The Omega Is The Alpha's Mate

Lila POV

I ran as quickly as my legs would let me. I raced past the trees, and they blurred as I moved. The rain hit my skin, stinging it and making it turn red from the cold. My breathing is rough, but I cannot stop-I need to keep going.

My legs feel heavy, like they are made of lead, but I push them to move. In my arms, I hold the most important thing-my son, Milo.

He is wrapped in two blankets and a thick quilt. I know he is warm for now, safe from the rain, but it will not last.

The rain is coming down hard, and soon the blankets will get wet and cold, making my baby uncomfortable.

"I have to keep moving, just a little bit more," I whispered to myself, feeling tired but not stopping.

I ran deeper into the forest, using the trees as cover while I zigzagged. The rain helped hide my scent from them. Up ahead, I finally saw a large tree with roots that looked about three feet tall.

There was a hole in the tree, big enough to fit an adult. The problem was that it was high off the ground.

I hugged Milo tightly to my chest and glanced behind me. My clothes and hair were soaked, and I was shaking, breathing hard. I looked at my baby, kissed his forehead, and quickly adjusted the quilt around my shoulder and side to make a holder for him.

Once I was sure he was safe, I started to climb the tree. It was very hard because of the rain and my constant shaking. My hands got splinters, but I kept going. After climbing a few more branches, I finally reached the hole.

Carefully, I placed Milo inside and then pulled myself in. I took one last look behind me before settling inside the tree.

My body is still shaking, but the inside of the tree is dry and warm, which is a big help for both me and my baby. I looked at Milo, but suddenly froze when I heard footsteps pounding nearby.

My heart raced, and I tried to control my breathing. I could hear their howls and the sound of them sniffing around. It felt like hours before they finally left. I let out a long breath and closed my eyes.

"I did it. I escaped," I whispered, still in shock.

After all these years, I was finally free.

"My name is Lila Stone," I murmured, "and for the past ten years, I've been a prisoner of the New Moon Pack-a cruel pack with no kindness."

I used to have a great life full of love, happiness, and friends. My dad, Randolf Stone, was the Alpha of the Yosemite Pack in California. I was six, almost seven, when the New Moon Pack attacked us.

I remember my mom rushing into my pink princess-themed room, grabbing me from my bed, and running out of the house as fast as she could. The moment she opened the door, I saw something I will never forget. There were dead wolves everywhere, some in their human forms. I recognized many of them from my pack.

Men, women, and even children lay on the ground covered in blood, while screams filled the air, and the night sky glowed orange from the flames that were burning down the pack house. I wanted to scream, but my mother quickly hushed me.

That's when I saw my dad. He was fighting three wolves, and he looked so tired. One of the wolves jumped at him, biting his leg, while another went for his throat.

I watched my father get killed right in front of me. My mother cried and ran. I looked back at my dad one last time. He smiled at me as the life faded from his eyes.

By the time my mom and I reached the woods, he was gone. But we didn't make it far before they caught up with us.

The enemy surrounded us. I don't remember much after that, but I do remember being torn from my mother's arms. Her screams echoed in my ears as they dragged me away. Everything else was a blur.

I was taken to the New Moon Pack's territory and made into a slave. They hurt me in many ways, both in my mind and on my body. And when I turned sixteen, the Alpha, Lorenzo Martini, took away my innocence.

That was exactly one year ago. Today, I am seventeen, and my baby, Milo, is three months old.

A soft whimper from Milo pulled me out of my thoughts, and I looked down at him. Even though Milo was born from something horrible, and his father is a bad man, my son is not. He didn't choose to come into this world, but now that he's here, he's mine.

I gently unwrapped Milo from the quilt and looked at his sweet face. Thank goodness he looks more like me than like his father.

He has my mother's eyes-light honey-brown with a black ring around the edges. His skin is soft and light, and he has a head full of blackish-red curls, just like mine.

My eyes are dark brown like my father's, but Milo's eyes are big and innocent. He has small lips and a tiny, cute nose. He's my perfect baby.

I opened my blouse and brought Milo to my chest. He latched on quickly, drinking eagerly, which made me smile. But the smile faded as worry crept in.

"I need to find a home for us, Milo," I whispered. "We can't keep living like this, in the cold with no place to go." My voice shook as I spoke.

I knew I had to find somewhere safe for us to stay, food to eat, and maybe even a job. If I didn't eat, my body wouldn't make enough milk, and Milo would go hungry.

But finding work would be tough. I had been taken so young that I never had any real schooling. I can barely count, and, to be honest, I can't even read or write much more than my name.

"How will we survive? What kind of future can I give my son?" I thought to myself with a heavy heart.

