The Omegas Stand

I smile and hum as I wipe off the sink in the girls' restroom on the second level in the packhouse.

This is my favorite part of the day. Most of the other pack members are at home, and the communal house we all come and go from is mostly empty besides the Alpha family. It's rather peaceful to be in an almost empty house, and it makes getting my chores done extremely easy.

I finish with the restroom and pick up my blue cleaning bucket. I give myself a quick smile in the mirror before leaving. I need the extra oomph today since the anniversary of my mother's death is tomorrow.

Generally, I am a very happy person, but my mother's death always gets me down, and for a good reason. Her death is partially my fault, and a day I will never forget...I mean, how can I? The anniversary of her death is the same day as my birthday.

Tomorrow I turn eighteen, a day that every teenage wolf waits for anxiously, but for me, it's bittersweet. When an adolescent wolf turns eighteen, they can sense their soulmate created just for them by the moon Goddess. But while this day should bring nothing but joy, I can't help but miss my mom. I know my mother would be thrilled for me and overjoyed if I do find my mate...it's just. It won't be the same. It won't be how it should have been. She should be here to witness me cross this milestone.

My mother was an extraordinary wolf. She wasn't born an omega, but she was proud to be one. Just like she was proud to be my mom, she taught me everything she could and took on the role of both parents like a champ.

She was my only parent. My father died while she was still pregnant with me in a freak accident during a pack run, so she raised me by herself until the day she died. And she did so with a smile. The only time I ever saw my mother sad was when she talked about her mate. But she always answered my questions about him. She wanted me to know my father, and while the memories are faded, I remember everything she ever told me.

I shake the sad feelings from my mind as I leave the restroom. I need to focus. Mom wouldn't want me sad, especially since she died a hero.

I hurry down the stairs to get my cleaning supplies put away. I need to get to the kitchen. Mrs. Marsh will need my help today. She didn't ask for it, but I know she needs it.

She has to have the meals

For today and the meals for tomorrow, because not only is it my birthday, but it's the Alpha's son's birthday too. My old childhood friend, Logan. He will be turning eighteen too, and while I thought he was my best friend growing up, he has become someone I don't even know.

Back when we were little, we were always around each other. Since omegas live in the packhouse with the Alpha family, Logan and I were always together. My mother constantly had both Logan and me underfoot since Luna liked for my mom to watch him. We were all together the day my mother died, even, but I don't want to think about that.

That was the day everything changed. My mother died, and the Luna stopped being nice. She forced Logan to stop talking to me, and I became the child she ignored. Alpha still treats me the same and offers a smile anytime he is around, but it just isn't the same. Mrs. Marsh and the other omegas stepped up to take care of me, but I still felt lonely.

Luna Kandace and my mom were as close as Logan and I were back then. I figured she would hold me and comfort me when my mom died, but I guess her shame is just too much.

"There you are, Chloe, would you mind?" Mrs. Marsh asks as I come into the kitchen, and I smile before stopping her.

"I already planned on being here for as long as you need, Momma Marsh," I respond before she can finish, and she grins at me.

"Goddess, bless you, child. You make your heavenly mother proud," She says, moving to give me a quick kiss on the cheek.

I blush but smile at the warm affection I have come to depend on. I grab the extra apron Mrs. Marsh keeps on top of the fridge, and I tie it around my waist.

"You work on breakfast. I will get lunch made. I want to spend the time I usually use to make lunch making the pastries for tomorrow...You know, Alpha invited 235 people from the other packs? All females and their parents. Can you believe that? And he left ALL the food to me. I know I'm good, but my goodness, he is trying to kill this old wolf. So sandwiches for lunch will have to do. And he better not be expecting anything big for dinner tonight either," Momma Marsh rattles off as she moves around her kitchen, grabbing things without looking.

I nod and give her the appropriate hmms when needed, but for the most part, I stay quiet. Momma Marsh is a talker, and normally,y I am too, but my mind is on tomorrow.

Alpha Patrick's inviting outside females was expected. That's what all Alphasdo. It's become almost a tradition. The more females present when Logan turns eighteen, the higher the chance he has of finding his mate. Patrick and Kandace can retire from being the active Alpha couple as soon as their son mates.

