An Omega to Save them All

Chapter 2

Everlyn



Time passes quickly when you are lost in pastry. The methodical folding, cutting, rolling, flouring and your life disappears in a cloud of ingredients.

Before I realize it, it's time for me to make my way on to school. The other bane of my existence. I wash up, despite Marla telling me to leave the clean up to her and the other Omegas, and dart up to grab my school bag from our apartments. The pack house is always teeming with life and yet, it is a funeral in our corner of the building. The corridors remain darkened, the curtain drawn and light forbidden to come into the halls. Our door creaks open shattering the silence as I make my way inside.

My mom lays where I left her, staring into the abyss, softly muttering and mumbling to herself as she's known to do. She rocks gently, comforting herself, as her broken mate bond rips through her body. She's there but she's not.

"I'm back mom." She never responds but still, I talk to her, insistent that she can hear and understand me. "Leo didn't do anything." I wince at the lie, clearing my throat. "Much. He didn't do much to me. I have a bruise on my face. But Crystal stopped him in his tracks. Isn't that something?"

I can't help the excited lilt in my voice as it stood for hope to me. Hope that our place in the pack will one day be elevated to something more. One day, we will recover from the perceived treasonous choice of my dad. One day, we will return to our place in the sun. And one day, there will be a cure for mom's mating sickness.

But no response comes, just more muttering and mumbling, her eyes staring into the darkness, fixated on a corner of the room. Just like that day is ages, maybe even eons away. My dad was ruled to be treasonous based on his refusal to bow to Leo. He believed Leo wasn't the best male, the best Alpha for the Prime Alpha role. In his wisdom, he was right—but many didn't see it until much later. Even now, though wolves believe Leo to be unjust, none would dare to go against him in his word.

"Marla asked about you." I don't know why I talk to her, perhaps it's more for me than for her. The soft caence of her breath meets my acute hearing as I move through the apartment, gathering my things. "Then she let me make some fresh pastries." Silence hangs between us, before more muttering and mumbling sounds, more gibberish and more pining for the father who is long gone.

My arms wrap around her neck, the once supple part now thinning with hunger and neglect. "Don't worry, Mom. We'll find a cure. I know there has to be something out there." Busying around the rooms, I collect food and water on a tray and place before her. I help her swallow a bit before I notice the time is escaping me as time is oft to do. "s**t. I have to go to school. Please eat today, Mom." I place a kiss on her forehead before making my way out of our rooms, out of the pack house, and onward to the school.

"Look what the cat dragged in."

The familiar voice sends a rare smile across my face. I turn to see Penelope approaching, Pen as I like to call her. Her long hair is billowing behind her, bouncing as she moves towards me. "Heya, Pen. How is your morning?"

"My morning? How was yours? The entire pack is discussing you being called by Prime Alpha Leo first thing this morning after breakfast was served."

Of course they were. Nothing escapes our pack, their ears more keen than that of cats than our wolf nature. I feel the ripple of fur just beneath the surface of my skin as my animal stretches and prowls. Not far from my 18th birthday, my wolf will emerge and make herself known, allowing me to shift for the first time. Allowing me freedom for the first time. "Nothing happened. Crystal stopped it all."

"Go Crystal!" Pen whoops loudly, gazes turning towards her raised voice. "Oops." She looks at my sheepishly, knowing I spurn any unwanted attention.

"Way to go, Pen. Don't need that attention."

She grimaces towards me before continuing on in the conversation, undeterred. "So no beating?"

"It was going to be a china pelting." Pen winces, undoubtedly envisioning the cuts one can get from tons of pieces of china shattering against your skin. And no, nothing happened. I did get marred by one piece." I indicate to the bruise of my cheek from the piece that nicked me on it's way past.

"Hopefully today will be uneventful."

"Hello ladies."

Damn it.

Nico Carter, Prime Alpha Leo and Crystal's son, is up ahead, surrounded by the gaggle of admirers and groupies. Despite my hate for him, I can't deny he is conventionally attractive. His hair is shaggy and chestnut brown, his eyes an emerald green as he gazes on our forms. My skin heats under his gaze. He's graduated, hanging around high school to remember his glory days no doubt, towering above us all as a 23 year old Alpha. We all wonder if he will succeed his dad or if someone else will challenge for the spot of Prime Alpha.

Pen and I duck down, wanting to avoid the attention but to no avail. An arm snakes around my small waist, pulling me back towards him. "Where are you going, Everlyn? Don't forget we have an agreement."

More like an arrangement. For some reason, he has taken to my baked goods and any time I make something, I have to set some aside to deliver to him. Why I go along with it, I don't know, but I find myself pulling out the careful pastries from my coat. "Here, Nico. I didn't forget." I shove them into his waiting hands and push myself away from him, eager to put distance between us.

"Pleasure doing business as always!" The words chafe my skin and a blush crawls up my face.

Pen notices looking over at him. "Why do you cater to him?"

"What choice do I have, Pen? Only a few more months and then, I'm free of it all."