Only Omega

Chapter Nineteen.

The next morning after the usual routine I left Holden with Rebecca to head for the training clearing. By the time I got there, Dalton was already snapping at everyone including my group, that is until I stepped in.

“Their my group, I deal with them, not you” I stated turning to face my group with my hands placed firmly on my hips with my grey hoodie tied around my waist and dirty blond hair pulled back into a high ponytail.

“From now on you only answer to me, understand?” I asked glancing from Fletcher to Jake then eventually focusing my gaze on Tate for a fraction of a seconds. They all nodded, bowing their heads to show their respect.

“Yes, Luna” they said in unison as I turned sideways to face Dalton with my fists balled at my sides and my head held high with pride.

“You were saying?” I prompted with an eyebrow raised in expectation, waiting for him to continue on his rant. He glanced between me and my group saying “Today we assess your fighting capabilities which will allow us to see and work on your individual weaknesses” I nodded my head in agreement and crossed my arms over my chest, taking up my place in between Dalton and Colton.

“Collin, you’re up first against-.” Dalton paused to look at me waiting for my response “Beau” I said nodding my head in his direction. Dalton looked at Collin, jerking his head in the direction of the clearing, guiding him to take up his stands across from Beau.

“First one to draw blood wins” Dalton announced crossing his own arms over his chest, getting comfortable to watch the fight with a trained eye to point out their flaws and weak spots.

“Now fight!” I ordered and watched as Beau instantly lunged at Collin, ending in Collin dodging and sending a fist into Beau’s stomach. Dalton shook his head.

“He’s too impatient” he stated glancing down at me out of the corner of his eye while referring to Beau. I nodded as Beau landed a blow to the side of Collin’s face, causing him to stumble back and expose his side clearly to Beau.

“His right side’s exposed” I pointed out and Dalton shifted his weight uneasily from beside me “That will only result in injury if he does that in battle” as soon as the words left Dalton’s lips, Beau struck Collin in the side, sending him tumbling to the clearing floor. Beau loomed over top him, about to send another punch to Collin’s jaw when Collin rolled out of the way and up onto his feet, countering with a punch of his own.

“Quick thinking” I muttered to Dalton as the rest excluding Colton looked at us with furrowed brows and confused looks plastered across their faces.

“But not quick enough” Beau rammed into Collin, knocking him over and sending punch after punch into Collin’s jaw. Dalton nodded his head towards the scene and taking a step forward I yelled “Stand down!” both froze and Beau got off of Collin, extending a hand to help him up as they both turned to look at me.

“That’s enough for now” I announced turning to approach Dalton again. He was glancing at both Collin and Beau with judgemental eyes when I said “So Beau’s impatient and Collin is exposing himself too much?” Dalton nodded in reply, finally tearing his eyes away from the pair to look down at me with his jaw set and eyes emotionless.

“Collin thinks faster than most which could come in handy when up against the Raptors” he said and I immediately thought back to my fight with Brice. He thought quickly and accurately then he acted out accordingly.

“I agree, we need more skilled fighters like that if we’re going to stand a chance against them” I replied, glancing across the clearing in the direction of the pack house but turned my attention onto Dalton when he breathed out heavily, causing a low rumble to start up from his chest.

“Blondie, you’re up!” Dalton announced, leaving no room for argument as I took a glance at my group, trying to decide who to pick “Jake” my voice was even and reflected that of a true Alpha as I spoke. Jake headed for the centre of the clearing where Tanner already stood waiting.

“Begin!” Dalton’s thundering voice boomed and the pair lunged at one another, attacking with full blown force.

“You think we could actually win?” I randomly asked falling back onto the earlier topic of the Raptors. Dalton rolled his shoulders back, standing tall but kept his eyes on the scene before him “If we play our cards right” he nodded using the same tactic as our father, one that even I myself used, was as a chess match that when played right is triumphed.

“Now that Cowen is protected it’s only a matter of time before the Rogues turn on Reign” I muttered, observing as Tanner struck Jake in the stomach and jaw, knocking him back a few steps.

