Semua Bab "MIDNIGHT'S MARK": Bab 31 - Bab 40

Two months into our leadership, I started something that would change Shadowpine Pack forever.The Omega Training Program.I gathered every omega in the pack—forty-three wolves total and invited them to weekly meetings. The first session, only twelve showed up. They looked nervous, like they expected punishment for daring to gather."Thank you for coming," I said, standing in front of the small group in the community center. "I know this is unusual. Omegas do not usually have organized meetings. But I want to change that.""Why?" asked Emma, "What is the point?""The point is you all have abilities you do not even know about. Abilities the pack needs." I opened my omega senses and touched each of their bonds gently. "Can you feel that? That is me connecting to you through pack bonds. Every omega can do this. We are pack hearts—emotional anchors. But no one teaches us how to use our gifts."Curiosity replaced some of the nervousness."I want to teach you what Elder Morrigan taught me.

They came at dawn.The alarms sounded as the sun rose, howling through pack territory. But this time, we were ready.I stood in the main hall with my thirty-five trained omegas. We had practiced this. We knew what to do.“Remember your training,” I told them. “Link to your assigned warriors. Hold the unity steady. Do not let fear break your concentration.”“We are ready, Alpha Female,” Patricia said. The others nodded agreement.Darius appeared in the doorway, fully geared for battle. Our eyes met across the room.“Be safe,” I said through our mate bond.“You too. I love you.”“I love you too.”Then he was gone, leading warriors to the perimeter.I opened my omega senses and felt the enemy approaching. Three hundred wolves, maybe more. Their bonds were twisted, corrupted by their Alpha's madness. They radiated aggression and bloodlust.But our pack radiated unity.“Link now,” I commanded my omegas.We all opened our abilities simultaneously, connecting to our assigned warriors. I took

The pregnancy was confirmed the next day.Vera ran the tests and smiled. “Definitely pregnant, about six weeks along, I would estimate.” Congratulations, Alpha Female.Darius was in a meeting when I got the news. I felt his joy through the mate bond when I told him, followed immediately by protective intensity that made me laugh.“I am not fragile,” I said when he rushed back to our apartment.“I know, but you are carrying our pup. My protective instincts are…” He stopped, running a hand through his hair. I am going to be insufferable, aren't I?“Probably, but I love you anyway.”We decided to keep the pregnancy private for a few weeks, just between us and Vera. But hiding anything in a pack was difficult.The omega network sensed the change in my bonds immediately. Within a week, Patricia approached me“Forgive me for being forward, Alpha Female. But are you pregnant?”I stared at her. “How did you know?”“Your bond signature changed. It is richer somehow, Deeper, The trainees hav

The first month with Selene was beautiful chaos. She was a good pup, relatively easy. But being parents while running a pack was harder than I imagined. I was exhausted constantly. Between feeding Selene every three hours, managing pack duties, and trying to maintain the omega network, I barely slept. Darius was not much better. He tried to handle Alpha responsibilities while helping with the pup, but neither of us could do everything. "We need help," I admitted one sleepless night. Selene had finally fallen asleep and we had maybe two hours before she woke again. "I know. But who?" "Family. Pack family." I yawned. "Vera offered to help with childcare. Patricia said the omega network could rotate shifts watching Selene. We have resources. We just need to use them." The next day, we accepted help. Vera became Selene's primary caretaker during work hours. Patricia organized a rotation of trusted pack members who helped with feedings and diaper changes. It felt strange at first,

They came at dawn on the fourteenth day.Twelve hundred wolves. Six packs merged into Reiner's coalition. They spread across our northern border like a dark tide, perfectly organized, overwhelmingly powerful.I stood in the underground shelter with Selene in my arms, feeling the approaching army through pack bonds."Mama?" Selene said, sensing my fear."It is okay, baby. Mama has to work now. You stay with Vera."I kissed my daughter and handed her to Vera, who would guard the non-combatants. Then I went to the command center, a fortified room where I could coordinate the omega network safely.Thirty omegas sat ready, each one linked to their assigned group of warriors. Together, we would unite eight hundred wolves into a single fighting force."Ready?" I asked them."Ready, Alpha Female,”they chorused.I opened my omega senses and felt our entire combined pack Shadowpine, Moonridge, Riversong, Clearwater. Eight hundred souls linked through bonds, waiting for unity.“Now,” I commanded