The Blood Moon Pack had been celebration for three days straight. There was pan abundance of food and the drinks flowed freely. Aiden watched as they danced late into the night. 

To Aiden the most amazing thing about the time between the harvest moon and All Hallows Eve was that the moon stayed full for three consecutive days. Turning from golden orange to a glowing blood red moon on the last day of October. The moon lilies would bloom and glow an iridescent red that would that your breath away.

The only downside was the effect it had on their wolves, they have insatiable appetites for the hunt as well as for more carnal desires.

On several occasions, Aiden would enter a room and be met with couples sharing a very intimate moment. At times he was so shocked that he wasn't sure if he should be impressed or horrified. He had no experience what so ever. So encounter like those were embarrassing to see.

When he had made the decision to wait until he found his mate. His parents had been very supportive, his mother would tell him where was no need to rush. Only his best friend Tyler had said he shouldn't put all his hopes in one basket. Aiden had just laughed because he was pretty sure that's not how the saying went, but Tyler had insisted that the saying was accurate.

Aiden had been born on All Hallows Even, much to his mothers delight often saying he was a precious gift from the Goddess and his father had never argued. But at the moment wasn't feeling very special.

Tonight the blood moon would shine in all her glory and Aiden didn't have his family to share it with. Thoughts of his family brought back memories of Mike and how carefree and happy they had been only a year ago.

Mike had declared at the Harvest festival he would meet a lascivious blond with ample bosoms as his mate by the end of the year and he would seduce the socks off her. Aiden had laughed saying he was being awfully specific with his descriptions of his mate. He had commented that if the moon Goddess truly cared for him she could do it. They had both laughed at how stupid that had sounded.

Days later on his eighteenth Aiden had a dream about Mike and being his mate. Mike’s description of the mate he wanted still fresh in his mind, Aiden had decided to keep it a secret the fear of being rejected was too strong. He kept it a secret even from his mother who was his go-to person when things were getting too hard to handle. 

A few months later he broke down in tears confessing everything to his mom when some of the pack members had bullied him about his mate not wanting him. Shortly after. Mike had come for a visit, Aiden didn't know what excuse his mother had used to get him there but he was grateful. The heaviness in his chest went away at the sight of him. His wolf Link was beside himself with excitement eager to meet his mate. And since then he hadn’t heard a peep from him. 

And now here they were, feeling completely miserable again. 

Since he had decided to wait for Mike he would asked the Beta and Delta of the Blood Moon pack if any word had arrived but they would just shake their heads and give him a pitying look. 

Aiden had even gathered his courage and visited Malachi to see if there was any news. The first time he entered Malachi had reprimanded him about calling him Alpha Hunt, insisting that title belonged to his father and not him.

After his little lecture Malachi had gotten up from his desk opening his lap top and logging in he moved away from the desk. He indicated to the desk and left saying he had other business to attend to. 

Aiden had tentatively searched through the piles of letters and bills and endless emails from numerous packs but none from the Campbell's. Aiden had even gone as far as to check the waste bin but still came up with nothing.

The realization that he had been an acceptable sacrifice and been abandoned by his mate was agonizing. He felt like someone had stuck a flaming got dagger in his heart and was twisting it around for good measure.

He ended up curled up on the soft rug in front of the fireplace bawling his eyes out until darkness claimed him.

~ ~ ~

Malachi was not having a good day, he woke this morning with his rut rearing its ugly head. His room was thick with his Alpha scent and it was making it hard to breathe. Not to mention his splitting headache from trying to suppress his urges.

This wasn't the first time he spent a rut alone but this time around he didn't have the sent of his mate close by to take the edge off.

Mara and Malachi had made an arrangement after the twins were born. They would not spend their ruts together but they could easy the rut by allowing  the other smell their pheromones through a hatch on the door of their adjoining rooms. 

They had been together for almost two years when they decided to truly try to have a child, so when Malachi had gone into rut she had joined him. In his hunger and lust driven need he had accidentally knotted inside of her. She had screamed from the pain and begged for him to stop. But it had been too late and they had to wait until his knot released before they could move. She had bolted out of the room the moment she felt him easy out of her. 