Personally, I feel bad for Logan's mate. She is going to have her hands full. Not only is Logan rude and full of himself these days, but he has also become quite the ladies' man over the past few years.

He was okay until the end of his sophomore year, don't get me wrong. But he changed when he was sent to Alpha school. He came back for our senior year, acting like a completely different person from the kid I used to know. Apparently, while at Alpha school, Logan learned he was ranked in the top three in basically everything. He came back home with a massive chip on his shoulder and began treating certain people in the pack like crap....omegas, to be specific.

Luna Kandace seems to be extremely proud, but when Alpha Patrick catches Logan acting all high and mighty, he gets upset. He usually makes Logan run the border for mistreating us. Then he and Luna have a big fight that echoes all the way down to our living quarters.

I try to block out the yelling, but it's impossible. Luna Kandace is like a screech owl when angry, and nothing makes her more furious than her precious son getting in trouble for mistreating the "help."

The other omegas often wonder why Luna looks down on us, but I don't. I know why, and the answer is deplorable. Luna Kandace has very specific reasons for trying to make herself feel better than us, but she and I both know the truth. She is nothing but a big fat coward. So she can mistreat us all she wants. She can behave like she is better, and she can try to convince herself it is true by convincing her son, but I know the truth.

"Morning, ladies," Alpha Patrick greets as he strolls into the kitchen, looking the same as he does every day.

I smile at him while Mrs. Marsh huffs.

"Would be a better morning if I had had more help," she mumbles, and Alpha chuckles.

"Don't give me that. You would have thrown a fit if I filled your kitchen with strangers...and Goddess forbid I hire a catering service. You would shift and attack me on the spot, Mrs. Marsh," Alpha says, speaking the absolute truth.

I laugh as I hand him a plate full of his favorites, and Mrs. Marsh huffs again. She slaps a dish towel in the air and refocuses on the dough she is rolling.

"Exactly," Alpha states, knowing he won.

Luna's scent gets close, so I place her plate next to Alpha before she arrives, and I turn back to the stove.

"Chloe, it's your birthday tomorrow too," Alpha suddenly says as if he completely forgot, and I nod my head.

I keep my back to the Alpha couple while answering, so my face is hidden from Luna's cold blue eyes.

"Yes. I turn eighteen as well. But my birthday is always a sad day. This year, I don't know how to feel," I reply, and Alpha sighs.

"Your mother was a fine wolf. I miss her too," Alpha says, and my ears pick up on the Luna grinding her teeth together.

"Yes, she was," I whisper, and Luna growls.

"If you insist on talking, at least face us. It's bad enough you are disrupting the peace of the morning," Luna snaps, and Alpha growls.

I turn and meet her hateful eyes head-on. For years now, this has been our relationship, but I don't let it get to me. I am a proud wolf. I serve my pack dutifully. I am not worthless or less than her precious son, just like my omega mother wasn't useless thirteen years ago. Every wolf matters in a pack, and her self-hate won't rub off on me, no matter what she says.

"Kandace," Alpha growls, and Luna snaps her head in his direction.

"I came down to have a peaceful morning. Tomorrow is OUR son's big day, and you're talking to an omega about ancient history," Luna snaps, and Alpha's neck turns red.

"That omega is your best friend's daughter. She has grown up in our home. I can speak with her about her birthday and her mother," Alpha snarls while using some of his command power.

Luna's posture becomes rigid, and I turn back to the stove to avoid the explosion about to take place.

"Did you just try to bend me to your will?" Luna screams, and my ears feel as if they might bleed.

"Yes, I did. What has gotten into you? You act as if you are some fucking queen. Newsflash, Kandace, these are our people. They might take care of our basic needs, but it's our job to protect them. We are Alpha's, not tyrants. I can speak to the people who live in our home with us," Alpha roars, and I can feel Luna's eyes on my back for a moment.

"You should be more concerned with your son's big day than the daughter of a dead omega," Luna snaps, and I whip around.

Mrs. Marsh grabs me before I can attack the pathetic female, and the room falls silent. Luna and I stare at each other with nothing but hate while Alpha looks embarrassed.