While I was held captive, I got by with just symbols and pictures. It sounds silly, but it's the truth. I won't ever be able to find a real job. The only things I'm good at are cooking, cleaning, and drawing.

Yes, drawing. When I was eleven, I stole some paper and a pencil from the Beta's office and taught myself how to draw things that looked real. I snuck paper whenever I could for two years until they caught me.

But instead of punishing me, the Beta was impressed and made me draw more. I ended up drawing many things, mostly portraits of the Alpha. In fact, I was working on one the day he attacked me.

I let out a deep sigh as I thought about it all. I looked down at Milo, who was staring up at me while he fed. I ran my fingers through his soft curls.

"I promise you, baby, I will be the best mom I can be," I whispered with determination. "Things will get better, and soon, I'll be able to get you clothes and toys. Life will improve," I added, mostly to reassure myself.

I kissed his forehead softly and rocked him in my arms as he finished feeding. It's no longer just me now. I have my son, and I will make a life for the both of us. It won't be easy, but I will fight for him. I want my son to grow up without fear, and I will make sure that happens.

Lila POV

My feet are hurting so bad!

I have been walking for four days straight, and I need to find somewhere to take a break. I walked down the empty road with Milo fastened to my chest. I hummed softly to him and to myself as we kept moving. The road was long and quite wide, with trees stretching endlessly on both sides. I should probably be scared that someone might come out and hurt us, but I strangely felt safe here.

I came to a stop when I saw a huge sign right in front of me. It was big and showed a picture of the clearest water I had ever seen. There was also a picture of a family-a mom, a dad, and two kids, one a boy and the other a girl. They looked like they were in the happiest place ever. Some words were written on the sign.

"C-cr-y C-crys-s." Ugh, I give up! I shrugged and kept walking. But I felt a weird sensation as I passed the sign, like I had crossed into some kind of invisible boundary. I didn't think too much about it because I suddenly heard the sound of running water. I turned to my right and, through the trees, I spotted a stream. Even from this distance, the water glittered in the sunlight, sparkling beautifully. Before I knew it, I found myself walking toward it.

The trees around the stream looked strong and healthy as I got closer. When I finally reached the water, it took my breath away.

The water was like crystal, so clear that I could see the fish swimming in it. I didn't realize I was smiling as I gazed at the beautiful sight. The stream was rushing along so fast that no one could cross it without being swept away by the current.

I decided to follow the stream in the direction the water was coming from. The further I walked, the slower the water became until I reached a dam. It seemed to be built by beavers, with sticks, wood, and mud. Water was trickling through some of the gaps, and there was a huge log lying over the top of it, probably knocked down by a storm, forming a bridge.

I climbed the steep hill, holding Milo close to me. The view was stunning. On the other side of the log was a breathtaking waterfall about 50 feet high. The mist from the falling water made the place feel magical, and it even created a rainbow in the air.

"Wow, this is beautiful," I whispered to myself.

"It really is."

I almost jumped out of my skin when I heard a voice. It was my wolf. I hadn't heard from her since I was attacked and made the choice to run away. A smile crept onto my face.

"It's good to hear from you again, Sade," I said quietly.

I could feel her smile in my mind.

"Yeah."

I grinned and walked closer to the waterfall. Milo started wriggling in his holder, trying to break free. I let out a small laugh and took him out.

"There you go, little one."

Milo stopped squirming and looked around, his big, light brown eyes wide with amazement. He started making baby noises and waving his arms excitedly like he couldn't get enough of the view.

"Alright, alright," I chuckled. I shifted him to my hip, making sure to support his back, then I took off my shoes and rolled up my pants. I dipped my toes into the water, testing the temperature. It wasn't too cold. I stepped in with both feet and sighed with relief.

"You want to feel the water too, buddy?" I asked him. His little baby squeal was all the answer I needed, and I laughed. I gently dipped his toes into the water, and he giggled, lifting his legs and putting them back down again.

We played in the water for a bit, but then I sensed my wolf growing uneasy. I quickly picked Milo up in my arms and looked around. My heart started to race.

"We need to go," my wolf warned me.

I didn't argue. I could feel eyes on me, as if someone was watching us. I hurried out of the water, grabbed my shoes, and put them on. I carefully strapped Milo back to my chest. He started fussing, so I softly cooed at him until he calmed down. Then I quickly left the waterfall behind. I was going to miss this place, but I didn't have time to think about that right now.

I ran deeper into the woods, using the trees as cover. The sound of footsteps thundering behind me made my already beating heart beat even faster.

Have they found me? Oh, please, don't let them find us! I silently begged. I ran even faster as the sounds grew louder. I could hear growling not far away, probably only about half a mile. Tears stung my eyes as I held Milo tighter, and he started crying at the worst possible moment.