“But the Raptors will come looking before that, the only problem is making shore that Cowen stays protected long enough for the Rogues to lose their patience” Dalton countered wisely, flicking his gaze down to me before turning back to the fight where Jake was being pummelled into the ground.

“And in order to achieve that we’ll need as many and as skilled fighters as possible” I agreed crossing my arms over my chest once again. My eyes fixed onto Jake who was being driven into the ground with a series of punches from Tanner, forcing him to his knees.

“His violent technic isn’t allowing Jake any room to make a move” Dalton said nodding his head in Tanner’s direction but I kept focusing on Jake, silently pleading for him to find a gap in Tanner’s attacks.

“Common Jake” I whispered lowly which seemed to reach Jake, whose eyes turned a ruby red like mine would, with his canines extending. My eyes snapped towards Tate who was looking at me with a knowing gaze before he turned back to Jake. I watched as Jake lunged at Tanner, gripping his throat to shove him into the clearing floor with so much force that it knocked blood from Tanner’s mouth. Jake started throwing punches and tearing into Tanner’s bare chest with his claws, causing agonising screams to fill the clearing.

“Get him out of here, now!” Dalton ordered when he noticed the out of control state that Jake was in. I rushed forward before anyone could stop me and stood directly in front of Jake, over Tanner’s form.

“Jake, stop” I ordered but he wouldn’t listen and instead picked up his pace, tearing and shredding.

“Jake, listen to me, you can fight it” I tried again but still he ignored me, so I knelt down to meet his eyes.

“You’re in control Jake, you control your wolf so do it!” I demanded earning myself a threatening snarl from Jake. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes as I willed my wolf too surface and when I opened them again, my eyes were the same shade of red as Jake’s.

“Rachel!” Dalton exclaimed trying to get me away from Jake and to safety but I didn’t listen. My hand reached out to grab Jake’s shoulder, shoving him back as my claws dug into his flesh then I leaned forward so our noses were just inches apart to bare my canines in a dominant snarl. Jake flinched away and stumbled back, falling to the ground, breathing hard as his eyes flickered from red to his natural golden brown ones, filled with fear. Jake bowed his head in submission, staring wide eyed up at me as I took a few deep breaths, forcing my wolf back down and blinking away the red, leaving behind a crystal clear blue.

“What the Hell was that?” Dalton demanded, shoving my shoulder to forcefully turn me so that I was facing him. He paused to glance down at a gasping Tanner with his shirt torn and chest bloody.

“Someone get him to the pack Doctor, move!” my brother ordered and Beau and Brett complied, along with Cameron, carrying Tanner in the direction of the pack house.

“Were you trying to get yourself killed?” Dalton asked as soon as Tanner was taken care of, his eyes narrowing back on me. I met his icy blue gaze, still trying to catch my breath when I snapped “I was trying to stop him and I did no thanks to you!” Dalton shook his head from side to side and ran a shaky hand through his hair, trying to calm his nerves down to start talking to me like I was a little kid.

“You could’ve gotten yourself hurt Rachel, he’s a Rogue, a killer-.” when he paused my mind went reeling, flashing back to what that Rogue had said the day I met Jake ‘You know Reign was right about you being a killer’. Was I really a killer?

How did you even manage to calm him down like that? He’s a Rogue and an Rogue Alpha at that, they don’t listen to anyone else but their own wolves” Dalton asked glancing down at Jake who sat with his head in his bloody hands, fingers running through his hair while his shoulder shook violently.

“I-I don’t know, I-.” I replied lowly, bowing my head with my fists balled at my sides, realisation striking me head on as I looked down at Jake.

“You what, Rachel?” Dalton asked when I didn’t finish and snapped me back to reality. I shook my head, deciding that I couldn’t tell him and instead brushed it off.

“I was just trying to help, I didn’t mean to scare you” I truthfully said meeting his cold blue eyes with my clear blue ones to show my sincerity. Dalton sighed heavily, shooting a glare in Jake’s direction.

“I’m going to go for a run to get everything out of my system” I announced motioning towards the tree line. Dalton nodded, rubbing a hand over his face before he jerked his head in the direction I motioned in “Get out of here, that’s enough practice for today” with that, I took off jogging towards the trees while everyone else scattered out, heading in the direction of the pack house or lake, some even going on their own runs. I needed some time to clear my head and get everything figured out before I could face them again.