"Chloe, please forgive Luna. She is just upset with me. Why don't you get your other chores done and send Melanie to help Mrs. Marsh?" Alpha says after a few tense moments, and I nod.

I bite my tongue and leave the room, just like my dead omega mother taught me.

Be a lady.

(This world contains zero humans)

CHLOE POV

"I'm eighteen, Mom. Today might just be the day. I wish you were here to see it, but I know why you aren't, and I'm sorry," I whisper as I look myself over in my long mirror.

Today I took extra care to make myself feel and look beautiful, and since I am off, I don't have to worry about getting dirty.

Everyone gets the day off for their birthday, omega or warrior; it doesn't matter. So I don't have to worry about chores today or helping with the party set-up, thank goodness.

I smile at myself happily. I definitely got my mother's looks. I got my father's height since I am 5'10", and my mother topped out at 5'4", but the rest of me is all hers. I got her easily tanned skin and her light brown eyes. I also got her dirty blonde hair and small nose. And while I do wish I were thinner, what teenage girl doesn't? I got my mother's amazing curves.

All in all, I am about an eight on the attractiveness scale. But when I count in my personality, I give myself a ten.

Once, when I told a friend-enemy that I was a ten in my book, she called me vain. But I just told her I was speaking honestly. My mother always told me to judge myself honestly and to stay sweet. Because a poor personality can sour even a pretty face. My mother also said to admit if you find yourself attractive. Because if you lie and say you find yourself ugly when you don't, you become a liar. And liars aren't pretty.

Needless to say, that girl stopped being my friend. She told our other friends to shun me also, so now I just hang out with the other omegas, which is cool because I love Melanie and Shannon. They keep me smiling. Not to mention Momma Marsh, Trevor, Chance, Lydia, and Chris, who are all older. They were friends with my parents and were as sweet as can be. But the girls my age, Melanie and Shannon, understand me.

They understand that I only want to be the best that I can be to make my mother's sacrifice mean something. I want to be the best omega I can be, and when I get my wolf and my mate, if my title changes, I want to be the best I can be then, too.

My mom always said every wolf matters. Our roles in the pack have meaning, and if they didn't, then they wouldn't exist. Every pack needs an Alpha. Every pack needs a Beta. Every pack needs its warriors and workers. And every pack needs its omegas or caregivers, if you will.

Now, as a female wolf, my wolf will match her mate. So, since I don't know who my mate is, I don't know my true level yet. For all I know, my mate might be a warrior, like my mother's parents were. Or my mate might be an omega like my father and his parents were. No female ever truly knows, and until the age of eighteen, we train and master the roles that our parents have, or in my case, had. It's a good system-a perfect one. How could it not be? Our Goddess created this world just for us.

And today, when I meet my mate, I will know. Then I will shift when the moon is at its highest, and I will be complete. I will know what role I will have for the rest of my life. If I don't meet my mate, I have to wait.

Twice a year, all mateless/wolfless wolves go on "the hunt." We gather at the center of the world, which is called Outcast. It is where all the wolves who are rejected or mateless live. At Outcast, there is no fighting. It is neutral ground available for those who need it. So enemy packs are forbidden from fighting there. Everyone is there with one goal in mind: to find our match made specifically for us.

If you are female and find your mate, you leave your pack forever and join the pack your mate is from. If you don't find your mate, you can remain at Outcast or return to your pack. But many stay at Outcast. It boosts the chances of finding your mate. Plus, you are wolfless until you find your mate, so you are a liability to your pack. If your mate has passed before meeting you, you are forever wolfless. The safest place for you is Outcast because it is neutral ground.

I feel the worst for those wolves. They never meet their other half or their wolf spirit, but many mate with the wolves who have been rejected. They live happily, but they probably always wonder.

Honestly, I hope my mate is in my home pack, but I wouldn't mind moving. I have no family in my home pack, so I wouldn't miss anyone. But if my mate is from my home pack and I find him today, I won't be an omega.

The only omegas who are my age and mateless right now are females. A couple of the omegas who were friends with my parents have young pups. But I'm never around them, and I am much too old to be their mate. So if I find my mate today, I will be mating into a different role, which is weird to think about.

