Chapter 1: He's Back?

Ever's POV

“Back to work, you lazy lot!” Matron Agnes snapped. “I knew it. Three rations a day and now you're all fat and lazy.”

“Shoo, shoo, to work!” she called as she shooed another set of Omegas, who ran off in giggles.

“And don't make me repeat myself!” she yelled after them. “The Alpha has returned, and I want this place looking decent before he gets here. If he sees even one dirty window, we're all finished.”

My hands froze against the window I was cleaning.

The Alpha had returned?

“Did you hear?” whispers and giggles from the other Omegas reached me. “Alpha Hagan's back.”

The cloth slipped from my fingers.

He was back.

A mix of panic and excitement hit me as I stood up in anticipation, amidst the busyness of the pack house.

It'd been a month since he left for Moonstorm. And he'd left me without a word as to how long this stay was going to take. Yes, this wasn't the longest we've been apart, but I couldn't contain the bursts of excitement I felt this past month waiting on him.

Because while he was away, I’d heard the rumors. He was finally taking a Luna. My cheeks reddened as I looked into one of the mirrors in the pack house. Was it finally happening? Or had I gone full delusional? I could barely contain my excitement as thoughts of it being true filled my head.

Quickly drying my hands, I fixed my hair as best as I could and smoothed my dress. Nothing I did could hide how dirty this dress made me look.

But I would, at the very least, try to look good for him. I was his mate. I couldn't let him see me looking like such a mess after just one month of being apart.

Hurried footsteps followed, and I quickly faked being busy.

“Did you hear?” Kia's voice, accompanied by her panting breath, rang out as she rushed in. “He's... The Alpha. He's back,” she forced out.

“And...?” I raised a brow, faking indifference.

“Yeah. Like he isn't all you've been able to think about this past month.” She scoffed.

“Kia!” My eyes widened. “Quiet, someone could hear you.”

“Yeah, like your sleep talks haven't already told them.” She added, and I shot her a glare. “I miss you, Hagan. When will you return, Hagan? I can't bear it when we're apart.” She mimicked.

Embarrassment flooded my face as I threw my shoes at her. She dodged and ran downstairs as I pursued after her.

Kia and I grew up in GreyMark's orphanage for Omegas. She was the only one I got along with. Other pups there never liked me much. And most believed I was too much trouble to be entangled with.

Also... She was also the only one I'd told.

That I was mated to our Alpha.

But best of all, she was my best friend, my roommate, and one of only two things in this Pack that truly mattered to me.

The other was Hagan. And he was finally back after so long.

Kia and I scurried past her station, still in pursuit. Spotting one of the Matrons up ahead, I pulled her to an abrupt stop, and we hurriedly faked being busy.

When she finally left, we simultaneously let out loud exhales, and we let out choked laughter.

“Did I hear something?” A matron let out behind us. Our eyes widened as we jerked back into faking being busy. “I thought so,” she shot and left in silence.

“Phew.” Kia exhaled. “One more slip-up and that's another cut from our rations, Ever. Be serious.”

“Well, I wasn't the one who made a joke about, you know...” I struggled to get out. “the thing.”

“Ever, you can't even speak about your relationship publicly. What in the name of weird affairs...” I slapped my hands around her mouth.

This girl was going to be the death of me one day. She rolled her eyes and mumbled an apology. After brief deliberation, I let her go.

The reception, my mind clocked. Hagan's reception. I had to be there. I turned to leave.

“Hey, where are you going?” Kia whispered, holding me back. “We're supposed to be at our stations.”

“I have to see him,” I whispered back. “It won't take too long, I promise, just a minute.”

She groaned. “For the love of God. That's what you always say. And a minute turns to 10 minutes.”

I pressed my lips into a sad, thin line.

“It's been a month, Kia...”

“You can see him after the reception, Ever. This is too risky,” she cut off.

“Then I'll go myself.” I yanked my hand out of hers and slid past the passageway to the ranch entrance. My feet slapped against the streets in hurried dashes, without another look back as I ran.

Familiar footsteps followed close behind. I looked to see Kia panting heavily as she caught up to me.

“You'll be the death of me one day.” She let out, and we both laughed.

We increased our pace to avoid being spotted. The long curve around the main yard opened into the Royal road leading to the pack house's entrance.

We eventually got to the crowd awaiting the Alpha's entrance. Warriors, Gammas, Elders, and many beautiful highborn shewolves were eagerly waiting.

