Two

Damien

The moment I laid my eyes on my mate,my heart froze like a marble statue. Blinking rapidly to be sure I wasn't dreaming, there was only one thought on repeat in the back of my mind– “What have I done to deserve this from the moon goddess?”

When I asked the girl to leave, or rather, when I was sending my fated mate to die, I didn't think about the consequences of my actions.

"Are you insane?" My wolf yelled at me. "She's our one shot at happiness!"

Sorrow and guilt ate away at me like cancer. In the back of my mind, my wolf screamed at me to do something, anything to save the girl. 

Though her skin was covered with boils, she was a slim, delicate beauty, with almost transparent crystal-blue eyes that were now glassy with tears. She shivered under my stare, whimpering in fear as she backed away.

"Please help me."

The weakness and brokenness of her voice made my wolf jump inside me, begging me to mark our territory. 

 It was insane that the moon goddess paired an Alpha and Tribe leader of over one hundred and five werewolf provinces with a dirty looking omega.

"Look beyond the dirt! Look beyond her sores, she's perfect and I want her!" My wolf screamed in my ears while she whimpered, broken with pain.

My heart pounded against my ears and I shook my head in an attempt to get rid of my wolf's voice. I've never heard of Alphas marking Omegas and the consequences were almost too much to bear.

My gaze landed on the girl's wildly tousled straw-colored hair and her thick, wet lashes. There was something about her that unlocked my heart and soul in a way that I never thought possible. 

I wanted to help her, but I couldn't. If I bit her, it would seal the mating bond between us and mark the beginning of my downfall. 

"I… I can't mark you," I said to her and turned away. "Please leave and never return."

***

Ten hours earlier 

The gallant pack warriors were in a celebratory mood after we successfully defeated our enemies, the Silver Syndicates. Pleased that the battleground was littered with fallen beasts, we roared in victory. 

The human part of me felt a little sadness when I saw young wolves howling their last and their burnt flesh littering the ground. 

But all is fair in love and war. In killing our enemies, we gave life to our pack. 

"All hail the Alpha!"

The head warrior's gruff deep voice filled the air. He was almost seven feet tall, with a body trained to hunt, fight and kill.

A loud cheer followed his words and I smiled at the sight of my warriors doing a victory dance in a circle. Shouts of joyful cheers, hugs, and high-fives filled the air among my warriors. I was proud, deeply satisfied, and happy for the first time in months.

I shifted back to my human form, my teeth sensitive from the fierce battle. Covered in grime, I desperately needed a bath.

Leo, my efficient Beta/friend, rushed towards me, wearing a wide grin that could light up the entire forest and squeezing me in a tight hug.

"HOLY WOLFSBANE! Damien, that was some sick move out there."

"Get off me," I rolled my eyes in mock annoyance and pulled away from him. "I don't hug dry-chested males."

"This is a major win, Alpha. Be happy."

"I am," I deadpanned. "I don't have to hop around like a chicken with its head cut off."

Leo laughed. "Fine, I think a good shot of vodka and a hot fuck might do you some good."

"Right," I scoffed. "The last time I followed your suggestion, I ended up slammed with a pregnancy from someone who isn't my mate."

Leo's laughter died. He opened his mouth to speak but I cut him off, raising my head upon hearing the sound of hurried footsteps approaching us. A guard from the border arrived, panting and sweating. 

"Long live the Alpha," the guard heaved, struggling to catch his breath. "Logan, the Omega elder, is begging to see you. He says it's an emergency."

Leo, overprotective as always, stepped forward, irritated. "What does that old fool want?"

"He didn't say," the guard bowed. 

"I'll handle this, Damien. You don't need to be bothered with an Omega."

 I raised a hand, speaking firmly. "Send him here. Let's hear what he has to say."

Leo shot me an annoyed look but stepped aside. Logan arrived and dropped to his knees, his frail frame trembling with fear.

"Alpha Damien, please," he pleaded with hands clasped. "You have to help us. Our young ones defied the rules by visiting the Wild Oaks, and now they're suffering from a severe illness. Only your bite can heal them."

I blinked in confusion, trying to understand what he was saying. Everyone knew the Oaks was forbidden territory. 

"My bite?"

Logan nodded vigorously, his eyes pleading. "If we lose all our young ones, the pack would lack strong hands for manual labor in the farms."

