take full responsibility.
— I understand your position, my father signed the test exemption, but I hope you think carefully about your choice. — Javier replied, with a paternalistic tone that bothered me.
The man took the documents, his eyes scanning the pages hungrily. It was at that moment that my eyes met Victor”s. The boy was crying, his eyes filled with tears that didn”t seem to be tears of happiness. A deep anguish emanated from him, as if he were being dragged towards a cruel fate.
— There will be no party, as tradition dictates. — Javier declared, his voice full of authority.
- There will be no. — The man nodded, an ironic smile playing on his lips.
He pulled Victor by the arm, guiding him out of the registry office. The boy”s crying intensified, turning into a desperate wail. A brutal slap silenced her sobs, leaving a climate of terror in the air.
My heart squeezed with a pain I couldn”t explain. The scene of Victor being silenced revolted me, filled me with uncontrollable rage.
— Javier... — I called him, my voice breaking. - What is happening?
Javier approached me, his eyes filled with a deep sadness that chilled my soul.
—Ethan, you don”t understand. Victor... he”s not who you think.
His voice was low, almost a whisper. He guided me to the back of the registry office, away from the prying eyes of the staff.
— Victor committed crimes. Serious crimes. — He confessed, his voice carrying weight.
— Crimes? What type of crimes? — I asked, in disbelief.
—Crimes against the community, Ethan. He... he hurt people. — Javier looked at me more intensely.
My legs almost gave out. How could such a young and fragile boy commit such atrocities?
- And now? — I questioned, my heart beating wildly.
— The village law is clear. Victor must be punished. — Javier replied, his eyes shifting away from mine.
— Punished? As? —Anguish consumed me.
— He will be... — Javier hesitated, his voice barely audible. — He will be exiled. Well, because he is omega, he will have to marry Julian, and Julian will be able to discard him as soon as the offspring are born.
A wave of nausea overcame me. Exile? Condemned to live with that man? Wasn”t anyone going to do anything?
- No! — I protested, my body shaking. — We can”t do this to him! He”s just a boy!
Javier looked at me, his eyes full of compassion.
—Ethan, you don”t understand. This is our law and even if it hurts, we have to be fair, there was a trial.
— But he can change! — I begged, clinging to the only hope I had left. — He can be rehabilitated!
Javier shook his head, his eyes filled with sadness.
— It”s already too late, Ethan. Victor made his choice.
At that moment, a guttural howl echoed through the registry office, a primal sound that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
- What was this? — I asked, my heart pounding in my chest.
Javier smiled darkly, his eyes shining with a strange light.
—It”s just a howl. Nothing to worry about.
But I knew he was lying. The howl was something more, something sinister and otherworldly.
A tremor ran through my body, a feeling of warmth taking over me. My muscles contracted, my nails turned into sharp claws, my teeth lengthened into fangs.
A scream escaped my throat, a scream of pain and fury.
I was transforming once again.
The world around me dissolved into a whirlwind of colors and sounds. My vision blurred, my body writhed in agony. An excruciating pain consumed me, as if my bones were being crushed.
Screams of terror echoed in my ears, but I couldn”t distinguish them. The only thing I felt was a primal force taking over me, propelling me forward.
My hands turned into furry paws, my feet into powerful hooves. A furry tail sprouted from my back, swaying from side to side ferociously.
I became a wolf.
A huge, fierce and wild wolf.
Instinctively, my senses heightened. I smelled Javier”s fear, the sweet smell of Victor”s blood, the smell of the forest around me.
A powerful roar escaped my throat, a roar that echoed through the streets of Mist Hill, announcing the arrival of a new predator.
I could say I lost consciousness, but the truth was much crueler, I knew exactly what was happening.
Javier transformed and tried to stop me, that”s when I scratched him and reached the street. There I understood the transformation. Julian was punching Victor in the face and from what little he had understood, Victor was innocent.
I could leave that aside, but then I wouldn”t be me. I attacked that man at the same time he attacked Victor, I wasn”t fast enough, he used his claws to cut the boy”s belly.
I stood between them and bent down close to Victor”s face, when I heard his last words.
— I”m innocent, he set me up, my family sold me to this man, that”s why he wanted the marriage and then he would kill me.
They talked about punishment, exile and the burden of being an omega, perhaps I should have understood at the time that this would apply to me, but I didn”t understand immediately.
Everyone gathered in the street to face the grotesque scene, I didn”t care and when I went to attack Julian, Javier stopped me. He stood in front and growled, a growl so loud that my bones instantly hurt.
The growl of submission, always applied by an alpha when he wants the omega to obey him, the Ethan of that time, only managed to lose consciousness. The Me of today might kill him.
I woke up disoriented, my body sore and weak. Sunlight streamed in through the cracks in the window, bathing my room in a soft glow. I sat up in bed, feeling a wave of dizziness wash over me.
—Ethan? — A familiar voice sounded next to me.
I looked up and saw my father, Reid, watching me with a worried look.
- Father? — I asked, my voice hoarse. - What happened?
Reid sighed, his eyes filled with sadness.
—Ethan, you have transformed again. At the registry office.
My mind struggled to recall the events of that morning. I remembered the anger, the pain, the guttural howl... and the transformation into a huge, ferocious wolf.
- But...
Reid walked over to the bed and sat down next to me.
— It was Victor”s omega. He cried out for help, for protection. And since you”re an omega, your body reacted to his anguish. He was innocent and only another omega could know that.
