Divinity: Leto & Lykos

The Omega

THE Dining Hall was an upscale buffet style. Round, shiny wood tables with matching cushioned chairs sat eight. The tables were spaced evenly throughout the first level of the building. Upstairs was tea and coffee served with desserts.

It had been over two weeks since the mixer and the kiss. Teresi sat a few tables over with her Guard. The mad Teresi brother, Rasmus, ate with them, but did not seem to socialize much. The male that had kissed his female on the battlfield, who he later learned was Batholomew “Tolly” Michail, sat with them, as well as a female with short blond hair.

Teresi had taken extra care to ignore him.

He used this as a means to continue his investigation into everything her.

She was well liked by the other wolves and had a subtle confidence that made her unbelievably sexy. Her Guard was, in a word, wild and he often saw her giving in to the tricksters.

A couple nights after the kiss Cole reported seeing the two hoisting their smaller Alpha into a window of Green House. The next morning a groggy Michail stumbled into breakfast with various sized p*****s drawn on his face and neck.

More recently the trio decided to climb onto the roof of Blue House with a bottle of liquor and a joint. The female Guard, April Alexiou, woke half of Divinity with her hyena cackle. Fane and his Guard were greeted with the sight of Miller hanging from the gutter over the grass below, Alexiou laughing herself sick, and Teresi laughingly sushing the two while holding Miller by the collar. The Teresi male resignedly drank from the bottle on his hand, in his own world.

“What a handful!“ But when Sethos said it, it was a compliment. Cole had been annoyingly watchful of him, almost as attentive as Fane had been with Teresi.

His Guard undoubtedly liked her. He could have throttled the both of them at the mixer. Seeing the Miller tosser blow his breath into her mouth was bad enough without watching his f*****g Guard tag team his Mate.

Teresi, was good at her public mask. She was not quiet, but would take in what was, and was not, being said. Fane could see her mind working as she was spoken to. She was intelligent and unobtrusively fierce. Mathias had already begun her Alpha mentoring. It was clear in her comportment and people skills.

Fane's favorite version of Teresi, surprisingly, was the one drawing c***s on faces and drinking on rooftops. Those moments with her Guards, she was jaunty and laughed and joked.

From where ever he watched her when she was like that, he could see a sparkle in her eye. In her whole expression, magnetic and beautiful.

But, in the rare times she was alone around the grounds, usually in the Training Center or the Athenaeum, a dark cloud hovered over her. A book would be open at her favorite work desk in the back of the stacks and she'd stare at nothing. In the gym she would practice combat or hit the heavy bag until she fell to her knees in sweaty exhaustion and just sit for a while.

More concernedly, Fane had not seen her phase for a run in the nearby woods since her arrival. Her Guard did so daily, as was true for the rest of the wolves.

Her wolf was magnificent. A fiery red all over with dappling of hilightights the shade of pearl. One of the bigger she-wolves he had seen, he realized she was an Alpha in battle. Her wolf was ruthless and precise in combat, many treated the then sixteen to seventeen year old with a deference befitting a wolf fifteen years her senior.

She had taken it in stride and seemed to keep to herself or help those in need during the lulls in battles. Regretfully he had not been taking as much notice of the Lykos princess at that time, so his recollections were unreliable.

Titan begged him to go to her. To comfort and fix his Mate.

Fane resisted.

He required more intelligence before his approach.

She had plagued his nighttime hours with memories of her sweet mouth on his. Of her breathy noises and pants, that gourmand signature of hers clouding his brain. Just taking her mouth had wrecked his nervous system and dug its teeth in.

In daytime hours, presently, her cherry curls fell around her and she smiled at her brother as she ate her breakfast. And never looked at him.

So bloody attractive and worse, she seemed oblivious to how breathtaking she really was. He knew her brothers had been over protective and strict with her being the only female.

He wondered how protected she was.

A crash from the food queue resonated through the cavernous Hall. A fight broke out between two males and had knocked the stack of trays to the marble floor. Those sitting closest sprang to separate the wolves.

Fane looked to Teresi's table and saw her eyes widened in her now pale face. Her shoulders curled up to her earlobes to instinctively protect her neck. She tried to inconspicuously cover her ears, her hands were shaking so hard the curls closest to her fingers were trembling.

She made some excuse to the table and stood. Rasmus Teresi halted her and after she put on a pathetic smile she rushed out.

