Silver Falls Series: Omega Rising

A New Life

I never in a million years would have believed someone if they told me I’d go from a kicked around Omega to where I am now, a Luna of another pack. Wow. Life really is a highway, and I feel like I hitchhiked my way onto this one.

I know not everyone in the pack likes me or even trusts me. After all, I did come in as a dirt encrusted rogue ready for execution. Execution is as rare as rogue wolves themselves. Back at Blood Lake, the pack energy went absolutely feral with the promise of blood spilled the single time I witnessed a rogues execution, and the look upon the faces of the Silver Falls pack had been no different. I'm sure my immunity, not to mention sudden declaration as Luna, instilled equal parts, disappointment, and shock. It's no help that I have negative ANY Alpha blood hiding away in my lineage either.

Regardless of any approval, being thrust into the position of Luna after living my whole existence as nothing more than an Omega is absolutely terrifying. To be honest I’m not sure I have what it takes, but I’ve always been determined to prove myself, and this situation is no different. Truthfully, it's the approval of my mate that scares me the most. It feels weird using that word to describe someone I only know as a stranger.

When he rose me from my knees and our eyes met, It was as though a piece of a puzzle I hadn't known was missing, clicked into place, yet I was so unsure of the picture.

Though I had shifted into my wolf before, that was the first time I had actually heard her speak to me. “Ours" she told me with a strong devotion that both lit up my core in a way that had me wanting, and yet chilled my bones in frigid apprehension.

Dont get me wrong... Axel is a God amongst men. He’s roughly six foot four, has dark blue eyes with flecks of pure white mixed in, hair as black as onyx, and a body to rival any man or wolf. He's everything a woman could dream of in a man...physically, at least. The rest I still had to figure out.

After the shift in my imminent fate, he had turned towards the pack and boomed in a voice more animalistic than man, “I give you the new Luna of Silver Falls!" My jaw had dropped in shock. My heart thundered behind my chest, and my ears rang with the varied reactions as I stared out at the many eyes before me. My breaths came fast, yet no oxygen reached my brain, and the world around me tilted sideways before the ground rushed up to meet my face. But it never did. Strong arms ironed themselves around me instead, and they were the last thing I acknowledged before unconsciousness took me over.

Which lead me to where I sat here now mulling the events over, in an oversized chaise lounge spotted with..really, dalmatian print? I had to snort at the irony in that. I'd woken about ten minutes ago, groggy but well rested. After running for days nonstop, I hadn't realized how much my human form needed the recovery. Thankfully, I was alone for the moment to digest it all. I'm sure my face was showing a myriad of questionable expressions.

That moment of peace came to a quick end as a door to the right of me creaked open slowly. I sat up swiftly and wrapped my arms around my chest, suddenly feeling small and exposed in my torn grey tank. Mud and scratches of the forest still decorated various parts of my exposed skin and hair.

Axel, my...mate, peered around the door at me like he was unsure whether he'd be permitted in.

"You're awake." He murmured, his eyes seeming to examine every inch of me where I lay.

I cleared my throat, my own eyes trying to settle anywhere, except meeting his.

"Do you mind if I come in?" He hesitated.

I gave a quick nod and gestured with my hand for him to enter. I wasn't used to an alpha requesting approval from anybody, much less from me.

"You look scared...you dont need to be frightened" he mused, a small smile uplifting one corner of his mouth as he continued to assess me. He crossed the threshold with a duck of his head, his full size dwarfing the doorway. I examined him like a predator...a predator with an angle I had yet to figure out. He took in a slow deep breath, his vast chest rising with the influx, "You're in the community center. In case you were wondering. I can have a nurse examine you if you'd like?" He questioned.

I shook my head no, pulling my legs up tight to my chest. He studied me a moment, then ran his large hand back through his dark hair, taking a breath before he began, "I'm sorry. I realize this is a lot. Honestly, I do.... I'm not exactly sure what happened myself. My wolf just kind of took over. I'd never force anyone to mate me. If this isn't what you want, I understand. I'd like us to get to know one another though before that decision is made, if you'd be willing. I feel like the moon goddess usually knows what she's doing." He smirked in light humor.

When I didn't respond right away, his smile faltered, but he pressed on, "So...should we start with your name?"

"It's..Ivy, Ivy Olson." I replied, finding my voice. It was raspy from misuse, and my cheeks warmed.

"Ivy." He said reverently, his voice caressing my name around a vibrant smile. A smile that I didn't know, yet knew I wanted to see again.

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After I managed a quick shower in the community center recreation rooms, we spent the night walking through the trails just getting to know one another. I was hesitant to divulge much, and truthfully, I didn't have much I felt worthy to tell, but luckily, he must've sensed my reluctance and took the lead of most conversation with stride. He told me of his family. He had a mother and two sisters he loved dearly who were still active members of the pack, and a father that had passed many years earlier, making Axel the youngest alpha in his packs history. I shared a bit to keep from seeming a total mute, but I still didn't know if I could trust his open and lighthearted demeanor yet. After all this, the same man wanted me dead this morning.

Still, his blue eyes shrouded in utter blackness when I told him of my treatment growing up, but he kept his composure nonetheless. Our two packs had a neutral agreement in territories, and Axel was disappointed to hear of Donovan’s unfortunate passing. He knows of Dax, however, and like me, has a great distaste for the man.

When I told him I suspected Dax of Donovan’s murder, he said nothing, but his face was set in deep concentration.

After about an hour of walking, we came upon a house nestled back from the path in a crescent of poplars. He stopped a few feet short of the walkway, and I looked up at him with question. His face was set in a neutral expression, but I caught sight of a nervous tick in his jaw. "I wanted to show you my home...if you choose to remain my Luna, it'll be yours as well." He looked down at me and quickly back at the house before rushing on, "unless, of course, you want something different, or..someon-."

"It's beautiful, Axel, really," I interrupted, momentarily placing my arm on his bicep to stop the rest of whatever he had been about to say.

He smiled down at me, in that unsure way I was beginning to learn was perhaps insecurity, and clasped my small hand within his. He led the way inside, softly closing the wood door behind us.

No sooner had we entered and flicked on the lights when I heard Axel shout “What in the f**k are you doing in my house?!”

I startled, for a brief moment I got confused and thought he was speaking to me, 'oh my god I'm mated to a deranged wolf' I panicked, but when I whirled around and followed his eyes I saw what he was looking at...

A sultry, redish toned brunette in a red vinyl dress, (that left nothing to the imagination), sat on his leather sofa, long legs crossed, looking every bit at home. She shot up gaping at us like we surprised her. Then with a vicious sneer she asked him the words that made my heart constrict “Uh, Axel, who the hell is she?”