The Omega's Revolt (completed)

Act 2 - Sacrifices

            “Be careful out there, Jesse,” I said softly as I concentrated on knotting his tie. “When you’re back, I have something important to discuss with you. It’s about a business opportunity with a Royal vampire, and we would be able to do it without my uncle. It’d be our business and our profit, and we will no longer be beholden to anyone. It’d be our back up plan if things don’t work out so well on this visit to my uncle.” 

            Warm hands cupped my face and I looked up to see a pair of solemn amber eyes staring intensely at me. Time froze for a second as my heart hammered against my chest before a smile finally lit up my husband’s face. My gamble had paid off. 

            “You never fail to surprise me, my little Rose,” Jesse murmured as he pressed his lips against my forehead and with his kiss, our fates were sealed.

            A shiver ran down my spine as my husband left my quarters and reality sank in. 

            “Luna?” 

            I snapped out of my guilt trip and turned to see that Clover had entered with my usual tray of breakfast. 

            “What did William say?” I asked tiredly as I took the cup of coffee from the tray. 

            “Next week, that’s when the Royal vampire wants the first batch of werewolves. The more the better but he expects at least a dozen of them.” 

            “And what exactly does he want with the werewolves?” 

            “We do not know, Luna. Mr. Smith only said that the werewolves are meant for a suicide mission.”

            A heaviness spread across my chest and I struggled to breathe as the images of the two dying Omegas flashed in my head again. 

            “We could tell Mr. Smith that we can’t take the deal, Luna,” Clover said carefully. 

            “No,” I said resolutely as I willed those thoughts away. “There’s no turning back for us now. Nothing great was ever accomplished without sacrifices and if I have to become the devil, then so be it.” 

            Deafening silence filled the room as I lit up a cigarette for the first time in many years while Clover made me decent for the day. If whatever Jesse had planned went smoothly, I would have one week to win Aino over to my side. 

            As long as the niece of the Gamma was with me, I would be able to wrestle control of the Tiger Eye’s mines from the Beta and Gamma family. With complete control over the mines and the new business with the Royal vampire, it would only be a matter of time before my husband would be strong enough to wipe out any opposition within his pack and become the trump card that I could use to play against my uncle. 

            “Tell my brother that the deal is on, Clover,” I instructed as I put out my cigarette. “And tell Levi to come over. I have a task for him.” 

            Moments later, a familiar presence stood behind me and I had to take a deep breath before getting up to face the dream that I decided to let go of. 

            “Are you alright? I sent everyone away, including that stocky woman. It’s just us now, Rose.” 

            The concern in his voice sparked an uncontrollable surge of joy through my body but I ignored it and continued to gaze at Levi coldly. 

            “I’m your Luna, Levi,” I reminded him. “I’d like to visit the mines with Aino. Could you arrange that?” 

            A frown etched across Levi’s face as he closed the distance between us, and a growl escaped his throat while his eyes glowed fiercely. His hands shook before clenching into tight fists as they rested on my shoulders. 

            I knew that I should push him away but I simply couldn’t. Every cell in my body longed for his touch and I cursed at myself for not taking a shower before calling for him. The scent of our Alpha on me now must be driving his wolf crazy and hurting him was the last thing that I wanted. 

            “I’m sorry, Rose,” he whispered through gritted teeth as his eyes shifted back to a familiar shade of dark blue. “I’m not angry or jealous, I’m just, I know you didn’t have a choice, but my wolf, he-”

            “Reject me, Levi,” I begged as my mask of resolve cracked. “I’ve made up my mind and the things that I’m about to do...you deserve someone better, Levi. I’m not worth it.” 

            “What are you planning to do, Rose?” 

            I bit my lips hesitantly as I contemplated my next steps. I didn’t want Levi to become involved in any of these but my selfish heart also wanted to have someone to share my burden with. 

            “What if I told you that I’ve made a deal that would require innocent lives to be sacrificed? What if I told you that it was the only way for Jesse to become powerful enough that I could make use of him to avenge my father and my end goal is to bring an end to this pack and my Clan?” 

            Silence was the response to my questions as utter shock spread across Levi’s face and he stared at me with his mouth wide open. My heart sank and I hated myself for holding out hope, hope that he would somehow understand. 

            How could I have hoped for anyone to understand the path that I had chosen? Coming clean like this with Levi was reckless, and I was already regretful of my impulsive outburst as I raised my hands to push him away.

            Suddenly, my face collided with a warm embrace and my body was caged tightly within a pair of strong arms. Calm settled over me, making the rollercoaster of emotions that I had just experienced seem like an illusion. 

            “We will find a way, Rose,” Levi assured me as he stroked my back gently. “I won’t let you do this alone, and I won’t allow you to become a person that you would hate.” 

            I won’t allow you to become a person that you would hate.

            With those few simple words, I came undone. The walls that I had built around myself last night came crumbling down like they were made of sand as sobs rocked my body. I grew up in a world of darkness and my hands were stained with blood, like any other soldier in our Clan. We had killed rival gang members, extorted money from businesses on our turfs and made profits from smuggling humans and supernatural beings.

            There was nothing innocent about the world that I lived in but I had a bottomline. I didn’t take part in any of the smuggling business nor did I take innocent lives. To send innocent werewolves on a suicide mission so that I could one day free the other werewolves in this pack from my husband’s tyrannical rule was a calculated move. 

            It was simple math, you gave some and you would get some, but it crossed my bottom line. Was I ready to do that? I thought I was but now, reduced to a puddle of tears in Levi’s arms, I wasn’t so sure anymore. 

            “The Omegas, Kappas and Thetas make up the bulk of our pack, Rose. I can’t speak for the Omegas and Kappas, but all Theta werewolves are warriors, and if there is one thing that I would vouch for with my life, it’s the loyalty of the Theta werewolves to my family. We have been the leaders of the warriors within our pack since the beginning of time, and our sacrifices to ensure the prosperity of the Theta werewolves have earned us their loyalty. If you want to take down the Alpha or kill your uncle, we will stand behind you.” 

            “But what about the Alpha command?” I asked tearfully, my heart in a complete mess from the new information bombarding my head. 

            “We’ll figure it out, Rose,” Levi said gently as he stroked my hair reassuringly.