JULIUS

 

Tristan didn’t appear much different from most of the other men in the city. Blond hair. A youthful face with tan skin. Some scruff on his chin. I wouldn’t have thought much of him if I saw him walking down the street, even though I had to admit he was handsome.

But now that I was sitting in front of him, I noticed that there was something else about him. Something I couldn’t quite put my finger on. Maybe it was the bit of weariness in his gray eyes. I suppose that came with the territory. Living in Pandora and working at an Omega shelter wasn’t easy work. There was also a bit of wonder in his eyes though. It was as if he was unsure of his surroundings.

“This is a nice place,” he said.

“It’s nice. One of the perks of being mayor. We can have some privacy while we discuss business.”

“I’ve never been to a restaurant like this before.”

I shouldn’t have been surprised but I was.

“This is a modest restaurant,” I said with a smile.

“It’s impressive.”

“If you think this is impressive then you should see some of the other places. The fancy restaurants the rich jaguars are always in are certainly something to marvel at.”

“That sounds nice but it’s not something that interests me.”

There were other patrons in the restaurant but they were distant. The only people near us were a couple of security guards to make sure that we weren’t bothered. The lights were shining from the chandelier above us. Music played in the background. It was like Tristan and I were all by ourselves.

“What do you usually eat?” I asked.

He raised an eyebrow at me.

“I didn’t mean anything by it,” I said. “Just curious.”

“Of course,” he said with a smile. “I imagine life as a mayor is different from civilians.”

“I’ve only been a mayor for a few days now.”

He nodded with that same polite smile on his lips.

“I eat what everybody else at the shelter eats,” he said. “We have a good amount of funding from people like Donovan. But York really knows how to stretch a piece of gold.”

“It sounds like you have nothing to complain about.”

“I don’t. Even if I did, I wouldn’t. I lived my entire life in Pandora.”

“What was that like?”

He sighed a deep breath. His eyes were lost in a memory as he thought about it. I waited patiently, curious as to the story that he was undoubtedly going to tell me.

“What’s life like for any Omega in Pandora?” Tristan said. “Living in the streets. Trying to make ends meet with whatever job you can find. Searching for shelter when it gets too hot or the rain comes. Sometimes I had to search for scraps in the dumpsters.”

“I’m sorry you had to live that life.”

“It’s all right. It’s not your fault. It made me more grateful for what I have now. It was all for the best.”

“You’ve always been alone?”

He nodded.

“I was an outcast,” he said. “My pack in the Timberlands didn’t have need for an Omega like me so I ran to the city when I was younger. I survived until I found York’s shelter. I was older than most of the Omegas when I got there, so I figured it would be a good opportunity to help around. Volunteering for others like me… It’s more fulfilling than anything I could do.”

He sighed another deep breath through his nose. A kind smile on his face, Tristan seemed as sincere as any man I’d known. I’d only just met him but I already felt comfortable around him.

“How about you?” he asked.

“Me?”

“I know a bit about you. There are stories of you going around.”

“What kind of stories?” I said, raising an eyebrow in curiosity.

“Nothing derogatory,” he said with a snicker. “Just that you’re an Alpha. A lion. An upstanding man who will likely lead Dirge to prosperity. But I don’t know anything else.”

“Well, I hope that I can live up to whatever lofty expectations you have of me. I’m no different from most men in this city. I was born and raised in Dirge. I’ve lived in this city my entire life. I made ends meet working construction. I worked my way up until I was able to make some money for myself. Being around jaguars taught me a lot about business but I was never a big fan of it.”

“But the people see something in you.”

“I guess that’s why I was chosen to be a mayor. They say a lion is suited to lead more than anybody else. I suppose we’ll find out.”

I gave him a wink and took a sip of my wine. For a reason I couldn’t figure out, Tristan’s cheeks started to blush red. He hid his smile behind his glass of wine. There was something charming about the way he looked even though there was nothing extraordinary about him.

“Thank you for coming out,” I said. “As I said before, I value your insight. I don’t have much experience with the slums but I know Pandora is a place I know needs a lot of help.”

“I appreciate the offer. Frankly, York should be the one you’re speaking to.”

“York?”

“He runs the shelter. I was just put in charge because he’s planning on taking a vacation with his family.”

“It sounds like running the shelter is hard work. I can’t imagine what it’s like.”

“It’s tough work but I enjoy it. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be. The way those Omegas look at you when you’re there for them… They make everything worth it.”

“What can I do to help?”

“You?”

He leaned back in his seat and thought about it for a moment.

“Nothing,” he said, shaking his head.

“Nothing?”

My brow twisted in confusion at him.

“From what I know, every shelter in Pandora is running efficiently. Every Omega who’s being housed is being given proper care. None of them have to worry about their bellies being empty or having a roof over their heads to protect them from the storms. They’ll be able to grow up without worrying about if they’re going to survive. They’ll be given a chance to contribute to Dirge like every other citizen when they’re older.”