"Please. Please," I whispered through my tears as I ran. The footsteps and growling were getting closer and closer until, out of nowhere, a giant wolf leapt at me from behind, knocking me to the ground. But before I hit the dirt, I quickly turned to my back to protect my baby.

The impact knocked the wind out of me as my attackers growled and circled me like predators. My heart felt like it was going to explode out of my chest. My wolf was stirring inside me, ready to protect her pup.

"Who are you, and why are you on our land?!" A loud voice demanded. I turned my head to see a tall, muscular man standing in front of me. He looked strong enough to rip a tree out of the ground and use it as a bat. "I asked you a question, rogue," he growled.

I swallowed hard, trying to push down the lump in my throat.

"I-I mean n-no harm, sir," I stammered. I held Milo closer, hiding him from their view.

The huge man's eyes narrowed as he looked at my arms.

"What are you holding?" he asked, his voice harsh. I started trembling. He couldn't take my baby from me.

"N-nothing," I replied. His eyes darkened as he stepped closer, making me shrink back while the wolves behind him growled.

"Who are you, and why have you come into Crystal Water's territory?" he asked again, his voice demanding an answer. I shook in fear under his gaze.

"I-I didn't know I was t-trespassing," I whispered.

"Sure, you didn't," he said sarcastically, though his voice was still cold. My heart pounded in my chest. "What are you holding?"

"N-nothing," I repeated, holding my baby even tighter.

Whatever I said must have made him snap because, in the next moment, he grabbed me by the throat and yanked Milo out of my arms.

"No!" I screamed as my baby let out a loud wail. The quilt that wrapped around him fell to the ground, leaving him dangling in the man's grip, screaming. The man's eyes widened in shock. My wolf roared inside me, furious at seeing her pup being treated this way. I grabbed the man's hand and twisted it, making him cry out and drop Milo. I quickly raced to catch my baby before he hit the ground. Holding him close, I looked up at the wolves and let out a growl so loud the trees seemed to shake.

"Don't. Touch. My. Baby," I snarled through gritted teeth.

The wolves were still frozen in shock. I stood in a defensive stance, ready to fight if they attacked again. The man who had grabbed Milo opened and closed his mouth, looking like a fish gasping for air.

"I-I'm sorry. I thought it was something stolen," he said, horrified by what he had done. I relaxed a little but stayed on guard. I gave him a small nod. "But I still need answers. Who are you, and why are you on our land?"

I sighed and looked down at Milo. His face was wet with tears, and he snuggled into my chest. My wolf growled in my head, but I soothed her, reminding her that our baby was safe now. I looked back up at the man.

"My name is Lila, and this is my son, Milo. We mean no harm to anyone. I didn't know this land was taken," I explained.

The man looked at me, then at my baby. He gave a short nod. "I'm MartinZack, Alpha of the Crystal Waters pack."

My eyes went wide at his words.

"Alpha?" I squeaked, making the Alpha smile.

"Yes."

"A-are you going to kill us?" I asked softly. The Alpha looked down at me.

"No, but I do have a lot of questions, and you are going to answer them." I nodded quickly, keeping my eyes on the ground to avoid looking directly at him.

"My men won't hurt you now, but if you try to attack, we will have no choice but to end you and your son," he said firmly. I gulped and held my son closer, nodding again.

"Alright then. Follow me. We will talk in my office at the pack house."

My heart started racing again. Was this pack going to be like the New Moon pack? I prayed they weren't and that they would let me go. A tear slipped down my cheek, but I quickly wiped it away as the Alpha led me to the pack house. I kept my head down and clutched my son tightly.

Please God help me!

Lila POV

The walk to the Alpha's office feels like the longest one I have ever taken, and that says a lot since I have been walking for four days! I glance down at Milo, noticing that he is fast asleep. A fierce growl wants to burst out of me as I think about how he grabbed him. But I know better than to challenge these people, especially the Alpha. I am fully aware of what they are capable of; I have been at the mercy of an Alpha for a long time.

I glance around at my surroundings; we are still in the forest, but we have already passed a few homes. They are small but seem very cozy. I accidentally trip over a branch, but before I hit the ground, a pair of strong yet gentle hands catch my arms and bring me upright.

"Watch your step, princess," a voice murmurs close to my ear. I turn to see a very handsome guy standing behind me. He is tall, with blond hair and hazel eyes. He is clearly in great shape, showing off his toned muscles and a six-pack. I immediately feel nervous, and he seems to notice it based on the smug grin that spreads across his face.

