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  I’d also heard bad things. Packs where omegas were property, breeding tools only. The name Scarlet-something stuck out in my mind. I wasn’t sure where I’d heard that rumour, but it stuck with me. At least things weren’t that bad, here.

  There were many rumours. Strangest of all was the one about fated mates.

  At first take, it sounded like a joke. Two souls destined for each other, fated to overcome all obstacles, no matter what. That just wasn’t realistic. I thought about every couple I ever knew in this pack. I thought about Otis and Dustin.

  They weren’t fated to be together. They were stuck with each other, and had to make the best of it whether they liked it or not.

  Fated mates was nothing than a myth, a whisper on the lips of shifters who yearned for something greater.

  Maybe it was just another way for them to cope.

  In any case, it wasn’t real. Maybe in some far-off fairy tale land, fated mates existed. But that wasn’t here, not in the real world. Not in Stoneheart pack’s concrete walls.

  I stopped in front of the wall. It was massive, thick concrete and stone, standing forty-feet high. Too high for a human to safely scale. That was what kept us safe.

  It was pathetic. Wolf shifters hiding from humans, like mice cornered in a little cage.

  To me, it wasn’t a way to live. But to the elders, and apparently to Otis and every other omega, it was necessary for survival.

  As if on cue, I heard slow shuffling footsteps behind me. I turned to find one of the pack elders, Marlowe, standing behind me. He wore a cautious but kind smile.

  “Good evening, omega Gabriel,” he said.

  “Good evening.”

  “The new moon grows ever closer,” Marlowe murmured.

  Don’t I know it, I thought with a mental roll of my eyes.

  Marlowe drew closer to me and put a hand on my shoulder. “My child, I’m concerned for you.”

  I wasn’t literally his child, but he might have been related to me. He was an omega, too - obviously past the point of breeding. But in his prime, he must have sired many children. There were records in the library of everyone’s ancestry that could be freely accessed by any new couple to make sure they avoided inbreeding. I’d never bothered checking since I hadn’t mated, and my parents died when I was young, so I didn’t have any information or stories from them. For all I knew, this guy could’ve been my great-grandpa or something.

  “I know,” was all I could say. I wasn’t keen on having this same conversation again, but at least it was a nice old omega instead of Dustin alphasplaining it to me.

  Marlowe hummed, then squeezed my shoulder. “The way we do things here… it might not seem fair to a young pup like you.”

  I didn’t say anything. I couldn’t deny that.

  “But the rules keep us safe,” Marlowe continued.

  I couldn’t help myself this time. “What part of sending omegas out there to their death is safe?”

  I knew I shouldn’t have said that. I winced immediately, expecting a reprimand. But Marlowe just sighed.

  “It works,” he said simply, with an air of sadness.

  “What do you mean?”

  Marlowe stared at the wall. His white beard rustled in the soft breeze. “The omegas know they only have two choices. And who would choose death?” He turned to look at me. “It’s not so bad, you know, pup. There are nice alphas. They will take care of you.”

  I was getting brave with my replies now. “You don’t know that.”

  “Perhaps.” Marlowe shrugged. “I could always be wrong. But so could you.”

  I paused and stared at the wall, too. Maybe I was wrong. Maybe there was a nice alpha in this pack ready to dote on little-old-me. And knock me up.

  “Maybe my fated mate is out here somewhere in the pack, huh?” I said.

  Instantly Marlowe stiffened. He turned to me, eyes wide with outrage and fear. “Do not say those words.”

  The words fell from his lips like lead. I’d never seen him so frightened and serious.

  “What words? Fa-”

  “Do not speak them!”

  We both went silent. Wind howled outside the walls.

  “They are forbidden,” Marlowe began, speaking quietly. He raised his hands. “We do not say those words here.”

  I crossed my arms. “Is this another pack rule?”

  “This is not a laughing matter,” Marlowe continued. “We can’t afford to let those words spread.”

  I was getting tired of constantly being shut down for my skepticism tonight. “Why?” I asked firmly.