“There must be something I can do. What if there are still more Omegas out there who need help?”

A big grin formed on his lips. I shook my head and laughed. I became even more confused by his reaction.

“That’s just it,” Tristan said. “That’s the issue.”

“What is?”

“There was a time when almost every day a new Omega would show up at the door. York told me of a time when he feared that he would have to turn them away. Now with more shelters in Pandora, there’s no need for that.”

“That’s a good thing.”

“It is. But now no Omegas are showing up. Not to York’s shelter. Not to any of the other orphanages.”

“You’ll have to humor me, Tristan. I don’t know what it is you’re getting at.”

He leaned forward across the table.

“Do you believe that there are no Omegas out there who need help?” he asked. “Do you think we’ve sheltered all of those who could possibly need it?”

“I don’t think so.”

“Exactly. The orphanages don’t need help now. With Donovan and all of the other rich jaguars following his lead, they have more funding than they could ever dream of. Now it’s simply a matter of getting to those Omegas who need help most.”

Tristan leaned back in his seat and smiled softly at me. It was nice to see that he was in a good mood despite the topic of conversation.

“I’ll have more people in the slums,” I said. “Police. Firefighters. Volunteers. We’ll comb the alleys and the streets to make sure that they have a place to stay. Any businesses housing Omegas and treating them poorly will be dealt with.”

“That’s a good start.”

“But there’s still something else you’re thinking of.”

Tristan nodded, that smile still on his lips.

“There are others like me,” he said. “Out there in the forest. There are Omegas fleeing from their packs but they don’t know to head to the city.”

“Are you suggesting what I think you are?”

I chuckled softly at the thought. The look in his eyes told me that he was indeed thinking what I was thinking.

“The Timberlands,” he said. “Go out into the woods and save all of the Omegas who’ve been shunned. Save them from their packs and bring them into the city where they can live their lives to the fullest.”

I looked down at the table and considered his suggestion. The Timberlands were twice the size of the city. Exploring the forest and searching it to help those in need was a task more monumental than I could even fathom.

Tristan nonchalantly sipped on his wine as he stared at me.

“It’s all right,” he said. “Your responsibility is to the city. I can’t expect you to—”

“Okay,” I said with a nod.

“Okay what?”

“You’re right. I’ll talk to my people. We’ll head out to the Timberlands. We’ll meet with as many groups as we can find. Bears. Deer. Wolves. Rabbits. Foxes. It doesn’t matter. The Omegas who are looking for a better life will be escorted back to Dirge.”

Tristan stared at me, his eyes wide in disbelief. Suddenly, a grin formed on his lips. His grin turned into laughter. He shook his head and sighed.

“You almost had me there for a second,” he said. “It’s good to see that you’re mayor but still have a sense of humor.”

I didn’t say anything. I just stared at him, waiting for him to believe me.

The smile slowly left his face when I realized that I was telling the truth. He set his glass down and leaned toward me.

“You’re serious,” he said.

“Dirge is changing. Even Pandora. The slums are no longer the slums they used to be. It’s only a matter of time before they’re completely hospitable to everybody. Now the task is getting through to those who really need it. Those Omegas out there in the woods who’ve been shunned by their packs.”

Tristan shook his head and looked away from me.

“That’s an impossible task,” he said. “The amount of work that would take—”

“I’m the mayor of Dirge. I have all of the resources of the city at my disposal. I wouldn’t be doing it alone. I’d have everything I need to cover the woods. It would take some time but it’s doable.”

He didn’t look at me. He just kept staring off at the side of the room like it was all weighing heavy on his mind.

I was planning on doing it anyway. But for some reason, I wanted Tristan to agree with me. I needed his approval.

“You said you were an outcast,” I said. “You were forced to leave your pack because there was no need for another Omega. There are others like you out there. I’m going to help them.”

He sighed a deep breath and turned back to me.

“Okay,” he said with a nod. “If you’re serious about heading out to the woods and doing this, then nobody could stop you, of all people. I have only one request.”

“What is it?”

“Take me with you. Let me speak to some of the Omegas we come across. I can explain better than anybody that there’s a better life, a good life, waiting for them in the city.”

“Of course. I wouldn’t be able to do this without you, Tristan. I’m looking forward to it.”

I held my glass of wine up. Tristan hesitated for a second before raising his glass up, too. He gave me a shrug before taking a sip.

“Now all I have to do is explain to Hunter and York why they can’t take a vacation,” he said.

“You’re going on a journey with the mayor of the city. I’m sure they’ll understand.”

“There’s just one more thing. If I can ask you.”

“Of course. I invited you to dinner so I could provide my help.”

“Come to the shelter. Spend some time with some of the Omegas. I don’t know what your life is like but if you learn what the Omegas are like, maybe it’ll help before you begin your journey out into the woods.”

I didn’t have to think long about it.

“That sounds like a good idea, Tristan.”