Chapter 3
“Yeah,” I said, uneasily scratching my arm. “Guess I am?”
The murmurs from earlier exploded into questioning yells now. Gabrielle and Victor gasped, and Dan shot up from his seat, all playfulness gone. Neil’s fists tightened as he prepared for a confrontation, and Mom and Dad came closer to my side, ready to protect their son.
But the three young alphas in front of me hadn’t made a move. They seemed just as confused about the situation as I was.
Ramsay sniffed me again, like he was doing a double-take. “Shit. You’re right, Eric.”
“Of course I am!” Eric growled, gesturing at me. “An alpha would know that scent anywhere!”
“Even if we haven’t evenmetan omega during our lifetimes?” Colton countered. He gazed at me, guarded. “How can you be so sure? Just because he doesn’t smell like an alpha, or a beta, it doesn’t mean he’s automatically an omega.”
“That’s exactly what it means,” Eric barked. “It’s a simple process of elimination!”
“Sure you don’t just smell funny today?” Ramsay asked me. His tone was mildly playful, but the sudden intensity of his eyes was anything but joking.
With all of them staring at me like I was on center stage, I nervously licked my lips.
“I’m quite sure,” I told them.
“How?” Colton asked.
I grimaced. I didn’t want to bring this up in front of the entire gathering of pack leaders, but I guess I didn’t have a choice.
“On my birthday, I… I had my first heat,” I mumbled.
All three of them went deadly silent for a moment. It was so quiet that all I could hear was the crackle of the fire, and the gentle lapping of water on the island’s shore.
“Oh,” Ramsay finally said.
“How do we know he’s not making this up for attention?” one of the guards from the other packs demanded.
“I’m not lying,” I insisted. “Why would I be?”
“There hasn’t been an omega in any of the packs for a long time,” Dan commented seriously.
“Indeed,” Victor said. “Not since before our times.”
“The last omega died before any of us were born,” Eric stated. Despite being the youngest leader present, his voice and presence commanded attention. “In fact, if I’m not mistaken, it’s been one hundred years since the last one was born. It’s natural for us to be alarmed. But I can’t deny what’s clear in front of me. Mathesonisan omega.”
“We were late to the Moon Meeting because we weren’t sure how the other leaders would react,” Mom announced. “We hoped this gathering wouldn’t devolve into anything unpleasant.”
“We’re not barbarians,” Gabrielle muttered. “What did you think would happen, Lilian?”
Mom’s mouth was tight. “I had to be prepared for any outcome. My child’s life could be jeopardized by this news. Imagine how you would feel if it was Colton.”
Gabrielle went quiet and averted her eyes.
Eric frowned again, crossing his arms. “What, did you think we would try to steal you away, Matheson?”
I winced. “I don’t know. Like everyone’s mentioned very clearly, I just became the only omega in the packs. And maybe even the entire surrounding area.”
“So that makes you valuable,” Colton said.
It was a simple statement, not meant to be offensive, but I couldn’t help but feel the sting of it anyway. I wasn’t a person anymore--I was just my new biology. That’s how everyone would think of me now. I wasn’t Matheson anymore. I wasthe omega.
“Right,” I agreed, bitterly.
