The King of Wolves

Chapter 5 - The Omega Girl

Caspian POV

I'm across the room with Derek's neck in my hand in an instant, pushing him against the wall. My claws graze his neck, blood dripping down onto his shirt.

Everyone backs away from us, unaware of our conversation.

That female is an OMEGA?

Yes, but come on, Cas. You have to let me explain. It's not what you think.

His face is turning red but giving away none of his emotions or our internal exchange.

Explain. Another growl reverberates in my chest.

I ran into her this morning, and something about her made me dig a little deeper. I told you before we need to speak to Alpha Maddox. Something just doesn't make sense.

I let his neck go, getting some of my control back. He slides down the wall and rolls his shoulders.

I turn and briskly walk away, giving my apologies on the way to the stairs.

I know this looks crazy, and I don’t care. I have to get out of here and calm down. Before turning to head up, I catch her eyes.

They are stunning emerald green, round, and shining from tears.

She looks terrified. She's clinging onto the arm of another female who has an arm wrapped protectively around her.

Is she scared of me? Does she feel it, too?

Another guy steps in front of her, blocking her from my view and bringing me back to reality. It doesn’t matter right now. I have to get control.

I pivot and head up the stairs, taking them three at a time to the second floor. I practically sprint to my room and shut the door behind me.

“F**K!”

****

Morana POV

"Come on, Ana." Sophia whines. "There has got to be more to the story than you running into him in the woods."

Once I returned from talking with Alex, this girl was glued to my side, begging me for details about my encounter with the royal Beta this morning.

She’s pissed I didn’t tell her, and I feel guilty, but there just wasn’t a free moment.

"I told you already, Soph," I say, exasperated. "I literally ran into him in the woods when I was walking home, we had a weird conversation, and then I left. That's it." My eyes plead with her to change the subject.

"That can't be it. Ana, he kissed your hand. Like he knew who you were!" She's shrieking at this point. I throw my head back and groan.

It’s starting to get on my nerves.

The feeling in my stomach has turned to heat and is beginning to get overwhelming, causing me to lose focus. I run my hands through my hair and try to relax.

"Can you please keep your voice down! People can hear you!" My voice is barely a rough whisper. I feel almost sick.

Glaring at her, I hit her stomach with the back of my hand. I pull away and continue walking to finish setting up the dining hall.

We need to hurry. They should be arriving at any minute, and I don’t know if I want to be here when King Caspian arrives.

I’ve already been yelled at twice. That’s enough for me.

Suddenly, a roar fills the house, shaking me to the core. It makes everyone jump and stops what they are doing.

What the…?

My eyes follow where the sound came from to see a broad, muscled back man pinning a red-faced Derek to the wall in the hallway by his neck.

He is even bigger than Derek, which I didn't know was possible. But it can only mean one thing.

"Holy Goddess..." Soph is swooning.

I look at her, and it's like she's got little hearts in her eyes and floating around her head.

"That's.. that's the King of Wolves," she says breathlessly.

My head snaps back to the scene, but he's now making his way to the stairs. Before he pivots to head up, his gaze lands on mine. My knees turn to jello.

Oh!

I grip onto Soph because if looks could kill, I think I would be dead.

I didn't even notice that she snaked her arm around my shoulders, ready to push me behind her at any moment.

I take him in, the definition of tall, dark, and handsome, yummm.

He looks a little scary…

Something in my head snaps as I stare into his deep, black eyes.

"Mate.."

The heat is now so intense, it brings tears to my eyes. It’s almost painful to be standing here and not moving toward him. Every fiber of my body is willing me to run and jump his bones.

Moon Goddess..you one shady bitch..

He’s not moving. His eyes fixed on me.

Is he angry? Can he feel the mate bond, too? Why isn’t he coming to me?

This isn’t how I pictured finding my mate would be.

Alex moves to stand in front of me, and I can't see the King anymore. Where did he come from?

After a few more seconds, he finally seems to relax. The tension in the room begins to dissipate, and everyone continues with their work.

Is that…it?

I try to sneak another look at the King. My inner wolf longing to go to her mate, but he is already gone.

No! I grab my throat, the heat feels like it’s choking me.

Tears threaten to fall as they line my eyes. I quickly blink them back before my brother and best friend have a chance to notice.

His scent finally pushes its way into the room, making my heart clench and desire pool in my stomach.

Oh my, he smells heavenly.

What the f**k is happening to me?

"What the hell was that?" Sophia's voice is laced with disgust and concern, still holding onto me. "Morana, are you okay? It seemed like he knew you from somewhere or something. It kind of looked like he hates you..."

Alex turns to meet us both. His face pulled together in anger.

"I told you something wasn't right, Ana. And we're gonna find out what." He briskly turns and stalks away from us.

"Okay, now I seriously don't believe you, Ana. Spill. What aren't you telling me?” Sophia crosses her arms against her chest.

I let out a breath I didn't even know I was holding.

"Honestly, I'm not even sure, Soph." I grab her hand and pull her towards the dining hall after me.

I don’t think it should tell her what happened just now. There’s no way she’d be able to keep quiet.

Plus, I think it would be a good thing to talk to him about being mates before anyone else.

Today just keeps getting worse.

"I just know that Alex has a feeling somethings up, and you know he's never wrong."

Her eyebrows shoot up, and she puts her hands up in defeat. “All right, say no more. I guess time will tell, eh?" She gently pats my shoulder.

Thank you, Moon Goddess. She finally stopped her interrogation.

But I know it's far from over. I just got a lot more questions.

“Are you okay, Ana?” Sophia seriously never misses anything.

My head is buzzing, a slight fog still clouding my mind. I shake my head to fight it off.

“Yeah, I’m good.” I force a smile.

I must push aside the pain of being away from my newly discovered mate. Or at least try to.

I try to focus on helping Luna, but I just can’t ignore it. My whole body is on fire. Like something is pulling me toward him.

No, not something. The mate bond.

It's stronger than I could have imagined, but something else in the pit of my stomach is helping to keep me away.

He ran.

He had to feel it too. But even with the heat of the bond, there's the sting of rejection.

Whenever I've watched someone find their mate, it's like magnets that nothing can keep apart. Their wolf takes over—all passion. Most mates can barely keep their hands to themselves.

Even my parents, who had been mates for almost thirty years, always had to be touching when they were near.

It’s like my greatest fear came to life. I knew no one could or would want a weakling like me.

He's the King, and I'm just an omega. He could have any female he wanted.

I mean, even Sophia was ready to drop her panties for him before he was even here!

There's just no way he will ever want me.

Tears silently fall from my eyes as I walk toward the side door. They burn my skin, and I rub them quickly, hoping no one notices.

The packhouse suddenly feels stifling, and I think I might suffocate if I stay here. I need some fresh air.

Sophia calls after me, but my mind is too fuzzy to understand what she's saying. As I rip open the door, a blast of cool air hits my face, and I gasp for the much-needed oxygen.

It helps a little, but my entire body feels like it's vibrating.

I grab the arm of an omega walking by. "What else can I help with?" My voice comes out raspy.

She makes a face but gives me a task, and I head away from the house.

Maybe a little distance will clear my head.