Delaying Destiny

5. Without Holding Back

Orianna Reid / "Rose Donahue"

How exactly do you think this is going to play out? Rose growled, thumping her paws against the walls of her mind with annoyance, You're just going to live happily ever after as a completely different person? Deny our mate the truth just because you're a coward?

Orianna's nose twitched at the thought, sinking down in the tub as she tried to soothe herself in the hot water, I just need to make sure it's real. How do I know he won't reject me the moment I tell him the truth?

He wouldn't even have the chance if you just told him from the start. This deception isn't helping one bit.

Orianna knew she had dug herself a deep hole with this lie. But she was scared when she realized who Mason was. Even her fake matehood with Jasper didn't carry the same weight after their bonding ceremony. Orianna didn't think she had ever felt so much positive emotion in her life. The last few years were filled with grief, anger, and regret. And even the years before that felt flawed and forced, especially in comparison to what she felt now.

Just the thought of Mason soothed her. His slight Christmas scent could be smelled even as she sat in his bathtub, surrounded by the essential oils and products that he had bought for her. For this, she did swear she'd pay him back. Breakfast was one thing, but allowing someone who wasn't her mate (yet) to buy her deep conditioner and moisturizer was another.

Alpha Ramon had mindlinked Mason, telling him that she could pick up the keys and basic amenities from the packhouse the next day. She had allowed a portion of her wages to be taken so she could have her own space instead of living in the packhouse; the fact that it was a room in the same building as Mason's was merely a perk. But for the night, she was to stay there. Mason insisted he would take the couch and she could have the bed.

As she got out of the bath and began brushing through her wet hair, Orianna suddenly remembered the Luna's look of skepticism and defiance when she allowed her to become an Omega. There was something in her expression that steeled Orianna, something knowing and almost nefarious that made her uneasy. It was the same ominous power Orianna felt whenever she spoke to Astral Twilight's royalty, one that said, "We will always choose the pack over you." Orianna wondered desperately if the hole she had dug herself into was just another irreversible mistake that would later come to bite her in the ass.

Whether it was by design or mistake, as she entered the bedroom after her bath, Mason was completely knocked out; he hadn't even changed his clothes as he slept diagonally across the king-sized bed. Orianna felt a warmth creep into her chest as she looked at him. His sleeping face was peaceful and vulnerable, the hard lines of his face seemed to invite her to run her fingers over them. Against her own logic that told her to go sleep on the couch, she delicately sat on the side of the bed, twisting so she could face his body. She wore the large t-shirt he had provided her as well as a pair of boxer shorts that he swore were new and clean.

Her slender fingers reached out, hovering above his face as she fought with herself about what exactly she was doing. Her heart beat wildly in her chest, so loud she swore it was going to wake him up. There was a heat in her belly and a pressure in her head that made her want nothing more than to slip in next to him. Her eyes wandered to his arms, vividly imagining what they would feel like wrapped around her. Her hand lowered, holding his face delicately as if he would break. Mason barely stirred, seeming to be comforted by her touch as she softly ran the pad of her thumb over his cheek.

With a sharp inhale, she was suddenly confused about why she had lied. There was no way he would reject her even if he knew the truth. That sympathy in his gray eyes when she had told her story should have been enough for her to know that he saw her differently than anyone in Astral Twilight ever did, that he would see her for her and not for the ugly situation that drove her there. Orianna sighed, her hand dropping from his face as she began to turn away. Maybe it wasn't too late to spill the truth. Maybe she could even come clean to the Alpha and Luna and maybe they would still take her in. Maybe they would understand that this was her second chance, both in life and in love.

For the second time in two days, Orianna found herself wandering through the night. She had thrown on a jacket she had found, retracing her steps from earlier that day to get back to the packhouse. She was overwhelmed by the bond she felt with Mason and knew that she had to do whatever she could to make things right before they went wrong. Just for once, she wanted to love without holding back, without the pressures of The Claiming, without the desperation of an affair. She wanted Mason in the purest sense of the word and she knew she couldn't do that without first ensuring she had a place in the pack.

