Filed To Story: The Omega Destiny
well.
Three days of Ayla being here, alone. Well not alone. Kian. Ronan releases a deep growl from within my chest. At least it stops the knocking at the door. How can l?ssure Ayla is safe while I am gone? Sure, I can put a detail on her. Probably will. But it is different when I am not a phone call away. Another swig and I hold the glass up to my temple, staring at the photos, praying for a moment of peace It never comes. Well, it does come. I realize I don’t sit and wallow in the pain when I am with little wolf. don’t replay my sisters naked body on the side of the road. I don’t replay my father being shot as my mother pulled the trigger and then turned around and pulled it on herself. Unable to live with the pain that they failed my sister, in turn causing her death. Sure, they tried to live afterwards, but the grief at them away and they slowly started to fade away. My father giving up the alpha duties. My mother sitting at my sisters grave everyday crying for her baby. All of them failing to see that the one who failed was me. Her older brother. Next in line as alpha. The rightful heir of the alpha of alphas title. The bloodline coursing through my veins is the post powerful shifter line in existence and it failed her. I failed her. How could I possibly step into the alpha of alpha’s role when my father gave up his alpha position and his beta being caught conspiring with rogues to take over another shifter clan, starting a war for power without my father’s approval. Someone had to straighten this pack qut. Kill my father’s beta and step into the leadership role here. All of that and my thirst for revenge prevented me from properly grieving my sister. The pain tries to surface all the time. Especially before a raid. Commanding me to finally recognize it and do something about it, but I don’t. I push it down. I bury it. Until little wolf. When she’s around, I don’t feel it. Or at least, notice it as much Now that she will be gone, the pain is trying to surface and an alarming rate, forcing me to down another whiskey and numb it. Numb it all.
Another knock on my door and I know by the smell it is Cyrus. “Hey man, it smells like a distillery in here. You good?” “Peachy. I am just peachy.” “Cool. So now that we are lying to each other. I am really a unicorn.” “What the hell are you talking about?” I ask straight up confused. I may have a good buzz, but I haven’t seen any unicorns. “I mean, you are lying about being okay so I can lie about being a unicorn. Anyway, Damon text me some photos from his excursion following Kian from the pack house. He also noted he didn’t stay long, if you care about that.” I take the phone as he passes it over to me and there in the photos is Kian in his bar, suggestively embracing another female, the two leaving together. “Why would someone with a fated mate leave the mate and then go bone another woman? I think you may be right about your scratching on this one Thane.” “Well, he had a short visit with his traumatized mate. I for one and thrilled that he didn’t stay long or push Ayla to do something he clearly has a need to do and sought to remedy that need with someone else.” “Of course you are okay with it, but you don’t think that is weird? Are you back tracking on your fake mate stance?” “I am not back tracking. I don’t know what I am doing, but this proves nothing. Ale may have had a thing with this woman prior to finding Ayla and he has to break it off. I don’t know Cyrus. Just have a tail on him and reporting back to me 24/7. We are going to be gone at least three damn days. I want the best of the best watching him and her.” “Well now I know why you are blitzed in here sulking. She will be okay Thane. Look at everything she has overcome on top of having a detail on her. She will stay safe.”
“Why do I even care? She isn’t mine. She isn’t even pack. Why is there this connection there?” “I don’t know Thane. I think that you both share the same pain. You lost your sister. You see that in Ayla. You are a natural protector. She needs protecting and she is a beautiful person. And an omega. She checks all the boxes, but unfortunately, she may not be what the fates have planned. But who is planned would be better. Your equal. Not saying Ayla isn’t, but you would know. Maybe we are supposed to kill Kian and then she becomes your second chance mate? Maybe that is what is going to happen.” “We can’t just rip Kian’s throat out Cyrus. No matter how bad I want to. At least not until he gives me a reason.”
“Keep a detail on them both. We head out in the morning. Don’t stay up all night partying with females Cyrus. There are too many exit points in this raid. I want everyone on their A game her?. Too many variables could go wrong trying to cover all of these points.” “I know how this goes Thane. You don’t stay up partying with yourself all night, wallowing when you could be up in the rooms attached to your rooms doing whatever it is your thinking about.” he turns and exits my office leaving the door gapped just enough for a fast??cting Della to squeeze through. This fan??reaking??astic night just keeps getting better and better.
“What do you want Della? I am busy.” “Busy? Have you been in here this whole time? Did you not hear me knocking? Are you drunk?” “Yes, yes and no. Yes, I have been in here. Yes, I heard you knocking. NO, I am NOT drunk. I have a raid tomorrow and I need to plan. I would like to be alone.” “A raid? How long will you be gone for?” “Three days Della. Now please. I need to be alone.” “I understand, I know how you get before. Just so you know, I miss them too. You know you can talk to me if you need to.” she almost pleads with me, to invite her in. To tell her something, but I just sigh. “I know Della. Thank you for being a friend.” I look back down at the photos, pouring myself another drink. Thankfully with shifter metabolism, the effects of the alcohol with burn out quicker. At least, If I were to stop now, I should be good by morning. I could shift and sober up, but at this point, I’d rather drink myself to sleep. “Has Ayla been settling in? Any more panic attacks?” I am caught a little off guard about her questions since when I last saw her, it was obvious what we had just did with each other in the woods. Della hasn’t made any advances towards me since. “She is settling in. Her attacks are managed.” I nod and stare back down at my papers. I really can’t detect any malice in her tone.
