"We have to face facts! We are the last true Elders. Our alpha has abolished all that we have worked for! There is nothing for us anymore."

"Silence, Zachariah! We may be the last, but do you not think it is because we are the strongest? Because we had the will to endure?"

"Madam Elder, there is nothing left. What is there left to fight for? No one fears us anymore. Many Elders are already gone. Packs are accepting us as regular wolves amongst them. To have peaceful lives with them. Why not join them?"

"Why? Why!? Because we are not like them! We who are born with silver eyes. We that can obtain power and strength beyond their imaginations, making us the most formidable wolves amongst our kind. We who are cursed to never have mates. Do you not think we will be shunned for that alone? Wolves who are blessed with power but cursed to never have another half to make us whole? Do you know why that is Simon?"

There was no answer.

"Because we are already whole the moment we are born. We need no other half. It is a weakness. A weakness that makes other wolves go insane when taken away. Half crazed when they need to breed like pathetic dogs. This is but a moment our reign has slipped from our fingers. But not like water, oh no, but a string. It can be frayed and worn, but it can be picked up again. We just need to make them believe in our power again."

"You mean to fear us again. You had taken me under your wing when I was but a child, Madam Elder, but I have seen what it is like out there! We may not have mates, but that does not mean we can not find love! It does not mean we have to hide in the shadows and make all around us fear us for being stronger and faster then they are. I am tired of living this way. Of having to look at everyone else when we are boiling in our own jealousy! Because that is what all of this is to you! It is the jealousy of everyone else having a mate but us. It is the fear of being forgotten because we are too arrogant to ask for friendship. It is blatant disregard for family!"

"Do not speak to me with such insolence!"

"No! I am not afraid of you anymore! You are just a bitter old woman who is so narrowminded to all that is around us. To what it means to have pack. I have done enough dirty work for you that the blood will never wash from my hands. But I will live with it everyday if it means I no longer have to be called Elder. If it means that I can live my life the way I want to. We should just let all of this go. Not remain stuck in the past, never hoping for anything more. I'm done with you."

The slice of flesh echoed within a dark stone room. A single torch was lit against a wall. Its light casting different shades of shadowing gray to flicker within the room. The heap of a body lay on the floor, the tang of blood permeating the air. A throat that had been sliced clean through.

"He had been swayed, Madam Elder. We could have brought him back to us," the voice quiet.

"No. We are all that is left now, Zachariah. All that is left to carry this burden we share. We will not waste it. Simon was too weak. I should have seen it the moment I had taken him under my tutelage."

"What will we do?"

"We will continue with the plan we have already made. Report Simon's body to the alpha. Tell him a demonic beast killed him. That it was seen leaving the pack grounds when we came to investigate, having smelled Simon's blood. That will get the pack on alert."

"Will they not suspect us?"

"Of course not. Simon was my apprentice after all. When I tell them the beast is powerful and able to slip past even our guard, that we should be the ones to investigate his death. It will remind them that we have the strongest power within the pack. We are the only ones that can protect them."

"And the omega? You think he has made a connection to the beast?"

"He must have, disgustingly. The demon spawn probably grew attached, which is why the omega is still alive. It would not make sense otherwise since that blind old fool is dead. The creature should have lost any remaining sanity. That omega must have slowed the progression."

"We have not seen the beast in over fifteen years since he was taken away from the pack as a child."

"It does not matter. It will still have hair as dark as night. And it's eyes will still be that putrid gold. It is very good for us, the blind beta so disinterested to its needs, I have no doubt. Since he had lost his mate, he would not care for another. Especially one that is not of his own blood, with disgusting power like that. It was clear the moment we left the thing at the beta's doorstep. The only reason why it was still alive until now is likely due to the old man's pity for the creature. Such a weakness."

Both of their lips curled, remembering the day the boy was born. The power that had shaken even them.

"Take care of things here. In the coming nights, we will be at the height of our power once more."

"I can not wait, Madam Elder."

