The Omega Sacrifice

Aalyan

Aalyan

The food was the best thing Aalyan had ever tasted, and the portions were beyond generous. He wondered if they were having it on top of a tree because it was the kind of fare the pack could only offer to their leader, the kind of things most of its members shouldn’t see so they wouldn’t be tempted by what they couldn’t have.

As strange as the variety of the feast they’d been brought was the pulley system to bring it up, a seemingly pointless expense both in terms of materials and time. But the alpha hadn’t even looked at the mechanism, like this too was normal to him.

He watched the alpha eat, the way he forgot about a morsel for a while like the act of feeding was casual to him.

Aalyan had known that things were different for the Awá, of course, but tasting it was even more surreal. He got to have this and back home his people got to have some of it, enough cassava to get them by for a few months, and maybe if they used the time wisely, if they—

He gulped, shaking his head to try to dispel his worries; they weren’t his tribe anymore. He had to worry about Ghian and... soon he’d have to worry about his children. As the alpha’s mate, he’d probably also have some responsibilities to the pack at large, but he was under no illusions as to why he was here. It was the Moon’s wish and there was nothing Aalyan could do, so he was going to get pregnant. He’d have... he didn’t know how many cubs he could have, but a litter—the elders had explained that’s what happened to male omegas. So if that was going to happen to him, this was good, Ghian was trying to be kind and there would be food for everyone.

“Aalyan, are you alright?” the alpha asked.

He startled, and had to claw at the branch he was on to keep his seat. “Yes,” he bit out, too rough. “Yes, I—” His throat clicked and all the delicious bread he’d eaten was suddenly heavy in his stomach.

“It’s normal to be worried,” Ghian told him. “I am. It’s all very new and—”

“It’s fine!” Aalyan interrupted, which was probably something an omega wasn’t supposed to do, but f**k it, f**k everything, he could, couldn’t he? So that meant it was fine by the Moon; one thing he got to keep, one thing he got to choose. “I’m grateful,” he added, trying to be conciliatory. “But...” He deflated. All this gentleness was making him feel strange, like Ghian expected him to fall apart any minute. He wouldn’t, he’d promised himself he wouldn’t no matter what. Why should kindness upset him more than all the nightmarish scenarios he’d spent the last few days imagining for his future?

Ghian didn’t demand a better explanation, instead he said, “Today I’ll show you where I sleep. It’s expected. But I won’t touch you, you have my word.”

No touching. For one night, of course. Aalyan swallowed but offered a nod. He wasn’t exactly grateful, but he was pretty sure it was intended as a kindness—one more night to wonder if there was a way out.

Ghian continued, “And tomorrow I will introduce you to my pack, you’ve met Telez, but the rest are eager to welcome you to the family.”

Aalyan did his best not to show how little he was looking forward to that. Telez had been alright, sure, but with the way everyone had been watching him, he had little hope that they would see him as anything but a real life blessing. At least no one would dare look at him like they wanted to eat him. He was going to be the Alpha’s mate and that would earn him a little respect by association from his new tribe.

Maybe Ghian perceived his lack of enthusiasm, because he suggested something else, “Would you like to shift and explore the land? It’s a bit different on this side of the river.”

Aalyan’s leopard jumped at the chance, throwing him off the tree so abruptly it was only instinct and reflexes that allowed him to roll and land on all fours. He struggled to be allowed to pull off his tunic before the beast came forth, taking over his limbs, fur flourishing over his skin as his spine elongated into a tail. And the next thing he knew was the darker heavier body of a jaguar next to him. Aalyan and his leopard paused, assessing the threat, but Ghian did not move and slowly his leopard started to relax. Ghian. Alpha. Safe, Aalyan reminded himself.

Ghian showed him his teeth, a playful tease, then shot off running at full tilt, only the blue light of the pendant around his neck visible in the low light. It was maybe instinct or maybe a very human need but Aalyan’s legs stretched and he followed him into the depths of the jungle.

***

DESPITE EATING FAR more than his daily share before their exploration, Aalyan was grateful when Ghian brought down a monkey and deposited it in front of him. The leopard didn’t allow him time for protocol, it had spent too long going hungry, being held back because Aalyan was meant to bring back food to his packmates even before he’d had what he needed himself.

It was only afterwards when he was l*****g his chops clean and he met the jaguar’s attentive eyes that he realised it’d been an offering.

The kind an alpha gave an omega he wanted to court.

It was pointless, but sweet, and he wasn’t sure what to do with either. He could have figured out how to be an alpha—and he’d have had plenty of time to learn before any omegas would have considered him old enough to take as a mate—but he’d never learned about what mates did from an omega’s perspective. Accepting a small gift of food was just a show of interest, that much he knew, but what did that even mean after accepting food for his whole pack?

When he looked up, Ghian’s attention was on a path going west, not quite trampled enough to walk in two legs but definitely obvious to animal eyes. Now that he’d lost it, Aalyan felt the absence of his regard, but of course he was just being ridiculous.

He'd have more of Ghian’s attentions that he knew how to handle very soon.