Kyle pov
I ran like hell through the dense forest, wind howling past my ears, my heartbeat pounding so violently I thought it might burst from my chest. Sharp branches scraped across my face and arms, burning like fire, but I barely noticed.
I had to run. Fast. Far.
Away from the city. Away from the Silver Blood family. Away from the forced engagement with that ancient, grotesque Alpha female — a wolf matriarch old enough to be my grandmother.
I'm Kyle, the youngest Omega of the Silver Blood pack, the last unmarried Omega left in my family. Four older brothers, all Alphas or Betas. Only my sister Emily and I were Omegas. Emily had long been married off to a warlord from the Southern Alliance. Now it was my turn.
At the engagement banquet, when that fat, greasy woman named Abyssus reached out her hand and licked her lips in front of me, I almost vomited.
I refused to be a pet trapped in a gilded cage, a mark waiting to be claimed, a life spent lying meekly in someone else's arms. What I wanted — what I needed — was freedom.
With the help of Geralt and Valerion, I slipped away under the cover of night, fleeing both my family and the city.
The grass beneath my feet grew damp — I was entering the border of wolf territory.
But I hadn't expected the forest to be hostile to a lost Omega like me.
A strange rustling sound snapped me out of my scattered thoughts. I spun my head around, only to trip over a fallen branch and crash to the ground, a sharp pain shooting through my right ankle.
"Shit..." I gasped, feeling the throbbing swell — a twisted ankle, probably.
I forced myself upright, catching my breath, but the rustling drew closer.
I held my breath.
A strange scent filled the air — the raw metallic stench of wild blood mixed with a heavy Alpha pheromone that sent instinctive shivers racing down my spine.
Then —
The bushes parted, and a massive gray wolf stepped forward, its single eye cold and calculating. The other eye was covered by a deep scar, a mark of countless battles survived.
It advanced slowly, its gaze sizing me up like prey. My body froze, heart pounding so hard it felt like it might explode.
I wanted to run, but my legs refused to obey. My scent glands betrayed me, leaking pheromones — fear, yes, but also the submissive call of an Omega.
"A human Omega? What the hell are you doing here?"
A rough, gravelly voice rumbled from the wolf's jaws.
I stared in shock. It was speaking?!
"Surprised?" it chuckled darkly, tongue licking its lips. "It's been ages since I smelled a sweet Omega like you."
I crawled backward, barely centimeters at a time. "P-please... don't come closer..."
"You're scared, Omega?" The wolf's voice dropped, thick with cruel amusement. "Good. I like you just like this — trembling and helpless. I'm going to mark you first, make you rut under my scent, and then devour you, piece by piece."
Cold terror seeped through my veins, but I couldn't scream or run. My body shook uncontrollably, the pheromones growing heavier — the deadliest temptation to an Alpha.
He stepped closer, jaws parting to reveal sharp fangs.
Then, from behind me, a deep, commanding voice cut through the tension.
"Enough, Atwood. You've crossed into our territory."
Atwood froze and growled low and menacing.
I whipped around.
There — two wolves stood tall. One was pitch-black like the night itself; the other was a colossal deep brown beast, easily twice the size of the others, radiating strength and dominance — an Alpha aura so intense it nearly suffocated me.
My Omega instincts flared wildly at his presence, my pheromones stirring with restless urgency — drawn to the undeniable pull of a higher-ranked Alpha.
I didn't know who they were.
But my instincts screamed one truth:
One of them was very likely my destined mate.
"Tch, damn bad luck."
The gray wolf muttered, retreating with a look of grudging defeat.
The light brown wolf growled low, stepping forward with a dangerous edge in his voice.
"Get out of our territory, Atwood. One more step and I'll gouge out your other eye."
The air thickened, almost freezing in tension. I lay on the ground, my body stiff with terror, ears ringing, heart pounding like war drums.
The gray wolf glanced at me coldly.
"Consider yourself lucky this time, human Omega."
He paused, then fixed his gaze on the two wolves before him, eyes blazing with hostility.
"We'll meet again, Red Moon. Next time, don't bring backup to our fight. I'll show you who the real king is."
With that, he turned sharply and vanished into the thicket like a shadowed storm.
I exhaled shakily, but the two wolves' eyes snapped to me, their Alpha presence crashing down like a tidal wave. I instantly tensed.
"Why have you trespassed into our territory, human?"
The light brown wolf's voice was sharp and distrustful, his gaze piercing as if sizing up a threat I couldn't see.
I instinctively backed away, knowing I wouldn't get far. My breath quickened, pheromones spilling out in chaotic waves — fear, pain... and submission.
"Hey."
The larger deep brown wolf nudged the smaller one with his muzzle, his tone surprisingly gentle.
"Can't you smell? He's almost crying. I don't think he's doing this on purpose."
I froze.
That big Alpha... was defending me?
The light brown wolf snorted disdainfully. Maybe it was my imagination, but I thought I saw him roll his eyes.
Burton—the deep brown Alpha—slowly stepped in front of me. His golden eyes shone warmly in the sunlight. He glanced at my swollen ankle and spoke with unexpected softness,
"You're injured. Do you need help? Our pack is just up ahead."
I hesitated to answer, but before I could say a word, the light brown wolf snapped.
"Burton! How do you know he's not bait? What if he's got more humans hidden nearby?"
Burton sighed wearily.
"I know you want to protect the pack, Seth. But look at him. He's an Omega, wounded, dripping nothing but terrified pheromones — no hint of aggression. And I don't smell any other humans."
Being analyzed like this by Alphas made me feel vulnerable, exposed... but more than that, terrified.
I knew I had made a huge mistake — wolf packs guarded their territory fiercely. Outsiders were taboo.
I tried to stand again, but a sharp stab in my ankle forced me back down with a gasp, a low whimper escaping my lips.
Then Seth approached. His steps were neither heavy nor light, but carried the undeniable pressure of an Alpha.
I looked up, expecting rejection — or worse, fangs sinking into my throat.
Instead, he suddenly lowered himself, pressing his chest to the earth.
"Still just standing there?" Seth muttered gruffly. "Climb up. We have healers in the pack."
I froze, not quite processing his words. Was he... going to carry me?
I glanced at him, then at the other Alpha — Burton — who was smiling gently, nodding at me like coaxing a lost pup.
"You won't last many steps like that. The forest's far more dangerous than you think. Don't worry — we don't eat humans."
Swallowing hard, my trembling body gave in, and I slowly, awkwardly climbed onto Seth's back.
His fur was warm, soft beneath my trembling hands. I wrapped my arms tightly around his neck and whispered, "I'm ready."
Seth stood up, shifting slightly beneath me. I gasped and clung tighter.
"Hold on tight. Don't drop me," he said coldly — but slowed his pace, careful of my injured foot.
Burton ran alongside us, his voice light but curious.
"My name's Burton. That grump with the bad temper is my brother, Seth. What about you, little Omega? What's your name?"
I hugged Seth's back, throat dry and raw.
After a pause, I finally whispered, "I… I'm Kyle."
Burton smiled — a smile so warm it made my heart skip a beat.
"Nice to meet you, Kyle."