“Crunch” Belen could hear sticks snapping as they drove over the worn stones and fallen leaves. Fall was supposedly beautiful on the coast, with trees of varying colours all shedding their leaves to create an amalgamation of death. Much like what Belen felt he was experiencing. 

Staring down at his shoes, soles falling off, he became lost in thought. It was only when they pulled up to the pack gates that he finally looked up. Spotting the surprise on Caleb’s face as he took in the polished gold gates, Belen sneered and turned away. He wasn’t like some superheroes. He wouldn’t face his death head-on. 

Cowering, he pulled his head down and tried his hardest not to look the guards in the eyes. Their faces would be filled with disapproval and hate, he knew. 

Obviously, Belen wasn’t the most suitable omega out there. He was taller than average for an omega and carried an air of hostility. His piercings and dyed white hair didn’t exactly help, providing even more reason for people to despise him. 

He hadn’t gone through all five stages of grief at this point and still lay at bargaining. Therefore, he quietly pondered to himself, trying to ignore the stares of the town’s people, whether or not he could somehow get out of it. Maybe if he were to annoy the privileged alpha he was supposed to marry enough, they would go crying to mommy and daddy and break off the engagement. Supposedly. If he ever actually gets to meet them before the wedding. 

Being a traditional town, Belen knew that they may have certain “customs,” if you could even call them that. What if they were to hide their precious alpha away from him because of his dirty omega status? Then his plan would be ruined. 

Somehow falling into a deeper hole of thought, Belen abruptly remembered that he didn’t have time to think. They were pulling up to the main manor when he finally looked outside and saw the whole town staring into the car, trying to catch a glimpse of the infamous omega.

A few contemptuous smiles and snickers later, Belen took in just what the rest of his life would look like. It was like he was debuting in high society. 

“How vile!” He could imagine them saying with their haughty tones. 

Caleb surely knew all that was going down, but said nothing. He stared straight ahead and somewhat attempted not to hit anyone with the car, though Belen knew he would love to if he could. Caleb hated people that got in his way. 

“Fuck me,” Belen remarked.

Looking over at Belen, Caleb sneered at the crude phrase and set to park in a far corner of the lot. 

Having no idea how to deal with this many people, Belen glued himself to the car seat and stared as if he were a small animal caught in the jaws of a predator.

It was in his nature to be always angry but incredibly lily-livered when it came to expressing that anger. He was only ever able to be mad at Caleb out loud, though he knew Caleb would destroy him if he ever took it seriously. 

So, not even noticing that Caleb had gotten out of the car and was coming around to his side to drag him out, Belen hoped that he could stay in the car forever. As long as he didn’t have to bear witness to hearing the words they were saying about him. As long as he could deny that they even existed. 

But, alas, he never gets what he wishes. 

Haled out into the world like a newborn baby, Belen felt as if he had taken his first breath. 

Hundreds of scents hit him at once. Then it was the shouts of either displeasure or anger. And finally, he opened his eyes to watch the burning sun be overcome by clouds. 

Ah. Death has finally come for him. 

But, not long after, he was disappointed to find out that he was in a different kind of hell. 

Caleb, dragging him back from the imagined underworld, took it upon himself to successfully deliver Belen inside the front doors of the manor. Though the fireman position wasn’t incredibly dignified, Belen was grateful to have someone carry him as his legs had stopped working as soon as they had arrived. 

Once he was put down, he looked around.

“A pleasure to finally meet you” A slender lady dressed in a sleek, black silky dress addressed him. 

Her Cheshire cat smiled broadened as he quivered. 

“How… delightful” She quickly responded and turned around, gliding through the house like a ghost.

It took Belen some time to adjust to standing, but once he finally got it, he trudged along behind Caleb who clearly knew where he was going.

Belen had fiercely refused to get married to an alpha he didn’t know. It’s not like he had a choice, but he chose to believe that he was independent enough to strike back at the pack council’s decisions. He could hardly rely on them most of the time, so who were they to decide how he could live his life? But alas, Caleb, his once dearest friend, had tricked him into getting in the car.

That was how he found himself here, inside this excessively large house, wooden bearings holding up the impressively high ceiling.

It was vulgar to look at, but he couldn’t stop staring at the animal heads littering the walls. They were enthralling: he felt like they were still alive and staring at him. 

Disturbed, Belen continued to tread through the house, following Caleb and the lady’s shadow that sprung upon the walls from the dull sunlight shining in through the dreary windows.

As Belen was turning the corner, distracted by the intriguing space, he found himself bumping into Caleb, bouncing off and almost falling over. 

Standing slightly forward, the lady slowly turned around to face him and bestowed a look of utter spite upon him. Her eye twitched as she turned back to where she was originally positioned. 

“Meet your fiance.”