Rhea Boseman

The Luna was up late, stewing over the phone conversation she had earlier. She knew everything, the truth about who "Rose Donahue" really was. And as much as protocol would have her throw the liar out, something that Luna Luciana had said intrigued her. "She was just served a bad hand in life. I think she just made some bad decisions, but I believe she is repentant."

Repentant. Rhea wondered just how repentant she was for all the chaos that surrounded her. From what Luna Luciana had told her, however, this Orianna was as resourceful as they came. Perhaps a little underhanded and conniving, but resourceful and self-preserving nonetheless. And that was exactly the kind of person she needed right now.

As if the little she-wolf could hear her thoughts, there was a knock on her office door. The Luna looked up to see another Omega poke her head in, "Excuse me, Luna. I have a Rose Donahue here to see you. She says she does not have an appointment but it is urgent."

Rhea smiled inwardly before nodding, "Yes, of course, please let her in."

Despite her clearly-borrowed clothes, bare face, and wet hair, Orianna held her chin high with a shameless expression, "Luna Rhea."

"Orianna..." Rhea drawled, relishing the quick flashes of expression that morphed the she-wolf's face. Surprise. Fear. Thoughtfulness. Understanding. Anger. Acceptance.

"You called Astral Twilight." She murmured hesitantly.

"Did you really think I wouldn't?" Rhea shot back, her fierce gaze making Orianna shrivel slightly, "The story of Alpha Jasper and Luna Luciana traveled across the nation, surely you wouldn't insult me by thinking I wouldn't make the connections in your story."

Orianna blinked, inhaling sharply and allowing a bit of defeat to coat her tone, "No, I didn't mean to insult you. I panicked. I was certain I would be turned away if my true identity was revealed. I just wanted a second chance."

Rhea softened, letting the silence stretch a beat too long before she responded, "I understand. I allowed myself to put myself in your shoes and what you must have gone through three years ago is unfathomable. I would also take any opportunity to start fresh."

Orianna seemed to relax slightly, though the guarded look in her eyes remained, "And what have you decided to do with that information?"

The Luna blinked her large brown eyes at Orianna, analyzing her as she stood tall and proud in front of her. She commended just how strong-willed Orianna was, to hold herself so high after the trials she went through. Any other she-wolf surely would have broken by then. And here Rhea was hoping she had just a little more tenacity in her, "I have decided to let you stay."

"What's the catch?" Orianna narrowed her eyes, never one to beat around the bush.

"Good girl." Rhea mused, moving around her desk and perching on the edge. Her dark, lustrous skin seemed to glow in the dimly lit office as she crossed her legs slowly and deliberately, "Yes, there's always a catch."

Orianna waited expectantly, crossing her arms and doing her best to hold her tongue.

"How well do you know Whistling Winds royalty?" Rhea asked, her face an unreadable mask.

"Not well." Orianna admitted.

"My father was Whistling Wind's Alpha. After the Luna, my mother, died giving birth to my stillborn brother, he never mated again. I took on many of the Luna responsibilities and it was only natural that I took the Luna place when my father died." Rhea explained solemnly, "Even after I failed to find a mate, I willingly went to The Claiming ten years ago and gave myself to Ramon, our Head Fighter at the time, as he was the most suited to take the Alpha title."

Orianna quickly made the assumption, "You've been mated for ten years and don't have pups?" Most mated couples conceived quickly after meeting, but Alpha wolves especially made a point of having pups to extend the bloodline. It was highly unusual to go such a long time without a single Alpha pup.

A deep sigh made Rhea's chest rise and fall as she admitted, "No, we don't have pups... Not for lack of trying, obviously. But..." She trailed off, seeming to hesitate before clasping her hands together in her lap and making direct eye contact with Orianna, "That's the catch."