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I had been running for a while when I eventually decided to stop, slumping down against a nearby boulder with my head tilted back and my hands folded, dangling down between my knees. I heard footsteps approaching but the scents told me that they weren’t a threat.

“You okay, princess?” Tate’s rugged voice asked as I opened my eyes and turned my head to look at him leaning up against a tree with his arms crossed over his chest.

“I’m fine” I said shooting a glance in Jake’s direction where he was sitting on a fallen tree stump before I tilted my head back again.

“You know you can’t lie to me, right?” Tate asked and I sighed heavily, staring up at the cracks in the tree branches above where the sun’s rays just barely broke through the dense brush.

“But I can try” I muttered as Jake hopped off the stump and made his way over, sitting down cross legged in front of me.

“You’re a Rogue” he bluntly put it, his eyes flashing from a golden brown to a bright glowing red as he looked at me. I shook my head and stared down at my fingers.

“I’m an Alpha” I protested, not wanting to believe what I already knew was true. Jake reached out to grip my shoulders, giving them a comforting squeeze.

“Rachel, look at me” he prompted but I didn’t want to and instead closed my eyes, keeping them shut “Rachel, please I know it’s hard to accept it but you’re going to have to eventually” I took a deep breath, forcing my eyes open and turning my head to look at him with so much fear in my eyes.

“You’re scared, I can see that but there’s nothing to be scared of” he assured when he met my eyes and saw right through me like I was an open book.

“You’re a Hybrid, you’ve known that for some time now-.” he paused his eyes never once leaving mine as he searched through them before continuing “But you’re more than that, I’m a Rogue Alpha Rachel, but you’re-you’re an Alpha Rogue” I wasn’t shore what he was saying but I was trying to understand as I glanced from him to Tate who stood quietly off to the side.

“I’m not following” I mumbled once again, choosing to stare down at my fiddling fingers instead of meeting Jake’s eyes.

“Like you, Rogues also follow a Council-.” he explained, pausing to look for the right words to say “The Rogue Alphas are the Council but they follow one ruling Alpha, an Alpha of the Rogues” I listened intently as he continued, his arms dropping from my shoulders and enabling him to sit back a little.

“Think of him as a King and the Alpha’s leading the Rogue packs, like my father, as his Council” I didn’t know what to say so I kept quiet, trying to process his every word when he spoke “Alpha Braxton is our reigning King and the first ever Alpha to turn Rogue” the name sounded familiar to me and thinking back I remembered overhearing my parents arguing about him when I was younger.

“Braxton” I breathed trying to remember what my parents had argued about but I came up blank. Jake nodded “Braxton has three sons, Luke, Alec and Reese. They’re all Alpha-Rogue Hybrids and the only ones of their kind in existence because of their blood line linking them to Braxton” I had no clue what Jake was trying to say as I shook my head, confused more than ever.

“In order to create such a Hybrid Braxton had to mate with non-Rogue Alpha Females-.” he paused letting it sink in as I realised what he was trying to say. He mated with my mother and created me.

“No” I breathed, not wanting to believe it as I stuck my head down between my knees with my hands covering my ears.

“No!” I yelled only to have Jake reach for my wrists, tugging my hands away from my ears and forcing me to look at him as I struggled against his grip.

“Rachel, calm down and look at me” he ordered but I only struggled more fiercely against him until he grew tired and shoved my back into the boulder.

“I said, look at me” he repeated more sternly and I stopped struggling, breathing hard with my eyes beginning to glaze over with unshed tears.

“I don’t know if it’s true yet Rachel, but Braxton is the only one that’s capable of creaking an ‘Alpha of the Rogues’ like you and his sons” I stared into his golden brown eyes, seeing truth hidden in their speckled depths. He wasn’t lying and it only made the tears start to flow down the side of my face.

“No, please no” I sobbed struggling again as I fought to get free from his grasp. Jake wouldn’t budge and instead tightened his grip.

