Chapter 2

Alpha Ryker and Evan exchanged shocked looks. In fact they were beyond shocked, they were terrified.

“Is this a prank, dad? Because it's not funny one bit. What do you mean by mate? She's my mate” Evan said.

“Do I look like the type to play pranks, especially on you? Somehow, this omega is my second chance mate” Ryker replied, the confusion clear in his voice.

My eyes kept moving across the both of them, I still couldn't believe what was happening or was I dreaming?

I have always wished for a mate but this? This was madness, it was just not right. What was the moon goddess thinking? I didn't know if I should be terrified or grossed out… or maybe it was both.

Having two mates was considered very rare in the werewolf community, I have only heard of one which was many years ago in books before I was born. It was a mateship between three powerful individuals that birthed the werewolf community and the balance of all creatures of the world. 

That is why this mateship was incredibly strange, I was only an omega with no wolf and was at the bottom of the hierarchy, mate bonds with two alpha wolves was unheard of. The two mates being father and son made it a first in history. 

I felt hopeless at this new discovery, it would definitely take time getting used to it and with the look on the men's faces, I knew it would be almost a miracle. 

“But… How is that possible? I can't believe this” Evan asked, directing his gaze back to me.

“Who are you and why have I never seen you in this house?” Alpha Ryker questioned suspiciously.

I bowed my head slightly as I answered “I…I am Marcelline, I just joined in as a maid”.

The distance between an omega and an alpha is far too big that it is considered disrespectful to be in their presence without permission. Omega were deeply scorned by the other wolves and are bound to a life of labor mostly as slaves, maids or breeders. I could tell at one glance that they didn't like my arrival.

“A maid, an omega is my mate?” Evan chuckled and scoffed, “This has to be a joke” he added.

“You can take her, I am not interested in a second chance mate and definitely not with my son” Ryker said, rejecting me on the spot as well.

Their words cut through me, I felt unwanted…the opposite feeling of finding your mate. I was expecting a rejection but still felt hurt when it came. Was the moon goddess trying to mock me by pairing such a match, what did I ever do to her?

With the two men staring down at me, I finally got my legs to work and I turned to run away. There was no use standing there and everything was still too overwhelming for me. 

I barely got past two steps when I felt a sharp pain tear me up from within, I let out a scream and fell down. I couldn't describe the pain, I have never felt anything like it. I broke out in a sweat and I began feeling hot inside and freezing cold outside.

Alpha Ryker and Evan appeared at my side in an instant but they kept their distance as if the mate bond couldn't let them ignore me in pain.

“What the hell is wrong with her?” Evan asked as I crouched on the ground shivering and teeth clattering.

“... She's shifting” Ryker answered with a tone of realization and shock.

I was shocked to my bones at his words, was I really shifting? 

Omegas were born without wolves hence shifting doesn't exist in their lifetime. I was an omega without a wolf for 20 years and I was shockingly shifting now? 

Today was officially the strangest day of my life. 

“That’s impossible, how can she shift when she is an omega?” I heard Evan ask.

“How would I know either? Aren't we both seeing it together?” Ryker retorted.

“But you are the almighty know-it-all Alpha, you are supposed to these things” Evan countered in a sarcastic voice.

“Oh don't you sass me young man, I am your father and Alpha” Ryker replied, getting pissed off.

“Yeah, I know. You have mentioned it a million times already” Evan tone increased with even more sarcasm.

Their endless bickering seemed to trigger another round of attack, searing pain tore through my body and I let out another scream. 

“We need to help her or she won't survive her first shift” I heard Ryker say. My eyes were closed and my hair mated to my head due to sweat. Opening my eyes or even listening to conversation looked painful so I just laid there whimpering till I felt myself being picked up. 

I did not know who was carrying me but whichever of the men it was, their touch soothed the pain surprisingly. I found myself clutching onto them even though I was being carried bridal style.

After a few minutes, I felt myself being lowered into a bathtub when my legs broke. I cried out in pain and curled up from the excruciating feeling, I knew that the first shift entailed bone reformation but I never knew it would hurt so bad. 

“You are going to have to relax, breathe in and out slowly and embrace your inner wolf” I said Alpha Ryker's voice beside me as he held my hands tightly. I never thought I would say this but his presence helped me keep sane, both their presence calmed me down.

I did as I was told, breathing in and out and trying to embrace the wolf inside me. 

“Marcelline, it's me… your wolf” I heard a voice inside my head… It was my wolf. I lived with wolves ever since I was born so I was very familiar with the shifting process.

“It hurts so much, make it stop” I could only beg at that point, I didn't think I would be able to stay alive if it continued.

