Alpha Longing

Chapter 1.1

Present

Aki's POV

I sat nervously in the office of the pack’s doctor, where I work as a practitioner nurse healer, fidgeting with my hands and trying to steady my breath. A faint scent of lavender lingered in the air, providing a calming atmosphere, but it did little to ease my anxiety.

Yesterday, Susan, the pack’s doctor, promised to check my lab test results to see what was wrong with me. An omega typically experiences its first heat during adolescence. But now, at the age of 22, I, a dominant male omega, have yet to experience it. My mother always reassured me that it would come eventually, but that wasn’t the case.

The lack of heat is a constant worry, one that I tried to keep to myself. And recently, the urge to mate has become more pressing. James has been my boyfriend for over a year now. Of course, we do our stuff—who doesn’t at our age—but since I never got my heat in my adolescence, I want my first with the person I love. Maybe I’m greedy or old-fashioned, but still, I think that James is the one.

As I kept waiting, the door opened, and Susan stepped in. Her dark chocolate-rich skin glowed under the soft lighting, and her curly hair was always neatly pulled back into a bun. “Those little rascals are going to be the end of me,” Susan said, motioning to the examination chair. “Your cousins’ twins did not want to return to their human form, and he called. It just took a show of the herbs, and they immediately shifted back.” My nerves melted a little after hearing the comment that Susan made. To think that the True Alpha of the Bloodswan Pack in Montana, my cousin, was going to be wrapped around the little fingers of his pups blows my mind every time.

I moved to the chair. Susan picked up some papers from her desk and began my examination. “Hmm,” she said, looking at the documents in her hands that were the results of the lab test. “Everything seems to be normal. Your hormone levels are slightly over the expected range for a dominant omega, but there is nothing to worry about.”

“Then why can’t I go into heat?” I asked, my voice wavering slightly.

Susan, with the wise and knowing eyes of a middle-aged werewolf, sat down beside me and gently placed a comforting hand on my shoulder. “Aki, have you ever bonded with another wolf?”

“No,” I said, surprised. “I’ve been with James, but I wouldn’t say we’ve bonded in the way you mean.”

Susan furrowed her brow. “It’s not common for a dominant omega to not have experienced heat unless their wolf has already bonded. Werewolves like you and your brother, born to dominant parents, tend to bond with another of the same caliber at an early age. It’s a secondary effect of the former ‘Breeding’ to secure the genes. Your wolf may already be bonded, but you haven’t realized it yet. It’s extremely rare, but it can happen. Your wolf might be waiting for the right moment to reveal your mate to you.”

I sighed. “So, what does that mean? Will I ever be able to go into heat if I don’t find my bonded mate?”

Susan shook her head. “No, that’s not what I’m saying. You could still go into heat if a dominant alpha or beta bites you during their rut. But it wouldn’t be the same as if you were with a bonded mate. The connection between bonded mates is different than any other.”

I nodded, understanding what she was saying. “What about James? If we were to mate, would it work?”

Susan hesitated before speaking. “It’s possible, but I wouldn’t recommend it. He is an average alpha. If your wolf is already bonded, it could cause some problems. Also, it’s not guaranteed that the bite will succeed.”

I felt a wave of disappointment wash over me. I lowered my head, blinking back my tears. I’d hoped that I would be able to experience my first heat with James, but now it seemed like that might not be possible.

When the Paranormal Council surged, the “Breeding” between powerful families mostly stopped. So at least now, dominant borns don’t need to mate to maintain their genes. That’s why mating with James, an average alpha, would not have been a problem.

“But don’t worry,” Susan said, placing a hand on my shoulder and releasing her alpha pheromones. “You’ll find your bonded mate eventually. And when you do, you’ll know it. Your wolf will tell you.”

I looked into her eyes, feeling a sense of comfort in her scent and words. “Thank you, Susan. I appreciate your help.” Susan smiled at me. “Of course, Aki. That’s what I’m here for. Just remember, everything happens for a reason. Trust in the path that’s been set for you, and everything will work out in the end.”

I thanked her and left the office, my mind spinning with the new information. Lost in thought, I got into my car and drove towards the apartment I shared with Millie, my best friend, a female omega. With her petite frame and beaming smile masking a mischievous side, I hoped that talking to her would help me feel better. However, as I entered our apartment, my heart sank. The unmistakable scent of pheromones permeated the air. The scent grew stronger as I walked towards my bedroom, and I could hear the muffled moans coming from behind the door.

With a sinking feeling, I hesitated but opened the door and stood frozen in the doorway, watching as my boyfriend knotted my friend. The sight made my stomach turn, and I could feel bile rising in my throat. My mind was racing, trying to make sense of what I was seeing.

James, my boyfriend, who was supposed to be the one, was knotting someone else. And to make matters worse, it was with my best friend Millie, who I trusted with my life.

James made eye contact with me. His brown eyes were glowing, and pure rage emanated from them. He growled at me with his full canines. Werewolves are extremely territorial when they are mating. As the realization hit me, my body began to shake with rage and hurt. I couldn’t believe that they would betray me like this. I felt violated and disgusted, and the scent of their pheromones only made me feel worse.

Without thinking, I turned and fled to the bathroom, retching and throwing up. The tears I held back in the office streamed down my face, and my body was racked with sobs.

After a while, I composed myself enough to leave the bathroom. I walked back into the room, my face twisted with anger and hurt.

“What the hell is going on here?” I demanded, my voice icy with anger.

James stood up, showing off his well-built looking sheepish and guilty. “Aki, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for this to happen.”

Millie, pulling her long wavy blond hair to the side, looked defiant. “It’s not my fault, Aki. I went into heat, and I couldn’t stop.”

Their words were a slap in the face, but I held my ground. “I always trusted you both,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “How could you do this to me? And in my own bed?”

James tried to approach me, but I backed away. “Aki, please. Let me explain.”

I couldn‘t listen to him. Not now, not after what I had just witnessed. I packed a bag and walked out of the apartment. The memories of their betrayal still felt raw and sharp, and I knew I couldn’t stay there.“I always trusted you both,” I said, my voice shaking with emotion. “How could you do this to me? And in my own bed?”

James tried to approach me, but my wolf started to bite inside me, and I backed away. “Aki, please. Let me explain.”

I couldn‘t listen to him. Not now, not after what I had just witnessed. “I can’t deal with this.”

I packed a bag as fast as I could, turned, and walked out of the apartment, feeling like my whole world had been shattered. I had no idea what I would do next, but one thing was sure. I couldn’t stay here, not with the memories of their betrayal still fresh in my mind. That’s when I remembered my brother, Akatsuki, was in Japan.

My hands were shaking as I fumbled, searching for my car keys. When I found them, I decided to go to my parent’s house to pick up my passport. While I rummaged through Mom’s office drawers, my eyes landed on an old photo on the top of her desk. It was a picture of me standing in front of a traditional Japanese house when I was around five. And there was an older kid beside me, a boy I didn’t know.

I was confused. I didn’t recall this part of my childhood, yet the photo intrigued me. Attached to it was a key with a document stating that my mother owned the house. I couldn’t believe it. Why had nobody told me about this before?

I grabbed the photo and the document, tucked them into my bag, and headed out of the house. I needed to get away from the memories of James and Millie, and without a second thought or telling my parents, I booked a one-way ticket to Japan from my phone as I headed to the airport.