  Marlowe frowned. “We cannot afford to have omegas searching for a fated mate that does not exist.”

  Realization dawned on me. I knew exactly what he was saying - that omegas shouldn’t dream of better things. That they should sit down and accept their lives the way they were. That they should settle for whatever alpha came their way. That they should keep their heads down and shut up.

  I wasn’t surprised. But I sure was angry.

  “I see,” I said stiffly. “Well, whatever.”

  “Please understand, my child,” Marlowe said, reaching out for me.

  I swatted his hand away. “Understand what?”

  “This is all for our own good.”

  That made me snap.

  “I’ve heard that enough for one night,” I growled before storming off.

  Marlowe didn’t bother calling after me, but I felt his eyes boring into the back of my skull until I disappeared from view.

  My sleep was fitful. Even inside my room, inside the pack’s walls, wind roared against my windows, making them tremble. A big storm was coming.

  That’s just great.

  It was early afternoon. After my fun little chat with Marlowe last night, I ended up going to a bar and having a drink - just one. Pack rules. It was enough to get me mildly tipsy and clear my head until I went home, jacked off, and fell asleep late in the early morning hours.

  Tonight, the moon would disappear from the sky, leaving it empty and blackened.

  I had a decision to make.

  There was a knock on my door. Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed, dressed myself, and ran downstairs.

  I was greeted not-so-warmly by the faces of three pack elders, including Marlowe. But while Marlowe only looked a bit disappointed and maybe saddened, the other two looked righteously pissed off.

  “Omega Gabriel,” one of the stern alpha elders began, “are you aware tonight will be a new moon?”

  Gee, no sir, it hadn’t occurred to me. “Yes, I am.”

  “And are you aware,” he continued, “that failure to choose an alpha mate before midnight will result in your banishment from Stoneheart pack?”

  Really? Golly, sir, I’ll get right on that. “Yes, I’m aware.”

  The stunned, horrified look on his face was almost funny. Almost.

  I noticed now that a small crowd had gathered in front of my house, watching the drama unfold. Omegas and alphas alike - with a spark of recognition, I saw Otis and Dustin among them, watching tensely.

  The other alpha elder tried to reason with me. “The time to choose is now. For your own sake, look among the suitors and decide. There is not a man among them that would not make a good mate for you, omega.”

  My lip wrinkled in disdain. Sure, and these crotchety old guys were the judges of that, right? Not like they had to spend the rest of their lives with some random alpha or anything.

  “I’m afraid none of them appeal to me, sir,” I said.

  Stunned silence. He looked at me like I told him I’d just grown a pair of wings out of my ass.

  “None of them appeal to you,” the second elder muttered, echoing my words. “We’ll see about that.”

  I raised a brow as he stalked off.

  Marlowe reached for my hand. “Please, my child. I know it seems difficult now, but you can learn to enjoy it. You could have a good life here.”

  I bristled. What was with all these people telling me
how to live my life? I could have a good life? What a reassuring promise.

  “Look. No disrespect to you, my elders, but I don’t want to mate. There isn’t a single alpha in this pack I have a connection to, and especially not a strong enough connection to want to have a baby with. I’m sorry.”

  The first alpha elder shook his head, staring down at me. “It is I who is sorry. Come midnight, should you not have a mate, you face banishment from the safety of these walls.”

  I crossed my arms and firmly asked, “Why?”

  In the crowd, Otis and a few others gasped. Dustin’s jaw dropped.

  “W-why!?” the elder sputtered. “Boy, are you mad?”

  “Not insane, but a little bit angry, yes.”

  “Not insane, he says,” the elder muttered before exploding, “That’s what this is! This is insanity! Acting this way!”

  “Tell me why,” I repeated firmly. “Why do I have to be kicked out for refusing to fuck some alpha?”

  I thought Otis was going to pass out. Meanwhile, Marlowe shook his head in disappointment, and the alpha elder stared at me with what could only be described as frothing rage.

