CHAPTER 6: COURTING

Gavin perked up at the sound of someone knocking on his door. He waited for a beat, waiting for the sound of the person’s footsteps finally walking away before he eventually moved from where he was sitting on the floor of his shack and carefully opened the door. It’s been a week since he got in this pack and ever since the feast, he never really walked out of his shack, not even once. The bath he had been planning had been pushed back. He’s wary of the people in this pack. He can still remember their gazes, and the sound of their murmurs are still echoing in his ears. Gavin is sure everyone would be staring at him again once he goes. His old pack used to do it, mainly because of his appearance. But this pack has more reasons aside from that. He’s some kind of an unwanted mate but not by his own mate, rather an unwanted pack member, yet again, and an unwanted future Luna. That sucks, he thinks. So, he thinks it would really be best for him if he just stayed in his shack.

The scent of rainwater and something earthy is still lingering on his doorstep as he opened the door. He spotted the tray of food on a small table beside the ladder. He stretched to pick it up, gently placing it on the floor of his shack before closing the door.

He should also mention that if he refused to go out for a week now, Ainar, the alpha also did not miss a single time to deliver him food. It was always him, all the time. And for that, Gavin feels a strange feeling in his chest followed by the feeling of guilt. He’s giving the alpha a hard time. He’s making him go back and forth, delivering him food just because he cannot fix himself to do it. It should be the other way around. He should be the one doing this for the alpha.

His mood soured at his thoughts. A useless omega, his old packmates would say. Their words continued to echo in his head. Maybe they were right, he is useless.

He picked up the bowl of food and the spoon placed on the wooden tray and started eating. He doesn’t know the name of the food they are feeding him, but he always enjoys them. He did not even know he was capable of eating that much. But he always ate in a rush, as if someone would barge into his door anytime to snatch the food from him. He ate fast from habit.

He would have appreciated the food today too. It’s good, he thinks. But the thoughts that have already invaded his mind is dulling his sense of taste, rendering him unable to enjoy. He feels guilty to not enjoy such food.

When he finished eating, he washed down the food with a juice they also sent him. He then arranged everything back to the tray and placed it back to the table outside. Someone would pick it up. And Gavin just has to ignore his guilt from making someone else do things for him before he stands up and do it himself. He laid on his mattress surrounded by his furs, they’re his now. They smell like him. He stared at the ceiling, willing his ugly thoughts away as he listened to the world outside of his shack.

--

Ainar entered the elder’s den where a meeting is ongoing. His father expectantly looked at him, but he only shook his head as he proceeded to sit beside him.

“He still hasn’t gone out?” the Pack Alpha asked. Ainar shook his head and sighed.

“No, Father. But I left his food by his door. At least he is eating,” he replied. His father’s lips are pushed into a thin line, not pleased with the action but understanding.

“It’s been a week Ainar,” an elder, Alpha Antonio, spoke.

“When are you going to mate? Your father is not getting any younger, you need to take over.”

“I know, Elder Antonio, but we can’t rush him. I suppose he is still adjusting to the pack.”

“How long will he take to adjust?” another elder.

“I don’t know. Let’s wait until he’s comfortable—”

“When will he be comfortable, huh? When your father’s old?” of course, Delta Emmanuel.

Ainar sighed once again. He doesn’t know what to do, but he really doesn’t want to rush Gavin into anything.

“I just think he’s still wary of the new pack,” he eventually answered. He has seen Gavin’s body language that night, he had smelled the discomfort and anxiety from him. He is more than just wary.

“He will continue to be wary until you do something. He is an outsider. And he won’t be a member of this pack any time soon if you don’t mate, son,” Alpha Antonio said.

And he was right, Ainar knows he is right.

“Or are you pushing off the mating because you regret your decision now?” Delta Emmanuel suddenly said. Ainar turned to look at him, browse furrowed in confusion.

“What are you talking about?”

“Oh, you know. Maybe you have finally come into your senses and realized that your decision was foolish. Maybe you have realized that choosing an omega as a mate was the most idiotic thing you have ever done.”

A growl erupted from Ainar’s throat. His father quickly held him on his seat, throwing his own glare to the Delta.

“I advise you to watch your words, Delta Emmanuel. I do not like the tone of your voice nor the words you are carelessly spewing out,” Ainar gritted out in warning. The Delta has been testing his patience.

The Delta scoffed.

“Am I wrong?”

“Enough,” the Pack Alpha intervened. The muscles on Ainar’s back are still tensed as he looked at the mocking look of the Delta.

“Emmanuel, you are still talking about this pack’s future Luna, have some respect.”

The Delta only scoffed again in reply.

