Omega

Zeff

As I arrived at the office, the weight of exhaustion still hung heavily over me. The constant ache of the bond and the worry for Liliam had made every day feel like a battle. I settled at my desk, trying to focus on the tasks ahead, but my thoughts kept drifting back to her.

Suddenly, a familiar scent filled the air—a sweet, intoxicating aroma of blackberries. My heart leapt, and I turned to see Liliam walking into the office. It was the most relaxing, exciting, and beautiful feeling I had experienced since that day at the park. Her presence washed over me like a soothing balm, momentarily easing the constant pain of our separation.

But there was something different today, something that made me sit up a little straighter, my senses on high alert. The scent of earthy pine mixed with her usual aroma, a smell that didn't belong here.

I looked up just in time to see her walk swiftly through the office doors, her movements quick and purposeful. My eyes widened as I took in her appearance. She seemed to have lost some weight, her frame more slender than I remembered. But what caught my attention, more than anything else, was the small boy walking beside her.

The little boy was a curious sight—his black hair streaked with silver, messy but endearing as it fell over his eyes. His gaze darted around the office, taking everything in with wide-eyed wonder, as if it was all new to him. He was dressed in a simple shirt and jeans, his small hand clutched tightly around Liliam's, like he was afraid to let go.

Liliam looked around, her eyes meeting mine for the briefest of moments before she quickly looked away, guiding the boy towards her desk. I watched her, my heart pounding in my chest, trying to piece together what I was seeing. Where had she been for the past five days? And who was this child with her?

I stood up, the papers on my desk forgotten as I walked towards her. The earthy pine scent grew stronger as I approached, mingling with Liliam's scent, filling my senses with a confusing mix of familiarity and something entirely new.

"Liliam," I called softly as I neared her, trying to keep my voice steady despite the questions swirling in my mind.

She looked up, her expression guarded but tired, and offered a small, hesitant smile. "Zeff," she replied, her voice softer than usual.

"Who's this?" I asked, trying to keep my voice steady, though my chest felt tight with confusion.

His eyes, deep and brown, looked into mine with a calmness that seemed almost unnatural for a kid his age. There was a strange familiarity in them, a knowing that made my wolf stir restlessly inside me.

Liliam hesitated, her hand squeezing the boy's a little tighter. "This is… Shadow," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. The boy looked up at her, then back at me, his expression serious and oddly mature.

"Shadow?" I repeated, my mind spinning. "As in…"

What the fuck. I stared down at the boy, my mind struggling to reconcile what I was seeing with what I knew. Shadow, the wolf pup who'd been at Liliam's side for weeks, was now standing here as a child.

Liliam looked at me, her eyes searching my face as if waiting for some kind of reaction. I felt the folders in my hand slip, my grip loosening in shock. How was this even happening? Shadow was a wolf—he wasn't a werewolf, just a wolf.

"How the fuck?" I muttered, my voice low and filled with disbelief.

"You tell me!" Liliam shot back, her voice a sharp hiss. "You're the wolf expert!"

I blinked, trying to process everything. My wolf, Gaius, was pacing inside me, uneasy and agitated. This didn't make any sense. Wolves didn't just transform into humans, not unless they were shifters. But Shadow… he had never shown any signs of being anything other than a normal wolf.

"Liliam," I said slowly, trying to keep my voice calm, "How did he—how did this happen?"

She shook her head, her grip on Shadow's hand tightening even more. "I don't know, Zeff. One moment he was a wolf, and then… he was like this. It happened so fast, I didn't have time to figure it out. I thought maybe… maybe you'd know something."

I looked at Shadow again, my mind racing. This was more than just a simple transformation. There was something else at play here—something deeper, something I didn't understand yet. But the way Shadow was looking at me, so calm and collected, made me feel like he knew more than he was letting on.

"Shadow," I said, crouching down to his level, "do you know how this happened?"

The boy shook his head slowly, his expression still serious. "No, Alpha," he said softly, his voice steady despite the strange circumstances. "I just… I woke up like this."

There was an honesty in his tone, a childlike sincerity that was hard to dismiss. But there was also something else, a flicker in his eyes, a subtle hesitation that set my instincts on edge. My wolf, Gaius, stirred within me, a low growl rumbling in my chest. He wasn't lying, but he wasn't telling the whole truth either. Something about his response—his calmness, his choice of words—made me wary.

"Shadow," I pressed, leaning closer, my eyes narrowing. "Is there anything else you remember? Anything at all?"

He looked down, his small fingers fiddling with the hem of his shirt. "No, Alpha," he repeated, his voice barely a whisper now. "Just… I don't remember anything else."

I watched him carefully, noting the tension in his tiny shoulders, the way he avoided looking directly at me. There was fear there, but also something deeper—a guardedness, as if he was protecting a secret.

Liliam's gaze darted between Shadow and me, her brow furrowed with concern. "Zeff," she said softly, her voice breaking through the tension. "If he doesn't know, he doesn't know. We can't force him."

I sighed, straightening up. She was right. Pushing him wouldn't get us anywhere, not if he was as scared and confused as he looked. But that didn't mean I was ready to drop it. There were too many unknowns, too many questions hanging in the air. And with William's words still fresh in my mind, the stakes felt higher than ever.

