CHAPTER 8: TOMORROW

The walk every afternoon became a routine Gavin have learned to look forward to every day. He would patiently wait for Ainar to deliver his meals, eat in his shack and then eventually leave for the walk. They never failed to go to the clearing every time and Gavin enjoys himself every time too. Since he hasn’t had anything to do since he arrived in the pack, it was a good change for him. Plus, he and Ainar had been getting quite closer because of it.

But although he enjoys it, a small part of him still feels guilty every time the alpha delivers his meal. A voice in his mind is telling him that he should be the one doing it for the alpha. So, there he was, days later, gathering all the courage he can muster before walking out of his shack. It’s hours before his midday meal, and instead of having Ainar deliver his food for him again, he decided he’ll go on the cooking house himself where he heard everyone in the pack eats together.

He’s nervous as he made his way there. He’s wearing one of the tunics the pack provided. He also made a point to wake up early and made his own trek to the river to take a bath.

Some pack members were already there when he arrived, which he expected since it’s almost time for the meal. His eyes searched for a familiar face. He ducked his head when some members of the pack turned to look at him, halting in their chore to check him out and murmur to the person beside them. He doesn’t like it. He doesn’t like the way they look nor how their voices seemed so loud in his ears. Some turned to smile or lightly nod their head in greeting but his anxiety already got the better of him. He inhaled a shaky breath and have decided to just go back to his shack when someone called his name.

“Omega Gavin!”

He raised his head to look for the owner of the voice. And there she was, Nana, now standing by the door of the cooking house. She waved at him before walking to his direction.

“Pup!” she greeted enthusiastically.

“Good morning, Nana,” Gavin shyly greeted back. The elder omega pulled him into a gentle hug before quickly pulling away.

“What brought you here, pup?” she asked. She gently placed her pointer finger below Gavin’s chin, tilting it up a fraction when he moved to lower his head. She smiled when he followed her movement.

“I intend to help on the chores today, Nana,” he shyly answered.

“I am getting restless in my shack.”

“Oh, is that so? Our omega just can’t rest, can we?” she empathetically answered.

“Well we do need some help. We were just starting the preparation of today’s meal. Come and help inside.”

Nana gently pulled him, legs fast as they walked to the cooking house. Gavin ducks his head to avoid the curious gaze of the people they passed by.

The drastic change in temperature when they were finally inside welcomed Gavin. Many fires were lit in an array, with cauldrons of different sizes hovering over them. Gavin is shocked at the sheer size of the meal they are making. His Southern pack is relatively smaller, so he has never seen this huge preparation unless there was a celebration.

Nana walked straight to a cauldron, grabbed a ladle and started stirring it. She scooped some out and brought it to her mouth. She smacked her lips, nodding as she continued to stir whatever she was cooking.

“You can go cut the vegetables or help skin the hares our hunters got earlier,” she said as she went back to him. She led him to a table where a few pack members were seating, all working.

He spotted Maya among them.

Nana pulled a chair out for him.

“Maya,” she called out to the beta.

“Give him something to do. He wants to help.”

Gavin awkwardly sat there, the omega sitting beside him smiled at him. A knife and a basket of dead hares was suddenly put in front of him.

“Here, we still need to skin this. Do you know how to skin hares?” Maya asked to which Gavin quickly nodded.

“Be careful so you don’t hurt yourself,” Maya said and immediately went back to her job. Gavin bowed slightly to her before picking up the knife and started skinning the hares.

He’s not new to this. In his old pack, omegas were also the ones responsible in this kind of tasks so he navigated himself seamlessly. He did not feel the passage of time as he focused on his task, lips pursed in concentration. He appreciates the distraction. Like this, he has something else he can busy his self with, he’d rather work than be left in the loudness of his mind for more weeks. He had been doing that for the past week or so, he’s surprised he hasn’t lost his sanity yet.

He came back to his senses when he reached for another hare and found none in the basket. He made a questioning sound at the back of his throat, Maya turned to look at him, taking a peek of his basket.

“Are you done?” she asked.

“Yeah,” he simply answered. She nodded her head, finished the last hare she was skinning before collecting their baskets.