I keep my eyes on the ground, determined not to trip again. I silently curse my clumsy feet.

Soon, we reach a large house, which I assume is the pack house. It is about four stories tall, and I would bet there's a basement too. The house is wide, probably around 300 feet, with an old-fashioned design. Its dark brown color blends in with the tree trunks that surround it. The house is truly beautiful.

The Alpha leads me to the door and holds it open for me. I keep my distance, not trusting him even a little. Once inside, I notice that the place is even more stunning than the outside. Everything gives off a warm, welcoming vibe. Alpha Martini's pack house was always filled with harsh men who laughed at my pain while I served them. This place feels completely different, though I can't quite describe why.

"Follow me, rogue," Lucas says. His voice is gentle, and I don't understand why.

I follow him up a flight of stairs. Let me tell you, stairs are my worst enemy. I manage to trip on most of them, and that same guy who called me princess keeps steadying me, which only irritates me more. Finally, we reach the fourth floor.

'Why do Alphas always have to have their offices at the top?' I ask my wolf, feeling annoyed. She simply shrugs and strengthens her defenses, knowing we have a pup to protect.

We enter Lucas's office. Just like the rest of the house, it has a welcoming atmosphere. The walls are a soft cream color, and the furniture is made of oak wood, with leather chairs for guests and a large leather chair behind the desk. I spot a bookshelf overflowing with books and another shelf filled with long scrolls. Pictures hang on the walls and are placed on his desk. Many of them show him with a woman and some small children, but I can't make out the ones on his desk since they are facing him.

"Please, have a seat," Lucas says. I sit in one of the leather chairs and almost sigh with relief at how comfortable it is. I have slept on hard floors for most of my life, so this chair feels like paradise.

I turn my attention back to the Alpha, who sits in his own chair, while two men stand behind me with their arms crossed. I look at the Alpha, waiting for him to speak.

"What is your name?" he asks.

"Lila," I reply simply. I don't give him a last name, just in case he is working with Alpha Lorenzo Martini.

"Well, Lila, what brings you to my territory? And with a child no less?" His voice carries curiosity.

"I didn't know I had entered your territory, sir. I was walking along the road when I heard the sound of water and followed it."

"You were walking along the road?" I nod my head.

"Then you must have passed the sign with the name of the pack."

I feel my face heat up as I remember the sign I couldn't read.

"I-I can't read, Alpha," I stammer, feeling embarrassed. Lucas purses his lips.

"Where are you from?" he asks. I keep my mouth shut. Do I tell him I was the daughter of a once-powerful Alpha and a prisoner in the New Moon Pack? If he is allied with Alpha Martini, he might turn me in and have me and Milo killed. That thought makes me pull my son closer. He is still asleep, for which I am grateful.

"I can't remember," I say in a quiet voice. But I do remember. I remember waking up early as a child, sneaking out of my room, and running to my parents' room, jumping on them to wake them up. My mom would grumble but smile, while my dad would laugh and tickle me until I gave up. I remember my dad carrying me on his shoulders as we explored the forest, then playing tag in our wolf forms, getting covered in mud. My mom would make us shower after we hugged her and got her muddy too.

"Are you sure?" Lucas's voice pulls me out of my memories. I nod with a blank expression.

"Very well. Now, why is a young girl like you a rogue?"

I bite my lip and lower my gaze. I need to say something.

"I was taken when I was little. I-I can't remember much, but I was. I became a slave, and I ran away. I had to," I whisper the last part while looking down at my baby. Lucas glances at Milo, and his face softens. What I said is true. I don't clearly remember how they took me from my mother's arms, but they did, and I became a slave, enduring daily beatings and worse.

Lucas looks at me, then back at Milo. "Where are you going?"

I shrug. "Wherever my feet take me, sir. I have no home, no money, and a baby."

He looks at me with sympathy before glancing behind me.

"Are you sure you have no relatives or anyone we can contact from your old pack?" he asks.

My eyes start to sting as I think about my family. My parents. My cousin Benjamin, who was a year older than me. He was visiting us with his mom and dad the day we were attacked. I wish I could see him again, but he is gone, like everyone else.

I shake my head as a tear slips down my cheek. I quickly wipe it away before looking back up at the Alpha. He nods.

"Very well. Ms. Lila, I don't see any danger coming from you or your child."

My heart skips a beat when he says this. "Does that mean I can leave?"

"Yes," he says. I sigh with relief. "Or," he continues, a small smile forming on his face, and I almost stop breathing, "you can join this pack."

I think my jaw hits the floor after hearing that. I am too shocked to say anything. I glance back at the two guards, who are both grinning at my reaction.

"Do you really mean it?" I ask, still in shock.