I like being an omega. I like taking care of others. But I also find I have a fiery side, like my mom, who was born a warrior. She became an omega when she mated with her father, but she trained as a warrior for eighteen years. That's how she first became friends with Alpha Patrick and Luna Kandace. Luna's parents are warriors, just like my mothers were.

According to my mother and the other omegas her age, my mom was a savage when it came to fighting. She even made Alpha Patrick submit. But when she got her wolf...her wolf had the characteristics of an omega-a weak body with a kind, nurturing spirit.

But my mother didn't complain. She loved her new role, and she said it balanced her friendship with the Luna. My mom said that before they found their mates, Kandace was very competitive with her. Luna liked Alpha, who crushed on my mom. But Mom said she didn't return the feelings that Alpha had. She was relieved when her mate turned out not to be the Alpha.

The only thing hard for me to swallow is that if my mom had gotten the stronger wolf spirit, she might still be here. She might not have had to fight teeth and claws in her stronger but also weaker human body. As wolves, our hide is thicker and can take more damage than our human bodies. But my mother's wolf spirit had zero fight, and my mother chose to defend that day in her human flesh.

I smile a bittersweet smile as I clean up my room. I think of my mother's last moments often, and while I can't be more proud of her and who she was, I wish she had just run. I wish she had given our enemy what they came for. But that just wouldn't be my mother. She would have never run...not like someone else I know.

I grind my teeth together at that last thought and slam my makeup box closed a little harder than necessary.

Stupid Luna! If only she had helped. If only she had shifted and used her Alpha wolf spirit. She could have fought side by side with my mother. They would have been able to handle the threat and keep them from doing what they came to do, but instead, my mother died, and only I know why. Only I know what transpired between my mother and our enemies that day. And while she won, she still died.

CHLOE POV

I take a deep breath as I make my way into the ballroom housing Logan's celebration. I am so nervous my palms have begun to sweat.

This is the first time all day I have been around other people. And while the chance of finding my mate amongst all the mateless females showing up for Logan is low, it is still possible.

I mean, we have male workers from the pack hanging around trying to catch females' eyes too. And I know a few males are over eighteen in our pack. They are waiting to go to Outcast, so they are definitely around here in hopes of saving themselves a trip. Maybe just maybe, one of them is mine.

I have had crushes throughout the years within our pack. I have even prayed to the Goddess a time or two on who I wanted to be my mate.

As I try to boost my hopes I will find my mate, I pass Melanie, who is dressed up cute to serve snacks.

She gives me a wink, and I give her a thumbs up. Both my friends see me as the happy nothing can get me down girl, so she would be surprised to know how terrified I am right now. Because well...I think I'm pretty, but what if my mate doesn't. Maybe he prefers chocolate-skinned females, a female with dark hair, or females with blue eyes. I am none of those things...I could be rejected. I could be moving to Outcast in hopes someone will love me.

I head to the punch table to calm my nerves, and on the way, I hear the voice of my old friend-enemy fake whispering about me.

"Yeah, that's her. The omega who acts like her shit don't stink," she says, and my eyes roll.

I don't even acknowledge her by turning around. She has been eighteen for about two months already and will be heading to Outcast soon if she doesn't find her mate. Logan and her have hooked up before. They've even dated; I bet she will be his mate. They are a perfect match.

Oh goodness, maybe I don't want to find my mate in our pack. She will be worse than Luna Kandace!

I snort out loud at the thought before grabbing a prefilled punch cup. Half the pack will ask to join another Alpha in a week of them taking over. Because even though Logan is strong and intelligent, he is a jerk to half his people. Add her into the mix.....oh geez.

"Chloe...don't you know you are supposed to look up at times like these? Can't make eye contact with your mate if you are staring at a cup of punch," Melanie whispers from beside me, and I grin before looking at her.

"I know...but this punch looked really dreamy," I joke, and she gives me an eye roll before disappearing yet again.

"Okay, focus, Chloe. Make eye contact with every male you see," I demand in my head as I turn around to face the crowd.

My eyes lock with almost ten people doing the same thing in under a minute before I finally blink. I want to laugh at myself, but this is how these things are...everyone walking around wide-eyed and hopeful.