"Alright," I said finally, trying to keep my voice steady. "But if you remember anything—anything at all—you tell us, okay?"

He nodded, a hint of relief crossing his features. "Yes, Alpha," he murmured.

"Why do you keep calling him Alpha?" Liliam asked, her voice tinged with confusion. "He's Zeff."

Shadow looked up at her, his expression innocent yet firm. "But he's my Alpha, Ma."

The way he said "Ma" sent a chill down my spine, and my wolf growled softly within me, bristling at the term. My instincts were on high alert, caught between the unexpected appearance of this child and the way he seemed to fit right into our world without hesitation. "You'll call her Luna," I growled, the words slipping out before I could stop them.

Liliam shot a sharp glare in my direction, her eyes flashing with anger and confusion. "It's the chain of command," I explained, trying to keep my voice calm, even though every part of me was on edge.

"He's a child!" she snapped back, her voice rising.

"He's an Omega," I countered, but before I could finish, Liliam slapped my shoulder, her anger palpable.

"He's my boy," she insisted, her voice quivering with a mix of protectiveness and frustration.

"Who was a wolf," I added, my voice low but firm.

"Please don't fight," Shadow whispered, looking down at the floor, his small voice almost lost in the tension between us. His hands clutched at Liliam's shirt, his eyes wide with fear and uncertainty. The sight of him like that—small, scared, caught between us—was enough to make my wolf whimper inside me, the fierce protectiveness I felt for him mingling with the frustration of not understanding what the hell was happening.

I took a deep breath, trying to steady myself. "Look, Liliam," I said more softly, my gaze shifting from her to Shadow. "I'm not trying to upset him. But there are things about our world… rules, instincts that he seems to know, even if he doesn't understand why."

Liliam's eyes softened slightly, but her jaw was still set. "I just don't want him caught up in… whatever this is," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "He's been through enough."

"It's been hard enough to hide him from Owen," Liliam muttered, her voice filled with frustration and worry.

I could see the strain on her face, the exhaustion in her eyes. She was caught between two worlds, two lives, and now this—this inexplicable transformation of Shadow from wolf to boy—had thrown everything into chaos.

I frowned, my protective instincts flaring. "How long has he been like this?"

"Five days," she replied, her hand still resting on Shadow's shoulder, her fingers gently stroking his hair as if to reassure him. "I've been keeping him hidden in the guest room when Owen is around, but it's only a matter of time before he notices something's off."

I glanced at Shadow, who was looking up at Liliam with a mixture of trust and fear in his eyes. The kid was brave, but he was still a child—a child who had somehow been dragged into our world, into our problems.

"You need to be careful, Liliam," I said, my tone more serious now. "If Owen finds out, and if he reacts badly…"

"I know," she cut me off, her voice sharp. "I know the risks, Zeff. But what else can I do? He's my responsibility now. I can't just… abandon him."

"I can take him to the reservoir," I offered, keeping my tone calm and steady. "He can be with kids his age there, and it'll be safer than trying to keep him hidden here."

Liliam looked at me, her eyes filled with concern and uncertainty. Her hand continued to gently caress Shadow's head, her fingers threading through his dark hair. "Will you be okay with that, Shadow?" she asked softly, her voice full of care.

Shadow nodded, but I could see the slight tremble in his gaze when he looked at me. He was trying to be brave, but I could sense his apprehension. The reservoir was a different world—one filled with wolves and pack dynamics that could be overwhelming for someone so young, even if he was an Omega.

"I'll make sure he's taken care of," I assured her, my voice firm. "He'll have friends, and he won't be alone. I'll look after him personally."

Liliam bit her lip, her hand stilling on Shadow's head. "I just… I don't want him to feel like we're abandoning him."

"I promise you, he won't feel that way," I said gently. "He'll have a community, a place where he belongs. And he'll be safe, Liliam. That's the most important thing."

She looked down at Shadow, who nodded again, more resolutely this time. "Okay," he said softly. "If you think it's best, Ma… I'll go."

Liliam sighed, her shoulders relaxing slightly as she leaned down and kissed his forehead. "I'll visit, okay?" she whispered. "I'll come see you, and you can tell me all about your new friends."

Shadow nodded, a small smile appearing on his lips. "Okay, Ma."

______

The cafeteria buzzed with the usual chatter, but our table was an island of silence. Liliam sat across from me, her eyes downcast, her fork moving absently through her salad. After Josh had come by to pick up Shadow earlier, she'd remained quiet for most of the day, lost in her own thoughts.

I watched her eat slowly, every movement seeming mechanical, as if her mind was elsewhere. The weight of the situation hung between us—Shadow's unexpected transformation, the uncertainty of what lay ahead for him at the reservoir, and whatever else was running through her mind. I wanted to say something to comfort her, but the words didn't come. I wasn't even sure what would help at this point.

Liliam's fork scraped against her plate, the sound grating in the quiet. She looked up suddenly, her eyes meeting mine, and I could see the turmoil swirling in her gaze.

"Does it hurt?" she asked, her voice breaking the silence like a whisper in the dark.