Fane nodded to his Guard and slipped out behind her.

~~~~~~~~~~~

The echo of the plastic trays colliding with the floor reverberated in her teeth. A scene of blood and howls and fear, so much fear, so much blood, flashed in place of the Dining Hall. The echo droned in her head and the table was a crater from a bomb, her breakfast companions charred to the bone.

Gotta run.

Get out.

There will be more, there are always more.

“Birdie,” Rasmus put his arm in her path. She used the last of her concentration to flash a smile, appeased, he dropped his arm.

Birdie. Her brothers had called her bird for the first half of her life. As the only female sibling it made sense.

The fresh air helped with the ringing inher head, but her breathing remained ragged and fast. She'd cleared the courtyard and beelined for an oak tree. Her vision filled with black spots. Nicole forces her legs to continue in the direction of where the tree should be. Her heart was racing and her skin was clammy. A pressure steadily increased either on or in her chest. Possibly both.

It was squeezing her psyche so hard the worries, insecurities, and guilt were being forced to the surface. It was too much, too protracted and built up.

The pressure vented in an anguished sob. Stumbling into the rough bark of the trunk she fell to the ground and tried to focus on regulating her breathing.

The roots under her guided enough for her to crawl further behind the oak. Out of sight of the courtyard, teakwood enveloped her senses.

She was hauled up by her underarms and stood facing the manicured grounds, strong torso at her back, and arms around her middle. Fane Andros had her against his chest, much like that night outside Blue House, and his back against the tree. For a moment Nicole let herself be held together by his strength.

“Bugger off to have panic attacks alone often?“ His voice was deadly. She stiffened, indignation flared and smoldered at the tightening of his hold.

“I- I-”

“It was rhetorical Teresi, you can't f*****g fool me. And you're shite at lying.“

“Is that supposed to be a critcism?“ she snapped, her anger was the perfect distraction from his earthy amber signature.

She'd never been spoken to like this. Would have removed that notion for good- if it was anyone else.

He crouched behind her and brushed the ground from her knees with firm, yet gentle, swipes of his hands.

Huge hands.

Zeus and Hera please make him get up.

Andros rose slowly to his full height, which was a head taller than herself. He reached down and gave the same treatment to each of her hands. Fingers lingered on her skin longer than necessary. Goosebumps covered her entire body and her knees felt wobbly at his intense attention.

Get your shite together, Nicole!

Yes, Nicole, do. Sabine agreed regally.

He brushed her hair to the side and put his mouth by her ear, “Don't change the subject. How long have you been f*****g hiding these happenings? I know you haven't phased since you've been here.“

Oh Gods, please don't cry again, not in front of him.

Alpha.

Bloody hell.

Andros sighed heavily and smoothly turned her to face him. His eyes were the color of the grass in the sunlight, but glinted with anger and…want. Dark want and lust.

Need to change my knickers and it's only breakfast time!

His collared button-down was black today, paired with kahkis; he looked like an incubus. Her butterflies were back. Along with that warm bubble around and between them when their eyes meet.

“I can smell you, if I put my hand up these inappropriately short shorts, would I find you wet?“ His eyes darkened to forest green, a knowing smirk curved his lips, “Do you want me, Teresi?“ His teasing belied the fervor in his gaze.

The weight of his eyes had become a constant around the grounds. She could feel him staring at her with rapt attention in the Dining Hall, the Social Hall, at gatherings. The temptation to stare back was getting unbearable, but the kiss - mistake- was just that.

A mistake.

Mate. Her wolf, Sabine, could be a right b***h sometimes. Alpha.

Bollocks!

She knew that was why he kept prodding her with his bold and brooding considerations. He had gotten to her, the female Alpha Heir slipped him the tongue her first night at Divinity.

“Ho, ho.“ She deadpanned, “You win, you got one over on me, now move on, Andros.“ He crushed her to his chest with an arm banded around her waist and a hand clutching the back her neck.

“What are you on about, Teresi?“ His eyes darted between hers, “Got what over on you? You bloody ignore me for f*****g weeks and now you're, what, surrendering?“

She glanced down to his mouth.

Shite!

She moved back to his narrowed eyes.

Shite!

He pulled her head back by her hair to look in her face, “I don't like mind games,” He rubbed his thumb on the side of her neck, “I don't like lying. And I don't like you f*****g off by yourself when you're vulnerable.“

She bristled, defensiveness surging forward, “I was fi-”

“If you say fine, I swear to the Gods, Teresi.“ He gritted out in his deep voice. At her glare he tightened his hold on her waist and neck, “I found you crawling on the f*****g grass- crying!“ Andros seethed. His jaw was clenched and his expression was thunderous.

“Lower your voice!“ She hissed, looking beyond the tree to the courtyard.

Sounds bad when put that way.

“I- I needed a moment.“ It was lame even to her own ears.

He scoffed and released her abruptly.

“Don't pretend.“ His stare flinty, as was his tone, “Not with me.“

Then walked off. His dark hair burnished by the sun, his mammoth hands shoved in his trouser pockets.

Nicole faintly speculated how to be authentic when she was not certain on who she was…authentically. Without the layers of responsibilities, etiquette training, and being “fine” after a mini war; what was left? Panic attacks, nightmares, and her Alchemy? Her Alpha designation? What else was real and what was pretend?

She had an unsettling intuition that Fane Andros knew exactly what was real.

It was bloody terrifying.

●

A fight broke out in the Antheneum courtyard. Males from opposing sub-packs, both Alphas, were verbally sparring amidst an ever growing crowd. Nicole could feel the high energy of possible bloodshed, and some or the onlookers were already beginning to phase. Elongated teeth and claws where there should be hands. Sabine went on high alert, ready to take the reins should things get out of hand. She scaled a nearby tree to oversee the circling males.

