Quad Alphas' Silenced Omega

6 Moving Forward

POV Ophelia

---One Year Later ---

“Lia! Make sure you tighten that flange. I noticed it seemed a little loose when I checked over the block.” I turned to my mentor, Sal, and nodded. He smiled and rubbed his grease-stained fingers through my hair, ruffling the shorter strands framing my face. I puffed out one of my cheeks in annoyance and he rolled his eyes. “You know I’ll continue to dote on you no matter how hard you pout. Now get going, kid.” He added with a grin. I spun on my heels and raced off to the truck resting in the last stall.

“Lia! Watch your step.” He hollered. I hopped over the oil pan with ease and laughed without a sound. Just a smile on my face and a light in my heart. Light that I hadn’t seen until I found this old repair shop and the perfect little family within. As the months went on, the fear for this pack and new home had faded from view. I noticed how large this pack was compared to my old one and how easy it was for me to blend into the background. Dustin and his family only showed up two times since I arrived and, according to Holly, his parents are quite beside themselves since they heard from the queen. Courtesy of Luna Grace.

Supposedly, she and the queen were close. The fact that Dustin’s parents not only angered Luna Grace but the queen after she found out what happened to me, put all three of them in the dog house for the foreseeable future. Alpha Reggie thought it wise to steer clear of the packhouse for now, just in case they try anything and I’m completely fine with that. This little repair shop on the outskirts of the pack was more than I could have ever asked for and much more than I need. My past…will stay where it belongs. In the past.

We even interacted with humans every now and again. I asked the Alpha if I could live with the humans when I turned twenty and he seemed hesitant about that before he decided it was ultimately up to me. Now that I get to see the humans every once in a while, I get the luxury of integrating into their customs before I venture out on my own. Initially, I was going to leave when I turned eighteen, but I loved it so much here, I didn’t want to cut my time so short. That…and Holly begged me to stay a little longer.

Jeremy slipped the oil pan to a more secure location just in the nick of time before clicking his teeth. “What am I supposed to tell the school if you show up with a bruise on your face?” Oh, and they found out how old I really was when they figured out who my family was. They were worried about me being on my own for as long as I already had. There was no way the Alpha would agree to send me on my way in only one year’s time.

I stumbled to a halt, remembering that was when I promised to complete my last year of school at the high school Jeremy attends. Sal said it was a waste of my talent to hide around the shop all day. I didn’t think it was too big of a deal since I was eighteen now. Jeremy should have pushed to get me to start last year, but I guess his father was just more headstrong than he thought. Finally, a few months ago, Jer almost lost it. Saying something about it being unfair that he has to work and go to school while I get to lounge around all day.

That is completely not the case, but Sal and I didn’t bother to correct him. I showed up here after being a rogue for a year. I didn’t know when my next meal would come and just having a roof over my head was more than enough to make me focus on my work more than Sal’s most seasoned employee. Slacking was not an option. Nothing about my life has been easy.

Not to mention, my wolf didn’t appreciate the cold winter days, harsh rains, and burning sunlight that I left behind as a rogue, but we got by. It was much better than the pain that I had left behind. Still, to this day, I thank the goddess for that delicious sandwich. Except today, because now…now I must go to school again. Tomorrow. Ugh. And it’s all Jeremy’s fault.

“Come on, Lia. Don’t be like that. I’m just trying to make sure we suffer together.” I stomped my foot on the ground, and I heard some shuffling before Jeremy’s arms wrapped around my body. “Come on…don’t hate me forever…please?”

My wolf snapped angrily, and it took all of my power to gently pull away without hurting him. He raised a brow, and I rubbed the back of my head. “Sorry. My wolf still doesn’t appreciate it when other males touch me.” Once burned, always scarred.

“Then what about dad?”

I acted out a giggle and shook my head. “He doesn’t count. She sees him like the father we were supposed to have.” I linked back.

Jeremy winced and I looked down at my steel-toed boots almost immediately. “One of these days, you’ll tell us more about what really happened to you. No more vague responses. Until then, we will always be here to listen.” He ruffled my hair and headed back into the pit under one of the cars. I blushed and finished my race to the truck; happy he left that conversation alone.

Why is it that it couldn’t be him? Why was the world so cruel as to pair me up with my sister’s boyfriend and not a sweet angel like Jeremy? I see him as a brother now, but still. Why can’t my wolf and I move on? Why are we so afraid of something that will never come back to hurt us? If I really see them as my family, I need to start acting like it with all of them. Especially Jeremy. He’s honestly the big brother I never had, even if we are only a few weeks apart in age.

