“Hold!” the Coach growled, I recognized it and backed off immediately, the edge of the frenzy I was feeling still there waiting. “Enraged Bounded Omega’s are only out for blood, so to remove the Bound created by the Alpha, they either have to remove it at the Omega’s polite request. By that I mean the Omega would stop at the first Alpha Angel had fought with. Or the Alpha would have to die for it to be removed, this Alpha here. If I hadn’t stopped Omega Angel then surely this would be a dead Alpha.” I started to calm down but I still didn’t feel satisfied with the outcome, I wanted to fight.

“Look after your Bounded Omega, or you will be the one on the ground fighting for your life. You Alpha’s are lucky that this Omega is trained, but also unlucky that this Omega is trained. Right now, Angel is feeling a rush for a fight, that large hulking Alpha isn’t enough for him. He’s looking for blood, I’m sure he’s tolerated you Alpha’s for two years now. Now it’s different, this Omega is officially an Alpha. Any wolf who draws blood either by fighting or sex is considered a full Alpha.” Coach tossed something in front of me and by reflex, I caught it before it hit the ground. And it smelled delicious.

Raw meat.

I looked up at the Coach, and he nodded. So I started to eat.

“Enraged Omega’s needs food afterwards and the only way to calm them down is their favourite game meat. The meat needs to be raw and it needs to be a large chunk. Just because the Omega is eating doesn’t mean that the rage isn’t there still. Be cautious when you encounter this kind of Omega, because they will still kill you even after the Alpha who Bounded them.” I stopped eating on the last two bites and looked up at the other Alpha’s around me. I saw them flinch and my Omega side kicked in when I saw a bloodied Alpha. I was concerned so I picked up the rabbit meat and gently placed it in front of the hurt Alpha and backed away wagging my tail a bit. “Take it, it’s an apology,” Coach said and the Alpha stepped forward and took the offered meat. I was glad and waited. “What do you do when an Omega gives you something?” the Coach asked and the Alpha stepped forward and licked my ear when they finished the last bites of the meat.

I sat back by the Coach’s side and waited for my next order. I hardly realized that the Alphas were no longer mocking me because they would just pick on me later when the Coach wasn’t looking.

“Alpha’s know that when an Alpha draws blood they are considered a real Alpha. Omega Angel, are you prepared for the playground to become a war zone?”

I looked up at Coach, these presented Alpha’s have already drawn blood within the first week of finding their wolves. They had more fighting experience than me. “Then what was I training for if I wasn’t?”

“Hmm,” Coach nodded, “Dismissed.”

~ o ~ m ~ e ~ g ~ a ~

Beta Franklin watched the whole thing unfold at his father's request. Angel surely has gotten stronger, he was no weak Omega-Born. He would now be treated like an Alpha-born after that display and all without the help of his wolf. Justice hasn’t made an appearance since that day two years ago. It has all been Angel’s work, that Omega has rose his skill to be levelled with the Alpha.

“Amazing.”

“Another year and we’ll see about his next move,” Alpha Rodger said watching the Omega give a peace offering.

~ o ~ m ~ e ~ g ~ a ~

“No way, that is impossible!”

“I can’t believe you did that!”

I showered and changed while listening to my friends. I don’t even remember half of it, but with word spreading there is now a target on my back and a bounty on my head. A lot of Alphas will want to challenge my strength, and if I’m lucky none of the stronger ones will want to test me.

The question is, how lucky am I?

“What was it like? Beating them up?” Knox asked cautiously.

“The first one I beat up it was, it was nice. Like I was getting back at them for all the things they did, but the second one... I don’t remember how it felt. I know I wanted them to hurt, it was almost scary like I wasn’t myself.” I said, “When I calmed down and seen what the guy looked like, I was scared that he might die. I’ve never seen so much blood on the ground or on another wolf like that. Even now, I don’t even want to look in the mirror, can only imagine what I looked like to them.”

“I could tell you, but you won’t like it,” Lake said. “You looked,”

“Let’s eat, I’m still feeling hungry,” I said and moved at a quicker pace. Lake was never one to hold back information like that. If he wanted you to know, he’ll let you know even if you don’t want to hear it at all. But he’ll always respect the opinion of the other if he sees that they don’t want to know yet.

“Sure, I’m gonna get extra dessert,” Lake said and ran ahead.