“Rachel, don’t you see? This could come in handy when the Rogues come for Cowen” he suddenly said and I froze, thinking over his words as he continued to explain “Rogues follow Braxton and his sons with loyalty and if you really are Braxton’s daughter then they’d stand down at your order and leave whatever they want that Cowen has to you” Jake said his eyes locking with mine as a way to get me to stay calm.

“They’d have no reason to follow Reign anymore because they’d already have what they want” I nodded slowly, seeing his point as I blinked away a few more tears. I was a Rogue so if I had what they wanted then the Rogues have it too.

“B-But they’d go to Braxton about me and-.” I trailed off, not wanting my biological father to know about me or my existence. Jake let go of my wrists to affectionately squeeze my shoulders “Let them, then we’d have the Rogue’s on our side against the Raptors, we’d actually be able to win this war” I nodded my head in agreement, shoulder’s shaking as I tried suppressing my sobs. Jake’s hands dropped from my shoulders as he stood, taking a few steps back to make room for Tate who knelt down in front of me, pulling me into a comforting embrace.

“Shhh it’s okay, I’m here” he whispered soothingly to me while rubbing my back tenderly. He shot a look in Jake’s direction and Jake nodded in reply to the silent question.

“I’ll go make shore that Tanner’s alright” he said then took off in the direction of the pack house, leaving me and Tate alone. I sobbed into Tate’s chest with my hands balling on his chest.

“It’s alright princess, everything’s going to be okay” he assured placing gentle kisses around my ear and to the side of my head as he continued to whisper to me until I stopped crying enough for him to ask.

“Better, princess?” I nodded my head and closed my eyes, listening to the sound of his steady heartbeat, placing a small kiss to his chest where his heart would be.

“Good, we better head back to the pack house, Cowen’s going to want to know what happened to his son” Tate said getting up and pulling me up with him. He was about to turn around to start heading for the pack house when I grabbed hold of his arm, causing him to look down at me.

“Rachel?” he asked with his eyebrows raised in confusion before I leaned up, cupping his face tenderly and pressed my lips to his. He instantly responded to the kiss before I pulled away and walked off, leaving him behind to stare after me.

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By the time we reached the pack house it was already lunch and Rebecca had set out an entire table of food to choose from in the dining room. Beau was busy filling his plate when Tate and I walked in.

“Hey” Tate greeted nodding his head in acknowledgement towards Beau. Beau returned the gesture.

“Hey Rachel” he greeted me before going back to his plate. Tate grabbed a plate of his own and started on filling it up.

“So how’s Tanner doing?” Tate randomly asked as I started munching on the finger food platter, grabbing my own plate to start filling it up.

“He’s up but he lost a lot of blood and if it wasn’t for Rachel he might’ve lost a lot more” Beau replied shooting me a glance. I shrugged my shoulders, saying just as Rebecca appeared in the doorway of the room “I had no idea what I was doing, I was just trying to help” Beau nodded, going back his food and conversation with Tate as Rebecca stepped up beside me, placing a hand on my shoulder to catch my attention.

“Sorry dear, mind if I have a word with you in the kitchen?” she asked with a small smile which I returned as I set my plate down on the table, turning to face her with a nod of my head “Of course, mom” with that I shot a quick glance in Tate’s direction before following Rebecca into the kitchen where she dropped the drying cloth and started working on washing the dishes again.

“What’s wrong?” I asked snatching the cloth up to start drying the already washed dishes and put them away.

“You’re scent’s been all over Tate lately” she suddenly said and I froze, nearly dropping the plate I was working on. Rebecca didn’t look at me when she spoke so she hadn’t noticed my body stiffening.

“Training’s been rough lately and Dalton seems to like paring us up so-.” I trailed off, feeling horrible for lying to her but I couldn’t stand to think what she’d thought of me if she knew that I was falling for Tate.

“Rachel, I’m worried that there’s more going on between the two of you then you’re letting on” she plainly said, shooting a glance in my direction as I stretched to place the dish back into the cupboard. I nodded, heading back to get another plate.

“I’m not saying that there is but Tate lost his mate and-.” Rebecca stopped, shaking her head and focusing on the dishes as if she’d just spilled the world’s biggest secret.