I make a few rounds around the room and come to the conclusion that my mate is either very late or just not here. Which it's okay. The next Hunt is scheduled in less than three months, and I am bound to find my mate at Outcast.

I hear during the hunt thousands of wolves line up and walk past each other with their eyes open. And when they lock eyes with their mate, they just jump out of line. They spend the night getting to know each other and then shift together for the first time under the moon at midnight. In the morning they head back to the males' pack.

So, going to Outcast to find my mate won't be so bad. Thousands do it! And if he isn't there during that hunt, I will stay at Outcast until the next hunt and so forth. My mate shouldn't be more than two years younger than me, so if he doesn't show...I am mateless and wolfless. It happens. I will be sad, but it happens. Fighting between packs kill thousands every year.

"Attention, in just a moment, my son will be taking the stage. Luna Kandace and I would like to invite all the of-age ladies forward at this time. Please don't be shy; we are excited and hopeful that one of you are our future daughter," Alpha Patrick suddenly announces, and I am surprised to find I am already where I should be.

Maybe a little too close, in fact. I have no hopes that Logan is my mate. And while I believe I would be a great Luna, I wouldn't want him for a mate. Yes, he is gorgeous, but he is the main reason my mother is gone. While the idea to go play outside was mine and Luna Kandace's, it was Logan who she fought tooth and nail to protect. It was Logan that they wanted and come hunting for.

I take a deep calming breath as I hear Logan's feet make their way onto the stage. A trickle of fear runs down my spine, before I lift my head and look in the direction he is approaching from. I keep my face blank as he locks eyes with everyone he can. I am almost completely center, so he has about 75 girls, if not more, to get to before he gets to me. So I take this time to look him over.

He is a fine male. Taller than even his father. His shoulders are wide, which is nice, and his curly hair he inherited from his chocolate-skinned father is adorable. But I personally love his brown and blue eyes. I complimented him often when we were little and he used to always to blush.

Still to this day, I have never seen anyone with the same color. I have seen a lot of brown and green, or blue and green. But never brown and blue perfectly blended like his are.

As I try to remember the exact shade his eyes are, a weird since of longing fills me. I find myself getting impatient. I want to look at his eyes again. I want to see that pretty color again. And right in the middle of that longing, it happens.

Logan's big beautiful blue-brown eyes lock with mine, and something within me snaps together. As if a piece of me was floating within my chest, just waiting to be attached to my heart, and all it took was one look. One look from him, Logan, my mate.

His long arms reach out towards me at the same time, mine lift towards him. He grabs me and pulls me up onto the stage with him without breaking eye contact, and we both smile.

Every negative thought about our past floats away, and I feel nothing but happiness. This is him. This is my male. The boy I grew up with, is mine and I am his. His wolf and my wolf were made as one and will be sent to us tonight. I found him.

"Mine," Logan breathes, and I nod.

"Yours," I whisper back before a screech breaks our trance.

"Logan! Come here now," Luna Kandace screams, and both our arms drop.

I watch the happy light in his eyes dim as he backs away from me. Luna Kandace grabs his arm and yanks him towards her in front of all the visiting wolves, and I feel a strong level of protectiveness wash over me.

"Don't grab him like that," I snap, and her head whips towards me.

"Shut up," she orders with her command power, and I freeze.

Logan watches his mother order me and doesn't say a word. He almost seems like a whipped puppy now that her hand is on his arm. And the image would be comical in any other circumstance.

"Logan! Listen to me! She is an omega. Her human body is weak. The wolf she will get will be strong, but she is weak. She was born an omega. I told you what to do if you get an omega mate, now do it," Luna Kandace snaps, and Alpha Patrick growls.

"Kandace! How dare you force my son to reject his mate. Chloe comes from an amazing bloodline. Her mother was the strongest female before getting her mate. She even pinned me! Chloe is an amazing wolf, just like Hannah was," Alpha declares sounding as if his crush on my mom never truly died.

"That female was weak, and so is her daughter. She couldn't even fight off three wolves. If only I had been there with her and the pups...Logan listen to me reject her," Luna Kandace lies, and my rage fights against her command.