  “Your audacity shall be your downfall,” he spat, wagging a finger at me. “Don’t say we didn’t warn you! No one will answer your screams when the humans lay their hands on you!”

  With that, he stormed off, radiating anger and disgust.

  Marlowe frowned at me with sad eyes. He said nothing as he joined the other elders in returning to the council building.

  The crowd dispersed slowly, all keeping their eyes on me, as if frightened. Only Otis and Dustin remained at the end, and Dustin had a had around Otis’ upper arm, like he was going to whisk him away at the first sign of trouble from me.

  “Gabriel…” Otis whimpered. “Please reconsider. You’re my best friend and I don’t want to lose you.”

  I sighed. “You’re my best friend, too, Otis. But I’m not letting myself be bullied into a life I don’t want.”

  “Why?” His voice cracked. “A life you don’t want is better than no life at all.”

  I raised a brow, glancing from Dustin back to Otis. “You’re saying you don’t like your life with Dustin?”

  “N-no, that’s not what I meant,” Otis said.

  “What’s the matter with you?” Dustin asked, more gently than I expected. “Do you have a medical problem or something? Is there some other reason you don’t want to mate?”

  “Are you asking me if I’m infertile?”

  “Yes.”

  I crossed my arms. “I don’t know. I’ve never been tested and I’ve never mated.”

  “Then you should just give up and pick an alpha. Nobody’s going to willingly walk out there just to die. Not even you,” Dustin said. “You put on a brave face, but you’re scared on the inside.”

  “Are you my psychologist now?” I spat.

  Dustin frowned. “No. But my mate’s worried about you, so I am too.”

  Otis looked like he was about to cry again. All the anger evaporated from me. My shoulders sagged and I muttered, “Just leave me alone,” before shutting my door.

  Later that afternoon, there was another knock. Probably the elders again telling me to get off my ass and start parading it around, quick!

  Instead, I was greeted by a semi-familiar face. I squinted at the young alpha standing at my door. He was around my age with a big cocky grin.

  “Hello?” I said.

  “Hi, Gabriel,” he said, taking a step inside my door before I could stop him. I staggered back, taken by surprise.

  “Um. Who are you? And is there a reason you’re in my house?” I asked. I squared my shoulders and stood directly in front of him. If he was going to tramp inside my front foyer, the least he could do was take his shoes off. Not that I particularly wanted him inside my house because I didn’t even know who he was.

  The alpha paused. “I’m Jared. You don’t recognize me? I’ve seen you around the pack before. Well. Everyone knows who you are now, but I did sort of know you before then.”

  So, that’s what this is about, I thought bitterly.

  “Who sent you?” I asked.

  Jared frowned. “Dustin did.”

  I growled. “Look. I appreciate you trying to help, but I’m not interested.”

  Confusion crossed Jared’s face. “Trying to help…? Sweetheart, you need an alpha. I’m not sure if you get that.”

  My skin crawled at the overly-familiar pet name. “Oh, trust me, it’s hard to forget when everyone keeps shoving it in my face. Now please get out.”

  Jared’s attitude changed immediately. He went from confident alpha to cruel bully in the blink of an eye.

  “You’ll die out there,” Jared muttered darkly. “No alpha, no pack to protect you… You’re dead meat.”

  “Thanks for the concern.”

  Jared scoffed and backed out of my doorway. “No wonder alphas don’t want to mate with you, loser. You don’t deserve this pack.”

  I shut my eyes as Jared slammed my front door. I stood there for a moment, collecting myself. I didn't know whether I wanted to scream or burst into tears. Probably both.

  I locked the door, prayed no one else would knock on it, then retreated to my room. I spent maybe half an hour sobbing quietly under the covers and feeling sorry for myself. The reality of what was happening crashed into me hard. I was going to be banished from my pack - the pack that I was born and raised in. They were throwing me to the humans. And for what? Because I dared defy their stupid traditions. Surely I couldn’t be the only omega to do so?

