It was a dark and frigid september night underneath an old meeting place where clans gathered for conference. Under the old willow tree that sat on the edge of a river. It was a strange place for such a tree to be as surrounding it was a platform of flat faced rocks that rose to Vinni’s waist creating a place for at the most six to sit without touching the frostbitten grass. Vinny bit his lip in defiance, nervously waiting for his fate to be sealed. He was short and wiry thin, his anxious brown eyes shifted between the three other people a few feet away from him whom were quietly whispering something so he could not hear. He pushed messy jet black hair back behind his ears and held his spine straighter. He had been raised for this day and he had fought against it with all of his might.

A boy of similar build with clear blue eyes and shaggy blonde hair named Lunar stood next to him with a patient smile. They had been friends since they were pups. They were both born as omegas which are the weakest link to the pack. They were the child bearers and slaves. They were going to be offered to the alpha leaders of the Red sun and White moon packs as an offering for protection of the rogues that belonged to no pack but surrounded the area and sometimes acted as one. The reason it was them that were being given up as servants was to protect their pack. Nightshade was a pack of rogues. The didn't really have a territory.

Every year on the 18th birthday of an omega they are offered to an alpha or an alpha family for the family's son. Most of the omegas are put to work and don't make it till the day they have to wed. Others were wed and had no freedoms. Vinny and Lunar were the only omegas born over 10 years in the Nightshade pack. So a big ceremony was held for the occasion. The Alpha rouge was standing close to the two .He was vinny’s father Phantom. He was saddened he was to give up his only child just for protection but to reconcile his loss he was also giving away lunar; A kid he had seen as a burden to his pack’s survival since he started hanging around Vinny. Despite the attachment he mistakenly formed to Vinny he was calmly discussing the trade deal for the two boys. After what seemed as forever the three adults became silent and beckoned the two forward the trade deal having been successful.

Vinny hesitated biting his lip nervously, definitely not ready to relinquish his freedom. Lunar firmly patted vinny on the back and lazily came forth with a smile that held nothing but honey. Vinny watched Lunar halfway float to the two Alphas standing impatiently for them only to forget to follow and find himself scolded harshly by the tallest Alpha standing. Vinny forced his feet to move forwards towards them. He glanced away from both Alphas which were staring him down hard. Phantom cleared his throat and introduced them.

“Vinny, this is your new master Ryland, the other is Maxis whom Lunar will belong too. Please get along for the sake of our pact.” Vinny gazed up at Ryland; an intimidating man that towered over him at six feet tall. He had sharp blue eyes that seemed to stab into vinny’s soul and any hope of a happy future. Ryland supported long brown hair that failed to frame his face as it was pulled into a tight ribbon. His spine resigned to remain as stiff and straight as his calm composed expression. He was the sort of man whose very presence demanded silence, attention, and respect.

The man who dared stand next to Ryland stood just as tall and straight, but held a warm inviting smile and a demeanor that welcomed conversation with any that might pass by. He had fuzzy ginger hair and a far paler complexion compared to Ryland whose skin shone with the sun even in the dark of the night. Suddenly Vinny felt a bitter jealousy of Lunar, If he was going to be sent away the least they could do was put him in the paws of someone kind. Lunar would deal with someone angry and strict far better than he ever could. He looked over at Lunar who was looking Maxis up and down with a slow gaze and his ever present smile. After finishing his examing of Maxis he looked over at Ryland and did the same. Vinny sighed and poked at Lunar and whispered to him silently.

“How do you think?”

“It will be a fine time for both of us; relax.” Lunar turned his head back to attention apologizing with a small bob of his head. It was time for departure, the transaction complete. Vinny felt a thump at his back and suddenly he was walking. He felt as if his heart could have dropped to his feet as he left the only people he trusted behind him. He kept his head turned back until Lunar faded from sight. Once his head turned forward he felt the powerful fear of the unknown future overwash him. Vinny swallowed the lump in his throat and walked taller. If Lunar said it would be fine then it would be fine no matter what his gut was screaming at him.

By the time Vinny saw the territory just beyond the trees into the large clearing the sun was already rising. Vinny’s breaths were hollow and his walk beaten down to a sleepy trudge. Unlike Ryland whose steps had kept an even brisk pace vinny had struggled to keep up with. At the camp Ryland was immediately surrounded by squealing children clinging onto his legs and hanging on his arms like monkeys. The older teenagers followed behind the children with laugher and apologies while the younger pre-teens were panicking and scolding the noisy children desperately trying to pull them off of him. The adults seemed to be hanging back for their turn to give respect with a chuckle at the chaos Ryland was failing to control. Even vinny would have laughed if it weren't for the terrifying and awkward energy his exasperated expression gave off.

A belligerent laugh came from one of the huts surrounding the clearing and a tall old, but still well built man came out and approached with a taunting strut

“You could control a thousand man army right down to every strand of their fur and twitch of a finger, but even still when it comes to children you’re the most helpless and pathetic power to be seen!” The old man jeered. One of the children broke free of ryland and ran excitedly towards the newcomer to be lifted upon broad shoulders.

“I don’t want to be told you can do better than me Trage - Anyone would fall under this amount of uncontrollable energy.” Ryland glared at the old man with clear annoyance.

“Well now we know your weakness, may our enemies never have children!” Trage lifted his hand into the air as if he was lifting a cup.

“I’ll concede to that.” Ryland put a hand over Trage’s and pushed it down. Noticing Ryland reaching his breaking point Trage, with much trouble, gathered the young and shooed them back away to their mothers then adjusted his attention to Vinny that looked like he was ready to kiss the ground in his sleep.

“You actually accepted the omega?” Trage examined Vinny half with interest, half with surprise.

“I see nothing special about him.” Trage declared

“That’s because there isn’t, but I guess he can make himself useful cleaning the den or something. As long as he stays out of my sight I don’t particularly care what happens to him. Just the old man from that rogue pack Nightshade wouldn’t stop talking so I brought him along.”

Ryland looked at Vinny and waved him away.

“I’ll leave him in your care, okay?” It wasn’t really a question so Trage sighed and took Vinny by the shoulder to lead him to a shack set aside a distance away from the main camp originally to tie and keep prisoners. Vinny sighed with relief when he laid upon a mat of soft moss and feathers. Cold as the shack was Vinny was just happy to be able to lay down and rest. He was passed out cold until lunch wafted into the hut and awoke his hunger and consciousness. Trage put a small morsel of rabbit down beside the mat and stared down at vinny until it was nervously finished off.

“Look here rat, The only reason you are here is to work. This is the first and last time your are receiving anything for free; if you want to eat work as if your life depended on it because you might just be right.”

Vinny looked up at Trage with tired depressed eyes. He nodded in agreement resolving himself to do whatever it would take to survive.