The first light of morning bathed the Hirunkit estate, a towering symbol of power nestled within the heart of the Four Fang Alliance. Unlike other packs, Four Fang Alliance wasn't just built on strength-it was built on strategy, economy, and influence that stretched into human society.
Its power rested in four ruling families:
House Hirunkit (Business & Finance) - Nani's family, overseeing wealth and economic influence.
House Metawin (Politics & Diplomacy) - Balancing relations between werewolves, humans, and other supernatural factions.
House Jirawat (Military & Intelligence) - Controlling warriors, spies, and pack security.
House Naravit (Law & Enforcement) - Ensuring order and upholding ancient traditions.
Together, they ruled as one.
And at the center of it all-Nani Hirunkit, The Heir, not the Alpha, but an Omega.
----
The morning sun filtered through the floor-to-ceiling windows of Nani's private study, casting a soft glow over the polished wood and neatly stacked documents. The scent of fresh coffee lingered in the air, but the peaceful atmosphere didn't last long.
Because, as expected-
Bang!
The heavy oak doors slammed open with enough force to rattle the bookshelves.
Pond Naravit stormed in first, eyes blazing, mouth already running.
"You. Absolute. Menace." He pointed directly at Nani. "Do you have a damn death wish, or do you just like making my life harder?"
Nani sighed, rubbing his temples. "Good morning to you too, Pond."
"Don't you 'good morning' me!" Pond stalked across the room, arms crossed. "You do realize what you just did, right?"
Behind him, Dew Jirawat strolled in at a much more relaxed pace, looking far too amused.
"Correction," Dew drawled, flopping onto the couch like he had all the time in the world. "He does realize it. He just doesn't care."
Win Metawin entered last, shutting the door with a quiet click. Unlike Pond's aggressive energy and Dew's lazy indifference, Win moved with calm precision. His gaze swept the room before landing on Nani.
"The elders are waiting," Win said, voice even.
Nani finally leaned back in his chair, exhaling slowly. "Let me guess. This is about the extra security detail again?"
Pond scoffed. "Extra security? Try an entire damn army. They're convinced some rabid Alpha is going to jump out of the bushes and drag you off."
Dew smirked. "I mean, it wouldn't be the first time someone tried."
Pond whipped around, glaring. "Not helping."
Dew just shrugged, resting his chin on his palm. "I'm just saying, you can't blame them. You attract Alphas like a damn magnet."
Nani rolled his eyes. "And whose fault is that?"
Win finally spoke, voice smooth as always. "Yours."
Silence.
Pond grinned viciously. "For once, I agree with Win."
Dew gave a lazy clap. "Historic moment."
Nani stared at them, unimpressed. "You're all useless."
"And yet," Dew mused, tilting his head, "you'd be dead without us."
Nani couldn't even argue.
His entire life, these three had been his shadows-his closest friends, his fiercest protectors. They might tease him, but if anyone so much as breathed wrong in his direction, they'd be the first to rip throats out.
Which was why this whole security issue annoyed him so much.
He didn't need more protection.
He had them.
And that was enough.
Or so he thought.
Because Win gave him a long, unreadable look. Like he knew something Nani didn't.
"Let's go," Win finally said. "The longer we stall, the worse it'll be."
Pond muttered something about how Nani was going to be the death of him, but still, the three of them moved into position-Win at his right, Pond at his left, Dew just a step behind.
A formation they had fallen into countless times before.
A formation that meant one thing.
They were walking into battle.
And for the first time in a long time-
Nani wasn't sure if he was going to win.
-----
The Council Chamber of the Four Fang Alliance was a place where power bled into the very walls.
The room itself was carved from ancient stone, its high ceilings supported by dark mahogany beams.
Banners representing the four ruling families-Hirunkit, Metawin, Jirawat, and Naravit-hung like silent sentinels above them. The massive oval table in the center, polished to a gleaming black, had witnessed generations of decisions that shaped the werewolf world.