“Thane. We should go out when you get back. You are under a lot of stress, and I think taking a night off and relaxing is a good idea.” “I am relaxing now Della. I will plan my time how I see fit. There will be victims that will need care and assurances. I can’t just take a night off after a raid.” “No, I get that. It doesn’t need to be right immediately after Thane.” “I have some things I need to go over tonight, Della. I will see you when we get back in a few days. Goodnight.”
Ayla
Thane has been gone four days. I would be lying if I said I haven’t worried the whole time. I had to message Eric three times to help me with my anxiety in the evenings. I think I am afraid that my true safety net I have felt will be torn to shreds. The first glimmer of safety in ten years and I feel like it is close to crashing down around me. He is strong, and his team are fierce, but the fear remains. Kian has been messaging me every day and stopping by in the evenings. We make small talk. He pretty much just talks about himself, which I am fine with. The less people try to open my trauma box, the better. Tonight, he has invited me to see his bar that he owns in town. I am not terribly keen on the idea of going out around shifters, but he assures me that I will be safe. I also ate a few meals in the mess hall. I am getting pretty good at faking a good front. Pulling off the cool, calm, and collected. Underneath the surface, however, is a constant simmering of fear, guilt, grief. All undealt with. All ready to explode out of me at any moment. I have yet to make any decisions about my wolf. I am pretty sure that reconnecting with her to feel my mate bond is a necessity, because without it, I don’t think I can form anything with Kian. If I can find a way to reconnect and not shift around pack members that would be perfect. I would hate to use my trauma card, but self??reservation is more important at this point. The safety of the pack as well. They may not realize it, but if the people that killed my family knew I was here, they could come as well and hurt innocents trying to prevent me from fulfilling my destiny. One I don’t even want.
When I shifted for the first time, I never had to opportunity to come into, my giftings. I don’t know what they are, if they are still there within Aramana. I know that is the reason they kept poisoning me. They knew I was gifted. I don’t know how anyone found out. My family kept my wolf a secret, vowing to not make it public knowledge until I was old enough to lead. That didn’t happen. Someone saw something and my family paid dearly for it. If I could trade places or give myself up to prevent it all from happening, I would/
The knock on my door takes me out of my flashback hell, and tells me that Kian is here. His cinnamon scent is mixed with something alcoholic. I scrunch up my nose as the smell is trying to bring back a memory I don’t want. Alphas and their liquor. It makes the bad ones do evil things. I answer the door with a nervous smile, and he smiles back, gesturing for me to take my arm in his and walk with him to his car. “I know you are nervous Ayla. I know this is a big step for you and I am proud of you. We will not be gone long. I want you to see my hard work. It also isn’t too busy at this time which will help your nerves.” I smile and pat his forearm. Thankful for the thoughtfulness around the time frame and crowd size. I can’t make a life for myself in my rooms, but I don’t know how to explain to people that I could freak out and break down at any moment. Hopefully, I stay in check tonight.
We drive the short distance into town, and I get out and follow him into his building. The curb appeal is nice. Kind of like a jazz bar type of establishment. It is, however, anything but NOT busy when we get inside. There are shifters everywhere. Couples kissing in corners, a live band playing music in the corner. The lighting is dim, and I am starting to feel claustrophobic. “It is alright Ayla. These are just regulars. They won’t bite.” I take no reassurance from his statement and find myself accessing the area for possible exits. If I have to bolt, I want to know where and how.
wy waitrateng in the bat, tam nee a fan of their attire, Short
I am left in the hon with Kian, dhe talks to def and mate with black booty shorts and tank top that lowes little to the imagination as he note them or thic? fie idea? The thought of my mate dressing his staff like sommer deste bags with crack hanging but everywhere insett met de nut cure of the feeling lealousy is this a self steem isene? Toteibly rates know I have with and really this is his business, and all of this was in play prior to me. I am curious when I heat a lot of giggling in the bark Virhen, but I try not to look overly nosey.
He comes back out and sets a drink in front of me. I have never had an alcoholic beverage before, and I am not sure i want to put myself under the influence of anything. Especially not in an environment where someone could slip something into it se easily.
Loosen up Ayla. Relax. It is a martini. It will help calm your nerves made it myself. Promise you, it is safe. I nod and take a sip. I start sputtering and coughing. Is it supposed to burn so Bad? Kian laughs and takes it from me and replares it with a glass of beet. “Bere, maybe you should start easier first. I take a few sips of the heer. It goes down smooth. Not a terrible taste. Definitely not something I will be drinking again, but he is being thoughtful, and I want to show my appreciation. “That’s better. Maybe you will loosen up a little. Yeah? It will be good for us.” I take a look around as he goes over some scheduling things and finish my hear Another one appears out of thin air in front of me and I start sipping on it. I do not want to finish this one