I felt like my heart was going to stop when I finally saw him for the first time — the man who was to become my alpha and my mate. I traveled hundreds of miles to be given to him as a present. A peace offering. In hopes that he would allow my pack to keep their lands.

I was an Omega - the perfect gift for an alpha without a mate. However, my pack was banking on this man not being against the fact that I was a man as well. The alpha had never had a mate before, so no one knew what his preferences were. I half hoped he rejected me, but out of fear of what my old alpha would do to me if I were sent back, I prayed for all I was worth that I would be accepted. I prayed that he would be kind. I prayed he would be someone I could feel safe with, someone who would give me the love I longed for.

Zane Alastair was an intimidating man. He towered over scranny my 5' 7" body at 6' 5". He had dark tanned skin and long brown hair that fell just past his broad shoulders. His body was nothing but well-defined muscle. His biceps were thicker than my neck, which he could probably break with a small flick of his wrist. He had a full beard that gave him a mountain man look and dark blue eyes that stood out against his dark complexion.

In other words, he was everything I wanted in a man, but he was also everything I feared, and I was terrified the moment I saw him.

My alpha pulled me from the car and walked me over to meet the giant named Zane Alastair.

Zane's appearance matched the location of his pack. We drove for an hour to get to the top of the mountain that his lycans called home.

In front of me was this massive three-story house that almost competed with the trees in hight. There were numerous vehicles and ATVs parked around it and near it. This was the Alphas house. This was where I was going to live if I was accepted. If I was lucky. If I was unlucky and Zane was like my alpha, then I might get a room in the basement, and I would get scrapes for every meal.

Zane stood in front of the house with his arms crossed over his chest and a stoic expression on his face. He had his beta on his right, a less intimidating man named Laikynn Tatum, and several of his pack members gathered behind him. Man or woman, they were all scary looking, and very few of them had very welcoming expressions of their faces.

My heart was pounding against my ribs, blood roared in my ears, and my legs felt like they would give at any second.

Dorrin, my alpha, kept a firm hold on my arm as he led me toward the group of lycans. "Alpha Alastair!" he called out. "It's a true honor that you would allow us to pass into your territory and make this agreement!" Zane's only response was a grunt. His cold blue eyes were focused on me the moment I exited the car. I knew better than to meet his gaze, so I kept my head bowed.

We stopped a few yards away, and my alpha continued to speak with Zane and his beta, but I didn't - couldn't - pay attention. I was to busy trying to keep from being sick and keep my nerves under control. At some point, I closed my eyes because they snapped open when Dorrin slapped my back and pushed me forward a few steps. My heart nearly leaped out of my throat as I glanced back at him then at Zane, who was stalking towards me. His arms were still crossed on his chest, and his eyes were narrowed thoughtfully. He's deciding whether or not he wants me, I thought.

I bowed my head again and fisted my hands into the front of my shirt. I tried to stop it, but I knew my body was trembling. I closed my eyes and prayed he found me to his liking. I could hear him making his way around me, I could feel his eyes scrutinizing every inch of my body.

Would he hate how skinny I am? Would he think that I'm not thin enough? What if he doesn't like how pale my skin is or my white hair. And my eyes what if he hates my eyes like so many others did or do?

Zane passed around me a few more times before He stopped in front of me. "Raise your head." His voice was deep and gruff. With only a moment's hesitation, I lifted my head but kept my eyes cast down at his chest. "He's a little thin, but I do like his coloring." Zane mused as he reached out to touch my hair. "Show me your eyes." He said with a smile in his voice. "I bet you have baby blue eyes."

I took a shaky breath before bringing my eyes to meet his. The smile fell from his mouth slightly, and his brow rose in surprise. "Well, this is unexpected." Zane grabbed my chin and turned my head side to side.

I tried my hardest not to flinch at his touch, but I'm not sure if I succeeded.

"He's very timid," Zane noted.

"Yes, sir. He is very obedient, though." Dorrian quickly added.

Zane stared down at me for a minute before turning to look at his beta. He gave a short nod then turned back to me. He let go of my jaw only to grab the back of my neck and shove me behind him, right into the waiting arms of his beta. I gasped and grabbed Laikynn's arms to steady myself.

"I'll take him. In exchange, your pack may keep half the land you currently reside on, the rest belongs to the Blackcrest pack now." Zane's voice left no room for negotiation.

Laikynn wrapped an arm around my back and guided me through the Blackcrest lycans to the three-story house. As I was led away, I could hear my alpha - my old alpha- attempt to protest Zane's decree. I glanced over my shoulder and saw the Blackcrest lycans herding my packmates back to their cars. It was clear they were no longer welcome.

The rest was all a blur. Laikynn didn't say a word as he led me into the house. The decoration was minimalistic. There was no picture on the plain white walls, the floors where dark hardwood, and there was barely any furniture that I saw as I was taken up a staircase the second floor and into a small bedroom.

"You will be staying here," Laikynn said from behind me. I turned around to face him as my hands came up to fist in my white t-shirt again. "You are not to leave this room unless someone comes to get you, understood?" The beta's face was free of emotion as he waited for me to give a sign that I understood. Not trusting my voice, I gave a quick jerky nod.

"Good." And then he was gone. The door was closed, and I was left alone. All I could do was stand there and stare at the door, trying to prosses what just happened. My body shuddered, and my eyes began to burn. I struggled to hold it together, but as I looked around the room, a sob clawed its way out of my throat.

My room had a queen-sized bed to my right with a plain white comforter on it. There was a dresser against the wall behind me and a closet to my left that had a folding door.

I took deep breathes to calm myself down, but it wasn't working. So, I pressed my hands to my mouth to keep quiet. I started to walk to the bed but paused. Instead, I turned and walked over to the closet and pulled the door open. The white painted wood folded as it was moved to the side.

Even the inside of the closet was simple with only one shelf and an attached pole to hang clothes underneath that spanned the whole length of it. The closet was about 8 feet wide and maybe 3 feet deep.

It was perfect. I stepped in and crawled to the far back corner and curled up. I left the door open slightly to let some light in.

I sniffed and whipped my eyes as I laid on my side and pulled my knees in close to me. I closed my eyes and just focused on slowing my heart and calming down.