☆

My legs were made of jelly. Even after my heat had ended, Callan and I continued our love making clear into the rest of the day and late into the night. I do not know how many times I fell from my peak, whether it be from his tongue or his length. Regardless, we seemed to find our favorite positions, enjoying the feel of our new mating bites and the new feeling from our bodies joining.

I felt almost empathic to my mate. The mark had both of our scents mixed together, making our claiming obvious. The mark was deep and dark, tattooing my neck so that it would last forever against my skin. It made me feel less alone when my alpha had gone to get wood. I had shakily walked to the shower, spending many minutes scrubbing with the sweet smelling soap.

My stomach was tight from hunger, hurrying out. The sheets would need to be cleaned. I had cracked open the bedroom window, almost hysterically giggling, wondering if the sheets would be stained with our mixed scents of mating. I dressed in a long sleeve shirt, carefully sliding up my pants over my trembling legs. I was sure my cheeks would be stained a permanent red, my alpha completely wiping me out. I shuffled carefully through the living room, turning on the radio with the volume down low, once I passed the dining room. I started to make breakfast for me and my alpha, already hearing the whack of his axe outside.

I decided to cook up the last of the deer meat, my mate begrudgingly agreeing it was very yummy to eat. I just finished plating our breakfasts when I felt Callan's arms wrap around my waist.

"My alpha," I smiled, kissing him warmly. Callan hummed against my lips, taking the plates from my hands to go set them down on the table. I grabbed two cups to fill with water, heading towards my mate, only to see his eyes already on me. I ducked my head, my blush reaching my ears, knowing he could tell I was very wobbly on my legs.

His stupidly adorable smug face was not good for my heart. We ate in an amicable silence, Callan going off to shower from his early morning work. I went over to the plethora of books, digging through to see what was left. I wanted to buy more 4th grade level books for my alpha since he liked them so much. Especially the short mystery ones where you solved the problem as you read. I was suddenly lifted from the floor and into my alpha's arms, my alpha laying down on the couch with me on top of him.

I giggled at his antics, lifting up a book and opening it. We read for most of the morning, my alpha tending to the garden as I went to the river to wash the sheets. I was a flushing mess as the scents wafted up my nose as I scrubbed them against the washboard, sighing that the heavier scents were mostly gone. I had hung them on the twine, knowing they would be dry after dinner.

I felt rather proud of myself that I had also worn out my alpha from the previous day's strenuous activities. My alpha seemed so tired actually, having forgone reading for the night. I was a bit worried as I snuggled against his chest as we laid down in the bed. His heart seemed a little fast to me, making me frown. Before I could voice my concerns my alpha had tugged me beneath him, ripping off my pants. My hot and bothered alpha between my legs.

"Alpha!"

My mate was not worn out in the least. What kind of stamina did he have?

I was internally crying that my poor hips and tush were so lovingly abused come two days later.

"Omega?" Callan called, making me hum. I was currently cutting an apple into slices, wanting to make a nice fruit bowl for us to snack on.

"Should go to town."

I looked up at my alpha in surprise, never thinking I would hear those words from his lips.

"We still have some vegetables and fruits left, my alpha."

Callan shook his head, coming over to me to hold me at my waist. His thumbs brushed down to trace the top of my hip bones.

"Tod my friend. Worried about omega when did not come to town. Was waiting for me to come back if could not find omega," Callan said, his brow furrowed.

"Oh," I whispered, feeling warmth in my cheeks, "my alpha, I am so glad you have a friend! Tod seems very nice. Why don't I make bread for him, as a thank you gift?"

"Give food as gift?" Callan asked curiously.

"Yes! It is a very common thing to do. Especially if you make it yourself."

Callan nodded happily, wanting to help me make the bread this time. He was very excited to knead the dough, happily making it into a ball. It would take a few hours to rise, the two of us having gone hunting that afternoon. I let my mate do all the work for the bread, my dear alpha following my instructions to the letter. I added a few of the spices to the bread, Callan looking a second from drooling. We decided we would bring Tod the bread tomorrow morning, even though it wasn't Callan's usual work day.