Before Orianna could respond, Rhea turned and dragged a thick piece of paper towards her on the desk. She gestured Orianna forward, quickly taking her wrist. Before she could protest, Rhea elongated her fangs and quickly pricked Orianna's pointer finger with her fang, blood beginning to dot her skin. Her hands still enclosed around the other she-wolf's wrist, Rhea looked at her sternly, "Before I propose anything to you, you must sign this contract forbidding you from telling a single soul what I am about to tell you."

"By the Goddess's name, why in the hell would I sign something that I have no information on?" Orianna demanded, attempting to jerk her wrist away. Werewolf bites took a smidgen longer to heal and blood began trickling down her finger.

"Because your other option would be to walk away from my pack with a rogue brand on your forehead and without a single place to go." Rhea said sternly, her expression stony, "And it would definitively end any possibility of you having a relationship with Mason."

Orianna stiffened, a glare slicing her features. She didn't know her matehood with Mason was so apparent and more so, that Rhea was ready to throw her away completely if she didn't agree. But she couldn't help but wonder what was so damn important that Rhea was even willing to make a deal with her in the first place. Her curiosity was peaking and she knew that Rhea would not divulge any more information without her blood. Orianna wordlessly brought her hand down, pressing a bloody fingerprint into the paper. She felt the sting of medicinal herbs that were undoubtedly linked to the contract, knowing her promise was sealed magically. She felt a prick of unease as she briefly remembered her previous deal with a witch, one that screwed her entire life over, and hoped to the Goddess that she wasn't making the same mistake here.

"Ramon is infertile. Despite our Elders' advice that he was my most eligible mate and the most eligible Alpha for the pack, it appears the Goddess thought otherwise." Rhea went on with little regard for Orianna's internal struggle. She took the paper and pushed it back towards the back of the desk, watching the blood dry before turning back to Orianna and continuing, "We found out too late that he has failed to give me pups. We have tried in-vitro fertilization but my body continues to reject any implantation. With only two more viable eggs left, my bloodline is threatening to cease to exist. That, dear Orianna, is where you come in."

Orianna felt a sense of foreboding, remaining quiet so she would continue, "I would like to hire you as a surrogate. Once you bear me a viable son, you will be released from this contract and are free to remain in Whistling Winds."

"You're joking." Orianna immediately spat out, her mouth hanging open in disbelief, "You want me to bear the future Alpha? A complete stranger from a different pack? Do you not have any other Omega worth their salt to do the trick?"

Rhea snarled, slapping Orianna across the face, "You will mind your mouth when speaking to me, runaway."

Orianna held her cheek, her glare still wildly splayed, "There must be a reason why you are resorting to this and not someone more... suitable for your needs."

"Au contrair." Rhea teased in her silken voice, rising from the desk and moving to make herself a drink, "You are the most suitable she-wolf, almost like a gift from the Goddess herself." She stirred the drink, letting the silence stretch before she turned around and took a delicate sip. Orianna couldn't help but admire the absolute power and elegance Luna Rhea exhumed. She wondered if that came with being a Luna for so long.

"Werewolf surrogacy is a difficult procedure." Rhea traced the rim of her glass with a fingertip, "It's not natural and the body actively rejects an implanted fetus that does not carry the mother's genes. It takes a potent amount of magic to make it happen and many she-wolves aren't able to handle it."

A lightbulb ignited in Orianna's brain, "Luciana told you about the birth control."

"Precisely." Rhea smiled triumphantly, "You were taking magical contraceptives for years. Your body was able to function with that consistent stream of magic and beyond that, adapt to it for long periods of time. Using you as a surrogate would present less complications than if I picked just anyone."

Orianna swallowed the bitterness in her throat at Rhea's blatant admission that she was using her. She really was just a pawn in this giant game. How she managed to pick the one pack that came with such an ask was surely the Goddess's cruelest punchline. But it was also the one pack that had her fated mate. And the soft realization that this was the one thing standing in her way of having him was enough to let Orianna consider the offer.

"If I do this," Orianna spoke slowly, "what would we tell the pack?"

"Ah," Rhea's smile widened, "that, my dear, is the easy part."