Getting home by myself, once Max lent me the money, wasn’t that hard. I knew where to go, and while I’d never been so far away from home before, and not on my own ever, but I was competent.

I’ll have to thank Max the next time I see him.

I thought the words, but there was no guarantee that he and I would ever meet again. I thought back to last night and this morning, and sighed sadly, the thought of never seeing Max again making my chest squeeze tightly.

Forget about it, I told myself sternly. Neither of you made any promises, and you’re an adult now.

No one would care, or even notice, that I’d lost my virginity, anyway. For one, after moving around among the humans, nearly all of Max’s scent was washed off me. Even if someone got really close, they might miss it, because I’d been careless about my arm and bled through the gauze, so a metallic smell hung around me, hiding anything else. And once I got a proper shower at home, the smell would be gone completely. It made me a little sad, but it was better than bearing false hopes.

Whether or not we met again, it was still the best memory of my life to have an Alpha treat me so gently and sweetly.

Getting home was pretty typical for me. In the area we lived, there were a lot of human settlements, we were even pretty close to a city. The only thing that made the area sufficient for pack grounds, was the long stretch of woods behind my family’s house where most humans didn’t go, knowing it was private property and sometimes had dangerous creatures running through it. All shifters were required to be within the forest before shifting forms, and anyone going against the rules, human or shifter, received punishment as dictated by the Alpha.

I was only a teacher, but I came from a wealthy background. And the wealth wasn’t so much the pack’s, as just my family, and Whit expected all pack members to offer contributions to benefit the pack if they ever wanted to get anything back. I wasn’t sure if other packs worked the same way, but it was what I’d been told growing up. At least, until I presented as an Omega in my early teens, then Whit didn’t see much reason in continuing my education in that direction.

The taxi took me as close to my house as was allowed, since it was private property on large grounds, but I could walk the left over distance without trouble. I’d used some of the money Max gave me to get myself a snack, and it was the only reason I was still steady on my feet. My arm ached something fierce, but knowing I only had to endure it a bit longer, I could only feel relieved.

No one came out to meet me when I arrived at the white, three-story, sprawling mansion that looked like it could house dozens of people comfortable. Only direct family and some of Whit’s closest men and their immediate families, after approval by Whit, were even allowed inside. When pack members came over a grievance, someone came out for them because they could not go inside. The house had a wide front porch and a wide field in front of it where pack meetings were held.

As I got closer to the house, I could hear some commotion coming from the inside. It made me pause at the door, wondering if I should bother going inside. I was tired, bleeding, hungry, and worried though so I just went ahead and opened the door.

Immediately, the noise inside grew much louder. There were people rushing about, and I stopped the first person I could get my hands on. He was one of the Omegas that lived at the mansion, mated to one of Whit’s men. She looked at me impatiently, a flash of surprise going through her eyes, but it left so quickly that I wondered if I hadn't imagined.

“What is it, Evan? I’m really busy right now so I have to go. Say it quickly.”

I could tell she was in a hurry, practically vibrating in place with a look of growing frustration.

“What’s happening?” I asked before she could decide to just rush off.

She huffed. “The whole house is ins an uproar. We all heard of the attack on the gala last night. Alpha got injured, so he’s rallying people and plotting a revenge assault.”

Already? Did they get some information? Did they all make it back?

Before I had the chance to ask more questions, though, she turned around and ran off. No one else I tried to get to stop would. I wondered if anyone had even noticed that I was gone or returned home on my own? I was feeling a little miffed, but I stopped trying to bother them. Until, out of nowhere, someone launched themselves at me. I didn’t even have the chance to see who it was before I was smothered. I knew who he was really quickly, though, by his scent.

“Dad!” I wrapped my arms around him, holding on as tightly as he held me. “Dad, what’s going on? What happened at the gala? Did everyone make it out?”

He pulled back, holding onto my shoulders. The expression on his face was grim and a little frantic.

“Everyone got back, you were the only one missing. I wanted to stay behind and wait for you, but Whit insisted on us coming back right away. I’m so sorry, Evan! I thought I’d lost you…”

He looked on the verge of breaking down, but he was holding strong. He had to, with a mate like my father. And I didn’t blame him for leaving, either. Even if they’d stayed and waited, I wouldn’t have thought to go back to the gala venue to search for them.

I wanted to say more, but before I could say a word, there was a loud shouting coming down the hall. The voice was unmistakable, and I flattened my lips as I waited for Whit to show himself. A moment later, I could see him, he was talking to a group of Alphas, and after saying something to them, and they all went off in a different direction. His eyes roamed around, I imagined looking for another victim, and they landed on me. I startled, then held myself stiffly.

“Alpha,” I acknowledged.

Immediately, he started barking orders. “Evan, you’ve finally shown yourself. Get over here! I’ve got things you need to complete!”

There was a squeeze on my shoulder, and I patted it quickly, shooting a reassuring look at Dad. He was staring at Whit in disbelief, but I wasn’t surprise. If he’d actually stopped his business to inquire about my health or anything, then that would have been a surprise.

“What do you need me to do, Alpha,” I said, stepping up.

“I need someone to go to the Alaskan Shifter Council and inform them that the pack is going to hunt down all the Betas that attacked the gala last night and kill them.”

The order startled me, but I got a hold of myself quickly and gave a sharp nod.

“Yes, sir!”

It wasn’t like I had an option. Speaking against Whit would have its consequences, even though I felt a little tired. I’d just gotten back and I would have to leave once more…

Once he got my confirmation, he didn’t even stop. He walked off in a different direction, calling out to the people he needed. I saw some of the pack members we’d gone to the gala with. I didn’t know if the others just didn’t make it or were just running around somewhere else. We’d all gone together, but none of them spared me as much as a glance. My brothers, also following in Whit’s wake, didn’t even look at me.

