An Omega's Desire

Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

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The scent of pine and mountain heather filters through the open windows, mingling with the musk of wolf fur that always permeates the pack house. It's a scent that usually comforts me, but today it does nothing to ease the fluttering in my chest. I'm almost at Silas's door when an unexpected voice cuts through the corridor, derailing my thoughts.

"Hey, Sage!"

I hesitate, turning to find one of the younger pack members, his eyes wide with urgency. "The Elders want to see you."

"Right now?" My heart skips a beat, not out of fear, but curiosity. It's rare for the Elders to request someone without notice — especially me.

He nods, shifting from foot to foot, obviously eager to deliver the message and be done with it. "Yeah, they're waiting."

I glance at Silas’s door, so close yet suddenly out of reach. Whatever humor had been awaiting me behind it will have to wait. With a sigh, I nod to the messenger. "Thanks, I'll head there now."

As I stride away, I can't help but wonder what this summons could mean. The Elders are the keepers of our traditions, the guides of our fates, tethered to the stars above and the earth below. They don't call upon someone lightly.

The corridor seems longer than usual as I make my way to the Elders' chamber. The wooden floorboards creak beneath my feet, echoing against walls adorned with tapestries depicting our pack's lineage. Each step feels heavy with the weight of history and expectation.

I push open the door to the chamber, and the scent of old books and sage fills my nostrils. It's cooler here, the mountain air slipping through the cracks in the stone and brushing against my skin. The Elders sit in a half-circle before me, their faces impassive, their gazes piercing. They are like living statues, carved from the very mountains we call home.

"Come forward, Sage," Elder Amara beckons, her voice as soft as falling snow yet carrying the undeniable command of one who has led for eons.

I approach, each step deliberate, aware that this is a moment of import. Not just for me, but perhaps for the entire pack. The Elders are seers, their wisdom steeped in magic older than the forests around us. They commune with the spirits of the land, read the stars, and weave the threads of destiny. Whatever reason they have for calling me, it's entwined with the mystical forces they guard.

"Thank you for coming promptly," Elder Lior says, his eyes reflecting the light of the flickering candles that cast dancing shadows on the walls.

"Of course, Elders." My voice is steady, but inside, questions churn like a river in spring thaw. "What is it that you need from me?"

Elder Amara exchanges a look with the others, and something about the depth of that silent conversation sends a ripple of unease through me. They know something, something about my path that I do not — yet.

"Sit, child," Elder Lior gestures to a cushion in front of them. "We have much to discuss, and your journey ahead is of great significance to our pack."

I settle onto the cushion, the fabric cool beneath my palms. In front of these sages, I am reminded that despite my strength as a shifter, I am still young, still learning the depths of our magic system and the responsibilities it carries. The Elders hold the keys to knowledge that I have only begun to grasp.

"Is this about my training?" I venture, grasping for some logical reason for this meeting. Yet, even as I speak, I sense that it's something more, something far beyond routine pack matters.

Elder Amara smiles, but it doesn't quite reach her eyes. "It is about your future within our pack, Sage. And the role you are destined to play."

My pulse quickens, my senses sharpen. The room seems to grow smaller, the air thicker. Whatever they’re about to reveal, I know it will change everything.

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The Elders sit in a semi-circle, their eyes fixed on me with an intensity that feels like the weight of the mountain itself. Each one is draped in robes the color of the earth, embroidered with symbols that speak of our pack's deep connection to the land around us. Elder Lior leans forward, his gaze piercing through the veil of uncertainty that has cloaked my thoughts since I entered the room.

"Sage," he begins, his voice resonating with the wisdom of years spent listening to the whispers of the wind and the murmurings of the forest, "you are aware that our decisions are guided by forces greater than ourselves."

I nod, not trusting my voice. The magical system that governs our lives as shifters is complex, interwoven with the celestial bodies and the pulsing life of the earth. It dictates the ebb and flow of our powers, and now, it seems, the trajectory of my life.

"Each member of the Solar Crest Pack plays a vital role, a thread in the tapestry of our collective destiny," Elder Amara adds, her eyes reflecting a story yet untold.

My hands clench into fists on my lap, anticipation mingling with a flicker of resistance. They speak of destiny, but what of choice? What of the desires that beat within one’s own heart?

"The stars have been consulted, Sage," Elder Lior continues, drawing my attention back to the present. "After careful deliberation and seeking guidance from the cosmos, we have discerned the path laid out for you."

Every word hangs in the air, filled with a power that seems to transcend the room we occupy. I can almost feel the stars casting their light upon us, their ancient glow illuminating the decision that has been made in the heavens and now reaches down to shape my fate.

"Your spirit and strength have marked you as one who will lead alongside another, to unite and fortify our pack," Elder Amara says softly, yet the softness does not diminish the gravity of her words.

"Who?" The question escapes my lips before I can hold it back, a whisper that barely contains the tumultuous mix of curiosity and apprehension churning inside me.

"Alpha Torin," Elder Lior states firmly. "It is the will of the stars that you are to mate with him. Together, you shall usher in an era of prosperity and peace for the Solar Crest Pack."

The room spins, and for a moment I am no longer seated among the Elders but standing atop the highest peak of our mountain range, the spring breeze cool against my skin. My mind races, trying to align this revelation with the image of Alpha Torin—respected leader, his brown hair and eyes the embodiment of the earth we cherish. How can the Elders be so sure this is my destiny? How can they ask me to intertwine my life with his based solely on celestial edicts?

And what of Silas? It makes no sense. My dream—that felt so real—told me that Silas is my true mate. Yes, I have attraction towards Torin, but now I see it is nothing compared to what I feel for Silas.

And so, I raise my chin and say something that never in my eighteen years would I have thought I would utter to the elders.

“No.”