Chapter Text
~Felix's POV~
I felt bad.
Not that I could have done anything with my current situation.
But I still felt bad about it.
My weary body could take no more. With each paw I lifted, I laid it down even heavier, with even less ground covered than before. I was surrounded by considerably larger wolves--alphas--that were escorting me over territories. And not a single one of them did I know, as they were all apart of the river pack. Aka, my new mate's pack.
I've heard they don't have many omegas in their pack, so I understand if they aren't accustomed to us, but...still!
Can't they slow down a bit?! My legs are short! I'm half their size! Can they not smell my discomfort?! I can't even talk to them! If I shift out of my wolf form, then they're all gonna see me naked! And I'm betrothed! What kind of mate would I be if I let like a dozen alphas see me naked before he even gets to see my face?! I mean--
If I really wanted to, I could just take my bag off of that one really big alpha's back right in front of me, but...
He looks kind of scary...
I was ready to just stop and drop--and throw a fit. They couldn't do anything about that. They had orders to protect me. They wouldn't leave their future luna alone. And frankly, if I just start throwing a tantrum, they might realize that I have a problem with the current situation.
I need water. I need to sit my fuzzy butt down and be a potato for a bit. I'm getting kind of hungry. And--
While I was in the middle of complaining in my head, I tripped. All four of my doggo legs got tangled up, I flopped to the ground very ungracefully, and quite thoroughly dirtied my cream colored fur.
Shit--
All of the alphas around me paused in shock, all of them frozen stiff when they saw the way I just faceplanted. Like they were afraid to say or do anything, not wanting to offend me as an omega--technically still apart of a different pack until my alpha bites me, mates me, and, you know, makes me his--that was going to be their future luna.
Now, I was glad to be in my wolf form. I got back on my feet, happy that I couldn't blush as a wolf, and just did my best to not make any obvious doggo 'I'm embarrassed' moves. I turned my head to try and see what I tripped on, hoping to see something rather than know that I just tripped on air. And to my surprise--well...no, not to my surprise because I want to have an ego--there actually was something there that I had tripped on. A tiny weed. That uh--spanned. Far. Like...a barrier.
I stared at it for a few moments, pausing, before I met eyes with a few of the alphas. Each of them immediately avoided my gaze when I looked at them.
Aww, yeah. I got the power!
I internally grinned when I realized the alphas refused to make eye contact with me. Furthering my ego despite me literally tripping in front of them just a few seconds ago. But I ignored that and kept walking forward. And when I started to walk, so did the alphas. Only to pause a moment when I remembered the weird weed barrier, as we came out of some bushes and into a clearing.
I--
My eyes bulged when I realized we had just walked right into the river pack's camp. I looked around curiously as all of the stone carved hutches, playing pups and adults going about their business, not a care in the world as their pack must have been thriving through fall. I saw long retired elders sewing, heard the clanking of metal as a smith forged both weapons, silver and gold in a burning hot furnace. And I could smell the cooking of a deer, slow roasting over a large fire pit that was manned by five betas that were pulling cooked meat off the bone for nearby pups begging for a snack.
I knew the river pack was well off, but--
How much trading from the humans have they learned?
I was shocked. I was starting to wonder if their tribe had actually traded for my hand, or if my parents had just tried to make an alliance with just me as their offering.
I mean, I also know the river pack doesn't have very good omega genes in their midst. I can't sense a single omega in this crowd. So...I guess it is possible that they traded for me, if they desperately need a breeder for their pack. To think, they're giving their only son, their firstborn at that, a mate from a different tribe. Are they desperate?
My mind was racing curiously as my escorts led me out of the trees. By the second, more and more eyes fell on us. The laughter of children, clanking of metal, even the creaking of the wood the deer was being cooked on all ceased as more and more eyes fell on us. Particularly me.
I felt nervous going into another pack's camp. Especially since the population was mostly alphas and betas. But I kept walking, trying not to let the weariness in my steps show. I held my head tall like I wasn't covered in dirt, and kept my teeth clenched so I couldn't start panting of thirst.
And seeing that damn deer roast is making me so hungry. I swear, dear moon goddess, please don't let my stomach growl. It's not my food to eat.
I had no idea where we were going. But I tried my best to stay calm and follow the alphas. They led me to smallest of the huts, making me a bit confused as I assumed we were going to go and see the alpha and luna. Or at least my soon to be husband. But no, they led me to a tiny hut.
Okay...what now?
The alpha that carried my stuff shrugged it off of his back. He picked up my bag that held a change of clothes, before he motioned with his head for me to go into the hut. I looked up at him a bit nervously, but picked up the bag and trotted into the hut, nuzzling my way through the chipped wooden door, to find that it was literally just a changing room, I assume for the alphas that were coming in from their hunt so they wouldn't just flash all the other's in their pack.
Huh. My pack would usually just shift. We had a clearing specifically for our alphas when they returned from the hunt, and the pups weren't allowed there. So there was no reason they couldn't. But I guess they have more modesty here.