I want to spew the truth so bad but her command is stopping me. I had no idea she had lied and said she wasn't with us. I guess she thought I was too young and would forget what happened that day. She thought she could tell the adults a lie and no one would believe my version!

Logan's eyes meet mine, and I see his defeat. He is going along with his mother's order. He is throwing me away because of her lies. Because she has convinced him omegas are weak, when we aren't. We are strong and compassionate. We nurture the pack when the Luna can't. We are the backbone!

I try to plead with him using my face and body, but he closes his eyes so he can't see me. He opens his mouth, and dread fills my stomach. I want to vomit. Fifteen minutes ago, I didn't want to be his, but now I can't imagine life without him.

"I, Logan Thurman, reject you, Chloe Patterson as my mate and life partner," Logan says sadly, and the piece of myself that attached to my heart moments ago when we locked eyes, breaks right back off.

Pain fills my chest, and I open my mouth to scream, but nothing comes out. I fall to my knees, and the whole crowd gasps as they watch me twitch and battle the pain within me silently. Logan tries to rush towards me, but Kandace's hand stops him.

After a minute of wrathing on the ground, Alpha takes pity on me and comes to my aid.

"You may speak," Alpha commands, and my scream erupts from within me instantly.

Logan flinches hard, and the sound of my pain echoes throughout the room as my body fights against his rejection. My fingernails cut the inside of my palms, and my forehead beads with sweat as I repeatedly scream out.

The entire time I scream, my eyes don't leave Logan and Kandace. I watch as my pain hurts him, and I watch as Kandace smiles at my agony with nothing but triumph.

She thinks she has won. She thinks she has proven me to be weak! She thinks she has finally outdone my beautiful mother. I will show her.

"You have to accept the rejection for the pain to stop...I'm sorry, Chloe. But you have to," Alpha whispers as another blade of pain slices through my heart.

I grind my teeth together as I lock eyes with only Kandace. I force myself to my feet on pure adrenaline as pain rips my insides apart. I swallow back my screams and fight with all my might to keep the pain from showing on my face.

As I stand up, a different look crosses her face, and I wish I could manage a smile.

"I, Chloe Patterson, accept your rejection," I barely manage to whisper before everything goes dead within me.

Logan grabs his chest with open panic, and I know exactly what he just felt.

"Yeah, that was our bond dying Logan. Congratulations," I sarcastically say before I whip around and face the massive crowd that just witnessed my public rejection.

"I want to set something straight, that should have been set straight years ago. When my mother Hannah Patterson died, she died defending our future alpha, Logan Thurman! Luna Kandace, my mother, Logan, and I had all been at the clearing right next to the old park! We were there because Luna Kandace suggested we play outside as an early birthday celebration. Logan had cried and said no, and I had said yes. Not twenty minutes after arriving we were attacked! Luna Kandace, ran! She left my mother, A WEAK OMEGA, to defend her pup and me. Logan got knocked unconscious when the first wolf attacked, and my mother, IN HUMAN FORM, immediately sprang to action. She attacked the warrior wolf trying to kill the Alpha's son, and Kandace ran like a coward. SHE RAN AWAY INSTEAD OF PROTECTING HER OWN PUP. MY MOTHER BRAVELY TOOK DOWN THAT WOLF AND THE NEXT TWO WHO SHOWED UP, ALL IN HUMAN FORM. She kept yelling to me, "Don't worry, Chloe, Kandace went to get help." But my mother was wrong. Luna Kandace ran and hid away. She had no plans to return or get help, because she was too weak and scared to even think straight! My mother died in my arms after defeating the last warrior. Her human body was basically shredded as our border patrol finally caught scent of the blood and came to her aid! OUR LUNA IS LIAR AND A COWARD. SHE IS JEALOUS OF A DEAD OMEGA'S ACTS OF HEROISM AND JUST FORCED HER SON TO REJECT HIS OWN MATE BECAUSE OF THOSE JEALOUS FEELINGS. I AM HAPPY TO SAY I WILL BE LEAVING FOR OUTCAST AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. ENJOY HAVING HER AS YOUR LUNA," I scream to the shocked crowd before jumping of the stage and heading straight for the exit.

I don't look back, and I never will. My mother should have let those warriors have him!