Today, that weight sat on Nani's shoulders.
When he and his friends entered, they immediately felt the shift in the air. The presence of the elders wasn't just intimidating-it was suffocating.
At the head of the table, Lord Hirunkit, his father, sat with quiet authority. His sharp, calculating gaze held no warmth, only expectation.
To their right, Lord Metawin, a man of few words, observed everything with quiet calculation.
On the left, Lord Jirawat, sharp-eyed and impatient, tapped his fingers against the table, his annoyance clear.
And then there was Lord Naravit, the most physically imposing of the four, his presence like a thundercloud.
It was Win who noticed it first.
The tension.
The way every gaze sharpened the moment Nani stepped forward.
His father were the first to speak.
"You've been avoiding us," Lord Hirunkit said, his voice measured but carrying the weight of a command.
Nani didn't flinch. "I've been busy."
Lord Jirawat snorted. "Busy getting yourself into trouble, more like."
Pond muttered, "Took the words right out of my mouth."
Nani shot him a sharp look, but Pond just shrugged.
"We won't waste time. The council has concerns about your security, Nani."
There it was.
Nani felt his wolf bristle.
His voice was tight. "I don't need-"
"You do."
The voice that interrupted him was not his father's, but Lord Naravit's.
It wasn't a suggestion. It was a statement.
The room went still.
"Like it or not, you're a prime target," Lord Naravit continued, his deep voice steady. "You may think you don't need protection, but the reality is different. You attract too much attention. And not all of it is welcome."
Nani clenched his fists at his sides.
Dew, who had remained quiet so far, leaned back against the chair. His voice was mild, but there was an edge to it. "By 'attention,' you mean Alphas."
Lord Metawin nodded. "Yes. And not just from our own pack."
His gaze met Nani's, knowing, almost apologetic. "You are the heir to this alliance, Nani. You have status, power, and....a rare presence among Omegas."
A muscle in Nani's jaw twitched.
He didn't need to be reminded.
It was never just about being an Omega.
It was about being him.
The unclaimed heir of the Four Fang Alliance.
The only Omega in history born into a position of such influence.
Lord Hirunkit leaned forward. "We won't allow Alphas to start fighting over you." His voice was low but firm. "If we don't handle this now, it will escalate into something dangerous."
Pond exhaled sharply, his arms crossed. "So what, you're going to lock him up?"
Win, calm as ever, spoke for the first time. "No."
His dark eyes flicked toward Nani's father. "They're going to control the situation before it controls them."
A heavy pause.
Then-
Lord Jirawat smirked. "Smart boy."
Nani felt something cold settle in his chest. "Control it how?"
Lord Hirunkit's next words made his stomach drop.
"We will begin considering alliances."
The words were spoken so calmly, so decisively, that for a moment, they didn't register.
Then, realization hit.
Nani's voice was flat. "You mean marriage proposals."
Lord Jirawat nodded. "Yes."
Silence.
A tense, suffocating silence.
Pond's fingers twitched. Dew's jaw ticked.
Even Win's neutral expression darkened slightly.
Nani's throat felt tight, but he forced himself to keep his voice even. "So you want to put me on display for every Alpha to inspect."
Lord Jirawat tilted his head. "Call it what you want. The Grand Gathering will be arranged. Every high-ranking Alpha suitor will be introduced."
The air grew heavy.
Nani's pulse pounded in his ears.
Pond finally broke the silence, his voice sharp. "And what if he doesn't choose any of them?"
Lord Hirunkit's gaze never wavered. "Then he doesn't."
Dew's head tilted, his expression calculating. "So this isn't an order?"
"We will not force Nani into anything. But he needs to face reality. The longer he remains unattached, the more volatile things become."
Nani's fingers curled against the fabric of his pants.
He hated this.
Not the idea of finding a mate.
But the idea of it being decided for him.
His father studied him carefully. "You have one month, Nani."
One month.
One month before he was paraded in front of every powerful Alpha in the region.
One month before the game truly began.