Chapter 3: Mating Season

ARWENNA'S POV

ALVERDA WOLF CLAN

3 Years later

It's been Three freaking years. Three years since I was thrown out of the house of Quintt.

Three years since I was dragged back into my Aunt's custody due to the clan's stupid rule: Omegas can only be free from their guardian when they turn Twenty Two.

My Aunt "Yvonne" didn't mind taking me back, of course. Money drives her than blood ever did. She accepted me with open arms only because she knows I'll do more shitty works for her. And I swallowed it, the pain, anger, my pride I swallowed it all. I pretended like nothing happened... Pretended like she wasn't the one who sold me off to that old fool

But none of that matters. Because today is the Belwan Mating Season

It comes once a year.. A chance to find a mate... My mate, one chance to finally leave my aunt's house and never look back

At least.... that's what I hope.

Because I noticed ever since I used my Umbral instincts on Jeff, I haven't been the same, I've grown weaker, experiencing blackouts constantly out of nowhere.

I should have shifted 2 years before my Mate Match but I passed the age of 20 with nothing. No signs. No spark. No wolf.

As day pass by... I feel my strength derail, like something inside me slowly fading

And this I fear.

For everyone knows: No wolf means no mate.

Even if the Moon goddess pities me...

Who would ever want an Omega who's half empty?.

"You're still not done?". My aunt's voice snapped me back to reality sharp and irritated as always, she eyes me head to toe throwing daggers at me, if looks could kill I would be six feet below

"You better be fast... I don't want that Tax collector harassing me again over your laziness" My aunt warned. "It's either you pay or you get used as payment".

But today...." I tried speaking to her but she left not giving me audience

In my clan Omegas are considered the weakest of all breeds. In Omegas the human blood is stronger than the wolf blood, which makes our wolf late.... and weak

Normal Gamma wolves get their wolf at thirteen or sixteen and meet their mates at eighteen. But we Omegas don't shift until twenty and don't get our mate until age twenty two

Because of that the clan doesn't trust us to live alone due to The Dire Lynx a creature specifically targeting weak omegas feeding on their consciousness and their existing Umbral instincts.

Therefore we must stay under guardians until we turn twenty two and get a mate. For men once they get their wolves at twenty they can chose either to leave or stay with their guardians.

But I believe it's all a lie.

It's not for safety but for slavery. They keep insisting that it's for the safety of the weak blooded but insist we pay taxes using hard labor, we pay triple the tax the so called Gamma wolves pay. Paying every 2 days today not exclusive whether It's the Mating season or not. It's either pay or die

Leaving my aunt's custody would be the greatest achievement of my entire existence.

Arwenna! "Farida, my childhood friend, screamed, scaring me. "A penny for your thoughts?" I turned towards her, annoyed.

"What the hell, girl?!" I snapped jokingly, rolling my eyes. "Do you want me dead before getting my mate?"

"Of course not! We're both getting our mates today; no excuses!" Farida said, blushing.

"I hope so; I really do," I smiled calmly, tying the cotton I harvested for the tax payment.

"It's not a matter of fate; we're getting mated to rich men... perhaps a minister or even, lucky for us, a prince!" Farida squealed childishly.

"Huh, really? Or are you just excited because you'll finally get to sleep with a man?" I pushed her jokingly.

"Stop it! Of course not, but also... I'll finally know what it feels like! You know Elizabeth keeps ranting about the different positions Enrico uses in shifting her womb, just because she got a mate last mating season," Farida rolled her eyes, clearly annoyed.

I burst out laughing, placing my hand on my stomach as tears rolled down my cheeks. "You have a weird way of portraying your message. What do you mean by shifting her womb?"

Farida hissed, "Stop laughing. It isn't funny; that bitchy girl is too full of herself. At least that will shut her up."

I tried to reply when my Aunt came out again, cutting our conversation short.

"Are you done packing the cotton?" Aunt Yvonne questioned. I nodded.

"Yes, I'm done packing. It's almost time for the matching session. I'll be going now with Farida," I replied, smiling as I packed my stuff.

"Farida can go by herself; I need your help here at home," Aunt Yvonne said dismissively.

"What do you mean by me not going?" I chuckled a bit until I saw how stern her face was. "I believe that won't happen, Aunt."

Aunt Yvonne's face snapped toward me, staring at me in disbelief. "What did you just say?"

I rolled my eyes. "You heard me clearly; I'm going whether you approve of it or not."

"It's either you leave and come with that mate, or no mate, no home," my aunt smirked.

"That isn't up to you to decide," I replied, looking towards Farida. "Let's go," leaving my aunt surprised.

Immediately, Farida ran after me, but not without growling at my aunt. Farida jumped on me from behind.

"Girl, you're getting braver," Farida squealed.

"And there will come a day that it'll kill me," I answered, dropping her.

"What do you mean, kill you?" But instead, she would be the one dying, not after selling you to that disgusting old man... Farida palmed her mouth, her eyes widening. "I'm sorry, it just slipped out of my mouth."

"It's okay; you're right, after all. I married an old man who died immediately after marrying me; such bad luck," I joked out.

"Are you sure you're okay?" Farida held my hand.

"Of course, I'm fine; now let's get to Belwan open field. The Alpha would be there already," I reassured, tapping her gently, happily.

"Alpha? You mean that mysterious simp ruler?" Farida chuckled, tightening her grip.

Farida and I sprinted towards the center of the Clan, and sure enough, it was almost starting. I looked at the figures ahead addressing the crowd. But sure enough, the Alpha wasn't there. It has been said that no one recognizes him for he has never revealed himself since he was declared alpha. Soon, the speech ended.

The Clan's Priestess moved forward, lifted her staff slowly, looking towards the sky. She slammed her staff on the concrete podium thrice, echoing through the crowd. The wind blew, blowing dust; even the last lantern broke, and the fire gathered together, forming a circle around the Priestess as she kept muttering:

“Sael’vara luneth kai, Thren morai vel’shae, Drakai noor ethen’rai, Vael’mira bondreth nai.”

She finally shouted,

“Thra’zen nok varash—sha’tor vel krayn.”

When that sentence left her lips, everywhere remained silent at first. Then suddenly the reaction hit; everywhere felt suffocating. The Alphas reacted first, growling as they threw their fists to the ground; some dropped to one knee.

The Betas reacted, staggered backwards, holding their chests and spitting blood. Even though they were ranked the second strongest wolves, it was still evident how weak they were.

The next were the Gammas; their howls were shaky and unrefined, half roar and half whimper. Many curled up on the ground as the feeling was too much to bear; it felt like their wolves were being torn in two, being tormented, and there was nothing they could do.

Finally the Omegas. I could see the fear in the eyes of my fellow Omegas. For even Alpha's to experience and give into the pain it must be hard. Then it started. One could hear the cracking and breaking of bones. Many fell to their faces, digging their faces into the soil as the pain was unbearable. I looked beside me and saw Farida whimpering on the ground, grabbing a fistful of her skirt, tears dripping from her eyes.

Looking at myself, nothing. I feel absolutely nothing. No pain, no emotions—just a bystander seeing others experience their own beginning. The priestess's eyes met mine from the podium.

She spoke. "It has Begun"

Wolves from different corners ran into each other, shoving themselves just to locate the scent of their mate, I looked forward and I saw Farida running ahead with determination evident in her eyes. I feel happy and Jealous for I was destined to remain invisible... Unlucky and Useless

A tear fell from my eyes and immediately I wiped it. "It's for the best....

Mate!!!