“Ainar, son,” the Pack Alpha called out to him. His instincts are screaming at him to not look away from the Delta but he eventually peeled his gaze away, focusing on his father.

“Yes, Father?”

“You should talk to Omega Gavin. Some time, soon, if you may. Antonio is right. He needs to be a member of this pack and for that, you have to mate,” his father calmly stated.

Ainar knows and understands this, so he slowly nodded his understanding.

“I understand,” he whispered.

“I am due for the hunt. I must take my leave.”

He slowly stood up from where he was, giving them a slight bow before walking out of the den. He sighed once he was out their sight. He doesn’t know how to break the information to Gavin. The omega surely knows that they have to mate, but maybe he didn’t know it would be this soon.

He decides he will just face the problem later, not a good habit, he knows but he doesn’t know what else to do. He walked to his shack and grabbed his things. He faintly sees an omega walking out of the omegean living space carrying a tray, it must be the one from Gavin. He is glad the omega is at least eating.

He grabbed the things he’ll need for the hunt, a mere sack where he can place his clothes after shifting before leaving to the forest.

--

Ainar is carrying yet another tray of food to be delivered for Gavin. The sun is not high up anymore, it’s hours past midday but this is the omega’s second meal. He figured it would be fine since the morning meal he sent the omega wasn’t long ago.

He placed the tray on the small table beside the ladder. He raised his fist to knock three times, waiting for a bit. He knows the omega always waits for him to walk away before opening the door. He had seen him only open the door when he was almost out of their living space. So, he was definitely shocked when he hasn’t even taken a step to walk away yet the door immediately opened. It revealed Gavin, eyes gazing down. Ainar stood there in shock, not really knowing what to do. He quickly got back to his senses and picked up the tray of food, giving it directly to the omega.

“Thank you,” Gavin whispered.

He looks pale, Ainar notes. He hasn’t seen the lights of the day ever since he closed himself in his shack. Ainar is worried.

He hummed in reply as the omega got the tray. He was so careful that their fingers did not even touch despite it.

He expected the omega to once again close the door after accepting the food, but he instead sat in front of the door and started eating there.

Is he warming up to me now? Ainar thinks. He stood there, quietly watching Gavin devour the food, he eats really fast. He fights the urge to let out a gentle rumble from deep within his chest as his wolf feels content at the sight of his omega eating.

He stood there for he doesn’t know how long, patiently waiting for the omega to finish eating.

Gavin stopped to gaze up at him, but still not meeting his eyes.

“Do you want to sit inside?” he asked.

Ainar’s feet are hurting, but he doesn’t want to make him uncomfortable. But he also thinks, this is an opportunity to get closer to the omega. He remembers his father’s words.

“Can I?” Ainar carefully asked back.

Gavin wordlessly, lifted his tray, walking on his knees to sit further inside his shack so the alpha would have a lot of space to sit by the door. Ainar smiled gratefully, carefully taking a seat, even removing his sandals.

“Are you enjoying the food?” Ainar asked, trying to make a conversation.

Gavin nodded as he took a bite. He carefully chewed and swallowed before answering.

“I am,” he said.

“The food is really good. I enjoy them.”

“The lead omega would be delighted to hear that,” Ainar smiled.

When he finished eating, he once again turned to the alpha.

“Alpha—”

“You can just call me by my name. Ainar,” Ainar said. He thinks if he wants to establish trust between them, they should start familiarizing with each other.

“I don’t want to seem disrespectful,” Gavin replied.

“You are not. Do not worry about that. I would really like to hear you call my name,” the alpha assured.

There was a beat of silence. The atmosphere was slightly changed and Gavin looks unsure. Ainar thinks he ruined the mood. He was about to apologize when Gavin spoke again.

“Ainar,” Gavin quietly called out. It was so quiet even in the silent room that he almost did not catch it. But he did, and it automatically drew a smile on his face.

“Yes?” Ainar happily replied.

“Look at me, little one.”

Both of their cheeks colored at the slip of nickname. Where did that even come from? Ainar cleared his throat to get over his own embarrassment.

Gavin knows that looking at the eye of a higher ranked wolf, especially an alpha is disrespectful. But if Ainar is the one telling him to do it, then it must not be disrespectful to him, right? He raises his gaze, bravely meeting the alpha’s eyes for a brief second but he is surprised by the intensity of it, so he ended up lowering his gaze again.

Ainar’s breath hitched as he met Gavin’s eyes. They’re blue, he saw it for the first time back in his old pack. But he is still in awe at the beauty of it. The omega has such beautiful eyes, Ainar thinks, he should be showing it to everyone.

“Where can I bathe?” Gavin asked.

Ainar cringed at himself. Gavin must have been feeling so uncomfortable. He could only clean so much with a basin and cloth anyway.

