Chapter 5

Third Person's POV 

Weston was frustrated that Timothy's Alpha refused to discuss any deals on the Omega until it was time to release all of them. Thankfully, they didn't have to wait much longer, and before they knew it, it was time to release the Omegas.

Weston hated this part, and so did the rest of his pack. The Omegas from visiting packs had to remain isolated until it was time for them to come out. Once they came out, it was their turn to see if they had a mate there. You could see the hope in their eyes, but you could also see fear. Fear of the unknown. If they have a mate, will he reject or accept them? If he does accept them, will he be nice, or will he use and abuse them like most people do? 

It wasn't as heartwarming and glamorous for the Omegas to find their mates, but it was worse when they didn't. Any Omegas left without a mate were free grabs for anyone who needed a breeder. 

The Omegas file out of the pack house and nervously walk through the crowd. Their noses flared and their hands were out, letting their fingers touch each person they walk past in case their nose doesn't pick up on their mate's scent. 

Timothy nibbles on his lip as he looks back at Milo. He was terrified of finding a mate. He didn't want to go out there in case he had one. He didn't want anyone but Milo. His heart belonged to him and only him. 

Tears formed in his eyes, and he swallowed thickly before walking forward. The deeper into the crowd he got, meant the more people he passed that wasn't his mate. His heart thrummed in his chest, praying he made it without one. The Omega could barely breathe by the time he made it past the last of the crowd and could stand in the group of waiting Omegas, available as breeders. 

Once Timothy was in that group, a whole new fear overcame him. What if his Alpha doesn't allow Weston to buy him as a breeder? What if he decides to keep him, or worse, what if he decides to let someone else buy him as a breeder? He knows if that happens, he'll never see Milo again. The Omega silently prays, hoping his Alpha will sell him to Weston. 

Milo stood back with the other unavailable Omegas. He watched as Weston quickly crossed the field and stood in front of Timothy. His fingers twisted and pulled at Nikolai's shirt, nibbling on his lip as he watched Timothy's Alpha approach them.

He couldn't hear the Alpha or Weston speaking. As an Omega, his hearing wasn't as good, just like his other werewolf senses. His heart sank when he saw frustration on Weston's face. He could hear Weston raising his voice as he pointed at Timothy, and even from this distance, he could see tears building in Timothy's eyes. 

The Omega whimpered, fearing this was it and he would never see his love again. Would the love they shared earlier be their last? 

Nikolai grabbed Milo when he tried to run to them. Just as he did, Timothy's knees buckled, and he began to drop to the ground. Weston was quick to scoop him off the ground and into his arms. The Omega wrapped his arms around the Delta one as he walked toward Nikolai and Milo. 

“What happened? Did he let you buy him?” Nikolai asked, and Weston nodded. “ Yeah. He scared me for a minute. I thought he wasn't going to let me buy him, but he was just fucking with me. He's ours! He's free,” Weston said. Before he could set the Omega on his feet, they heard Alpha Jeffrey's angry voice rising over the crowd.

“Stone Crest Pack, where are your Omegas?” Alpha Jeffrey pointed at the group of Omegas while scanning the crowd.

Nikolai and Weston looked at each other before setting the Omegas down and pushing them toward each other. 

“Go to the safe room with the rest of the Omegas, and don't come out until you're told it's safe!” Nikolai said before pushing them toward the pack house. As soon as Nikolai stood, he spun around, and the two took off toward their Alpha, who was approaching Alpha Jeffrey.  

“What can I help you with, Jeffrey?” Alpha Victor asked, his tone sounding bored. 

“Don't play dumb with me! Where are your Omegas? I see everyone else's Omegas but yours! They were out here to look for their mates, and now they're gone!”

Alpha Victor sighed as he nodded. 

“That's because my Omegas have free will here. If they don't want to be a breeder, they don't have to be one. They were told to go inside if their mate wasn't here, and they didn't want to be a breeder,” Victor said, and Alpha Jeffrey's eyes widened. He stepped back and looked to the other Alpha's for support, which he quickly gained. They stepped forward, which gave Jeffrey the courage to step up to Victor. 

“You can run your pack however you want, and you can let those Omegas do whatever they want here, but during this celebration, you will obey the rules that have been in place for hundreds of years! Now get those Omegas out here before we drag them out!” Alpha Jeffery said angrily.

Leonard's eyes glaze over as he gives his command through the link, and within seconds, guards surround the pack house and the party. Leonard's eyes return to normal, and he stands ready by his Alpha’s side as the commander, ready to fight for his Alpha. 

“I think you've mistaken me for an Alpha you can easily scare and threaten, but I can assure you, I am not that Alpha!” Victor said as he stood taller, his eyes flickering with the golden color of his Alpha wolf's eyes as he pushed forward with him. His Aura rolled off of him in waves, showing his strength. 