“I will take this to Nana to cook. There is nothing else left to do here. If you want to rest, you can go back to your shack, I can walk you there,” she said.

“But if you want to, you can always join the rest of the pack to eat outside.”

Gavin contemplated on his answer. He had been closing off himself to the pack ever since he arrived. He thinks it’s just right that he tries to socialize with them.

“I would like to join the pack,” he quietly answered. Maya gave him a timid smile.

“Great. The food will be done in a bit, I hope you’re not yet starving,” she left when Gavin only gave him a shy smile in return.

“I’m Riza,” the omega beside him suddenly said, introducing herself. Now that the stench of the hare blood is gone, Gavin can smell her. Her scent is soothing, just like any omega’s scent.

“I’m Gavin,” he answered.

“I know,” she said excitedly.

“Everyone knows who you are.”

Of course. The unwanted new member of their pack.

“I am so curious though. I have heard that wolves from the South have fair complexions, but yours is something else. Or am I wrong? Is everyone like that?”

Oh. Of course. This is something he should have expected.

“I am quite different, yes. But you are right, Southern wolves have fair skin,” he answered. He doesn’t really want to go in-depth with something he isn’t comfortable talking about, especially to someone he barely knows.

“I assume the same thing applies to your hair?”

Gavin hummed in affirmation.

“That’s so cool!” Riza replied. She turned her whole body to face him properly. Gavin scooted back; she got a little too close for his liking.

“Ella makes really pretty dyes! They’d look good on your hair.”

Gavin listened as se continued to ramble on about many pack members. He did his best to listen although he can’t help but zone out in between. He will eventually inevitably meet the pack members she’s mentioning, it would be good if he at least knew something about them.

“Riza,” Nana suddenly called out from where she was cooking. Both Gavin and Riza turned to look at her.

“Stop pestering Omega Gavin with your gossips. Come and help serve the meals.”

Riza pouted her lips, making Nana chuckle. She turned to Gavin.

“Let’s go serve meals?”

They both stood up where the food is being prepared. Riza taught him how to serve, explaining the amount he has to scoop to for each pack member.

It was quite awkward, honestly. Everyone lining up are all looking at him in wonder, some are even shameless enough to still murmur. Some pack members are even looking at Riza questioningly, as if asking what someone like him is doing there, while some are, well, looking at him with distrust. Gavin decided to just brush them off. He cannot really blame them. He’s a stranger in the pack, and even he, himself, is having a hard time to trust. It would be hypocritical of him to hold it against them.

He just offered them an awkward smile and ducked his head the whole time, doing his best to give them their share of the meal quickly.

“Pup,” Nana called from beside him.

“Ainar would arrive soon. You should take your seat.”

“But we still have a lot to serve,” he answered, looking at the line of people waiting for their share.

“Don’t worry about it. I’ve been doing this for years,” she said, pinching his cheeks. He gave her a shy smile.

“Maya, go join Gavin. Lead him to your table.”

Maya wordlessly walked; Gavin quickly followed her. They walked out of the cooking house, navigating through the array of big tables they set up.  Gavin breathes in the air that greeted him. It was so hot inside the cooking house, the cool breeze outside is doing wonders on his flushed skin.

“This is our table,” Maya spoke when they reached an empty table farthest from everyone else’s.

“Our friend group usually seats here. It’s our unofficial table. They will arrive in a while.”

They both sat at the table. No one bothered to talk as they wait. Maya is looking at somewhere else and Gavin is too shy to start a conversation so he decided to stay quiet.

Maya’s features suddenly lit up. Gavin smelled him even before he saw him. His name automatically escaped his mouth.

“Ainar,” he quietly whispered. Maya casted her a glance.

Gavin turned around to see where she was looking at. He spotted Ainar talking with someone seriously. It’s not long before the alpha suddenly sharply turned his head to Gavin’s direction, immediately sensing his scent. He looked shocked to see him there. He said something to the guy he was talking with before quickly making his way to Gavin. The alpha sat beside him, eyes never leaving him as he took a seat.

“Gavin,” he softly called out.

‘What are you doing here?”

He must have had realized the error on the phrasing of his words. Gavin wants to laugh at the panic that crossed the alpha’s features.