  I must be. I’ve never heard of anyone else except Loni, and we all know how well that turned out.

  I groaned and wiped my face on my pillow. The tears had stopped coming. Just as well. I had a headache from crying and was pissed off about it.

  I sat up in bed and stared out my window. From here, I could see the wall - looming like a villain.

  Frowning, I got up and started angrily shoving clothes into a backpack. That was enough sitting around, moping and doing nothing. Now, if I was really going to go through with this and face the outside world, I needed a plan.

  A backpack full of clothes and non-perishable food would have to do.

  I glared at the wall from my room.

  I was a wolf, damnit. And the people outside were just humans. I was going to make it on my own, whether my pack wanted me to or not.

  As evening fell, I left without a single goodbye.

  The only person who deserved one was Otis. Maybe Marlowe, too. But the rest of my pack seemed keen to throw me to the wolves - or humans, as it were.

  I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of seeing me go. I refused. I would escape under the cover of darkness, and leave them wondering about what happened to me. Maybe they would think I died. Maybe they’d think I survived out there, somehow.

  Maybe I’d get torn to shreds like Loni did, and they’d all hear my screams.

  That’s just a story, I reminded myself. I’d been repeating that in my mind ever since I committed to my escape plan. Nobody actually knew what happened to Loni, right? Only the wall guards. And maybe the information got warped in a fucked up in the chain somehow.

  I hope.

  As I slunk closer to the wall’s main door, I heard a commotion within the pack, close to where my home was. People were banging on my front door, either begging or commanding me to come out. Otis was probably among them, pleading for me to give it up already.

  Sorry, Otis. Your friend is too much of a stubborn ass.

  I figured the elders were putting in a last-ditch effort to try and get me to pick an alpha. Maybe they would force an alpha on me. Like hell I was gonna stick around and find out.

  I was glad for the commotion, though - it meant there were less eyes on the door, and nobody saw a cloaked omega unlock the door’s mechanism and slink out. The door shut behind me with a mechanical hiss. I knew the door locked automatically from the inside, so there was no danger of raiders
entering the door the same way I left it.

  Except for the wind, it was quiet outside. The commotion inside the pack was swallowed up by the walls. Above me, there was no moon in the night sky. Just an endless starry blackness.

  I stood there for a moment, taking it all in. I wasn’t as jumpy as I thought I’d be. This wasn’t so bad. There was nothing to be afraid of - the landscape was just a stretch of thick forest, without a soul to be seen.

  “I guess I better start walking,” I murmured to myself.

  I got as far as the tree line before things went to hell.

  It was my fault. I wasn’t paying attention. The wind was louder outside the walls, crooning deeply through the trees like a dying animal. The forest was full of strange sounds, ones I didn’t recognize, and ones I didn’t think were important. I didn’t hear the footsteps until it was too late.

  The silence broke. The cries of raiders filled the air. They erupted from the bushes and tree trunks, swinging weapons above their heads, and every single one converged on me.

  I screamed before I knew what was happening. My body reacted instantly.

  My wolf clawed its way to the surface, all panic and adrenaline. My body transformed, flesh turning into fur, teeth to fangs.

  All four of my paws touched the ground and I ran. My life depended on it.

  The raiders were hot on my tail. Their shouts filled the air, loud and cacophonous. They spoke English words, but I was in too much of a terrified daze to understand them. My heart thumped a mile a minute as I ran desperately through the trees.

  But the raiders knew these woods better than I did. Even in my wolf form, I was no match for them.

  A single wolf against dozens of armed humans. I couldn’t win. What a joke. What an idiot I’d been.

  A spear grazed my flank and I yelped, turning hard. A second one whizzed by my face. In my confusion, I paused. That was all the opportunity they needed.

  A man leapt on me, throwing his arms fiercely around my neck and hanging on tight as I tried to buck him off.

  “I got it! Grab it now!” he shouted.

  The others swarmed me. Hands all over me. I was smothered, trapped.