Teru

Teru emerged from the darkened confines of the underground cave.

His pack mates covered their faces as their eyes tried to adjust to the light, but Teru welcomed the pain as his pupils constricted in the early morning sun. It was a privilege to feel this warmth and fresh air. He stepped out without hesitation and basked in nature’s glory. The dense forest surrounded them. Birds chirped brightly, and pesky bugs flew around them.

Although he’d been awake for hours, he stretched his arms and legs as if just waking up. It was amazing to get out of those stuffy tunnels! Still, he had to admit that the tunnels were better than staying in the bomb shelters built nearby. Those were built before the war began. In emergencies, when vampires were suddenly in the area, they sometimes had to hide there if the caves were too far to reach. Staying inside them for up to a few weeks was the worst.

Eating ancient cans of peaches and beans older than Teru wasn’t for the faint of heart either. He had a stronger sense of smell than most. So the ancient goop’s odor would make him sick.

“You’re always the first one out,” an amused voice commented from behind. “We were in there a little longer this time. Even I’m glad that it’s over.”

Lucas, Teru’s childhood best friend, came up beside him. He was an alpha but that didn’t stop them from becoming closer than two peas in a pod. His ocean-blue eyes also strained from being exposed to the bright sunlight.

A month ago, vampires were spotted some miles away. It was too close for comfort.

The watchers, or members whose job was to spot incoming threats, returned to the territory to warn them. They all scrambled inside the large cave system, not knowing how long they would be underground. Their pack leader made the call to hide longer. If it hadn’t been because they were almost out of food and water, they would’ve stayed down there another week or two.

Oh, and they all freaking stank. It was drier than usual this season. So there hadn’t been fresh water flowing below the ground into their watering holes. Teru’s black hair was greasy from not washing it.

“The vamps have been coming around here more often. I overheard we might have to move to a different cave mouth again. The Styx Pack will fuss about it,” Teru said.

Mammoth Caves had two groups living within it—the Styx Pack and the Valley Pack. They were part of the Valley Pack. Though there were more hiding places for them, the Styx Pack had better access to the river. The leaders from long ago chose these names, supposedly after the guided tours that humans used to do for fun here. Why would anyone want to voluntarily go into the caves for amusement? Teru didn’t understand.

Lucas scoffed. “That’s nothing new. Styx can just suck it.”

“Shouldn’t you watch your language, alpha?”

“You’re not my guardian, omega.”

Teru held up his middle fingers and ran ahead.

“You’re such a hypocrite!” Lucas ran after him.

They raced through the thicket. While tumbling around on the forest floor, they’d nip at each other’s heels during the game. Their light growls disturbed the serene woods. When they played together, their actions and games closely resembled wolf behaviors. It had been so tense recently that they couldn’t help but act like pups again.

During their play, Teru got a whiff of Lucas’s lavender scent. It was comforting. He considered him as family, like a brother he never had.

The fun ended when Teru’s beta mother, Kari, appeared nearby. She tapped her foot on the ground anxiously. Her face was full of concern. “Please stop with the puppish games, Teru. We need to be quick and go back inside the caves.”

What, already?

“Don’t be so dramatic, Mom. The most dangerous thing out here is you,” he joked.

She was unbearably protective of him because of his gender. None of the other packs in the area knew of his existence. It got worse when his beta father, Rei, was taken by the vampires four years ago. He was considered dead, since blood slaves didn’t last long. If the alphas in the other sears saw that the Valley Pack had an omega—a fertile one at that—there would be a local war to claim him. No doubt about it.

And though Teru hadn’t experienced his first heat yet, it wouldn’t matter to the alphas.

“Haha, you’re a funny one,” she replied sarcastically. “Go wash up at the lake. You too, Lucas. Everyone else is there. Now, what’s the rule?”

Teru sighed. “Only wash with the betas.”

“Good boy. Go on!” His mom waved him away. She still had to retrieve their dirty clothes from the cave to wash in the river.

Lucas held his hand. “Let’s go. Ya kinda smell. Plus, there could be danger afoot.”

Teru chuckled and made “fangs” with his fingers. “Don’t worry, I’ll protect you from the scary vamps.”

“I doubt it.”

They walked to the lake. The pack was divided into two groups—one side for the betas and the other for the alphas. Men and women bathed together. If someone wanted to wash privately, they could go to a more secluded spot up ahead.

Since Teru was an omega, he had to bathe with the betas. Even though his pheromones were weak from not having a heat, they had to be careful, especially if an alpha was expected to enter their rut season soon.

“Hey, why don’t you wash with me today?” Lucas suggested. “You just had your 20th autumn season. I don’t get why Kari isn’t treating you like an adult.”

His friend turned 20 in the early summer. Their same ages helped them grow close since they were the only ones born that year. Determining the exact days of one’s birth was difficult so they estimated age based on the season. Since Teru has been alive for 20 autumn seasons, that would make him, well, 20.

Teru thought about Lucas’s proposal. For once, he wanted to make his own decisions without the guidance of his mother or the elders. “Alright, let’s do it.”

He followed Lucas to the alpha bathing area. Once on the sandy beach, Lucas stripped off his grimy clothes. Seeing Lucas naked as the day he was born didn’t faze Teru. They used to bathe together a lot as pups.

The alphas looked at the omega curiously.

“Did your mom give you permission to come here?” one of them asked.

“Jeez, he’s not a pup anymore!” another replied, splashing the questioner. “Why would he need to ask?”

“Are you coming?” Lucas asked.

Teru nodded, slightly hesitating. He took everything off, too. Once he was nude, Teru was aware that all the alphas were eyeing him. It made him self-conscious. He never had an issue exposing everything with the betas. But under the watchful gaze of alphas, rut or no rut…

He began to wonder if this was a mistake. “Maybe I should g—”

“Are you sure? I’ll keep them away,” Lucas reassured.

“I…” Teru paused. The peer pressure weighed on him. “O-okay.”

Lucas smiled and grabbed his hand, guiding him into the cool water. It was early fall. The water was getting chillier by the day. When he was submerged, Teru scrubbed the dirt and sweat from every bodily crevice. It felt wonderful to finally get clean.

Once they were used to his presence, the surrounding people continued their conversations.

“Yo, Teru, wanna know something I learned from my grandad?” Sawyer said. He was one of the larger-built alphas in the pack whose job was to cut trees for the fire pits. The guy was harmless, but Teru didn’t talk to him that much. The friendly talk came as a surprise.

“Like what?”

“I heard there’s only a 10 percent chance for an omega to have a baby.”

“I-is that so? That’s… interesting.” Out of habit when Teru was uncomfortable, he rubbed the birthmark on the back of his neck. While birthmarks were normally brown or red, his was white like a scar in the shape of a swirl.

Sawyer didn’t notice Teru’s nervous gesture. “Did you know back in the day, there used to be omegas who could change into an actual wolf? How in the world did they… do it?”

This wasn’t the best conversation to have while everyone was bathing. Teru was growing anxious, wanting to disappear under the water. Still, he didn’t want to show any disrespect towards Sawyer’s grandad who died last year from pneumonia.

“What a knowledgeable guy,” was all he could say.

Someone else piped in. “Are you going to be mates with the pack leader, Teru? It’s obvious he wants you.”

Lucas was getting mad. He turned red. “Stop with the alpha locker room talk. Can’t you see he’s getting nervous?”

They grumbled in apology. Just then, a booming voice rang through the air. Everyone froze.

“Teru! What are you doing there?!”

Teru’s mom, holding his clothes in the crook of her arm, stood under the tree line, her face revealing her horror.