“I know about his mate mom, he told me” I prompted, assuring her that it was okay to talk about it now that I knew. Rebecca stopped washing and took a deep breath, staring straight ahead and out the window onto the back porch.

“And I suppose he also told you that, that necklace was hers?” she asked shooting me a glance. My hand unconsciously went to grip the pendant still dangling around my neck before I cleared my throat to say “He did but I don’t see what a necklace has to do with all of this” Rebecca sighed heavily as she went back to washing the dishes and I stuck a clean coffee cup into the cabinet in the corner of the room.

“You don’t know, do you dear?’ she said with a small sad smile plastered across her face when she spoke. My eyebrows furrowed up in confusion as I looked at her asking “Know what?” I finished up on the third plate and stuck it into the cupboard with the rest as Rebecca continued washing, not bothering to look back at me.

“High ranking wolves who have lost their mate, can choose another, it’s called a chosen mate and they create a mate bond with that person just as strong as any other” I dropped the cloth and leaned my weight onto the kitchen table, supporting myself before I could sink down to the floor.

“You mean he-?” I couldn’t finish my question because it caught in my throat along with my breath. Rebecca nodded her head, bending down to scoop the cloth up that I’d dropped, using it to dry her hands.

“I think he chose you” she said tossing the cloth onto her shoulder as she turned to fully face me. My eyes went down to the necklace dangling around my neck, feeling a slight tug on my heart at the thought of Tate.

“Rachel, you’ve sacrificed everything for Hayden, don’t let Tate allow what you two have to slip through your fingers” she advised, grabbing two plates and placing them into the sink to get started on washing them. I ran a shaky hand over my face and tangled my fingers into my hair, sighing heavily.

“I won’t” I promised deciding that Hayden was the man I’d marry and that he didn’t deserve to be cheated on with Tate.

“Good dear, mind getting the rest of the dishes from the dining room for me?” Rebecca asked, changing the subject as I stood upright, nodding my head with a smile plastered across my face.

“Shore thing, mom” I said heading out the kitchen and into the dining room where Tate and Beau were still talking. Tate looked up at me as soon as I walked in and smiled the kind of smile that I only ever got to see.

My wolf already wanted him and so do I but we also wanted Hayden, we were torn completely, finding ourselves stuck in some love triangle with no idea how to get out.

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It was around eight when I made my way upstairs and into my and Hayden’s room, finding him playing with Holden on the floor, each having a small toy car.

“Hey” I greeted going over, leaning down to peck Hayden on the lips. He grinned up at me.

“Hey” he repeated before going back to making funny car sounds and pushing his green toy car around on the bedroom carpet. I laughed at the sight while Holden threw his red car across the room.

“I think you’re more interested in the cars then he is” I teased, heading over to pick Holden’s car up and place it on top of the wooden oak dresser.

“It’s fun” Hayden countered, shrugging his shoulders as if it was no big deal. I breathed a laugh and shook my head, remembering what my mother used to say.

“My mom was right boys don’t grow up, their toys only get more expensive” Hayden pouted at me as Holden yawned and started wailing. I made my way over to him and scooped him up into my arms.

“Looks like someone’s tired” I cooed while grabbing his baby bag and turning to face Hayden who was still playing with the toy car, making funny sounds.

“I’m going to run him a bath, you get ready for bed” I instructed and Hayden paused, looking up at me with pleading and big puppy dog eyes.

“Do I have to?” he complained like a five year old, causing me to giggle and nod my head, pointing a stern finger at him.

“Yes and if you’re not ready by the time I’m done with Holden then you won’t get any more kisses” I warned and Hayden gasped, placing a hand over his heart in fake shock as he blinked up at me “No more kisses? But that’s so mean!” I shook my head at him and leaned down to kiss the side of his lips saying “Then get ready and we won’t have a problem, now will we?” with that I turned and left him on the bedroom floor to head into the bathroom where I sat Holden down on the bath mat and tossed his baby bag onto the countertop. I started running a bath and turned to Holden, cooing as an effort to get him to stop crying.

“Who’s mommy’s little baby huh, who’s mommy’s little baby boy?” I asked tickling his sides and causing him to laugh joyously when Hayden suddenly stuck his head into the bathroom.