Omegas like us were strictly not allowed to attend gatherings like this, so Kia and I had to cover up our crescent marks. It would be easy to tell with how faded our marks were that we were Omegas, so hiding it was our best option to slide past.

Some wolves we passed still managed to figure out we were Omegas through our weak scents and possibly... our worn out clothes! Beads of sweat creased my forehead as we faced their scrutinous gazes while passing.

We eventually managed to make it into the crowd. We pulled our veils on to avoid being recognized.

My eyes searched for Hagan's carriage among the carriages that moved past. Apparently, I wasn't the only one searching. Many highborn shewolves shoved each other just to get a sight at him.

Their drama led to serious commotions for the rest at the back. Each, with their own comments, started chains of arguments.

“I can't believe Alpha Hagan still doesn't have a mate. Any shewolf would die to be made his Luna. Even if he doesn't find a mate, he should at least choose one.” One began, frustration clear in her tone.

“And even if he wanted to choose, what makes you think he'd ever look your way?” A blonde lady beside her replied, and her escorts burst out laughing.

“Funny you're trying to talk down to me when your father is literally a retired nobody. Your family lacks the status suitable for a Luna's background, so figures you aren't any better.” She pressed, and another round of laughter erupted.

Shortly after throwing words around, they both got into a fight, pulling each other's hair.

“I did hear the Alpha's finally taking a Luna.” One of them mentioned, and my ears snapped up. “Oh, what I'd give just to have a night in those arms. Those eyes staring down at me...” Another began.

“Slut! That's why you still don't have a mate and yet you're pregnant.”

And that didn't end well either. Kia and I moved away from them before we'd get caught in their drama.

The last row of carriages finally halted at the Pack house as cheers and whistles erupted.

Beta Roy alighted first, and the crowd went into a frenzy. The shewolves especially. You couldn't really blame them. He was as good-looking as one could picture, and ladies could barely take their eyes off him once they met him.

I looked over at Kia. She had unfortunately fallen into the frenzy too.

“Well, someone's gaping...” I teased.

She jerked back into composure as she tried to hide her embarrassment.

“I wasn't,” she quickly defended. “And didn't you say a minute? It's been five minutes since we left.”

“Oh no, that's right,” I squinted. “Okay, just three more minutes.” I pleaded. “Three minutes and we leave,” I assured her. She rolled her eyes before reluctantly agreeing.

“Fine. We leave after we see your prince charming.” She teased back, and I shot her a glare.

The increased cheers and noise from the crowd caught my ears as I looked back.

A familiar tall, masculine figure alighted the last carriage. I couldn't see him clearly as many people had stepped in front of me.

My view was blocked, but I didn't need anyone telling me who was causing these commotions.

The crowd went crazy, with whistles and chants erupting everywhere. The ladies completely lost their composure as some began screaming for his attention.

I struggled to slide past the crowd, with Kia following behind me. I couldn't get to the front, but fortunately, I found an unused block to climb on.

I hastily climbed on.

My eyes didn't need to search for long before they found him. There he was.

Greymark's Alpha.

And proudly... my mate. Even if no one knew. I clutched my chest, unable to hold back my smiles. One month away and he still managed to look more beautiful than ever. His broad shoulders and imposing frame made him impossible to miss, even among the warriors surrounding him.

For a moment, he turned to where I was, and we locked eyes. To others there, it would seem like a basic glance through the crowd, but we both knew. He looked away as fast as we had locked gazes. Yes, it hurt whenever he did that - pretend I was a stranger. But... it was for the best.

“It's been eleven minutes now, Ever.” Kia whispered, pulling me down. “We should get going,” she said, pointing towards two of the matrons who seemed to be looking for us as their eyes searched the crowd frantically.

“Presenting to you,” Beta Roy's voice rang out. “Greymark's Alpha...” Kia pulled me away, and I followed. “And...” he surprisingly continued. My gaze instinctively turned back. Did Hagan bring someone with him?

“Did the Alpha bring someone with him?” One of the highborn females let out too. Murmurs spread through the crowd.

My eyes caught sight of the figure whose hand reached out of the carriage.

I watched, puzzled, as a tall, elegant female beauty stepped out of Hagan's carriage. You could tell from her crescent mark that she was Highborn.

But... who was she to Hagan?

My stomach tightened as Hagan's hand reached out to her. Could she? Could he be? My thoughts spiraled as Beta Roy gestured to her.

“...His Luna.” He finished.