“Don’t eat all of it like last time!” I called and chased after him, as I ran I smelled something. The others don’t seem to notice, but I can smell it clear as day. It was blood. Was it different for me? The others also saw and smelled but maybe thought nothing of it? Was it because I tasted it?

I shook it off and went after Lake again, this, whatever it was could wait. No use trying to worry the others, I’ll ask about it. Hopefully, they don’t see me as crazy after.

Lake had five sweets before him, I managed to get three before he took it all. We ate in silence for the most part, but the food didn’t taste right. Even the sweets were off to me, and I had no idea why.

“Does the food taste different?” I decided to ask.

“No, it tastes the same to me,” Knox said finishing his food. Lake looked at me and stared, maybe wanting my desserts. I decided to take a few more bites, it feels as if the food lost some of its flavourings and it was quite off-putting. I pushed the sweets to Lake and the rest of my food over to Knox. That might have surprised them but maybe I’ll ask the cook about it.

Walking to the line for the food I asked.

“Ah, so little Omega-Born tasted his first blood. Should have said something earlier, here you go, proud of you, kid.”

I took the food back to the table with my friends waiting and it was different, it smelled better too! Was that a chocolate cake? I took a small bite and it felt like a proper home-cooked meal.

But what makes this food different than before?

I finished the food without realizing and for once I didn’t eat like a proper Omega-Born but Alpha-Born. I decided to look around the area to try and figure out what was different and out of place here. It felt like I was around kids for some reason. Jayden and Salem were complaining once again about the botched trip to town. As I looked around I noticed that some of the Alpha’s were not showing their ears or tails, while some still did. With a quick check, I also didn’t have my ears or tail out like I normally did. I hardly even realized it while showering, but it seems the others did and was questioning it but didn’t want to say.

Some Alphas looked over at me, curious, but then had a gentle look at them and went back to their conversation. Did these Alphas accept me? Did they just accept me? Or was it a different look?

It could be a different look and my need to be accepted got in the way, I’ll need to control that.

~ o ~ m ~ e ~ g ~ a ~

I was now allowed to hunt, the group had three other Omegas to help teach me to catch rabbits and to help the Alphas catch the larger game. Never thought it would be so green out here the trees smelled amazing, dad always smelled like this and to experience it first hand was better. An Omega was behind me watching me as I tried to hunt yet another rabbit and possibly gonna fail at it too.

I was so glad that these hunters were patient with new hunters but I’m so determined to get this rabbit. I moved close enough to the rabbit watching it for any sign that it would bolt.

It did!

Towards me! I was surprised but quickly used it to catch the rabbit.

“Sorry!” I heard the other Omega call out.

“You’re good Rose, you helped Angel with his first-ever catch!”

“Really?! That’s fantastic!” then the two howled and I joined in, the blood from the rabbit is so good! Freshly caught is the best. I proudly carried my rabbit to the other hunters and they howled, and the best part, they let me keep it!

They showed me how to skin it before we brought it back, I wanted to make a blanket with the fur, so I’ll need to catch lots of rabbits. Our walk back was quiet as we helped bring the small amount of prey back since I was so bad at hunting.

“Wow! Not bad for your first hunt! You guys caught more than the other new hunters,” I heard Alpha Franklin say proudly.

“I only caught one rabbit,” I started to argue.

“And helped with catching the deer, honestly you make a great hunter,” one of the Alpha’s in my hunting party said. I enjoyed hunting with these Alpha’s they were kinder than the ones in training. Well maybe because they were actual adults and not kids, we were excused and I returned to my room in the Alpha Dorms with little complaint. I set up my rabbit fur to dry and treat and walked to the kitchen to cook my rabbit. It would be nice to eat it raw but I want to enjoy it cooked. What can I make with my rabbit? Stew? That sounds good.

“Sorry little Omega, not allowed, hey is that a rabbit?”

“It’s mine and I was going to make myself a stew with it.”

“I’ll help you if I can have a bowl? We’ll freeze the rest of your stew for you later.”

“Really?” the cook nodded smiling gently, I was a bit suspicious it wasn’t uncommon for prey to go missing from the hunter. Especially game meat but maybe this will be different. Besides, I can always catch more, can’t I? “Okay, I’ll share half with you for helping me and teaching me how to make rabbit stew.”

