Annual Event of Alphas, Betas and Omegas

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Claimed by the Arrogant Alpha

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Chapter 1: Annual Event of Alphas, Betas and Omegas

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New scents.

That was the first thing that crossed Jessica’s sleep-thick mind, even before she had opened her eyes or uncurled herself from her blanket.

Unfamiliar scents.

Her wolf whined.

The different fragrances mixed together, lingering in the misty, morning air and spreading steadily across their small, cosy, rustic town.

The thick aroma had almost completely smothered the usual smells Jessica was greeted with in the morning –dew on grass, traces of cut wood and subtle sweet undertones of winter flowers.

She groaned quietly in annoyance when she couldn’t block the scents out. She could still smell the hints of peculiar muskiness – all reeking of dominance and power.

Her stomach flipped and she felt sick with nerves; her Omega wolf, on the other hand, was wagging her tail in excitement – they often were at odds with each other.

Jessica always dreaded this event in the annual calendar - the day when alphas and betas from all across the country travel around in assorted packs to hopefully meet someone they could claim as their mate.

They’d be having guests coming and going for the next two months or so.

Jessica didn’t know if she could put up with all this pressure.

She buried her face into her pillow, feeling pitiful.

Throughout the week, social events like parties and bonfires and dances were held to give them the best chance possible. Three years ago, an excited Jessica had been over the moon – not about finding a mate (she wasn’t really ready for that then) – but just being able to stay out at night and have fun.

Unfortunately, when most of her friends found mates they moved to their significant other’s town; the amusement quickly disappeared. Supposedly, when compatible wolves found each other, the attraction between them was so strong they knew they belonged together even if they had only known each other for just a few days.

Mating was said to be complete when one wolf marked through a deep bite in the curve between the neck and shoulder.

Omegas were always marked as a sign they were taken and unavailable to other Alphas and Betas (satisfying their possessive nature). In a Beta-Beta relationship, they usually both marked each other.

Once the mark is completed, it makes the mates more attuned to each other – they can pick up their scent from further away, or they can sometimes sense the other’s emotion; in general, their presence just felt greater.

Each year without a mate meant the closer they came to becoming Unclaimed – wolves who were never mated and often went into depression or gave themselves to prostitution. Jessica felt terrible for them – she had met a few Unclaimed in their town and they were all extremely sincere and kind wolves who would have undoubtedly made a beautiful mate.

Jessica yearned to have someone to curl up beside at night, have him or her murmur sweet nothings into her ear after a bad day. She wanted someone who wasn’t narrow minded, who didn’t try to control everything about her, who would let Jessica be demanding every once in a while, who was kind and sweet and didn’t abuse their role as her higher ranked lover (because Betas and Alphas were superior in society).

Last year, Jessica had thought she found her mate. He was tall and sincere Beta with the most gorgeous laugh. It crushed Jessica when he asked another Omega to be his mate instead, explaining he had never intended to mate Jessica but thought she was a lovely friend.

Those words dug into her more than she had expected.

She spent the whole week after shut in her room. Now when she reflected on this, she wondered if it had been more fear and desperation to find a mate, rather than a desire to be with the Beta.

This would now be her fourth year meeting new Alphas and Betas – she wanted to find someone she could love, to fill the empty void inside – she wanted it more than ever. Someone who wouldn’t make her conform to the traditional rules of Omegas, who would see her as an equal in the relationship. Her heart ached longingly.

The door to her bedroom opened and a mixture of lavender and cinnamon wafted into the room.

“Jessica,” a soft voice called, filled with love and affection. A touch of concern. “You need to get ready soon. Tasha has just arrived.”

Jessica sighed as she responded to her mom with a lethargic wave of her hand, signalling she was getting up. Of course, her Beta best friend was coming to steal food from her place, as usual.

She rolled out of bed and rubbed her eyes as she went to the bathroom, vision a bit blurry with sleep. She sighed as she leaned onto the sink and yawned.

Her parents were starting to get worried and other residents of the town were beginning to get nosy and judgemental.

But most of all, Jessica just wanted to have someone else to love unconditionally.

Her wolf made a rare sound of agreement.