The information hit me like lightning. Victor was innocent. He had not committed any crime. Julian, the cruel man she was engaged to, was a wolf who used the omegas for his own ends.
- I knew! — I exclaimed, feeling anger and frustration. — I knew Victor was innocent!
Reid nodded, his eyes full of understanding.
— I knew it too, Ethan. But there was nothing I could do. Julian is powerful and influential. He always gets what he wants.
A heavy silence settled between us. My father”s words left me even more confused and distressed.
- And now? — I asked, not knowing what to do.
Reid smiled sadly.
— Now, my son, you need to find an alpha.
I was surprised by your words.
— An alpha? But why?
—To control his power. To prevent it from transforming again.
I swallowed hard, apparently only alphas and betas could transform and when an omega did it was bad. Understanding that didn”t make me happy.
The idea of ??marrying an alpha terrified me. I didn”t want to be submissive to anyone, nor give up my freedom. But deep down, I knew my father wouldn”t change his mind.
My father left the room, leaving me to my turbulent thoughts. Soon after, Javier entered, his face drawn with guilt. He was an alpha, yes, but I knew my father would never choose him as my mate.
- How it feels? — He asked, his voice was low and hesitant.
— Half destroyed. — I replied, trying to hide the pain that consumed me inside. A humorless smile escaped my lips, a pathetic reflection of my attempt to appear strong.
Javier approached, his eyes looking at me with a mixture of sadness and desire.
— Don”t worry about your father”s words, Ethan. You don”t have to marry anyone you don”t want to. You can look for your alpha on your own. — He said, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.
My eyes widened. Was Javier offering himself as my date? The idea was absurd, but my heart was beating wildly, betrayed by a flame of desire that I was trying to suppress.
— Is that alpha you? I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.
Javier hesitated for a moment, his eyes looking at me with intensity.
— Who knows… — He replied, leaving the answer in the air, unfinished and mysterious.
With a shake of his head, he helped me out of bed, guiding me downstairs. It was time for afternoon coffee, and the whole family was gathered in the living room.
As I walked down the stairs, I felt every bone in my body throb with pain. The transformation had taken its toll, leaving my body sore and weak. But the physical pain was just a reflection of the emotional pain that consumed me. The first time, I didn”t feel so sore.
I sat at the table, surrounded by familiar faces, but feeling more alone than ever. The scene of Victor being silenced by Julian”s brutal slap still echoed in my mind, filling me with anger and helplessness. The pain of loss and the frustration of not being able to do anything to save Victor consumed me inside.
Silence hung in the air, heavy and oppressive. No one dared to speak, as if they were afraid of breaking the spell that trapped us in that moment of grief and anguish.
Suddenly, my father, Reid, looked up and broke the silence.
— Victor died and we were unable to save his offspring. Julian has been exiled and will pay for his crimes. — His words sounded like a final blow, confirming what everyone already knew.
A murmur went around the table, expressing the family”s sadness and indignation. Andrey, my father”s wife”s eldest son, was the first to speak out.
— I think everyone should have the chance to choose their own destiny. — His voice was firm, full of conviction.
My father looked at him sternly.
— They should, Andrey. We have tried this, but the divorce rate has increased drastically. That”s why marriages are made like this in the city, under an agreement and for eternity. This way, no one gets separated.
— Of course, and it doesn”t matter if the omegas are suffering, does it? — Javier challenged, his eyes shining with fury.
My father looked at him disapprovingly.
— I care about the omegas, Javier, but understand that I am the leader and I have to act like this. And the rule will be no different for my son Ethan.
A chill ran down my spine. I didn”t want to marry an alpha I didn”t know, who I didn”t love. I wanted to be free to choose my own destiny, to love whoever I wanted.
But I knew I had no choice. My father was the leader, and his word was law. I was trapped in a web of tradition and obligation, unable to escape.
The family meeting ended in an atmosphere of tension and sadness. Each retreated to their quarters, carrying their own thoughts and concerns. I felt lost and desperate, not knowing what the future held for me.
That night I lay in bed, unable to sleep. The image of Victor haunted me, and the idea of ??marrying a stranger filled me with dread. I felt like a bird trapped in a cage, without wings to fly, without freedom to live.
The night dragged on like a wounded snake, every second feeling like an eternity. My body felt heavy, as if it were bound by invisible chains. The mind was a whirlwind of thoughts, each one more distressing than the last.
Suddenly, a familiar sound snapped me out of my daze. It was the bedroom door opening. I raised my head and saw Javier entering, his eyes full of compassion.
—Ethan? — He called, his voice always soft. - I can enter?
I nodded, not knowing what to say. He walked over to the bed and sat down next to me, his fingers gently touching my arm.
— Ethan, I know you”re going through a very difficult time — he smiled. —But you”re not alone, Ethan. I”m here for you. I will never let anything bad happen.
A tightness formed in my chest. Javier”s words gave me a ray of hope, a small light in the middle of the darkness.
- I promise. No one will force you to marry someone you don”t love.
— I accept the laws, I never expected much from myself, the point is that after what I saw at the registry office, I”m afraid that I”m telling the truth and someone will distort my words.
— That won”t happen to you. — Javier hugged me and I remembered the kiss.
My father gave no indication that he would let me stay with someone he liked, and Javier had become strange after the afternoon coffee. Everyone had understood their place, but I doubt everyone will accept it.