Chapter 1
"Oh, Wynter," His mother cooed, cradling his head in her hands. Wynter was leaving home to work in the palace. It was a great opportunity, getting to work for the castle, his meals would be provided to him, he was assigned living quarters, meaning most, if not all, money he made he could send back home. "I don't want you to go, baby. Who's going to help me with your siblings?" Tears pooled in his mother's eyes.
A few years ago, his father passed away, leaving his mother and siblings to deal with the turmoil. As the eldest child of his parents, he took on the role of nurturing his younger siblings as his mother grieving her mate's death. He had been a part of the King's guard. He had loved serving Alpha King Weston before his passing. Wynter's family had been handsomely compensated for their father's death, defending their rightful King. It had taken care of his family for three years before the money started running out. His mother could no longer keep up with the bills.
Wynter's father had been their primary source of income. His mother was only an obscure seamstress, making ball gowns or patching up other clothes. The amount of money she would pull in barely kept the lights on through the winter. He thanked the Goddess that his mother had paid off the house with the lump sum of money, so they still had a place to live in. Wynter had gotten a part-time job at the baker's shop; that's what had put food on the table for his family for a while. It wasn't much," but that's all they had.
"We gotta let him go, mom; I'm tired of cabbage stew." His younger brother Kasey whined.
"You heard the kid mom, plus from what I saw, I'm allowed to have one holiday off a year. I could, of course, ask for Christmas off or New Years to see you guys. I'm not leaving forever!" Wynter grinned at his mom. She pulled her son into her embrace, starting to let the tears she had been trying to hold back fall from her eyes.
"I don't know what I'm going to do without you!" She bawled.
"Don't worry, mom, you've got Easton to help you. He's nearing fourteen!" Wynter said, pulling back, wiping his mother's tears from her eyes with his thumbs. "Plus, this will be good for you, so you don't have to worry about bills. They're offering me more than the baker's shop would ever. Plus, you won't have to worry about another mouth to feed. My meals and boarding are included in the package! This is something that is going to be the best for you and the brats." He teased his younger sibling, nudging Kasey.
"I'm not a brat. Mommy, tell him I'm not a brat." Kasey whined, pulling his thumb out of his mouth.
"You're not a brat." Bella pulled out of Wynter's embrace, patting the younger submissive on the head. "Why don't you go and play with the other kids, baby? I'm trying to talk to Wynter about some things." She gave Kasey a gloomy look.
Once the two of them were alone, Wynter's mother sat on his bed. She patted the space right next to her, making him sit down. Wynter wrapped his arm around his mother's shoulder, and she leaned her head down on his shoulder. "Mom, everything will be alright. I really want to help you."
"I know, baby, I really do appreciate it. What happens if you find your mate?" She sniffed, wiping the tears that continuously fell from her eyes.
"I'll still send as much money as I can, mom, right now. Times are tough, and working for the kingdom is the best option to get a good, steady income." Wynter replied.
"Baby, I can't do that. The money you make will be for you, I'll take up another job or something. I want you to save as much money as possible to start out your future. I want you to have a flourished life." She looked at her eldest son.
"As long as you and my siblings are taken care of, my life is full." His lips wobbled. He so desperately did not want the news of him setting off toward the palace to be sad news, but happy news. The struggle that they have gone through without his father was not the life he wanted for his siblings. It was already going to be hard enough for his youngest siblings.
Rosaline was only 1 years old when their father passed away, and Dallon was born after his death. They were already going to grow up without their father, the fun camping trips, the piggyback rides throughout the town, ice cream for dinner when mother was at the palace fitting a dress for a duchess. He really missed his dad, and he was upset that his youngest siblings did not have the same opportunity as he had with him.
"Only if you think you can do it, baby, but please keep some for yourself. I want you to be able to get the things you need and want without having to worry about us." She quietly said.
"Okay, mom, we have a deal." He patted the top of her curly blonde hair. One of the traits he did not have was her curls. Instead, he had straight blonde hair. He also got his father's striking silver eyes, compared to his mother's dull brown eyes.
"Good, now let me help you get your stuff together." His mom patted his leg, standing up. She wiped the last bit of tears from her eyes, and she smiled at her eldest.
Belladonna was glad to raise such a great child. Wynter may have been conceived when she was young, but she believed that she did a fantastic job raising him to be such an upstanding Omega. "Thank you, mom." Wynter pulled her into another hug. "Everything will be alright."
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The next morning, Wynter stood outside, waiting on one of the palace's cars to pull up. His siblings didn't want him to leave. Dallon and Rosaline hugged onto his legs, trying to prevent him from moving. Kasey's arms were firmly wrapped around his waist, and he cried into his older brother's abdomen. Bella was hugging him from behind, and Easton stood next to them with his arms crossed and a stern look on his face.
"Why do you have to leave again?" Easton grunted.
"You'll know when you get around my age. It's just something that needs to be done." Wynter replied, seeing a sleek black vehicle with the kingdom's flag on the radio antenna. His mother gripped on him tighter as if he were going to float away.
"You better write to me boy, I'll come down there myself if you don't write at least once a week." His mother said into his back; Wynter's shirt was wet from her tears.
"I promise, mom." Wynter laughed nervously, letting go of his bag, patting on her arms.
"Good." Belladonna smugly said.
The car pulled up to the curb, and the driver got out of the vehicle, wearing a nice suit and his sunglasses. He also had an earpiece in his ear. "Are you ready, sir?" He asked, grabbing one of my bags that sat on the sidewalk.
"As ready as I can be." Wynter smiled at the driver, trying to pry his younger siblings off.
"We should be there by dinner time. Kallin should be the one to show you around after dinner and explain what your duties will be." The driver explained. Wynter held out his hand for the dominant male to shake, but he only grabbed it gently in his hand and kissed his knuckles. "Pleasure to meet you. My name is Weston. Your name is beautiful?" He flirted with the young Omega in front of him.
Wynter knew the older man was flirting with him, but he kindly brushed it off. "My name is Wynter. Thank you for taking me to the castle today." He smiled curtly to the older wolf.
"You're welcome, but we need to get heading out. Say your goodbyes while I load your belongings up." Weston explained, grabbing onto one of Wynter's suitcases. He hugged all of his family members, wiping all but Easton's tears.
"I still don't see why you have to leave." The second eldest rolled his eyes, crossing his arms over his chest.
"Look East, you gotta take care of mom, okay?" Wynter put his hand on his little brother's shoulder. "For the love of our Goddess, also stop getting in trouble at school. You'll put her in an early grave." Wynter chuckled, gently shoving his younger brother.
"Whatever, just come home soon. I don't think I can last that long with those little twerps." Easton jutted his fingers to their younger siblings.
"I'll try to come home for Christmas." Wynter smiled, hugging his little brother. "I love you guys!" He shouted to his family, releasing Easton from his grasp.
Wynter climbed into the back of the sedan and buckled in. Staring at his family members, how long would it be until he saw them again, Wynter hoped even though he was a newcomer, he would be able to see his family for Christmas. Weston shut the door once he was in the vehicle and followed him into the car. "We should be at the palace in a few hours. Just sit back and relax." The dominant wolf explained, adjusting his mirrors before taking off to Wynter's new journey.
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