Even though I knew to expect it, I was a bit taken aback how no one seemed to care about me, aside from my Omega father. But really, it shouldn’t be so surprising. My night with Max and the attention he showed me was the exception, not the rule. I already knew my position in the pack and in my family. The only one that cared so much was the one to give birth to me. To everyone else, I was simply in the way when I couldn’t be useful, the errand I’d been given however was something just anyone could do, so why shouldn’t I go?

“You don’t have to go.”

I sighed and gave him a sad smile. “You must be joking, Dad. You know I don’t have much of a choice, especially after I said I would. He’ll go ahead with his plans regardless of what I do, and if he gets punished by the council, he’ll blame me.”

Just because I didn’t like it, didn’t mean it would be simpler to just not do it. That route would only create problems for the future.

“I feel a little tired,” I murmured. “Can I head up to my room?”

“Go, go,” he shooed me off. “Wait for me to get you something to eat, okay?”

“Thanks, Dad,” I said, giving him a genuine smile.

I walked up the stairs to the second floor. Down the hall to the right, almost all the way, was where the door to my room was. I let myself inside, feeling like it had been ages since I’d last been there, even though it had only been the day before yesterday. I slid Max’s coat off my shoulders, laying it on the bed. Then I stripped and went to have a shower. It was a little difficult, what with only being able to use one arm, and I had to keep the bandage out of the water. I didn’t manage in the end, though. I toweled myself dry a little roughly, and stepped out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my waist.

Dad was already in my bedroom, with a plate of foot waiting for me on top of my dresser. When he saw me, he sucked in a sharp breath, his eyes widening.

“You were injured? Why didn’t you tell me!”

I winced a little at his shriek, but didn’t stop him or move away as he flew to my side and looked at the wet bandage on my arm. It had spots of red on it, and when he touched it, I winced, flinching a little.

“Sorry,” I murmured.

He glared. “You don’t have to apologize. Come over and sit down. How did this happen?”

Dad led me over to the bed, treating me so gently, it was as if I was dying or something. I explained what happened after he told me to leave the event room, how I ran out and ended up being followed, then saved, then left alone to hide, only to get found out.

“I managed to run away, and the guy that helped me the first time showed up later at this cabin I found in the woods. We decided to stay the night there after he looked at my wound. We slept together because there was only one bed, and in the morning we walked to town, he lent me some money, and we went our separate ways.”

I didn’t mention a lot of details, omitting Max’s name, and I didn’t explain what exactly I meant by us sleeping together.

“What a nice Alpha, whoever he was,” he said with a sigh. “Why don’t you start eating and I’ll look for a medical kit to replace the bandage for you? You’ll go see the pack doctor after you do Whit’s task.”

He showed a face of annoyance, but he was smiling as he gave me the plate of food to hold. I waited until he left, then found some clothes to put on, leaving my upper body bear because of the bandage. By the time he came back, I was sitting on the bed and eating, with my underwear, pants and socks on.

Sitting beside me silently, I gave him my arm and he got to work. I kept my face turned away, occasionally wincing at the pain. Then he helped me put on my shirt and coat, and once I was done eating and had everything ready, he called a taxi for me and walked outside with me to wait for it.

Hours later, I arrived at the council’s headquarters. Even though the council heads were all former Alphas of different packs all over the country, once they took a position in the council, they could only leave their pack behind and move to the headquarters, with the option of bringing only their mate. It was in rare cases that a council elder stayed with their original pack, like in Max’s father’s case.

Because Max had been too young to succeed when his father was accepted into the council, he was allowed to stay with his pack, until it was time for Max to succeed him. It worked out for them, because their pack lands really weren’t that far from the headquarters.

I had to wait to see the council, with plenty of other wolves there to name their grievances. There were plenty, actually, after what happened at the gala. I hadn't seen the damage myself, but I could guess that a lot of shifters, Alpha and Omega alike, had been killed. Everyone would want to find the culprit and have a hand at their capture.

After walking around for hours, and by the time it was evening, I was finally allowed to give audience.

I’d come here one time with the whole family, which was how I knew where to go in the first place. But I had never been inside the council’s audience room. The last time, we all waited while Whit went in, and then we left. So I was a little nervous as I walked inside, but tried not to show it.

The room was set up like an interview room, with a long, curving table and each of the elders spread evenly across the length of it. As soon as I entered the room, it felt as if I was under a spotlight. I moved to the center of the room and bowed my head, my hands folded in front of me as I waited.

“Permission to speak,” one of the elders said.

I dipped my head a little lower. “Thank you, Elders. I bring word to you from my father, our pack Alpha, Whit Barrington.”

“Proceed,” the same voice said.

The entire time I didn’t lift my head, and I notified them of Whit’s plans. I didn’t word it quite how he had, but they got the message he wanted me to give them.

“Rejected,” another elder said before I was even finished.

“We accept your request for revenge, but have to ask you to let your Alpha know that he does not have permission to carry it out.”

“Everyone is on edge after the events of the previous night, but we cannot act hastily.”

“Several packs have come to us with the same request, but we cannot allow it.”

“Any aggressive acts right now will only make things worse.”

I flattened my lips, trying my best not to tremble as words came at me from all sides of the room. They had all been settled when I came in, but their words carried fury now, and for being the strongest Alphas in the shifter world and me a mere Omega, how could I not cower? I was probably getting some of the flak for all those others that asked for the same thing before.

All I could think in that moment was, Whit is not going to be happy.