“You can bathe at the river. Do you want to do it now? I can walk you there if you want?”

Gavin quickly nodded. He stood up. Ainar thinks he will get his things so he took it upon himself to clean up the tray the omega used. Gavin returned, holding a sack of things he’ll need to bathe, a clean tunic, a towel and a soap all provided by the pack. He finds Ainar already standing outside, the tray already in his hand.

“Ainar, I should carry—”

“No, no,” Ainar said, shaking his head.

“Don’t worry about this.”

So, Gavin carefully slid his sandals. They began walking away from his shack. Gavin is feeling nervous again, he doesn’t know what to do outside the comfort of his shack. Ainar sensed it, so he tried striking up a conversation.

“How do you feel now?” Ainar carefully asked. The sound of their sandals the only thing that can be heard between them. Some pack members are out doing chores or just simply relaxing. They all bow their heads in greeting when they see Ainar, he returns the gesture with a smile.

“Right now, I feel dirty,” Gavin said shyly. Ainar chuckled in fondness, the omega’s cheeks are dusted in pink once again.

“Then we should hurry so you can bathe,” he teased softly.

Ainar called for the pup that walked near them.

“Please carry this to the cooking house. Some people would be washing them there,” Ainar ordered softly. The pup, he looked to be around eight to ten years old. He hasn’t presented yet so he doesn’t have a scent he carries. His eyes are looking up in wonder at Gavin. He tried giving him a smile, and the pup smiled back before walking away. The interaction oddly made Gavin feel warm.

“Let’s go,” Ainar urged.

They walk to the direction of the forest. They are quiet once again. Ainar thinks of possible topics so he can talk to the omega.

“Have you been adjusting well?” is a question he settled with.

“I am coping, I suppose. But I am afraid I am not yet well adjusted,” Gavin replied. Ainar is giving him space, walking a few steps ahead of him to not make him uncomfortable but now it’s his wolf that is feeling restless.

“That is fine. You should take your time,” he said. He planned to ignore the howling of his wolf but he eventually gave up.

“Gavin.”

“Yes, Alpha?” the omega quickly replied. The rank slipped again, but Ainar lets it pass.

“Can you—can you walk ahead of me?” he carefully asked. He has been turning his head to glance at the omega from time to time, checking on him to soothe his wolf but it can’t do.

“I—my wolf is restless with the knowledge of you walking behind me. So, can you walk ahead so I can see you clearly?”

“Oh,” Gavin said softly. He wordlessly took a few steps ahead of the alpha. He looked back at him; eyes wide as he met Ainar’s gaze to ask.

“Good?”

“Yeah,” Ainar breathed out.

They started walking again.

“If you have any problems with your shack, or if there’s anything you need, just call me, yeah?”

They’re almost at the river. Ainar has been giving small directions to Gavin who is walking in front of him. They’re a few minutes more away when the omega stopped.

“Ainar.”

“Yes?”

“When will we mate?”

Ainar also stopped walking at that. He is shocked at the question. Has he really been thinking of that for the past days? Ainar should tell him the truth. They should mate soon—as soon as possible. He should tell him about the elders bugging him about it. And this is the perfect opportunity especially because he was the one who brought it up. But as turned his body to look back at him, his eyes finally meeting his without immediately looking away, it’s as if his breath is being sucked out of his lungs.

Gavin is small, like most omegas are, his body is lithe too. With his white hair that’s almost glistening under the sun, his skin almost iridescent in the light, their skin are in such great contrast, one that almost glows and one that resembles a honey, and his eyes, a very deep blue, Ainar would not really mind getting lost in them. He looks almost godly, especially with the forest as his background. Omegas are naturally beautiful, a feat made to attract mates, but Gavin is different. Ainar could not believe such beauty exists, more so, he cannot believe he is allowed to even look. As he takes in every detail from the omega, Ainar has made his decision.

“Don’t worry about that, little one,” he said the complete opposite of what he should.

“We have time. So, don’t worry about it.”

Gavin looked at the alpha for longer until he cannot carry the intensity of his charcoal deep eyes any longer. He turned back around and they continued walking, quietly again, this time. The sound of cicadas singing in the forest and the crisp sound of dried leaves as they walk on them, their only background.

When they reached the river, Gavin is relieved to find that no one else is bathing. That means he can be comfortable alone.

“Would you rather have me leave?” Ainar asked. Gavin was quick to shake his head.

“No—uh—I don’t want to be alone,” Gavin replied shyly. It’s an unfamiliar place, and although he’s still wary of alphas, he’s rather drawn to Ainar. He thinks it has something to do with them being future mates.

“But if you want to go ahead that would be fine too.”

“I’ll stay,” Ainar said decisively.

