Cassia: The Alpha King's Outcast Omega

Early the next morning, just after breakfast, Minerva returns wearing another flowy sundress and her hair in a low bun.

She's not here to accuse me of being an omega with Orion ready to trap me. No, she's here with the crutches she promised to bring and to check on my leg.

"No using it until tomorrow at the earliest. Do you understand?" She narrows her eyes at me, trying to look threatening but failing miserably since I can tell her lips keep wanting to turn up at the edges.

Even though I don't trust her, not with what she is and how easily she can expose me, I want to like her because it's easy to. I wish I could say it was because she was an omega, but it's not. It isn't even just her, it's this place.

When I first picked up the postcard of Winter Lake, I felt a connection form between me and a place I didn't even know existed until that moment.

I felt compelled to come, an urgent need that wouldn't go away. Even my wolf feels settled here, and she's eager to explore the forest.

I'm interested to know what my wolf thinks of Lucian because it's been over a week since I last shifted, and the need to run is building within me until I won't be able to ignore it any longer. There was no way I was going to risk running in a city, but here, and with Lucian, I think that sounds like fun.

"Cassia?" I snap back to attention.

"I promise, I won't try to use it."

Minerva narrows her clear blue eyes, the wrinkled skin around her eyes creasing even more.

"You'd better. Now, I have something for you."

As I was fully expecting Minerva to leave after she'd examined my leg and told me it was well on the way to healing, I'm surprised she's still here. But then, I remember she practically shoved Lucian out of the lounge before she checked my leg, so I guess I'm about to find out the reason why.

Lucian, thankfully, didn't tell her about my escape attempt out of his bedroom window before he left. I doubt it would've gone well with Minerva.

So, he's in the kitchen tidying up the remains of the breakfast we shared that morning.

After my overheard conversation from the day before, Lucian gave me ice cream, water, and more food than I could ever hope to eat. But despite all his care, my headache soon transformed into a migraine so bad that I went to bed early. When he suggested it was because of the sun, I didn't correct him. I couldn't. I was in too much pain by then.

I woke feeling better, with no migraine and a lot more positive about my future, even though I still didn't know what it looked like. So, when I greeted Lucian with a smile when he came to help me to the bathroom, I could tell it surprised him. But it was a good kind of surprise.

I could tell because he hasn't stopped smiling since then, and neither, when I think about it, have I.

I only dialled it back because I could tell Minerva noticed when she arrived.

Breakfast was… nice. Better than nice. With it being just the two of us again, and with no sign of Orion, conversation flowed easily between us. This time nothing triggered my anger or memories of my past; we just talked about gardening, about Minerva, and the things to see and do in town.

By the time Minerva arrived, we'd mostly finished breakfast, and it felt like neither of us were in any hurry to leave the table or stop our conversation. I think we still would've been there if she hadn't.

When Minerva plucks a book from her bag and places it in my lap, I realize why she didn't want Lucian around.

"It's a baby book," I murmur, unnecessarily.

"I doubt Lucian has one lying around the house."

The heaving bookcase in Lucian's bedroom isn't the only place in the house to house his vast collection of books. They spill into every room I've been in so far. There are a couple of smaller bookcases in the lounge and even a small pile in the kitchen. I think the only place I haven't seen a book is in the bathroom.

"No," I say, flipping the book open and paging through it. "I don't think he would."

I skim through the book on preparing for a baby, on all the things I need to have, and do, and think about. It doesn't take long before I'm so overwhelmed that I don't think I take in anything after the first few pages. If I do, I certainly don't remember it.

The knowledge just floats in through one ear and goes straight out the other. How the hell am I supposed to do all this on my own? And money? How am I going to afford to buy all the things the baby will need? I can get a job, but what about after? Who's going to watch the baby while I work?

I'm sure I must be leaking so much anxiety that I'm sure even Lucian would notice it. So Minerva's cool hand on my arm, offering comfort, doesn't surprise me.

My eyes jerk up to her gently smiling face. I fight the need to pull my arm away because it's not a good idea having her touch me like this. Especially bare skin.

An omega doesn't have to touch to read a person, but skin-to-skin contact is just asking for trouble.

"Things will work out, child."

I close the book and turn to place it on the couch beside me, using it as an excuse to move so that she has to take her hand away from my arm.

"Sure it will. Thanks for the book."

I breathe a little easier when she removes her hand and doesn't try to touch me again.

"Have you thought about what you might do once your leg heals?" Her serene expression never shifts.

When I was six, I started picking up the emotions of those around me. I didn't mean to: it felt like people were just leaking emotions everywhere they went. The voices got louder until I couldn't stand it anymore. It was such a battle to keep them out of my head that I'd run and hide in the forest to get away from everyone. It didn't help.

Well, it helped a little, because although I'd escaped the human emotions that made me feel like I was drowning, I discovered the animal emotions, rawer, but still true, still as loud as humans.

Later, my father sent me for training with an omega in another pack. When I look at Minerva, I see the omega I dreamed of being. One opposite to my trainer, who was impatient, sharp-tongued, and who had no interest in teaching anyone, let alone a child with endless questions.

But at least she taught me control, and now it's only the strongest emotions I pick up and only when it's focused right at me. I can tune out everything else.

In my dreams, I would be a kind and patient omega, just like Minerva and the mother I'd never known, and who I resembled with my long dark hair and grey-blue eyes.

Since my mother had died shortly after I was born, I had my father and no one else. A man who was always fierce and controlling that he felt like a stranger. I never understood what my mother saw in him, and I still don't. I was only ever a pawn to him. A way for him to strengthen the pack.

So, when Kieran and I learned we were fated mates, he was one of the happiest around. Not visibly happy, but pleased. I felt his satisfaction that he'd formed close ties with a strong pack.

I shrug as if my future doesn't matter, as if I have things well in hand. "I'll figure something out."

"Have you thought about staying here? I'm sure Lucian would love it if you did."

I turn to look at the hallway door. Lucian sounds like he's loading up the dishwasher, and although he has the radio on in the kitchen, the house is small enough that he's likely heard every last word of mine and Minerva's conversation.

"No. I'm not staying," I say, as I turn back to her, speaking firmly enough that she knows I mean it.

Her expression doesn't change. "Will you find another pack then?"

I notice she doesn't ask me if I'll return to my old pack, or why I ran. It's a good thing she doesn't, because nothing is guaranteed to shut this conversation down faster than any question about that.

"No. I'm not interested in joining another pack."

"So, you'll be a lone wolf then."

"You sound like you have a problem with that?" I say, my voice hardening at the quiet tension I hear in her voice. Judgment, most likely. It wasn't what I expected from her, but people have the power to surprise you.

Kieran's coldness toward me after the first thrill of us discovering each other is a prime example of that.

"I worry about you. It's not an easy life being a lone wolf. The pack offers protection."

I do nothing to hold back my bitter laugh. "And who's going to protect me from the alpha? No. The only thing a pack offers is a cage I'm not interested in stepping foot into. I've made that mistake before."

"The alpha here—"

"Is just like every other alpha everywhere. Cruel and vindictive, and the worst out of all of them," I snap, jerking my gaze away from her.

When I turn to the doorway, I find Lucian studying me with a deeply furrowed brow and his eyes troubled.