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“Have you thought about traveling around instead of waiting?” Jessica asked Tasha as they walked into the forest, travelling on a familiar, worn path.

“No, because if I leave and he comes along we’ll never meet for sure,” Tasha stated like it was the most obvious thing in the world. “He should just hurry up and get here so we can fall in love already.”

Jessica laughed, warmth spreading through her chest. “How are you so sure it’s a he? And that they’re an Alpha or Beta?”

“My wolf knows. I’m a Beta, but with more of an Omega side than an Alpha trait,” Tasha insisted, stubborn as she always was. “Trust me, it’s one of those two. I don’t really care which one.” She turned around, stepping backwards, and gave Jessica a cocky smile.

“And, what about you? Does little Jessica need a big Alpha to look after her?” She winked, only making the implication of the question more lecherous.

Jessica grimaced. “I don’t need anyone to look after me, thank you very much. I am capable of looking after myself. But, if I had to choose, I think I’d prefer a Beta. Alphas are always so aggressive and bossy and God knows I don’t need that.”

Her wolf bared its teeth, riled up from talking about their future mate in such a way.

Tasha cackled. “I don’t think a Beta could handle you. You’d have them running away with their tail between their legs.”

“But, you don’t,” Jessica challenged.

“That’s because I don’t want you like that, and let’s be real, you may try act scary but you’re really a big softie,” Tasha rolled her eyes and then perked up a bit as the gathering clearing came into view.

All the town Betas and Omegas were there, standing in their age group. Some looked thrilled, others reluctant. Jessica felt her chest clench and her wolf rise, tail wagging faster than ever – she reined her in.

They stuck together as they found a few others of their age, giving each other anxious smiles.

Jessica’s eyes darted around and found Saint, another friend of hers. Saint was an Omega like them though a male omega with a gentle, gorgeous face – big eyes and full lips, a soft voice and kind demeanour – he would be most Alphas’ and Betas’ ideal Omega.

Jessica knew Saint has had many, many Betas and Alphas ask to be their mate, however, Saint always denied their offer.

He would say he hadn’t found ‘the one’ yet and he refused to settle for anyone less – it wasn’t fair on them or himself - Jessica had always admired him for that.

Unlike Saint, Jessica definitely possessed the classic stature of an Omega – small and petite – with eyes that crinkled into crescents when she smiled. However, she didn’t think she was anything special to look at.

Not next to wolves as good-looking as Saint.

“Jessica,” Saint came up to him with bright grin, looking happy even if this wasn’t now his seventh year.

He didn’t seem fazed by his age in the slightest, but sometimes Jessica saw a flicker of doubt, always masked by his cheerful appearance.

Usually by now, people would start to talk about a wolf that was yet to mate (especially in a small town like this), but Saint and his family were wealthy and everyone loved them because they were such kind-hearted people, so instead they believed he had very high standards and wanted to mate with someone of high status.

Jessica disagreed because Saint never fussed about such things.

The older’s eyes shone excitedly. “I heard that there are wolves from the city here!”

His parents were very close with the mayor and so he often heard little snippets of information about the visiting Betas and Alphas.

Jessica blinked in surprise.

They were located in a small town near the forest and were a close but substantial sized pack. Wolves from the city were known for being in very small packs (or sometimes none at all) but regardless they liked to live by themselves and have their own territory.

They had a reputation for being well disciplined and controlled, but possessive and protective of their mates due to the greater amount of lone wolves roaming around. Lone wolves were wolves that had been kicked out of a pack, and they often disrespected mating codes and came in between mated pairs for entertainment – that, was always something to be afraid of.

“That’s awesome! I hope my mate is from the city so I can escape this place and I’ll finally be up to date with the latest technology,” Tasha jumped in glee, smiling all teeth.

Saint chuckled, ruffling Tasha’s hair, and then said in a quieter voice, “I heard some are Alphas.”

Jessica gulped, for some reason an odd, twisting, churning sensation in her stomach. “Alphas from the city? Really?”

Tasha gasped, exaggeratedly. “Jessica, you magical Omega, what if one chooses you? Oh, gosh, I can see it: the angry Jessica wooed by a hot Alpha who melts her into a puddle of googly eyes.”

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TBC