Alpha Jeffrey stepped back when he felt Victor's aura pulsing against him. It was much stronger than his or any Alpha he knew. He knew Victor was strong, but he didn't realize he was that strong. It was alarming, and any confidence he had disappeared in an instant. 

“Now, we can either continue this lovely evening, or we can end it, and everyone goes home, or, we can end it the hard way, and most of you never go home,” Victor said firmly, his aura pulse stronger, rolling into the crowd and forcing lower ranks to bare their necks. 

Victor felt his presence before he touched his shoulder. He was relieved and had begun to wonder if he would ever show up. Victor's lips curled up when he saw the confusion in everyone's eyes as they landed upon the Alpha beside him. 

“Gentleman! I'm sorry for my tardiness. The packhouse isn't complete, so we haven't moved in just yet,” Alpha Arthur said as he wrapped his arm around Victor's shoulders and flashed everyone a lopsided grin. 

Everyone was surprised Arthur was moving his pack to the upper peninsula. But that wasn't the most shocking part; he chose the large piece of unclaimed land north of Victor's pack. Rogue territory. This large, unclaimed section was rogue territory. No one dared to build on it unless they wanted trouble with the rogues.

Arthur's pack isn't in the peninsula; it's near Brighton, Michigan. It was the perfect place for a pack until humans began building more homes and shops. The more they cut away into the woods, the more their territory near Baur and Teahen Road of Hamburg Township felt smaller and less secluded. 

Because of this, Alpha Arthur has been searching for the perfect new location for their pack. 

It was by chance they ran into each other at the Alpha convention. Arthur hardly attends them, but he happened to attend one that year. 

After missing five Alpha conventions in a row, he was ordered by the elders to attend that year. 

Because there are so many Alphas around the world, they're not able to host everyone at the same time. Therefore, everyone is randomly selected for a designated weekend. But, Arthur was busy on his designated weekend. 

The Alpha doesn't care much about the elders' rules and tends to make his own. This is what sparked a new friendship between Arthur and Victor… They both share the same beliefs. 

Their shared beliefs led Arthur to choose where his pack would move. After carefully scouting the area, he surprised everyone by choosing the least desirable place: rogue territory. 

Everyone knew he was moving into the area, but no one thought for a second he would make friends with the Alpha everyone wanted to kill. 

This complicated their plan to kill Victor. 

Not only does Arthur not give a shit about rules, but his pack is almost as big as Victor's, and his army of warriors is known to be undefeated. They claim his cold heart is what fuels his pack and leads his people to fight harder and become stronger.

Looking at the man himself, which many have not had the pleasure of, was quite intimidating, especially alongside Victor. 

“I'm sorry, my friend; I should have been here earlier,” Arthur said, pulling Victor against his side with his left hand and patting his shoulder with his right hand. He then turned his attention forward and exaggerated it as he scanned the crowd, his eyebrows knitting together with false concern.

“What's going on? Why does the tension feel so high? Is something wrong?” Arthur asked, pulling Victor tighter against his side. 

Victor mentally rolled his eyes at Arthur's exaggerated attempt to show everyone they were friends. However, he was surprised at how well it worked. Several Alphas walked away, and Jeffrey stumbled over his words, unable to get anything out. It was quite sad and, honestly, a relief when he was finally jerked away from them by another Alpha who struggled not to glare at them. 

“I'm sorry! Did I say something wrong? Arthur asked as the Alphas walked away.

“Did I forget deodorant?” Arthur asked even louder, lifting his right arm and sniffing his armpit before looking around innocently.

Victor elbowed Arthur before turning them away from the crowd and scolding him for almost making him laugh. 

“You are seriously too much! I was this close to laughing! You can't do that to me!” Victor said, and Arthur laughed. 

“I'm sorry I was late. I didn't anticipate the traffic, but I forgot about humans and their love for coming up north on the weekends. It was absolutely ridiculous! Every Tom, Dick, and Arthur was heading up north this lovely Friday evening!” Arthur said, flashing a smile. Victor reached up, and with his fingers spread apart, he placed them on Arthur's face and shoved him back. 

Arthur laughed as he swatted his hand away, gripping Victor so he wouldn't fall backward. 

Victor pulled them to a stop when he turned and finally saw how many warriors were guarding the pack house and his people. It wasn't just his warriors, but all of Arthur's warriors too.

Victor's breath stuttered as he stepped back, pulling Arthur with him. Arthur placed his hand on Victor's chest. 

“I told you I had your back and wasn't lying. If I can help change things, I'm here!” Arthur said with an innocent smile that had Victor smiling back. He's still trying to wrap his head around this Alpha. He's as strong as he is, and his pack is almost as big. Yet at times, Arthur acts like a child, cracking jokes and making him laugh. 

It's been a while since Victor's pack had a good alliance. But it feels like so much more. It feels like the beginning of a lifelong friendship.