Omega

The outline of the Zircon pack was different and unlike anything, Raine had ever seen before. She looked around in wonder and amazement, marveling, and in awe of the territory. Her earlier discretion lay forgotten as she took in the beauty all around.

Atticus opened the car door and got out. Raine followed suit wincing at the discomfort and pain of moving with all the sores marring her body.

Two wolves rushed out of what she guessed was the pack house and shook hands with Atticus. None of them smiled and Raine's heart dropped further as she thought of more problems arising because of her arrival.

"Come on," Atticus guided her into the house as they followed the wolves that came out to greet them. They opened the door and went in.

Raine gasped in surprise. An audience was waiting for them. She hadn't been prepared to have them welcome her. They probably thought her father was sending some high-profile wolf as a symbol of the peace treaty. Her stomach dropped further again knowing she could be punished for wasting their time when it wasn't even her fault.

She recognized some of the faces from the moon dance. One in particular stood out to her. She didn't know his name or his rank, but she guessed he was the beta of the pack, judging from the dominant beta vibes rolling off him. But she didn't see the alpha anywhere.

The piercing eyes of the beta bore into her making her squirm on her spot. She pressed herself into Atticus' side in a bid to hide. It did nothing to spare her from the beta's unending stare.

A creak sounded from somewhere above and Raine looked up to see a flight of stairs and at the apex was Alpha Nikolai.

Air swooshed out of her at the sight of him. She could never get used to seeing the magnificence that is Alpha Nikolai. His face was masked by the cruelty running in his veins. His eyes blazed with unspoken anger at the sight of her. She looked away immediately as he descended.

Nikolai crowded the room with his presence. Even his wolves backed up at the sight of him. He stood in front of Raine and crossed his arms regarding her with a narrowed gaze filled with suspicion.

"What's this?" He finally asked.

Atticus cleared his throat and stepped forward. Raine mentally commended him for his bravery. She would have never summoned enough courage to look Nikolai in the eye.

"I am Atticus. The begotten Beta of Alpha Tiki of the night pack. I have come to deliver our end of the bargain and to hand over the peace treaty. I am to ensure that you will keep your end of the bargain and not wage war against our pack."

Raine watched as amusement flashed in Nikolai's eyes. Those same eyes slid to her and regarded her again. He looked like he was trying to find something in her. Raine didn't know what he was looking for.

He took a step towards her and fear slammed through her. She stumbled backward out of reflex and instinct to protect herself. Her steps missed and she fell to the floor hitting her backside against the wooden panel.

"Ow," she grumbled as sensations from every part of her body went straight to the pain center in her brain.

Nikolai raised an eyebrow at her pathetic state.

"You bring me an omega wolf as your end of the bargain?" he questioned.

"She's not just-" Atticus tried to defend his stance but Nikolai interrupted him.

"What good is she to me?" He thundered.

"Put her on the battlegrounds or the training field and find out. I'll bet you've never encountered an omega quite as skilled as she is."

"Why don't you show us now?" Nikola demanded.

Raine looked to Atticus and shook her head. She was in no state to duel with a skilled wolf. Not that she lacked confidence in her skills, but she knew her body would betray her.

"The journey was too long. Let her have some rest, then you can put her to the test."

"Gabe," Nikolai called.

The wolf who looked familiar stepped forward and stood beside him. Raine knew she had been right. He is the beta of the pack and his name is Gabe. The way he looked at her, she knew he hated her and that they wouldn't get along. She almost cried out at the thought. Her only consolation remained that her entire family was far away from her.

"Show her to her new quarters. Make sure Lola shows her the tropes and ropes of everything she has to do while she's here." Atticus ordered.

"Hey," Atticus called. "Raine is the symbol of our bargain. I won't let you treat her like a slave."

"If you had given us a substantial wolf, then your flimsy outburst might have been considered. Leave. Your mission in my territory is over. In the next five minutes, you will be an invader. And as a begotten beta, I'm sure you know what that means for you." Nikolai mocked.

He turned around and ascended back up the stairs till he disappeared being the door he had come out of.

Atticus helped Raine to get on her feet and folded her into a warm embrace. Raine wrapped her hands around his waist and closed her eyes breathing in his soothing scent, one last time.

"Tell Tyrion that he can be with Belly now," Raine said.

"I'm afraid that won't be possible. Once the treaty is over, you will come home. And your betrothal to Tyrion would still stand." Atticus explained.

"I can't get out of it when while I'm here?" Raine asked, disappointment heavily lacing her tone.

Atticus released her and shook his head.

"I'll try to talk to Father and break it off before you get home. My five minutes is up. Be good, okay?"

Raine nodded and watched his retreat as he went to the car and drove off. I shed tears blurred her vision but she watched on until she could no longer see the tails of the car.

"Let's go." Someone snapped behind her. She was startled and turned around to find Gabe. He must have been watching her all along and waiting to take her to her new quarters as Nikolai requested.

Raine nodded and picked her duffel bag from the floor. No words were further exchanged between them. He walked briskly while she struggled to follow and keep up.

They got to a bigger house about two blocks away from the pack house. It wasn't as beautiful as the other structures she had seen earlier, but it was better than what they had back home. The entire territory oozed superiority.

Gabe opened the door and went in. The entire population of omega wolves quieted down at the sight of him.

"Lola," he called.

A female wolf who looked to be in her early fifties with hints of grey hair answered and appeared before them.

"A new wolf. Teach her everything she needs to know. No mistakes." He ordered.

"Of course, beta." She took a bow and turned to Raine.

"You are welcome to the omega house of the Zircon pack."

Her smile was kind and hopeful but Raine knew to be wary of such smiles. Back home, she had always fallen victim to such deception.

"What is your name, child?" Lola asked.

"Raine."

"Such a beautiful name. Come." She turned to leave and Raine moved to follow, but Gabe grabbed her wrist and roughly drew her back towards him.

"Why don't I smell you? You are a wolf yet you have no scent. Why is that?" He asked staring into her eyes.

"Maybe your wolf's nose is broken and he can't make out smells anymore." Raine fired at him mustering all the confidence and bravery she could. Who knew what they would do to her if they found out she was defective? Her insides quivered as Gabe scrutinized her.

"Or maybe, you are not an omega as you claim. Maybe you don't have a wolf at all." He deadpanned.

Raine struggled to maintain a neutral expression while she freaked out on the inside. She held his eyes for as long as she could before looking away meekly and timidly.

"I have a wolf. But she is weak. Very weak. Sometimes it feels like I don't have one at all. That's why you can't sense her." She explained sounding sad and beat up.

Gabe nodded and released her.

"Do your best to stay out of trouble then." He walked out of the omega house.

Raine sucked in a huge breath of relief. Lola was still at the bottom of the stairs waiting patiently. She gave Raine another kind smile which she returned.

Lola brought Raine to a dormitory. A lot of wolves mingled around. Both male and female. Raine looked around at the chaos.

"This is yours." Lola pointed out an empty bunk for her to occupy.

"You are on kitchen duty. Be there by six am sharp and I will show you the work details."

Raine nodded and Lola left her alone. The omegas buzzed all around her but she just put her head against her pillow and closed her eyes.

Maybe her life would turn out better without the stigma of being defective. Or so she thought. At this point, she had no idea what life had in store for her and the things to come.