“N-not that I don’t want you here, of course. But I don’t mind delivering your food to the shack,” he quickly said. They both turn their heads when they heard a chuckle.

“This is the first time I heard Ainar stumble on his words like that. You are down bad,” an alpha said as he sat beside Maya. Ainar rolled his eyes at him. Gavin gave Ainar a shy glance, fiddling with his fingers under the table.

“I wanted to help Nana so I came,” he quietly said. Aianr’s eyes were immediately back at him.

“You helped?” the alpha asked, almost excitedly.

“Then I should get some now quickly.”

“Don’t be silly, I only skinned hares,” Gavin said shyly. He wants to cover his face with his hands. He’s sure his cheeks must be pink right now.

“Still,” Ainar replied.

Gavin made a move to stand up. If Ainar is hungry then he should hurry to get them food right now.

“Where are you going?” Ainar asked when he stood up.

“I’m going to get us food,” Gavin simply replied. 

“Oh, no,” Ainar hurriedly said. He gently grabbed Gavin’s clothed arm and pulled him to sit back down on the chair. The alpha stood up instead. Gavin blinked up at him confusedly.

“Stay here. I will get us food.”

He will? Why? He’s the omega, he should be serving the alpha.

Gavin kept quiet despite the questions in his mind. Ainar turned to Maya and the other alpha he was talking with earlier.

“Shall we get our food now?” Ainar asked them. Maya made a move to stand up too but Ainar waved him down.

“Stay here with Gavin, Maya. Jericho will get you food.”

Maya shot them a grateful look before settling back down on her seat. Gavin watched them walk away. Ainar turned his head back to check on Gavin a few times as they walked away, as if the omega would disappear any second. Maya chuckled at his friend.

“He is already so enamored with you,” she said, turning to Gavin. Gavin gave her a shy smile, shaking his head.

“I don’t know about that.”

“You should hear the way he talks about you. It’s almost disgusting honestly,” she replied. Gavin’s cheeks burned. He gave the beta an awkward smile. Not wanting to push the conversation further.

Just then, a new scent permeated the air. A figure slumped its way to their table. Gavin fought down a yelp while Maya stayed unbothered.

“Rough day?” she asked the newcomer. Celestine, Gavin figured it was her from the scent—so overwhelming and it still makes him want to run away, groaned at the table before lifting her head.

“Pups are insufferable,” she whined.

“Why do I have to be the one to teach them?”

Maya gave her friend a pitying look while Gavin quietly watched the interaction.

“Come on, Celestine. You’re one of the best hunters of the pack. Of course, you have to teach them.”

“If only they’re not overly hyper ball of energies,” she groaned again. her eyes caught Gavin. The omega was quick to lower his gaze.

“Oh hi, Gavin. Did not expect you to be here.”

“Hi,” Gavin quietly replied, eyes fixed on a point at the table.

“Is Ainar here already?” Celestine asked.

“Hmm,” Maya hummed in answer.

“Him and Jericho went to get food. You should hurry and get yours too.”

Celestine gracefully stood up. She fixed her long black hair before turning to Give them a bright smile, eyes crinkling into crescents as she did so. Her tunic gently fluttered as she jogged her way to the cooking house.

If not for her scent and abnormally tall height, Gavin would think Celestine is an omega. She looks really delicate and soft for an alpha; she moves gracefully and she talks softly too. But her presence is so strong, even her scent. Anyone would cower at her. She’s a great hunter, from what Maya said, a good teacher too, if she’s in charge in teaching pups. Ainar should have chosen someone like her, not some useless omega like him who can’t even shift to save his life.

He shook his head at his thoughts. If he continued to think like that, his mood would reflect his scent. He doesn’t want to cause a scene. Gavin did his best to clear his thoughts.

The three of them came back after a while. Ainar placed the bowl of food, along with a wooden spoon in front of him before he settled his own on his side of the table and took a seat.

Gavin waited for the alpha to be properly seated before he picked up his spoon, even waited for the alpha to be holding his spoon too before he started eating. The food tastes so good, added to his usual hurry, Gavin spooned it quickly to his mouth. He felt a warm hand rubbing down his back and he effectively slowed down his eating. He casted a glance at Ainar who just sent him a warm smile and continued eating. The alpha’s hand did not leave his back for the rest of the meal.

