The Omega Who Burned

UNCONTROLLED

She ran deep into the forest and did not look back once. Down in the darkness where no one could see her. Her body started glowing uncontrollably, her bright eyes cutting through the dark like twin flames.

"She did not know what she was becoming. She only knew that whatever it was, it had been waiting a very long time."

She could not understand what was happening. There was no one around to explain it to her. Then she heard voices inside her head. Not one, but two. Different and distinct.

"Welcome, Mira. It is time for your power to emerge. Are you ready for your transformation?"

She was terrified. "Who are you?"

She screamed. "Why are you in my head?" "What are you?"

"We are your soul bond companions on this journey. We are part of you, they replied together. "Do not be afraid. Our names are Kara and Jenni. Your wolf and your wizard partner.

"We are here to protect you from the dangers around you." This is not the time to panic. "Stand still. Listen to us.

"First, we must not be caught. All three of us have fully awakened together. Your body is still weak and not yet healed. We have to get to your grandfather before the witches come after us."

Mira stopped breathing for a moment.

"What did you just say?" Her voice came out in pieces

"Witches!" " Why are they after me?" " What did I do?" She pressed her hand against her temples.

"Grandfather!" "Are you serious?"

She had never known she had a grandfather and was surprised.

"Where was he when I was suffering?" "Where?"

"Calm down," Kara, her wolf, said gently.

"Everything will come to light soon. But right now we have to cross out of this territory before it is too late."

Somewhere far away, in a room filled with old maps and old silence, a man's head snapped up.

"Zach." The voice came from nowhere, and everywhere at once. "Your granddaughter's power has emerged. The witches know. Alison knows. They are planning to kill the way they killed her parent."

The old man rose slowly from his chair.

"Mira! Her name left him a wound, reopening. "She was alive? All this time?"

His voice cracked at the edge. "I thought she had died. I thought….."

"Her mother silenced her power before she died. Bound it until Mira reached twenty years of age without anyone triggering it. But it seems someone has triggered her. Her full power has emerged, and she is ready to destroy anyone who comes against her."

A second voice entered, older, rougher.

"Her mother came to me when Mira was born. She asked me to bind the child's power immediately. Because of Alison, her husband's cousin."

"Damon," Zach's voice went dangerously quiet. "You never told me anything about this."

"Why?"

"She made me swear on her blood not to. Not until her power emerged."

"What?"

"You were with your mistress, Zach. When Senna needed you. While your daughter grew up on a cold floor. You were not there."

"We will discuss this later," Zach straightened, his voice hardening into something final. "Right now we have saved Mira. Cast your spell, Damon. Bring my granddaughter to me."

Damon bowed his head. "Yes, my Lord."

# # #

Lucian had been thinking since the moment he felt it, the surge of power that had no business existing in this territory. He had sent Judah to call the witches together. This was no longer a small matter. The girl's power had surfaced, and it was stronger than anything he had anticipated.

Killing her was always the plan. She was a bloodline wizard and half wolf, and she had witnessed things connected to her mother's death that could destroy everything he had built. But now her power had emerged fully, and it was more dangerous than even her mother's had been.

"Judah". His voice was flat. "Have you told them it is an emergency?"

"Yes, my lord."

"Let the ritual begin, and prepare something for our guests tonight. Fresh blood for the feast."

He paused. "Hurry."

Suddenly, the teleportation circle opened, and witches appeared from it one by one. Freya, Viv, Starkville, Proda, and Advan.

"Welcome"

"Why the calling, Lucian?" Freya asked, eyes sharp.

"Is there anything to eat?" Viv said, looking around. "I am thirty; I need fresh blood."

"Your only concern is feeding." Freya turned on her, furious.

"You were not even wondering why we were summoned here." Freya was furious at Viv's nonchalant attitude.

"Mind your words, Freya, I can turn you into a frog right now."

"Eeeehhh….."

"Easy, ladies, Proda stepped between them.

"Do not let us fight before we even know why we are here. Let us eat first, then hear Lucian out." "Okay."

"Fine"

"Judah, where is it?"

Judah dragged a small girl into the circle and recited an incantation. Slit her throat and dripped her blood into a vessel for each of the witches. He served them without a word, and they drank without hesitation. Lucian watched and said nothing. They would need their strength for what came next.

# # #

"Beta." Caden's voice was quiet, but the weight behind it filled the room. "I need you to run a full report on any suspicious activity in the pack over the past two weeks. I am looking for someone."

Robert was still for a moment. "Nothing serious happened except Delta Jack. He assaulted an orphan living in an orphan pack house."

Caden went still.

"Wait." "Again."

"Where were you?" "Why did no one stop it?" Robert said nothing.

"I gave him a direct order." His voice dropped lower, which was always more dangerous than shouting.

"He refused it again. Call him. Now."

Robert's mind linked Jack immediately. Across the pack, he felt the pull of the summons and knew instantly he was in trouble. He simply could not decide which crime had caught up with him; there were too many to choose from. He knocked on the Alpha door anyway.

"Enter."

Jack stepped in. The room felt different when Caden was in wolf mode. Smaller. The air was heavier; Jack had survived it before, but he was never sure he would again.

"Alpha. You called for me."

"Tell me what you did last week?"

"Sir …I…..Sir… Do you know what Alpha is?"

"Who did you assault, Jack?"

Jack froze. His knees hit the floor before he decided to kneel.

"Alpha. I made a mistake. Forgive me. It was not intentional."

"Same pattern." Caden stood. "Same apologies, Same tears, Same excuses."

He looked down at Jack without any expression. "I gave you a command, you refused it. That's the end today."

He shifted. The wolf that descended on Jack was not merciful. It was not anger either; it was something colder than both. Caden broke Jack's legs and his arm with precise, deliberate force, then shifted back and straightened his clothes as though nothing insignificant had occurred.

"I, Alpha Caden, strip you of your rank to Omega. You are Omega from this moment forward."

The pack felt it. And quietly, privately, every single one of them was glad.

"Take me to the prison cell. Lock him up." Caden turned to Robert.

"Now go and find the girl. Faster"

"Yes, Alpha."