Callan seemed adamant that we go right away, but I told him that it was already late and the man had likely gone home. My sweet alpha pouted, eyeing the bread hungrily. I narrowed my eyes at him, Callan shuffling away to the couch. I somehow ended up straddling my mate on the couch, snuggling into his arms.

"My alpha, what project did you decide to do?" I asked curiously, lifting my head up so I could kiss my alpha on the nose. Callan had, had his nose buried against my mate mark. The fire was warm against my back, soaking into my low back. I was like a puddle of goo in my alpha's arms.

"Make bookcase!" Callan chirped happily, making me smile.

"That's such a good idea! I am so excited to see it finished. It will be perfect because my alpha made it," I laughed, Callan flushing a bit, ducking his head so he was nuzzling under my chin.

"Not perfect," Callan whispered, making me cup his cheeks to move his head away from my neck.

"That's okay, Callan. It will be perfect to me and I will love it in our house because it was made from your hands," I whispered, moving my hands to rub against his. I frowned a little at how chapped they were, deciding on buying a special cream for him the next time we were in town. Perhaps a lotion for myself and maybe an oil. His nails had always been clean but inherently short to where you could always see the fleshy tips of his fingers.

"Omega," Callan's brows furrowing, biting his lip. I cocked my head at him, feeling that something had made him worried.

"Does omega love only because I am mate?" Callan whispered, his fingers stopping their trailing from underneath my shirt. My breath hitched at his words, his amber eye looking so sad. I felt my heart nearly lurch out of my chest, my eyes pricking with tears.

"What? My alpha, did I do something to make you think that?"

"No!" Callan said quickly, "thinking lots about omega. But, worried omega has to like."

I stood from his lap, pushing away his hands that had gone to grab for me again. Callan cradled his hands against his chest, making my heart hurt.

"Callan," my voice shaking, seeing my alpha start to look just as upset as I was feeling, "it's true we are destined to be mates. That you are meant to be my other half. Becoming mates with someone, isn't easy. It's not love the second you see them. That's why there is rejection, Callan. It gives us a choice. Let's us choose our own path if we do not like the person chosen for us. I got to know you, Callan. I got to understand who you are. What you like and don't like. How you make me feel when I'm around you. That's how everyone, who doesn't have a mate, figures out if they love someone too. Our bond is just greater, because it was also meant to make us stronger together, if we decided to make our soul bond real. I don't love you because something said I had to," I said, cupping his cheek in my hand. His amber eye was round and red rimmed, his dark lashes making the gold more prominent.

"I fell in love with you because of who you are. You could have turned out angry and mean and bitter from the way you were treated. You could have become a person who would hit me, even if I was your mate. You could have been an alpha that just wanted my heat and then leave. You could have been a thousand other things, my alpha, that would have made me want to reject you or leave you. But you aren't any of those things. You are my Callan. You became a person I could fall in love with. I will never regret being with you, no matter if you had been my destined mate or not. I would have fallen in love with you regardless. I want to grow old with you, Callan. I want us to be a family forever. To wake up together and go to sleep together. To always read on the couch. Or hunt together or plant vegetables in the garden. I want to do everything with you, my alpha, and it's all because you became this wonderful person who I could never picture living without."

My breathing was shaky, tears having fallen down my cheeks with the warmth of the fire behind my back. Callan was looking at me, mouth hanging open, not looking like he knew what to say. I didn't move for a while, bringing up the corner of my sleeve to wipe away any last bits of my tears. I sniffled, suddenly being lifted into my alpha's arms. He carried me to the bedroom, gently removing my clothes from my body and himself. He laid down next to me, ever so softly bringing me into his arms. I rubbed my head against his chest, feeling my eyelashes brush against his skin. The moon was delicately cascading into our room, my finger tracing shapes against his sun kissed skin.

