Once An Omega Now Alpha

Chapter 11

Entranced by his allure, I ventured through the door that led to the gardens, instinctively following his captivating scent. Eventually, I spied him standing by himself on the opposite side of a magnificent water fountain, illuminated to perfection. Slowly but surely, I drew nearer, and as he turned to meet my gaze, his piercing blue eyes tenderly melted, while a mischievous smile playfully tugged at the corner of his mouth.

“Good evening, little wolf.” His smile made me feel a rush of warmth. "I've been waiting for you," he said, his eyes twinkling in the dim light of the garden.

"I apologize for keeping you waiting. I hope you didn't have to wait too long," I said, smiling sweetly at him. "Of course not, I don't mind waiting for you at all," he replied, returning the smile. “How was your tour with my sister?” He asked me.

"I had an absolutely wonderful time! Your home is truly beautiful. The library is, without a doubt, my favorite place. All those books are filled with the history of your pack. I can only imagine what I could learn. And your sister? She is absolutely amazing, a true paragon of kindness and sweetness!" I raved.

As he gazed up at the ascending moon, a gentle smile graced his lips. "I'm delighted. I'm certain you'll revel in the library and all it has to offer," he said, pausing to glance back at the pack house. After a brief pause, he continued, "I apologize for my distance today. I'm certain that Megan informed you about the reason for my absence?" he asked.

"Yes, she did. She provided a thorough explanation," I replied, pausing to gaze at the radiant moon. Shifting my gaze towards him, I continued, "I sincerely apologize for the sorrow you must feel for the loss of your first mate. I understand that no one can ever fill the void left by someone you deeply loved and cared for."

He nodded silently, standing there, clearly hiding something from me. Feeling his hesitation, I chose not to push him any further, and instead stood quietly beside him. Both of us gazed into the distance, the heavy silence growing with each passing moment. The only disruption to the stillness was the sound of wind through the trees and water trickling from the fountain behind us. After a few minutes, he finally spoke, his voice soft and almost hesitant. "I've been meaning to tell you something," he said, breaking the oppressive silence that had settled between us. I turned to look at him, waiting for him to continue.

He glanced down at me, his eyes filled with emotion. "You know, my mate Heather, she was chosen for me. Our union was meant to bring together my pack and another in the nearby territory. At first, I didn't feel any love for her. In fact, I despised her and resented our families for forcing us into this marriage. But then, one night, as I walked past her room - the very same room you're in now - I heard her sobbing."

His voice trembled as he continued, recounting the pivotal moment. "Something inside me, my wolf perhaps, couldn't bear to hear her pain any longer. It compelled me to enter her room, despite her protests and anger. That's when I discovered the depths of her struggle with depression. You see, every time she tried to reach out to me, to show me kindness or any hint of affection, I pushed her away. I was cruel and dismissive, and I carry deep shame for how I treated her."

Pausing briefly, he raised his hand to gently brush away a tear, and then, in a moment of vulnerability, he spoke once more. As I stood there, silently absorbing his words, he uttered, "I want you to understand that I deeply regret my actions. I regret not seeing the pain she was going through and not extending her the compassion she deserved.” He paused again with a deep sigh.

He continued, “I resented her for depriving me of the chance to find my true mate. It wasn’t until she expressed her frustrations that a transformation began to occur within me. I came to the realization that when she labeled me as ignorant, stupid, blind, and self-absorbed, I failed to acknowledge that she too was coerced into this predicament. Consequently, I gradually started to open up to her, peeling away one layer at a time. Over the course of a month, I developed an affection for her, which eventually blossomed into love. We spent an additional 3 years together until tragedy struck while she was training with the pack, claiming her life. Her untimely demise left a void in my heart, a void that seemed impossible to fill. As I mourned her loss, I have had terrible and sometimes violent nightmares. With therapy, I found solace in the memories we had created together, cherishing every moment we shared and holding onto the love that had grown between us.”

He cleared his throat, attempting to hide his sadness. I moved my left hand and placed it gently on his back. He shuddered under my touch. “I am so sorry for your loss, Ezra.” I said softly.

"She passed away a little over a year ago. Ever since she was brutally killed by the rogues, I have been enforcing a kill on sight if they trespass into our territory. If River had not followed his instinct, you would not be here.” His eyes seemed to darken at that thought.

“I am incredibly grateful that he trusted his instincts.” I looked down at my feet before looking back up at him. “I didn’t even realize I was trespassing, if I am being honest.”

He raised his brow, "You didn't?"

I shook my head, "No, I had no idea."

"How long have you had your wolf?" he asked.

"A few days," I told him, aware that I was younger than he was by a few human years.

"You're still a young pup then? How old are you?" He turned to face me.

"I am eighteen," I said, blushing.

“You just got your wolf? Wow, a late bloomer.” He mumbled, looking over me.

“Yeah, a late bloomer.” I repeated his words and felt slightly embarrassed.

“So you haven’t figured out how to distinguish the scents then and the danger of other territories. You’ll be able to feel the danger if you happen to cross a territory uninvited.” He told me.

“Oh, I didn’t know how that all worked really. I was just aimlessly walking around the woods. I was never allowed in the wolf classes in school because I was wolfless, and my old pack believed that I would remain wolfless. The only thing they allowed me to join in on was training. Only because if I couldn’t somewhat fight I couldn’t protect myself.” I sighed.

“How were you in training?” He asked me.

“Pretty good. I’m small and I am quick. I could slip by some of them and have them land on their backs. I would use that as my getaway time. Usually, by the time they were up, I was able to arm myself with something.” I told him truthfully.

“Have you trained at all in your wolf form?” He asked and laughed. “I know that seems like a stupid question. Nevermind, you don’t have to answer.” He continued to chuckle.

I let out a soft laugh, “I haven’t but would love to.” I looked up at the sky.

He stepped closer to me, holding me in a tender embrace. He gazed down at me. The gentle breeze gently brushed a strand of hair across my face. He delicately reached up and tucked it behind my ear. His hand lingered there for a moment before he lowered his head and placed his lips softly against mine. I closed my eyes, savoring the sweet warmth of his kiss. His touch sent shivers down my spine, and I wrapped my arms around him, losing myself in the embrace.

He withdrew and looked down at me. A gentle smile appeared on his lips as he secured his arms around me. He drew me into a warm and affectionate embrace. My arms embraced him tightly, and I rested my head against his chest. With a contented sigh, I listened to the soothing rhythm of his heartbeat, as his chest gently rose and fell.

“You feel like home,” he whispered. I smiled, feeling warmth spreading through my chest. It was a simple phrase, but it somehow meant the world to me.