That’s justgreat.
It was early afternoon. After my fun little chat with Marlowe last night, I ended up going to a bar and having a drink - just one. Pack rules. It was enough to get me mildly tipsy and clear my head until I went home, jacked off, and fell asleep late in the early morninghours.
Tonight, the moon would disappear from the sky, leaving it empty andblackened.
I had a decisiontomake.
There was a knock on my door. Groaning, I dragged myself out of bed, dressed myself, and randownstairs.
I was greeted not-so-warmly by the faces of three pack elders, including Marlowe. But while Marlowe only looked a bit disappointed and maybe saddened, the other two looked righteouslypissedoff.
“Omega Gabriel,” one of the stern alpha elders began, “are you aware tonight will be anewmoon?”
Gee, no sir, it hadn’t occurred to me. “Yes,Iam.”
“And are you aware,” he continued, “that failure to choose an alpha mate before midnight will result in your banishment fromStoneheartpack?”
Really? Golly, sir, I’ll get right on that.“Yes, I’maware.”
The stunned, horrified look on his face was almost funny.Almost.
I noticed now that a small crowd had gathered in front of my house, watching the drama unfold. Omegas and alphas alike - with a spark of recognition, I saw Otis and Dustin among them, watchingtensely.
The other alpha elder tried to reason with me. “The time to choose is now. For your own sake, look among the suitors and decide. There is not a man among them that would not make a good mate for you,omega.”
My lip wrinkled in disdain. Sure, and these crotchety old guys were the judges of that, right? Not like they had to spend the rest of their lives with some random alpha oranything.
“I’m afraid none of them appeal to me, sir,”Isaid.
Stunned silence. He looked at me like I told him I’d just grown a pair of wings out ofmyass.
“None of them appeal to you,” the second elder muttered, echoing my words. “We’ll seeaboutthat.”
I raised a brow as hestalkedoff.
Marlowe reached for my hand. “Please, my child. I know it seems difficult now, but you can learn to enjoy it. You could have a goodlifehere.”
I bristled. What was with all these people telling me how to live my life? Icouldhave a good life? What a reassuringpromise.
“Look. No disrespect to you, my elders, but I don’t want to mate. There isn’t a single alpha in this pack I have a connection to, and especially not a strong enough connection to want to have a baby with. I’msorry.”
The first alpha elder shook his head, staring down at me. “It is I who is sorry. Come midnight, should you not have a mate, you face banishment from the safety of thesewalls.”
I crossed my arms and firmlyasked, “Why?”
In the crowd, Otis and a few others gasped. Dustin’s jawdropped.
“W-why!?” the elder sputtered. “Boy, areyoumad?”
“Not insane, but a little bitangry,yes.”
“Not insane, he says,” the elder muttered before exploding, “That’s what this is! This is insanity! Actingthisway!”
“Tell me why,” I repeated firmly. “Why do I have to be kicked out for refusing to fuck somealpha?”
I thought Otis was going to pass out. Meanwhile, Marlowe shook his head in disappointment, and the alpha elder stared at me with what could only be described asfrothingrage.
“Your audacity shall be your downfall,” he spat, wagging a finger at me. “Don’t say we didn’t warn you! No one will answer your screams when the humans lay their handsonyou!”