“I am!” he announced like a little kid then he was gone, leaving me to breathe a laugh at his childish ways. I reached over and shut off the tap, making shore that the water wasn’t too hot or too deep for Holden. When I was satisfied, I started undressing Holden from his dipper, orange T-shirt and small brown shoes then set him in the tub, wetting his hair carefully with the sponge. Handing Holden his little rubber duck, I went to the baby bag to get his white baby grow and socks ready before I started washing his body and hair. I made a mow-hawk with his hair and dabbed some shampoo onto his nose with my finger. He babbled and laughed at it along with me as I watched him then I gently soaked the sponge dripping water onto his hair to rinse it out.

“I think you look good with a mow-hawk” I said leaning across to blow on his cheek, causing him to laugh and drop his duck into the water. I reached across to pull out the plug, setting the duck back on the side of the tub and grabbed a towel to dry Holden with.

“Common up you go” I prompted, scooping him up and drying him off gently, rubbing his hair making it stick up in all directions. I laid him down on the counter top on the towel to put his dipper on, followed by his baby grow and socks.

“There you go, all nice and clean and ready for bed” I cooed picking him up along with his baby bag and discarding the towel and clothes in the laundry bin on the way out of the bathroom. Hayden was lying on the bed, staring up at the ceiling in only a pair of grey boxers when I exited the bathroom.

“Finally, I was starting to get lonely” Hayden exclaimed when he noticed me and stared after me as I made my way over to Holden’s crib. Holden yawned as I started rocking him in my arms until his eyes drifted shut.

“Goodnight, baby” I whispered, placing a tender kiss to his forehead as I tucked him into his crib, wrapping his blue blanket around him and dug through his baby bag for his teddy bear. He was fast asleep when I made my way back over to Hayden, dropping Holden’s bag down by the foot of the bed.

“It’s so unfair, he gets all the attention!” Hayden grouched crossing his arms over his chest and pouting. I laughed and kicked my trainers off followed by my sweatpants and sports bra leaving me in only a pair of lacy grey panties and nothing else. Hayden’s breath caught at the sight of my naked chest and he bolted upright in bed.

“I take it back, I don’t mind this attention” he muttered as I headed towards the dresser and pulled out my matching grey bra along with one of Hayden’s oversized black T-shirts to tug on.

“p*****t” I teased glancing at him in the mirror that hung over the dresser as I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and adjusted his shirt to sit more comfortably on me “But you like it” Hayden smirked as I turned around and made my way over to the foot of the bed.

“Maybe-.” I breathed crawling up onto the bed and towards him until I was looming overhead. I leaned down, positioning my lips at his ear.

“Maybe not” I whispered nipping at his ear lobe and causing him to shiver as I pulled away laughing.

“Tease!” he exclaimed gripping my waist and flipping us over so that he was on top. His hands went from my waist to my wrists and pinned my hands to either side of my head like he did the night he marked me.

“It’s not polite to tease, babe” Hayden said, smirking down at me as I stared up at him with my shirt pushed up to above my waist and hair cast out around me.

“Oh really?” I asked playing along as I leaned up to kiss the corner of his mouth, nipping at his bottom lip. He groaned.

“It’s very bad” he replied, nodding his head and leaning down to trail kisses up along my neck. stopping at my ear “And you need to be punished for it” his hot breath on my ear sent shivers down my spine as I desperately struggled to free my hands, needing to touch him but before I could he bit down on his mark again, causing wave after wave of pleasurable shocks to course throughout my body.

“Hayden!” I gasped, tilting my head to the side as I kicked my legs and curled my toes to grip at the sheets. When he pulled away, he lapped at his mark and looked at me, licking my blood off his lips.

“You’re mine” he whispered, kissing my forehead and wiping the hair back out of my face as my eyes began to droop.

“Sleep” he breathed turning us over so that he was lying on his side with me pressed up against his chest and tossed the sheets over us.

“Sleep” he repeated, kissing the top of my head and rubbing his hand along my arm. I did as he said and slowly drifted off to sleep, listening to the sound of his steady heartbeat.