“Thank you! It’s not often Alpha’s bring their prey here, I’ll share my half with the rest of the cooks here if you don’t mind.” I nodded and was allowed in. We had fun cooking together and struck up a deal about my hunting. I share what I catch with them and they use what’s left for either me or feeding the Alpha’s in training, my choice.

They froze my half of the rabbit stew and we finished off what was left, they gave me some of their helpings as an extra thank you.

It went on like that for a year, it was quite peaceful, no Alpha’s trying to pick fights with me but instead acting like puppies. The meals were also more delicious ever since I started sharing my prey with the cooks. I was now stronger in my hunting and always caught more rabbits to share with the cooks. And no one stole from me, it was relaxing as I trained with the other Alpha’s.

‘Shouldn’t let your guard down too much, Pup,’ Justice Nighy cautioned, he was always guarded around other Alpha’s especially when they act nice. I yawned as I relaxed in my room after a strenuous training session. It was hell week for me again my Wolf Spirit wanted to make sure I was in tip-top shape for the assessment next week. I stretched out lazily on the floor my rabbit fur blanket the warmest thing in the room. It felt so nice to own something with a bit of colour even if it was just a shade of brownish-grey it was still different than white, black or a shade of grey.

A knock sounded at my door and I got up and opened it, Lake, Knox and Salem walked in and relaxed on my bed. Lake watched what I would do next, so I just took a sniff of the air. They smelled like they just came out of the shower, they also had a hint of blood on them.

“You guys, ok?” I asked and sat at my desk.

“Fine, why?” Salem spoke up, not using the nickname he gave me. I stared at him giving him the ‘Really?’ look.

“Told you he’s sharp,” Knox said, “Some Alpha’s thought they were tough and challenged us,” I got up and went to my drawer where I kept my first aid kit. I haven’t needed it much lately but I always had it stocked and ready. “Have you,” he paused when he saw my kit, “had the same problems?”

“No, not since I nearly killed that Alpha in that stupid show the Coach put me through,” I said as I started patching up the Alpha’s in my room carefully. Knox and Lake seemed to relax at that and I can’t help but wonder why they got into more fights than I did. Could they have something to do with my lack of challenges? Or maybe it had something to do with me being an Omega-Born? “Is it because I’m an Omega-Born?” I stopped cleaning Lake’s wounds.

“What?” Lake asked with a laugh.

“We didn’t come to you because you’re Omega-Born, we were worried that you had the same treatment. I mean, Alpha’s are challenging us left and right, Angelique.”

“Am I not a qualified Alpha? Shouldn’t I also get challenges?”

“You earned their respect, they see you as an equal. Not some weak Omega-Born that would squeal when they saw blood for the first time.” Knox added. This made me wonder, were all Omega’s this innocent in the Alpha’s eyes? Never really thought about it from the Alpha’s point of view.

“Am I weak?”

“No! You are not weak!” Salem snapped and I stared at him unfazed by his outburst. Would a normal Omega shrink at a single raised voice? “You are strong-willed, stubborn and far better than any Alpha we crossed. Angelique.”

“Right, don’t doubt yourself, you were born Omega but you are far stronger than an Alpha. Braver too, when Omega’s first go out hunting they are terrified. Q, you bounded out like you were a pup seeing snow for the first time. You also don’t back down from challenges, you welcome getting your paws dirty.”

“That doesn’t mean you are not an Omega. We know you hunt for us, why else would we get rabbit or deer every day. No Alpha would even think of sharing their prize, you look after us, making sure we are well fed and you check to see if we are hurt or ok. You sit and listen to us rant about our training or when we are feeling unsure of ourselves.”

“Not to mention you brought us together, Q. We feel more like a family now,” Lake smiled and I feel relaxed around them. Is this what I mean to them, but who am I to them? Am I an Alpha or an Omega?

‘You are an Elite Omega, it is your job to protect them. These Alpha’s count on you to protect them from dangers outside the pack. Keep that in mind Angel, you are training for a reason.’ Right, I finished dressing their wounds no more words passed between us. I am an Elite Omega, sworn to protect the pack and keep them alive. I will not let them down, I will not let them starve, I will not let them become weak. This is my pack to protect, these are my pups and I will never back down from a fight.