I blinked, caught off guard. "I'm sorry?" I asked, not sure what she meant.

She took a deep breath, her eyes searching mine. "The transformation," she clarified. "Does it… hurt?"

Her question hung in the air, and I could see the genuine curiosity—and concern—behind it. I hesitated for a moment, trying to find the right words. "It's… complicated," I finally said, setting down my fork. "It's not exactly pain, but it's not pleasant either. It's… like your entire body is being pulled in different directions at once. The first few times, it's the hardest. But you get used to it."

She smiled weakly, a hint of disbelief still lingering in her eyes. "Werewolves, huh?"

I nodded, feeling the weight of the conversation pressing down on us. "Yeah, it's a lot to take in."

"I'm still swallowing the truth," she said softly, her voice laced with a mix of wonder and frustration. "This is something from books I read or write. Never did I think that my messed-up life would turn out to be a Twilight book."

Her eyes met mine, searching for answers. "Is this why you couldn't explain?" she asked, her tone carrying a hint of accusation but also genuine curiosity.

"Liliam, my world is not that easy," I said, trying to find the right words. "I can't just go talking about it with anybody."

"But I'm not just anybody, am I?" she pressed, leaning forward, her gaze piercing through me.

I sighed, running a hand through my hair in frustration. "No, you're—" I hesitated, knowing that this was a moment of truth. "You're my fated mate."

Her eyes widened slightly, and I could see the gears turning in her mind as she tried to process what I had just said. "Fated mate…" she repeated, almost as if tasting the words.

"You're the one I'm meant to be with," I explained, my voice steady but my heart racing. "It's a bond, something deeper than just attraction. It's… it's everything."

She continued to scan my face, her eyes filled with a mix of emotions. "What happened that night?" she asked, her voice tinged with apprehension. "Why was William there? Why were you fighting him?"

I took a deep breath, preparing to explain the tangled web of events. "William is… complicated. He's also a werewolf, but he's different. And he wants you too."

She frowned, her confusion deepening. "Wants me? Why?"

I hesitated. I could have mentioned her abilities, but I knew how anxious she was already. The mere fact that werewolves existed had her on edge, and I didn't want to add to the turmoil she was feeling.

"William thinks you're his fated mate," I continued, keeping my voice as gentle as possible. "He's not going to give up easily."

Her eyes widened with shock. "He thinks I'm his? Is it even posible to have two bonds?"

"Its not imposibble," I admitted. "But the ones I heard werent pretty."

Liliam shook her head slowly, her mind clearly spinning with the weight of everything I had just told her. "So, I'm some kind of… of prize in a werewolf rivalry?"

"It's not like that," I said quickly, reaching out to touch her hand. "You're not a prize. You're… you're the person I've been looking for my whole life. And I'm not going to let anyone take you away from me."

She looked down at our hands, her thumb brushing over mine absently. "This is all too much," she whispered. "I just… I need time to process everything."

She leaned back in her chair, her food forgotten as she stared at me, her expression a mix of disbelief and frustration. "My life was just about worrying to make ends meet, trying to live with Owen, and living a simple, normal life. And now, in one night, I'm learning that werewolves are real, and I'm being hunted like a prize. I still feel like I'm trapped in one of those books."

I could see the exhaustion in her eyes, the weight of everything she was trying to process. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I knew this wasn't something that could be soothed away with a touch.

She hesitated for a moment, chewing on her lower lip. "What kind of person is he? I mean, what should I know about him?"

I felt a prickle of unease at her question. "William," I echoed, my brows knitting together. "He's… complicated."

She nodded, encouraging me to continue. "Go on."

I took a deep breath, trying to choose my words carefully. "William is the Alpha King," I began, "which means he's not just any alpha. He's the alpha of alphas. His strength, his power… it's unmatched among werewolves. But with that power comes a certain… arrogance."

Liliam listened intently, her eyes fixed on me. "Arrogance?" she prompted.

I nodded. "William has always been driven by a need to prove himself, to be the best, to be in control. He's fiercely protective of his territory and his people, but he's also ruthless. He'll do whatever it takes to maintain his power and position. He's not someone you want to cross."

She frowned slightly, absorbing my words. "So he's dangerous?"

"Very," I confirmed. "But it's not just his strength that makes him dangerous. It's his cunning. William is smart, strategic. He knows how to get what he wants, and he doesn't care who he has to hurt to get it."

She looked down, her fingers playing with a loose thread on her sleeve. "I see," she murmured. "So, if he's like that, why does he care about me?"

I felt a flicker of possessiveness flare up inside me, my wolf growling in response. "He thinks you're his mate," I said, my voice a bit harsher than I intended. " He wants to control you, to claim you as his."

She fell silent, lost in thought. I could feel her fear and confusion through our bond, and it tore at me. I wanted to reach out, to comfort her, but I wasn't sure if she'd welcome it.

"Liliam," I said softly, leaning closer. "You need to be careful around him. William isn't someone you can trust. He's dangerous, and he won't hesitate to use you to get what he wants."

She nodded slowly, her eyes searching mine. She gave me a small, grateful smile, but I could still see the worry lingering in her eyes.