The wolf from her pack was of the Ulger faction and one of the Alpha's twins. The twin sister had to be nearby. She found the she-wolf a little in front of the crowd at her brother's back. The twins shared the same mocha hair and lithe build. The female was the more aggressive of the two, incredibly protective of him. Freya and Archie, a year younger than herself.

She could not place the opponent, but he had weight and height on Archie.

'Do not interfere.' Nicole linked to Freya. 'I will not let any true harm come to your brother.'

'I will not interfere, Alpha.'

Nicole directed Gideon and April to move closer to the edges of the fighters. Pavlos and Elio each watched from opposite sides of the perimeter. She wouldn't allow herself to search for Andros, he would serve only to distract her. Another male, a beta of average height, yet bulky with muscles, slid his clawed fingers into his back pocket. Sabine growled lowly and Nicole agreed with the sentiment. This was certainly going to escalate.

As she climbed down from her perch, she contemplated how best to stop this without insulting their egos. Not to mention, the possibility of a challenge, which came with it's own set of Senate decreed rules. The bitter thought that this wouldn't be as daunting if she were a male was squashed immediately. She was a bloody Alpha Princess!

Archie spat on the ornate concrete of the Lykos' feet and the crowd howled with excitement. Wolves parted to let her get to the front of the action. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Freya and the she-wolf nodded shortly, before returning to the action.

Archie dodged the Lykos' lunge, rolling to his feet and using his long legs to deliver a strong kick to his kidney.

"Go on Graham, skin the t**t!" The suspicious beta encouraged while pacing.

A strip of cloth was wrapped around his fist and she shifted closer to try to catch a scent. With so many wolves in the area, and all giving off pheromones, it was hard to determine if there even was one. Graham charged and feigned to the left, giving him an open target. He pounced on Archie's back, then grunted when the Alpha jumped into the air and dropped on top of him. A fissure spread along the tiles from under their bodies.

"f*****g hell!" The beta bystander threw up his hands and released the cloth about his hand. The wind caught it and it curved toward unaware Lykos' spectators.

Nicole launched herself over the Alphas and a substance akin to glitter sprinkled over her arm. A flash of agony speared her wherever the sparkly particles landed. Her shoulder met the courtyard floor with a crunch and the rest of her body followed.

She heard Andros just before she lost consciousness:

"Nicola!"

●

After she came to, she recognized that she was in the Alpha quarters. Surprisingly, Alpha Jason was amongst those in Mathias’ study.

At her brothers’ hard glares at Andros holding her hand, she brushed him off and made herself comfortable on the couch. Sitting up was a task, but she smirked at her brother's to cover her discomfort. Troy quickly sat next the her and unwrapped her mangled arm. A charged stillness fell over the room.

Why wasn't it healing?

“Barmy bird charged right for it.” Gideon broke the moment, easing some of the tension with light chuckles.

“And for a couple of Lykos,” the buzz cut wolf of Andros’ Guard added, admiration evident in his tone.

Andros moved to stand behind her place on the couch. His heat and proximity was disturbingly comforting. When she winced at Troy’s cleaning her arm the alpha at her back brushed her hair to the side and placed that humongous hand on the back of her neck. He pressed his fingers into the delicate skin there and the reverence of it scared her.

The possessiveness made her wet.

He noticed her blush immediately and she saw his lips twitch out of the corner of her eye.

“It's silver.“ The brother at her side conformed.

As Troy treated and covered her injuries the retelling of events was given by the collective of Lykos and Leto Guard members and a brief word from a few witnesses. The twins and Graham among them.

The Senate had already been informed, the offender will be stripped of rank and exiled.

“Alright there, Nika?” Nate came and sat on the coffee table in front of her and Troy.

Troy spoke, “She’s got some pretty deep burns on her left forearm and her shoulder was dislocated, should heal by tomorrow morning.”

“Morning?” Andros rumbled, his grip clenching briefly. She trembled, he was driving her batty. He misunderstood her reaction and brushed her skin soothingly with his thumb.

She flicked her eyes to his. Bollocks, that was a mistake. His intensity made her nervous and excited. Her core throbbed and she blushed again. He smirked. Throb.

“Her Alchemy is recovering and her arm is pretty severe. She'd be comatose or worse if the silver had been inhaled.” Troy answered eyeing the interaction suspiciously. Nate stood and stepped back as though to see the bigger picture.

Right. Brothers. Alphas. Get your shite together!

She sneered at his meddling and settled her gauze dressed arm in her lap. Andros now planted beside her, his hand still engulfing her neck. That thumb skating back and forth sporadically.

She shook him off and scurried to the desk Mathias sat behind. Her head swam at her sudden upright position. A mirthful interest glinted in her oldest brother's eyes, the same color as her own. She scowled and opened her mouth to ask about the culprit when the Lykos Alpha spoke.

“Miss Teresi-“

“Heir Teresi if we're using titles,” April cut in smugly. Then hastily added, “Alpha Andros- sir.”

A raise of his brow gave away his surprise, “Heir Teresi, your bravery and conduct are befitting of your alpha designation and may the Gods bless your succesion.” The Lykos Alpha said graciously. He was the older version of his son, her new skin tag. Rich brown hair, beyond tall, fit body, but with olive green eyes instead of the color of spring meadows.

“And if I might be so bold, the Gods have truly blessed my son with not only a fierce and intelligent Mate, but an equally beautiful one as well.” Alpha Jason looked to his son. A silent conversation happened in seconds and Nicole fought to maintain her politely grateful expression.

In the world of wolves, female alphas were rare, but not unheard of. Female Alpha Heirs were basically myths. The pressure of saying the wrong thing or breaching some unspoken Alpha code of conduct was becoming unbearable. The events of the day were slowly breaking down her resolve.Her hands started to shake and her vision bloomed with spots.

“Pretty words for a pretty little female, yeah?”