After our shift was over, we all sat down for dinner. As usual, Jeremy tried to steal all the sweets his mother made for us before we even started the meal. Sal laughed at his antics and Holly just sighed. She snatched the platter away from him and placed it in the living room. “So, all jokes aside. Are you sure you are ready for this? I’ll tell Jeremy he can stuff it if you aren’t.” Sal noted with a huff.

I nodded my head and focused on the mind link again. “Yes, I’m ready. Thank you for everything.”

“No thanks needed kid. However, there will be a problem.” My breath hitched immediately at that word. Noticing what happened, Sal dropped his fork and immediately waved his hands around, frantically trying to retract his statement from the air. “Don’t worry, it’s nothing bad. I just wanted to remind you that you are going to a wolf and human school, so mind linking the teachers or other students won’t be an option. Many of the kids that go to the school are from this pack, but we go above and beyond to stay isolated. Nothing too over the top to get those humans curious.”

“Not what I heard. Supposedly the Alpha’s kids are coming this year. So much for keeping a low profile after they show up.” Jeremy hummed as if he was a child holding on to a valuable secret. But he was. The Alpha’s kids are coming back the same year I’m pushed into going back to school?! Seriously?! Why?

Holly raised her hand before Sal could rebuttal and we all turned towards her. “We will discuss this after dinner.” She warned and we all knew that meant the conversation was over. She didn’t like it when Jeremy and Sal talked business at the table. She even said they were starting to rub off on me. It made me smile how at ease I had become with them. I guess that includes gossip.

Quietly, the four of us finished dinner and decided to switch the conversation to which classes we are taking this semester until we all congregated in the living room to watch TV. “Well, now that it’s after dinner,” Sal started, “I’m sorry, what?!” Sal growled. “And you were going to tell me about this news, when exactly?!”

Jeremey leaned back on the soft couch and sighed. “Yeah…. I heard about it the last time I went to the pack house. I have heard of alphas that come back a year early, but I never thought those four would. They were always so stand-offish. They kept to themselves, and they were unapproachable. I don’t know what they expect from going to school with us. Apparently, according to the gossip, the training ends their junior year and their senior year, they can do whatever they please. I guess they decided roughing it with the little people is more fun than staying at that bougie private school.”

This isn’t the first time I’ve heard these wolves talking about this training. “Alpha…training?” I asked with a bit of confusion.

Sal chuckled as Holly gathered the plates off the kitchen table. “My son…I swear. Either way, that’s how I know you are from a smaller pack. Alpha training is reserved for the top packs in our kingdom. It allows them to become acquainted with other up and coming alphas, make alliances, and even meet the crowned prince. It is part of a boarding school in the north. The children of ranked families usually leave to start their schooling there towards the end of middle school then, if they are of alpha rank, they are also enrolled in the alpha training a year later. Everything happens in-house and most of those kids don’t see their pack again until they graduate. However, as my dear son has pointed out, some of them finish off their high school career at their pack. It helps them become better acquainted with the men and women they will be training and fighting with once they take over as the alpha.”

My eyes grew in shock, and I nodded slowly. “Wow…that’s kind of amazing.” But I guess Jeremy was right. Why bother coming back for a year if they don’t really associate with anyone here?

“Of course it is. Not to mention that our pack is right at the top. Right behind the king’s kids. I heard the alpha’s sons are best friends with the prince and his beta.” I winced at the gossip pouring from Jer’s mouth. Jeremy already has a feeling I don’t like them. I don’t understand why he keeps bringing them up. If he wants me to stay home tomorrow, he’s doing a pretty good job at getting me to change my mind.

“Now Jeremy, that’s enough gossip for one night. You two better wash up and get ready for school tomorrow.” Holly called from the kitchen’s entryway, cutting our conversation short.

“Oh sweetheart, it’s all in good fun.” Sal added with a chuckle as he looked lovingly at his mate.

“Don’t you dare encourage them, Sal.” She warned, holding back a grin herself. Jeremy looked at me as if he knew what I was thinking. It’s time to give them some space to save our dinner from coming back up on its own.

“We are…going to go now.” He said, racing off to the stairs. I didn’t bother to hesitate and ran after him. “You’ll do fine, Lia. I know it. And if not…come find me. I’ll just use my mad skills on the football field to flatten anyone who says otherwise.” Jeremy said once we came to a stop next to his room.

“Really? Girls too?” I asked, laying on the sarcasm. There’s no way he’d hit a girl. He’s a saint when he isn’t playing football. I’ve never been to his games, but I know Jeremy and he is the definition of a gentle giant.

I saw the redness flow towards his cheeks as he spun on his heels and ran into his room. I shook my head and snickered. “I guess I was right!” I called through the link.

I heard a groan before his voice rang through the link again. “Good night, Lia!”