“What are you guys going to do after this?” Jericho, Gavin knows his name now, asked as he pushed his bowl of food away from him.

“Go back to the pups,” Celestine answered. Maya snorted beside her.

“I’ll probably go for a run later. It’s been a while since I last shifted,” Maya said.

“Oh, that’s nice. I should join you once I’m done,” Celestine gasped. She turned to the rest of the table.

“Should we go on a run all together? We used to do it a lot as pups! We can even bring Gavin with us this time.”

Gavin tensed, uncomfortable at the topic. He can’t shift, and they don’t know that yet. He’s not sure if he wants them to find out now, or ever for that matter. He knows it’s inevitable. But it doesn’t make it less uncomfortable. It’s embarrassing for a werewolf to not be able to shift. He cannot taint a friendship that is yet to bloom just because of something he cannot do.

The distress in his scent is subtle but Ainar, as usual, sensed it. He rubbed Gavin’s back, hoping the action would relax the omega. Gavin’s shoulders relaxed a little but the scent remained.

“I think I’ll pass today,” Ainar then answered.

Celestine turned to look at him. She looks sad at Ainar’s decision.

“Why?” she pouted at him. For some reason, Gavin is uncomfortable at her action, but he immediately brushed off the ugly feeling. They’ve been friends for years, it’s normal, he tells himself.

“Omega Gavin and I take walks in the afternoon. I wouldn’t want to miss it,” Ainar supplied, his hand is still rubbing soothingly up and down Gavin’s back.

Celestine eyes drifted to Gavin who remained quiet. The omega’s eyes are staring fixed on a spot on the table. Gavin looked up, briefly meeting her eyes. She looks disappointed, lips pursed contemplatively, but she eventually smiled. Her expression clearing up, as if the disappointment Gavin saw was just a pigment of his imagination.

“Okay,” she chirped.

“Next time then.”

Gavin and Ainar didn’t stay long at the table. The alpha offered to walk him back to his shack.

They pass by everyone, Ainar carefully navigating them through the small crowd. As they walk to Gavin’s shack, Gavin decided to ask.

“Aren’t we going for a walk?”

“You’d want to?” Ainar asked back.

Gavin thinks he’s being ridiculous. He loves taking on walks with the alpha!

“Of course,” Gavin answered simply.

They made a turn, walking away from the omegean living space to walk to the direction of the forest. Ainar notices the bounce on the omega’s heels again. He smiled endearingly.

“Gavin?” he called out once they were deep in the forest. They were quiet as they walked.

“Hmm?” the omega hummed in answer, turning to look at him. They are walking side by side again.

“I was wondering if you’d like to go on a picnic?” he asked. He doesn’t know why he feels nervous asking.

Gavin stopped walking, Ainar stopped too. The omega stared at him confusedly. His brows are furrowed, eyes confused and lips pursed in a small pout. Ainar wants to coo. The omega looked so cute, and he seemed to not be aware of that fact.

“What’s a picnic?”

Oh.

“It’s a—it’s like a meal we have outdoors,” Ainar tried to explain.

“We bring a cloth to lay on the ground, basically we just eat outdoors.”

“Aren’t we already eating outdoors at the pack?”

“Yes, you’re right,” Ainar chuckled.

“But it’s different. As I said, we bring a cloth to lay on. We can bring it anywhere and bring any food or snacks we want too.”

“Oh,” Gavin blinked, contemplating.

“That sounds fun.”

“It is,” Ainar smiled

“We can do it in the field. You love it there, right?”

“I do,” Gavin said shyly, peering up at him. Ainar fights the urge to coo at him loudly. How is it that he wants to just keep the omega in his arms more every day?

“I want to go on that picnic. When are we going?”

“Tomorrow,” he replied decisively. Gavin smiled and nodded, before taking a step to continue walking.

He is steps ahead of Ainar when he turned to look at the alpha again.

“Alpha,” he called out. Ainar hummed in question. Gavin smiled, shyly, cheeks dusted pink before turning back around.

“I am excited for tomorrow.”

Ainar hides a smile as he watched the omega walk ahead of him. He doesn’t say it, but he’s more than excited too.