“No, Marcy, we can't stop now. I have been forcefully dormant for too long but that's a topic for another time. You will have to grit your teeth and get through this, I'm here to help you through, our handsome mates are here too” the voice was almost like mine but it seemed more experienced and refined. If not for the shifting process, I would have been bursting with happiness about actually having a wolf when I thought I was going to live without one forever.

The next wave came and I started to feel burning hot outside, my skin felt like it was being pricked by a million needles. At first I didn't want to take my clothes off because of the men in the room but when the feeling intensified a few seconds later, I found myself tearing my clothes off of me.

I heard a low growl after I became stark naked but my eyes were sealed shut to know who it was and I had much bigger problems at the moment.

“Fill the tub with cold water” Ryker instructed Evan with a low tone like it was harder to speak and Evan only grunted stiffly and did as instructed.

Was my nakedness affecting them?

I didn't have the time to think about it when my hands broke, followed by my back and stomach… then my chest caved in too.

It happened so fast that I began sobbing with no strength to scream, I felt lightheaded and sleep kept pulling at me.

“Don’t sleep yet, my darling. I promise it's almost over, one last one okay?” my wolf said in a soothing voice.

“Okay” I replied and braced myself.

My head caved in…

Wolf ears, snout, canines, fur… they all came out in their full glory. 

It was then I opened my eyes to see myself in the pool of my own blood mixed with water and my mates standing by the two sides of the tub. I thought I saw pride in their eyes but it disappeared in a second.

I was so tired that Ryker had to help me out of the tub and Evan wrapped a towel on me. 

Wow, such a dream! I actually have a wolf now, I never expected it. 

“Wolf, I'm going to call you Celline. I'll be Marcy and you'll be Celline” I said in a tired and excited voice as I admired my red fur in front of the mirror.

“Celline...I like it” she yipped and I smiled.

“I thought I was an omega with no wolf, how is this really happening?” My expression turned serious as I asked Celline the question that has been on my mind from the onset.

“Oh dear, I do not remember much but I know I was locked up to remain dormant in you by a powerful spell” she answered.

“Like a witch's spell? How is that possible when witches have been extinct for years?” I asked in further confusion.

“I don't really know either but my guess is that the spell was casted to keep me dormant as if I was never there, and only to be broken when we find our mates which we did” she replied in a calculating tone.

“A spell to break when I find my mate? It sounds unbelievable because I am no one special to be worth such complexity and stress” I countered. I don't know about witches but a spell capable of locking up an inner wolf sounded powerful and why would such be casted on me?

“Don’t be so quick to conclude that having two mates with blood relationship is proof that you are anything but normal. I only wonder why such drastic measures were taken by the witch who did this. We will have to dig for the truth ourselves and find out who we truly are” she said in a serious tone that had me thinking about her words.

Something told me this was far from simple.

“Now now, shifting is over but you need to sleep to recover your energy, we'll discuss more after you rest. Go to sleep child” she soothed.

At her words, I began to feel how truly tired I was. My eyes dropped low and felt heavy, all my joints sour and weakened. I slumped to the ground unable to hold my weight, I wanted to ask Celline how she was able to influence me with her words but my mouth was as heavy as bricks.

“Marcelline! Omega!” I could hear the distant voices of my mates calling out to me as I embraced the much needed sleep.

My story was about to change… or perhaps it already has.

***

Loud cheers from outside woke me up. I couldn't tell how long I slept but I woke up feeling very refreshed and new.

I was surprised to wake up in the maids quarters, my mates must have brought me here, I wondered what they said happened to me and what our unique relationship was.

There was no one in, everywhere was strangely quiet except for the noise outside. Was something happening over there?

I quickly got up from my bunk bed and walked out of the room, I only just came out when I saw Martha rounding a corner in a hurry.

“Hey, Martha! Wait!” I called out to her with a loud voice.

She immediately retraced her steps and her eyes lit up when she saw me, “Thank the goddess you are awake. How are you feeling? When the guard brought you here that you fainted while working, I was very worried” 

“Oh… I'm totally fine now, it was probably because I was feeling overwhelmed . By the way, where is everyone?” I asked. I pushed aside the hurt feeling at the thought that my mates didn't bring me themselves. 

“They are all outside, I was heading there too, you should come with…” she said impatiently and excitedly. Whatever was outside must be golden to have everyone pumped up like this.

“I don't understand, what is happening there?” I asked the question that has been on my mind.

“Alpha Ryker and Soon-to-be Alpha Evan are fighting in a life and death duel for the Alpha position” she answered.

Oh no!