Regardless, I was grateful. I looked back at the door to make sure I couldn't be seen, before I shifted to my human form. I shivered a bit when the cool fall air hit my furless skin, but that was the only acknowledgement I gave it. I stretched out my body, cracking my bones a bit to relieve the pressure I felt, before I sat down on a pile of leaves inside and pulled at the strings of my woven bag to get the clothes, happy to find some of my favorite accessories in it as well. And after taking a few moments to catch my breath, I began to change into the white cotton shirt and shorts that perfectly fit my frame. Though I didn't put on the accessories. They were for my hair, and my hair was not the best right now.
These aren't my clothes like I expected them to be. But I'm guessing that they were tailored for me before I left home. I wonder if our tailor at home gave the river pack my measurements? If these are the only clothes I have, then they might need them.
When I finished getting dressed, I peeked my head out of the hut. Only one of the alphas that had escorted me here was still outside, if the scent on the tall man looking back at me was any indication.
"You didn't want a bath, luna?" He asked gently as he saw that I was still a bit covered in dirt.
"A bath?" I asked with furrowed brows, ignoring how he just called me his luna.
"There was water inside for you to bathe before the pack meeting. Food, too. You won't be meeting the alpha until dusk. He's out hunting right now."
"Oh..." I mumbled, looking back at the little hut. "Then...yes..." I said, moving towards the door again. He didn't say anything, and looked away from the door as I moved towards it, offering me my privacy. So, I went back inside for a bath, as well. Pleasantly surprised to find the water warm, along with some fruits nearby for a snack.
My wolf groaned at the vegetarian option, but I was grateful to have the snack. Even though my meat loving instincts wanted to gag as I happily sank my teeth through the skin of a ripe apple as I soaked in some rosy smelling water.
I guess they want me to be smelling good and fed before I meet the alpha, the luna and their son.
To say the least, I was grateful. And I showed how grateful I was by sitting in the water for a few hours, occasionally falling asleep in the warm water, with my head resting over the edge of the stone carven bathtub.
I wonder how long it took for them to carve out all this stone stuff. All of their homes looked like they were made of stone. They keep cool, but I wonder how well it serves in the winter? Are they harsh here? I mean, it's fall, and they don't seem like they're preparing for a rough winter. So...
Before I knew it, I had spent a long time pondering the river pack's possible troubles. Long enough that there was a soft knock on the wooden door, making me alert and jump at the noise.
"Y-Yes?" I sputtered as I stared wide eyedly at the door.
"It will be dusk soon, luna. The meeting is coming, so please come out soon."
"O-Oh, okay!" I called, before I quickly dunked my body down into the water to start rinsing off. I scrubbed the dirt and grime off of my body with the herbal handmade soap available, moving as quickly as I could so I couldn't make the alpha, luna and my future husband wait on me.
I need to make a good first impression. This is going to be my home from now on, and I don't want my mate or his family to hate me. Nor do I want to be in the pack gossip. At least, not for anything other than my arrival.
So, I speedily washed up and finished my bath, before I tied my shoulder length hair in a braid, weaving in some of the pretty butterfly accessories my mother had traded the humans for as my sixteenth birthday gift, and tied it off with a little ribbon. I hoped that I looked cute, for sake of first impression.
When I left the hut, the alpha looked back at me. My blue eyes flitted up to the alpha's curiously as he looked over my face and hair, before he hummed and nodded towards the clearing.
"Come."
That was all he said. I obediently followed after him, looking around the now pretty empty clearing as he brought me to the largest building, I assume where the entire pack would go for their meetings. It towered impressively, and spanned wider than the clearing, making me wonder just how long the building had stood if the trees and bushes had grown around it's sides. But at the same time, the pack seemed to make sure no vines could grow on the side of it, either.
It was intimidating to walk up to the big building. But the alpha in front of me seemed nonchalant about it. He opened the wooden door for me, before he stepped inside as well to take me down a hall and into a large room.
Oh god.
When he opened the door to the room, I found the entire pack inside. I tensed up when I found so many eyes staring at me. Especially when I was left on my own as the alpha went to go and join the rest of the pack, leaving me on my own.
Where am I supposed to go?! What do I do?!
"Hey."
I jumped at the sound of a voice behind me. I whipped around immediately at the voice, and came face to face with another tall alpha.
Well, no. Not face to face. He was a head taller than me. But I'd like to think I wasn't five foot tall.
"Hello?" I mumbled softly with a little smile.
Uh...would this happen to be my future husband...? Is that why that other alpha left me...?
He gave me a smile. "Welcome to your new home, luna. My name is Minho. I'm the leader of the pack's warriors, and right now, I've been charged with watching you and making sure you're safe. If you'll come with me, I'll take you to your home."
Oh. Maybe he isn't my future husband.
"Aren't I supposed to be here?" I asked, referring to the rest of the pack, but obediently following after Minho as he led me away down the hallway we came from.
"No. You're not supposed to be here for this meeting. Not anymore, at least. The alpha has gotten held up, so we'll postpone you meeting our pack while he's busy."
