"You're an omega?" Rafael asked, pure shock in his voice.
Julian lowered his head and nodded.
He knew the stories about what he was…a bad omen, a bringer of misfortune to those near him.
"I have to go!" With that, Rafael left immediately.
Julian had expected it, but it still hurt. It hurt so much.
No one wants you, Julian, because you were born a curse, he muttered to himself bitterly.
Maybe he should leave on his own. Save Rafael the trouble of kicking him out.
---
Rafael made his way to the pack library, reeling with shock.
His mate was an omega.
Julian was an omega.
"Fuck," he muttered under his breath. Things just got a whole lot more complicated.
He knew little more about omegas than the stories his mother used to tell when they were young.
Tales about how omegas caused the great war and brought destruction to those around them. The stories were vague, more about scaring pups into behaving, but...
What was he to do now? He had never seen an omega before in all his years as Alpha.
And now his mate was one.
He entered the library and called out for Maxinne, the pack librarian and his younger sister.
"Haven't I told you not to shout in the library?"
She appeared from behind a bookshelf. Short but peppery, she was one of the few people alive who could scold Rafael like that.
"Maxinne, I need your help," Rafael began.
She sighed and put her hands on her hips.
"Okay, I'll talk to Mom about not bothering you to go mate-hunting for now, but you know—"
"I found my mate, Maxinne," Rafael blurted out.
"And he's an omega! I need your help."
"Wait—what?"
Rafael was actually scared at how low her jaw dropped.
"There are so many things to unpack in that sentence," she started. "You found a mate…and he's a he? I wonder how the others will feel about that. And then... then you said he was an Om... omega?" She looked like she might burst from excitement.
"And our bond is... something's wrong with it, and there's no space to deal with all this because the treaty's tomorrow," Rafael said.
"Sucks to be you, Rafe." She clicked her lips together.
Rafael shook his head. He was an Alpha, he wouldn't panic.
He could keep it together.
He closed his eyes and took in a deep breath.
"Tell me all you know about omegas." He was in serious Alpha mode now.
Maxinne looked at him, her face turning serious. She walked forward. "Lucky for you, big brother, omegas used to be a topic of my hyper-focused interest two years ago. Let me just pull out some books."
She began pulling a bunch of books from the shelves.
Rafael waited.
Omegas mysteriously disappeared after the great war. It's said that it was an omega who caused the war in the first place. So first, we have to go back to the beginning.
Omegas used to be part of the werewolf hierarchy.
They were rare but revered, and usually destined to become Luna.
"What caused them to disappear then?" Rafael asked.
"You remember the story where an Omega betrayed her mate and helped vampires start the war?"
"Mhm." Rafael nodded; he knew that part.
"Well," she continued, "because of the betrayal, a hunt for Omegas began. Wolves decided that all Omegas must be punished, that they were too dangerous. I guess the Moon Goddess stopped making them at least until now."
Rafael mulled the words over. He knew bits and pieces of the legend, but he would need to learn more. Still, he asked, "Is there a sure way to know? If he's an Omega?"
"It's kind of vague," Maxine admitted. "But I read something about them having a strong scent like spring and it should be obvious once they shift. They only have white fur."
Rafael nodded, realizing now why Julian's scent had felt so strange.
"What are you going to do, brother?" Maxine asked, concern flickering in her eyes. "We still don't know how people are going to react to you mating an Omega let alone a male Omega."
"He is my mate, Maxine." Rafael's tone was firm, but his next words were carefully chosen. "For a long time, I've searched for my mate and now I have found him. Why would I let anyone oppose our bond?"
He would find a way to handle everything.
Maxine studied him, then smiled faintly. "I like your spirit, brother. I'll also prepare a thorough report on Omegas and have it on your desk tomorrow morning."
"Thank you, Maxine."
Rafael left the library feeling lighter than before. So what if Julian was an Omega? It didn't matter. They were mates nonetheless.
"Alpha, I need your say on the last details—" his delta, Jared, called as he approached.
"Ah, Jared. Just the person I wanted to see." Rafael stopped in his tracks.
"Alpha?" Jared tilted his head slightly.
Jared was the pack's new delta. Despite his looming height almost six-foot-eight, taller than Rafael himself. He was a gentle giant. Soft-spoken, with an eye for detail that Rafael greatly admired.
Looking at him, Rafael was reminded why he'd chosen his pack executives so carefully, to be trustworthy, reliable, and capable of keeping things running when he could not.
"Jared, call a pack meeting," Rafael ordered. "I have something important to announce. Have everyone assembled in an hour."
"I hope there's no problem, Alpha?" Jared asked cautiously.
Rafael shook his head. "It's good news."
In an hour, he would announce to the whole pack that he had finally found his mate.
But then he remembered how he'd left Julian behind.
He cursed softly.
What must Julian be thinking after the way he had walked out so abruptly? Rafael winced. At least he could make up for it with the announcement.
---
Julian had not calmed down since Rafael left. He had been pacing the room anxiously when there was a knock on the door.
"It's me," Rafael's voice came, loud and clear.
"Come in," Julian called back his voice sharper than he intended.
Rafael stepped inside. "Julian, come with me." His tone was harsher than before, and Julian's heart plummeted.
Rafael turned immediately and started walking out. "Follow me."
Julian's feet felt heavy as lead, but he obeyed. He quickened his steps too much, though, and the bond pain surged in his chest. He heard Rafael groan and wanted to smack himself. Why couldn't he do anything right?
"It's all right," Rafael said softly. "Just walk slower."
Julian lowered his head, shame burning through him.
They walked together until Rafael led him outside the main pack house.
Julian froze. A crowdhad gathered.
Rafael stepped up to a small podium and gestured for Julian to stand closer.
Julian's nerves spiked. He hated being in front of so many people, even if he wasn't the center of attention. That was Rafael.
"Greetings, fellow pack members," Rafael began.
Julian's stomach knotted. Was Rafael going to reject him publicly?
"Today, I stand before you to deliver a very simple announcement. It has been long anticipated, and it pleases me deeply to say that I have found my soulmate the one chosen for me by the Goddess. I present to you the one who will one day rule at my side as your Luna."
Julian's world tilted when Rafael pointed straight at him.
For a moment, there was dead silence.
Then applause erupted, cheers and shouts echoing through the grounds.
Julian's heart pounded louder than the noise. Rafael had just announced him…him as his mate.
"That is all," Rafael concluded. "Our celebration will be hosted after the treaty is signed next week."
Julian barely heard the rest. His mind buzzed in disbelief. Rafael had introduced him as a future Luna. Knowing what he was.
He hardly noticed when the crowd began to disperse until Rafael turned back to him.
"Let's get you to bed," Rafael said gently. "I ordered the pack not to rush you or try to overwhelm you. Once this messy treaty business is over, everything will settle down. For now, you should rest."
He escorted Julian back to his room. At the doorway, Rafael paused.
"Sleep well, Julian."
Then he left.
Julian collapsed onto the bed, exhaustion hitting him all at once. His life felt like a never-ending rollercoaster. He only wanted to bury himself in the soft sheets and make everything stop.
As his eyelids grew heavy, a stray thought crossed his mind: he had forgotten to ask about the so-called treaty.
He yawned. Tomorrow, he told himself. How important could it really be?