Chapter Three: I love You

CLAIRE's POV

When the news of the transformation rite got to the hall, the other omegas danced for joy. Everyone was excited and would not stop chirping about the ceremony that was now two days away.  

I did not understand what the fuss was about. This rite had been abandoned for years. Surely, there was a reason our ancestors wanted nothing to do with it anymore. 

What if this was also not successful? What happened to us omegas? I could imagine the double shame and ridicule we would face. We failed at doing the one thing every wolf was born with, twice. 

I refused to blossom the hope, I refused to try. I would rather sit this one out than face the disgrace all over again. 

I threw on an old loose gown as I watched the wolves chatter excitedly. Some even tried out new outfits they had never worn. It was indeed a beautiful morning. It had been a long time since the omegas had been this enthusiastic about anything. 

"File out," the matron barked out. Nobody had noticed when she arrived the hall. 

All the chatter died down in a second and everyone scurried to line up. I was to work in the food store today. 

Thirty minutes into unboxing and rearranging the trailer loads of food items, I was called out by the matron. She led me to meet a young messenger boy who stood just outside the warehouse, before leaving. 

"Claire?" He asked, disbelief in his tone. 

"That is me," I responded, wiping my sweaty palms on my dress. 

His eyes accessed me from head to toe. Then he said, "The Alpha requests your presence in the pack house this instant." 

It was then I understood his astonishment. The Alpha requesting to see an omega. It was a rare occurrence. 

"Is anything the matter?" I wondered aloud. "Did I do something wrong?"

"Given you are an omega and that is all you lot know how to do, then I guess so." He responded and walked away. 

"Do I report now?" I asked after him. 

He stopped a distance and shouted. "Yes. After I get to the pack house. I refuse to be seen with an omega." He scorned, then kept moving. 

Stupid wolf, I cursed in my head. 

I tried to sort out my jumbled thoughts. Why had Alpha Enzo requested to see me? We had never spoken before, even though he had always been extremely benevolent to me. I was sure I was not in trouble. I had done nothing wrong. But what if I had? 

Tentatively, I trudged in the direction of the pack house. Scornful eyes watched me as I went and the pack members avoided being in the same path with me. I could hear sibilant whispers as they gossiped within themselves. Some of them even got bolder and voiced out their thoughts toward me, calling me despicable names. I bowed my head, avoiding eye contact with anyone. 

I clomped to the first floor and stopped in front of the Alpha's office. Hesitantly, my knuckles tapped the wood. I had thought he had not heard and was about to knock again, until his deep voice told me to enter. 

I wiped my sweaty palms and swallowed, before pushing the double doors open. I walked in, my gaze never leaving the floor. I think there were other people in the room who froze when they saw me. 

"Come on in," his soft voice urged me.

I moved further and stopped again when I was in the middle of the big office. 

"Everyone, leave. I would like to have a word with Miss Claire here." He instructed and everyone vacated the room. 

I peered at him through my lashes. I felt all the breath leave my body when I saw his perfectly chiseled face. His hazel eyes regarded me quietly, like they could pierce into my soul. His sleeves were rolled up, threatening to rip apart as his biceps flexed. The two top buttons of his shirt were undone and I got a glimpse of his toned chest. 

By heavens, could anyone look this good?

I had seen him in the past from afar, and he did look good. But nothing beat seeing this spec of a man up close.

"Sit." He said.

I let my head process the word first. This was strange. An omega was never invited to sit and chat. 

"I... I can't..." I choked out, squeezing my palms. 

I heard his resounding footsteps before his sparkly white shoes intruded my line of vision. He held my hand and I gasped at the contact. 

What was he doing?

I tried to withdraw my hand but his grip around it only tightened. Gently, but firmly, he led me to a chair to sit. He leaned his butt on the edge of his table and I busied my eyes with his long legs clad in bright red suit trouser. 

Everything about him was clean. I felt like a spring onion, dirty and out of place in the tidy office. 

"How do you do, Claire?" Alpha Enzo asked.

I stole a glance at him before burying my face behind the curtain of my hair. He genuinely meant the question. 

"Look at me, Claire." He said, but I could not do it. Instead, my heart danced at the way my name glided off his tongue. 

When I would not raise my head, he used his index finger to tip my face up. Then he smiled. "That is better."

My throat instantly went dry. He was breathtaking, literally. 

"You never answered my question," he reminded me. 

I gulped. "I... I am alive today."

A pained expression crossed his face, but I waved it off as my imagination.

"Would you want it otherwise?" He inquired. 

I shrugged. Honestly, I was not sure. 

"Everything will turn out fine." He held my hand. "You only need to attend that transformation rite."

I looked at him in askance. "I am not sure if it will..."

He squeezed my hand. "You do not have to think so much about it. All you have to do is show up and it will all fall in place."

I knew he wished to help but he did not understand. He would never understand. He had had everything handed down to him. Everything had gone according to plan in his life. So he would not know the pain we were bound to face if we failed this test a second time. 

"H... How do you have so much hope?" I asked. 

He squatted before me, rubbing my palm in soothing patterns. He watched me, his eyes contemplating. He closed them and when he opened them again, he confessed, barely audible. "It is because I love you." 

I gawked at him. Was that even possible? What about the mate bond? 

Then it all made sense to me, why he had been extremely kind, why he had sent his sister my way and why he had ordered the men not to touch me. 

I searched within myself. I knew I felt something for him. I mean it was hard not to; the Alpha was lovable. But was it that kind of love?

"All these..." He continued. "... I did for you. I want to make you mine with everything in me. And if I have to go to the ends of the earth to achieve it, then I will."

I wanted to say something but he brushed his thumb against my lips, setting sparks within me and shutting me up effectively. 

"You do not need to say anything to me now. All I need from you..." He paused. "...is your presence at the rite. Can you please do that for me?"

His orbs peered into mine and I held his gaze. Could this be real? Alpha Enzo was giving the omegas a second chance. Because of me. Because he loved me.