He couldn't blame her. She was an alpha like him and her body wasn't made like that of an omega's. He had hurt her terribly and apologize profusely after. She had accepted his apology but their intimacy came to a screeching  halt.

Both Malachi and Balthazar had felt the sting of rejection when their mate would flinch from the slightest caress. Shortly after they found out the wonderful news, she was pregnant. 

Once the twins were born they had put all their love and energy into doting on their precious children. They quickly fell into a new rhythm of gentle hugs and stolen kisses. It was sweet and beautiful and he had been quite content to share a new kind of love with her. Accept for Balthazar who wanted to feel the heat of his mate once again.

Malachi gripped the bed frame to steady himself as another onslaught of pheromones hit him. Balthazar growled to be set free and fought Malachi’s frayed resistance.

He mind linked Cid to clear everyone out of the packhouse and to fetch the Omega. 

Balthazar had been very vocal about making the Aiden theirs. He argued that it would be ultimately vengeance against the Campbell because even though his mate lived he would be unable to ever claim Aiden for himself. To have your mate, but being unable to claim them would be excruciating for the man and wolf. Malachi had relented and agreed with Balthazar that it would be a fitting punishment.

The final deciding factor happened a days ago when he had come back to his office to find Aiden still in his ofice curled up on the rug in front of the fire crying as he slept. It had made his blood boil, anyone who mistreated their mate and made them so miserable did not deserve them. He got a sense of satisfaction wash over him from Balthazar at his outrage. 

Cid was a bit taken back by his alpha's orders. The man had been against the idea only a week ago. He shook his head not wanting to get a headache thinking about it. 

Most of the residents by now were already out dancing and drinking under the blood moon. 

The remaining residents were too far from the alphas room to even be aware of their alphas rut but Cid shooed them out none the less. 

After a final re-check, he was satisfied no one remained.

He looked around spotting Gray flirting with one of the omega's, who seemed more then eager to follow him wherever he may lead them but it wasn't to be. Cid placed his hand on the man's shoulder and Placed him on door duty.

 "No one in or out." he warned.

Satisfied once again he made his way to Aiden's quarters.

Aiden was in the process of stuffing his face with food trying to eat his feelings away when a knock sounded at the door. He swallowed the food in his cheeks and moved to the door. 

"Who is it?" he called.

"Malachi sent me to fetch you." Cid called back.

Aiden slowly opened the door

"Is something wrong?" he asked with a shaky voice because if the Belta of the pack was sent it's not off good news. 

"Yes and No. But you will find out soon enough." 

He ushered Aiden out of the room and down the long corridor connecting the main pack house to the omega’s. There were three doors along the corridor at each end and an armored one in the center that supported two locks one  on both sides of the door. 

As they walked in silence Aiden was getting more and more nervous. 

"Does it have to do with my mate?" he asked.

Cid turned around facing him. "Yes." 

The little omega relaxed a fraction. Cid wondered if a little push was in order he turned and started walking again but much slower this time so they stepped together side by side.

After a moment he started to speak.

"You know you are free to leave at any time." he looked at the omega and he nodded.

"The only thing is if you leave Malachi won't have anything to draw out your mate to a change." the omega's brows furrow and he nodded again so Cid continued.

"If he can't take his revenge for the murder of his mate he will go after his pack whether or not your there." this caused Aiden to wring his clothes nervously.

"But that has got nothing to do with you. You arn’t part of his pack so no harm would come to you." 

"What if I stay?" Aiden asked his words bearly making it passed the lump in his throat.

Cid stopped His serious face turned to Aiden.

"Malachi will claim you and form a bond.” Cid gave him a moment to process this before continuing.

"You can of course refuse and leave. We have a law protecting Omegas from being forced. The choice is yours." 

They walked in silence the rest of the way, they took the hall opposite the way to the office. Aiden stopped breathing for a moment before Cid stopped them in front of a dark wood door. And with a pat on the shoulder, he retraced his steps and disappeared down the hall and around the corner leading to the stairs. Slight clicking sounds echoed through the hall as he descended.