“If you don’t want to be left alone then I’ll stay.”

Ainar pointed at a tree, meters away from the river.

“I’ll be sitting under that tree as you bathe, so take your time.”

Gavin did take his time. He scrubbed all over his body until his skin was almost pink and sensitive. He washed his hair, rubbing it wildly to form suds and remove the grease. He dunked his head underwater to rinse it off. Once he felt refreshed and cleaner than he ever was, he slowly walked away from the river. He grabbed his towel from his sack and patted his body dry before wearing a new pair of clean tunics. He had been glancing at the alpha from time to time while he was bathing. Ainar was sitting under the tree he pointed at, facing away from Gavin, of course. The alpha remained unmoving under the tree; Gavin quietly chuckled at the sight of it.

He slowly walked to the alpha. Ainar turned even before he approached him.

“Are you done?” he asked. Gavin only nodded.

The walk back is quiet. The alpha is quiet, he did not do anything in attempt to start a conversation this time so Gavin figured he should stay quiet too. When they reach his shack, they both stood awkwardly in front of it.

“Thank you for accompanying me to the river,” Ainar waited for a beat to hear his name.

“Ainar.”

“The pleasure is mine, little one.”

Little one. Gavin was made fun of because of his build in his old pack as he is small even for a male omega. But he finds that rather than being offended by the nickname, he likes it. He smiled at Ainar.

A beat of silence passed between them again.

“I have to go to the elders after this. And I am drafted for a hunt,” Ainar suddenly said. Gavin blinked at him.

“Then I won’t keep you for long. Thank you again, Alpha.”

Ainar waited for Gavin to enter his shack before he started walking away.

--

For the second time that day, Ainar entered the Elder’s den.

“You were with your omega,” his father said in greeting.

“He isn’t my omega, yet. But yes, I was with Omega Gavin,” Ainar answered. He stood in front of his father.

“I have something I want to say.”

“Did you finally tell him that you need to mate?” Delta Emmanuel snarked but Ainar ignored him.

“We won’t be mating soon. I want to court him.”

It earned many grunts of disbelief. Even his own father’s brows are furrowed.

“Are you out of your mind? Courting an omega to be your mate—this will be the pack’s downfall!” Delta Emmanuel exclaimed.

“I want to pursue my mate,” Ainar said firmly. His father remained quiet.

“Why would you want to do that? This will only make you look weak!” Delta Emmanuel said again.

“Pack Alpha pursued his mate too. Did that make him look weak in your eyes?” Ainar challenged.

“He pursued an alpha! You are planning to court an omega—”

“One more ill word about omegas out of your mouth and I don’t know what I will do to you,” Ainar gritted out.

“My birth mother is an omega, Emmanuel. Omegas give birth to our pack. Keep your disgusting opinions to yourself.”

Delta Emmanuel snarled at him and Ainar didn’t wait for a second to snarl back. His father held him back.

“Ainar—”

“I will be courting Omega Gavin,” he said firmly.

“And I can lead this pack with or without a bite on my neck. We will eventually mate, but not now.”

Ainar turned to look at his father.

“I am formally asking for permission to court Omega Gavin,” Ainar declared. His father looked at him. The Pack Alpha knows this is not something all the elders would agree on, but he can see the determination on Aina’s eyes.

“Is this what you want?” he asked, making sure.

“It is, Father.”

“Then I am giving you permission to court your omega.”

“This is ridiculous!” Delta Emmanuel exclaimed.

“Thank you,” Ainar said before bowing, ignoring the delta.

“You will regret this.”

Ainar threw the Delta one last look before looking at the other elders who are all looking at him too. He gave them one last grateful bow before leaving for his hunt.

--

Ainar, in his wolf form, ventured deep in the forest. He has a sack strapped around his body. He has a different plan for hunting today. So, as soon as the other wolves left, he ran to the opposite direction of where they went. He ran to the river.

He carefully walked along the river, eyes carefully looking for something. His big wolf figure hunched by the riverside is a funny sight.

He stopped walking when something caught his eyes. He walked to approach it, it’s a rock. His nose twitched as he sniffed and sniffed before he decisively turned in his human form. He crouched on the forest floor.

He picked the stone up. It’s white with hues of pink. It glows under the moonlight. He has never seen anything like it. He smiled at the sight of it. It reminds him of Gavin, his white hair and his white skin. The pink hues blended with it reminds him of the apples of his cheeks and how they color when he’s embarrassed.

He grabs the sack still tied to his body and put the stone in it. He’s taking it, he’s decided. As he shifted back into his wolf form to finally join his packmates in hunting, he thinks the stone he just found is the perfect first gift to give the omega. He feels so happy at the gift that even in his wolf form, he can’t help but grin.