An Omega's Desire

Chapter 8

CHAPTER EIGHT

The sun has barely crested the mountain peaks, spilling golden light into the valley, when I find Love perched on a smooth boulder outside the pack's main den. Her legs swing rhythmically, almost in harmony with the chirping of the awakening birds. The spring air is crisp and fragrant with wildflowers.

"Morning," I call out, my voice betraying the restless night I've had.

"Hey, Sage," she replies, her smile bright as she pats the space beside her on the rock. "You're up early. Couldn't sleep?"

"Something like that," I mutter, taking a seat next to her. I draw my knees to my chest, hugging them tight, and exhale slowly, trying to steady the whirlwind inside me.

Love tilts her head, sensing there's more. She waits patiently, an innate understanding flickering in her hazel eyes. It's one of the things I love about her—she knows when to push and when to just be present.

"I had a dream," I confess, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Ooh, do tell." Her interest is piqued, and she nudges me playfully with her shoulder.

"It was about Silas," I continue, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks. My gaze lingers on the distant horizon where the sky meets the rugged mountains—a place I often imagine running off to when life becomes too complicated.

"Silas?" she repeats, her eyebrows arching. "And what exactly did Mr. Dark Blonde and Gorgeous feature in your dream?"

"He was my true mate, Love." The words fall heavy between us, weighted with meaning and magic. In our world, dreams of true mates aren't just flights of fancy. They carry the whispers of destiny, and I can't ignore it, no matter how much I wish to.

"Wow," she breathes out, her playful demeanor replaced with awe. "That's...big."

"Tell me about it," I reply, letting out a nervous laugh.

"Have you talked to him about this? You know, Silas?"

I shake my head, unable to meet her gaze. "No, I can't just drop that on him. It could change everything or...or nothing at all."

"Or it could be the start of something incredible," Love insists, her tone serious now. "Sage, you need to follow your heart. Tell him about your dream."

I look at her, my defenses crumbling at the earnestness in her eyes. She believes in the magic of our world, in the sacred bond of mates, as fiercely as anyone I've ever known.

"Maybe you're right," I admit, though the idea of laying my soul bare to Silas terrifies me. But the dream felt so real, the connection so profound that ignoring it feels like denying a part of myself.

"Of course, I am," Love says confidently. "Silas deserves to know. And whatever happens, I'm here for you."

Her support is unwavering, and for a fleeting moment, I allow myself to imagine a future where the dream isn't just a nocturnal whisper, but a tangible, beautiful reality.

***

I pace the length of my small bedroom, the soft carpet doing little to muffle the racing of my heart. The morning sun spills through the open window, casting dappled shadows across the walls that mirror the fluttering uncertainty within me. I've always found comfort in the mountain's stoic presence, the way it watches over our pack with silent strength. But today, its grandeur feels like an echo of the monumental decision resting on my shoulders.

The dream clings to the edges of my consciousness, a vivid tapestry woven from the deepest magic of our world—a sacred revelation that Silas, my dear friend and the pack's Beta, is my destined mate. The very thought sends a thrill down my spine, chased by a wave of anxiety so intense it threatens to drown me.

"Okay, Sage," I mutter to myself, pausing mid-stride. "You can do this." My words are a feeble attempt to summon courage from the spring-scented air that fills my lungs.

Closing my eyes, I try to steady my erratic breathing. The image of Silas flashes before me—those piercing green eyes, the playful quirk of his lips that never fails to pull a laugh from my own. The bond we share has been sturdy as the pines outside, but revealing the truth could either entwine our roots forever or rip them apart at the seams.

I should be terrified—and part of me is—but there's also a whisper of excitement that dances through my blood like the first blush of dawn. This could be the start of a love story written in the stars, the kind of romance that's sung about in shifter lore. A chance to fully embrace the connection I've only dared to dream about until now.

With each hesitant step toward the door, the weight of potential futures presses against me. I imagine telling him, watching for any sign of reciprocation or rejection in his expression. Will he laugh off my dream, chalk it up to the whims of a restless night? Or will he look at me with newfound wonder, seeing not just Sage, but his mate?

"Either way," I whisper, reaching for the doorknob, "this changes everything."

My hand trembles slightly as I turn the handle, the click of the latch loud in the silence. The hallway stretches out before me, a path leading to Silas and a crossroads for my heart. With each step, the nervous energy builds, crackling around me like static.

"Silas," I practice under my breath, testing out the words. "There's something I need to tell you." Each syllable feels heavy, laden with fate.

As I make my way through the familiar corridors of our packhouse, I let my instincts guide me. It's early still, and the hushed quiet of the morning feels like a secret shared between the mountains and me. I sense the life stirring all around—the gentle rustle of leaves in the gentle breeze, the distant chirp of birds greeting the day.

"Please let this be right," I plead to the unseen forces that govern our magical existence.

The anticipation of what lies ahead is a fire in my veins, one that warms and terrifies in equal measure. I can't know whether my confession will ignite a spark of mutual longing in Silas or if it will snuff out the light of our friendship. All I have is the truth of my dream and the hope that it's enough.

"Whatever happens," I vow, steeling myself as I near the spot where I know Silas will be, "I'll face it head-on." Because despite the fear, the possibility of a future with Silas, where every glance holds the depth of eternity, is worth the risk of baring my soul.

Ready or not, it's time to leap into the unknown.