~~~~~~~~~

Her wolf came to the front, looking to each of the wolves around the room. Blue irises, now obsidian, landed on him.

“Mate.” It came out as a command, a bidding. He was half hard already.

“She’s been through a physically, emotionally, and alchemically traumatic event.” The healer brother said holding his hands out in a gesture for everyone to stay calm.

“Sabine.” The Leto Alpha drew her eyes from him.

'No!' Titan protested. Her wolf’s emergence was triggering his own.

“My Nicola was too weak.”

“You were rude to Alpha Andros.” When his father’s Beta, Marcus, entered the study was lost on him. His aggressive tone was met with a lunge and a clawed hand holding him to the wall by his throat.

Gods she was so f*****g sexy. Her hair was wild with her magic and the scent of her wolf made him salivate. The daft prat should’ve known better than to provoke an Alpha in defense mode.

“A challenge? From a Beta?” his fierce mate purred dangerously to her prey.

The Beta’s face was as red as a tomato. The room gave the Alpha and her captive a wide berth.

He couldn't get close enough. He blinked and his chest was pressed against her back, his hand over her wrist below Marcus’ chin.

“I'll keep you safe.” He crooned in his Alpha voice, “I'll protect Ter- Nicole. She’s safe as long as she’s with me.” Marcus dropped to the study floor just as his face was approaching purple. The wolf turned her attentions to Fane.

“Next time,” She licked his lips, “I want to speak to my Mate.”

The deep blue returned and her cheeks reddened as the past five minutes processed. She faced away from the room, her shoulders rose and fell in a few audible deep breaths. She smoothed her hair and slowly turned back to them. Her expression was abashed, but her eyes flashed and her chin tipped up.

Despite her burning face she turned to the Alpha, “Please forgive me. I believe my system is in shock. My wolf will override me as a PTSD response from…the war.” She glanced to his father’s unconscious Beta, “And for disabling your Beta, my Alpha can be…”

Formidable.

Fiery.

Gorgeous.

Sexy.

“Overzealous.” The Leto Alpha supplied with a smile to his sister.

The affection between her and her brothers was obvious, even the nutter gave off his devoted protection in waves. As though he could read Fane’s thoughts, the Beta brother, Nathaniel Teresi, scowled darkly at the hand running up and down his sister’s bare arm.

Remembering his female, he looked down at her. She stood toe to toe with him, leaning into the hand lightly tracing her side and pushing her arm into his fingers stroking the skin. Her responsiveness nearly broke him.

She was so small compared to him. Her forehead reached his throat and her dainty fingers absent-mindedly drew patterns around the top four buttons of his shirt. The signature salted vanilla he’d begun to associate with his Mate suddenly resonated a brown sugar undertone.

“Omega?” Titan said with his lips. The room descended on them in the time her eyes met his with that familiar haze.

She was an omega!