Leo growled like an angry bear, "That's your problem. Alpha Damien has more pressing matters to attend to."

I was torn between wanting to help the omegas and not wanting to risk myself. They were omegas after all, and almost useless. 

"Alright, fine." I waved Logan off. "Get them into the pack house this evening.I'll take care of it."

Leo wanted to protest but I shot him a warning glare. "We need them, Leo. If we let them die, it would spell disaster for the entire pack"

The old omega bowed his head in gratitude, thanking me profusely before heading off. 

"You're going to get sick," Leo warned.

 Paying no attention to him, I made my way to the bathroom at the warrior base to freshen up before heading to the pack house.

The pack house; a work of art on a sprawling estate perched on a hill, boasted of fourteen white ultra-modern mansions.

Driving in a black Hilux and several bikes and vans behind me, security guards hailed me and I responded with a cursory nod. Inside, I was greeted by a lavish feast in the foyer.

Females adorned in colorful bracelets and beads danced in a circle. Their beads jingled on their hips as they swayed to the rhythm of the local drums and flute.

Xena, my first love, before the moon goddess paired her with my gamma, poured a bottle of perfumed oil on my feet and wiped with a clean cloth, a customary gesture from my pack mates after a victory.

Pups.,led by my beta's five year old son, rushed towards me. I lifted them joyfully, receiving their variety of gifts in woven baskets, ranging from hand picked flowers to quirky handmade trinkets. The sincerity of these little gifts made them invaluable.

"Long live Alpha Damien!" They chanted. 

 I joined my packmates at the table where food and drinks flowed freely. Anysia, my heavily pregnant girlfriend, rushed towards me with open arms and a beaming grin.

"Damien! Oh gosh, I was so worried I lost you. Are you alright?"

My excitement didn't match hers. I gave her a side hug, instead of the warm embrace and kiss she expected. She froze in her tracks, glaring at me.

 "Seriously? Can't you pretend to be happy with me?"

 I walked away, not in the mood for her rants. Anysia's dad was a billionaire and my biggest business rival who sent his daughter to seduce me on the night when I drank to stupor. The events of that dreadful night were a hazy blur in my mind. I woke up in a strange bed with her naked body beside me. 

When she hit me with the pregnancy news, it felt like a death sentence. I wasn't in love with her. She was a selfish and spoiled brat, but abandoning my child was never an option.

 She was beautiful by all standards, and highly intelligent, but if I knew she was Jones's daughter, I wouldn't have touched her even if she was the last woman on earth.

Later that evening, I stood on the upstairs balcony of the pack house, gazing down at the garden below.

 Thin omegas, wrapped in tattered blankets, walked in a file towards the garden. Their worn and pale faces filled with fear and hopelessness, reflected the extent of their sickness. Soft murmurs filled the air as they whispered to one another.

Interrupting my thoughts, the sound of heels approached. I turned to see Xena standing beside me at the railing, passing me a glass of red wine. 

"Why are the omegas here?"

I explained the situation to her and like Leo, she sounded skeptical. "I hope this doesn't backfire and affect you eventually?"

"You forget easily that I have alpha blood," I chuckled, giving her back a light pat before joining the omegas.

 The omega elders bowed with reverence in their eyes. It was disturbing to watch them treat me with fear and awe as if I were some kind of god.

"Rise. Get them to the warehouse behind you. Let them come in one after the other."

I stood at the entrance of the warehouse, watching as Leo and the pack doctor approached me with Leo carrying a box of hand gloves and a pack of face masks.

"You should wear this," he held out the mask.

I chuckled, shaking my head. "Come on, Leo. You're overreacting. They're just sick omegas."

 "I insist. I'm your Beta and I need to make sure you're safe "

The omegas were brought in, one by one. The first was a young boy, no older than eighteen. The fever had ravaged his body, leaving him weak and pale.

Taking his wrist in my hand. I shut my eyes, focusing on the soft pulse of his blood, and bit down, a gentle graze on the vein. 

He winced for a second then. relaxed. Moments later, I released him and watched as he lay on the bench. 

"How do you feel?" I asked, checking his vitals. He opened his eyes slowly and a small smile built.

"I feel so much better, it's working."

I sighed with relief and continued to bite each of the omegas, one after the other and working tirelessly. My focus was solely on my task until my mate walked in, changing the trajectory of my life forever.