"Is everything alright?" I asked with furrowed brows.
"Yes. It should be alright, but the alpha isn't one to postpone anything to do with the pack." He said as he walked us out of the building we were in, towards a smaller building next to it, but still larger than all the others. He opened the door for me and motioned for me to go inside. "You'll stay the night here. I'll have someone bring you dinner later. If you need anything, ask for me, okay? Don't wander around. We don't want you to get hurt. We've had a problem with rogues recently. The cloud pack has warned us to be careful, so our young and omegas have a curfew right now until we can take care of them. Understand?"
"Yes sir." I mumbled. "Um..."
He didn't respond when I looked to him to ask a question. Just stared at me quietly and waited. So, I awkwardly continued.
"My, um...you..know...future husband, er..." My face started to turn red as I referred to a man I didn't know as my future husband, especially in front of an alpha I just met that seemed relatively serious. "When am I gonna get to meet him...?"
Minho frowned a bit at my question, making me wonder why he didn't seem so pleased about it. The alpha stood with crossed arms and gave me a little once over.
"Are you impatient? Or excited?" He asked bluntly as he rose an eyebrow at me.
"What do you mean...?" I asked with an awkward smile.
"I just told you how things would be playing out. Were you listening to me?"
"Well...yes, but..." I averted my gaze nervously. "You were saying the alpha was busy. But...not..my future husband, right...? I'm just really curious about him is all..." I mumbled with flushed red cheeks as my eyes fell. "Is that not okay...? For me to be waiting on him...?"
Minho scrunched his nose at me. "Oh." He mumbled, raising an eyebrow. "I think you've misunderstood something, luna. Your future husband is the alpha. And he's busy right now. You won't be seeing him until tomorrow. Maybe not even for a few days."
"But..." I frowned a little. "Wait, I thought I was marrying the alpha's son?" I asked with a tilted head.
"No. The man you're marrying is our alpha. He was recently made our alpha, just a few moons ago. Our previous alpha retired, and our luna passed away long ago. We've been looking for a suitable mate for him to become our luna before we announced it to any other packs. But yes, the man you'll marry is already our alpha. Hence why I'm calling you 'luna'."
"...Oh." I mumbled, averting my gaze. "So...why did it take you so many moons to find him a mate? Is he mean...?"
Minho scoffed at my words. "Don't ask me those things. I'm a busy man. And frankly, I'm not interested in standing here to answer all your questions. If you're so interested, you can bug him when he comes to see you and find out for yourself. Goodnight, luna."
With that, he closed the door to the house in my face. I scoffed at the wooden door in front of me, but just huffed at the pissy alpha and turned around to look over my new 'home'. It smelled heavily of an alpha, making me wonder if that was my future husband's scent. I took in a deep, curious breath of it, liking his musky forest smell and subconsciously scenting it out as I curiously looked around what was probably his home, rather than my own.
I mean, his until he claims me. Right now, I'm just a guest.
That being said, I didn't touch anything as I looked around. The home seemed to have a few rooms to it, looking adorably cozy with a tiny living room with a fireplace and a thick haystack in the middle of the room with a large cloth laid over it for relaxing in. There was a stone basin full of water, and two wood carven mugs to scoop it out with. One of which had the human letters for 'BC' carved out, and the other with the letters 'LF' carved out, along with little hearts underneath.
Huh. Those are cute.
Peeking into one of the two rooms inside of the house, I found a bathroom. There was a human toilet inside, making me wonder if he'd traded for it for convenience. If so, that would be impressive, simply because it means he can afford it.
The tub was similar to the one I'd used before, stone carven, except it was elevated. A bucket sat nearby for carrying in water. There was a tiny irrigation system with a pump handle sticking out of the stone as well, offering the water, and beneath the tub, I could see room for lighting a fire.
God, does that stone get hot? It doesn't look very thick and it looks like you light a fire under it! Am I supposed to just boil myself to get clean?
I cringed at the bath, but chose to leave that horror for the future. I left the bathroom to peek into the other room, and found a large human bed, a rough looking wooden dresser and a chair near the bed. I perked up excitedly when I saw the human bed, running over to the mattress and jumping up on it. I'd never gotten the chance to use a human bed before, so--
Oh my god, good bye back pain--
It didn't have the usual accommodations of a human bed, like the pillows or blankets. But it was a mattress with a sheet on a wooden frame. And that beat a sheet on a haystack any day. Though the longer that I stayed there and happily scented the human bed, and the darker it got outside, the more I realized that these stone houses are very cold at night.
How am I supposed to sleep?!
I felt bad.
Once again, I felt bad.
But I was tired and cold. So when I shifted to my wolf on the expensive bed and curled up for warmth under my thick fur coat, I tried not to think about all the shed I might be getting on the bed and closed my eyes. And despite my worries, I actually did fall asleep for the night quite easily once I was semi warm, especially after the long day.
I guess I'll meet my future husband...hopefully tomorrow.