"I am sorry, Theo," Callan's voice so very soft, "love omega very much. Never want omega to leave. Never want you to go away if fight or mad. Want to always make omega happy. Scared to do wrong. But I love omega with whole heart. Want to grow old too. To always have. Did not mean to make sad. Scared omega only stay because of Goddess. But is not true. Omega, my omega, I love you. Theo is perfect."

I sobbed against his chest at his words, feeling his large, warm hands rub against my back. I held him tightly to me, never wanting to let go. I would fight the world for this man, or die trying.

☆

When morning came next, I found that my alpha had stayed in bed with me. I felt his touch trace down my spine and back up. Trailing his fingertips across my shoulder and down my arm. The brush of his knuckle along my jawline.

I fluttered my eyes open, the morning rays of light making my mate's hair look even darker within the room. His amber eye was warm and soft, my mate noticing I had woken up. He brushed his nose against mine, my sleepy mind making my lips lift into a dopey smile. Callan's low chuckle rumbled into my chest, snuggling further against my alpha's warmth.

"Omega, must get up. Bring bread to Tod," Callan whispered, leaving a trail of kisses over my wavy hair.

"No," I promptly said, burying my face half against his chest and half into the bed, "Staying here all day with my alpha as a pillow."

Callan laughed warmly, wanting to keep the sound in my memory forever. I suddenly squealed at being lifted up and out of bed.

"Cal!" I gasped, my alpha bringing us to the bathroom. We somehow squished together into the tiny shower, basking in the warm naked skin of my alpha who was leaving a trail of kisses down my neck. I felt my mark spark at his touch, purring loudly. My eyes snapped open at the sound, flushing and looking away.

"Omega, don't stop. Make pretty omega sound. Want to always hear," Callan whispering sweetly against my ear. I felt my cheeks burn hotter, burying my nose as far as I could reach into his neck where my own mark was.

"Omegas make that sound when they are very happy and very safe," I mumbled, Callan pulling back from my neck so I could look into his face. The showerhead couldn't be adjusted any higher, the water cascading over his shoulders. My poor alpha having to duck a bit to wash his hair. He did block it well enough for me so the spray didn't hit me directly in the face.

I traced my fingers over his scruff, smiling at his amber eye shifting to a deeper gold. I carefully brushed his bangs away from his milky eye, feeling my heart pound in my chest. He was so devastatingly handsome, he took my breath away. I loved every part of him. Inside and out. I let my hands rub over his body, my lips quirking at the rumble that was leaving his chest.

"Omega is small, but with me, I squish in shower," Callan said suddenly making my head snap up to look at him. I had gotten very much distracted by the feel of his skin under my hands. I gasped and flailed, Callan lifting me up and pressing me more firmly against the shower wall, forcing my legs to wrap around his waist.

"Much better for omega, yes?" Callan smiled.

"Alpha is becoming sneaky," I whispered, biting my lip to stop a moan from leaving me. My alpha was growing hot and hard between my legs, my head starting to get dizzy from his powerful scent. The lukewarm water suddenly felt too hot, starting to pant at how intoxicating my alpha was.

"Learned sneaky from omega," Callan growled happily, his lips devouring mine. My moan left me then, melting fully against my alpha. I wrapped my arms around his neck, loving his lips on mine more than anything. Loving the way they molded so perfectly against mine. The power, the lust, the love behind it. Alpha's fingers had slipped inside of me, my mouth pulling away from my alpha's to greedily suck in more air that had been stolen from me. My head fell back against the shower wall, whining low at the sudden stretch. Slick fell from me, having no control to stop it, my aroused scent pouring from me and mixing with my alpha's. Callan moaned low, my belly tightening at the sound. His canines scraped over my mating bite making me shutter, jerking my hips against his busy hand.

I mewled lowly, feeling his blunt head press against my hole. Alpha growled happily, sinking into my heat, making me squeeze my eyes shut as pleasure rippled through my body. Words couldn't even fall from my lips before Callan was thrusting inside of me. My face was buried against his neck, his pheromones washing over me. His arousal was so strong it was making slick gush from me with every powerful snap of his hips.