Howling at the Moons

CH 3: Protecting the Omega (Part 2)

FLASHBACK – MING'S POV - CONTINUED

One hour later, I left the Alpha's office. My head was full of the information I received, and my thoughts are swirling madly through my mind. The Alpha has given me 24 hours to decide on his request. 24 hours to choose a path for the rest of my life.

I'm only 11 years old, the time frame of 'rest of your life' doesn't even have any real meaning to me yet. Can I really make a good decision on this matter by myself? He told me I could talk to my parents, but that in the end it was my final decision. What I had to keep in mind was it wasn't a choice I could change my mind about later. I would have to commit whole heartedly and never look back, if I agreed. I needed to find a spot where I could sit and think.

The main pack house is the home of the Alpha and his family, but it also serves as a shared space for pack members to meet and hang out. There is a restaurant style kitchen and a dining area that has seating for about 80-90 pack members. A movie room with seating for 20 and a game room with lots of the latest consoles and games, plus things like a pool table and ping pong. The pack functions like an overly large family. We enjoy spending time together, and most of us meet in the pack house to do it.

Walking through the pack house as I mull things over, I look for a quiet spot to sit. However, the continuous buzz of noise from the pack members is too distracting, so I head outside for a walk.

Wandering around the pack grounds, I let my feet take me where they will. Not paying attention at all where I'm going, I suddenly crash into someone, or more accurately, they crash into me. After stumbling from the impact and barely keeping myself on my feet, I glance at the girl who has fallen to the ground in front of me. She's gasping for breath and has tears running down her face. I recognize her as one of the teenage Omegas who's been training with Wayo, Sairung is her name.

"P'Sairung are you ok, has something happened," I ask, reaching for her hands to help her up.

She flinches away from me and stands on her own. Glancing back towards the training grounds, she looks at me and sobs out, "I can't do it any more, I just can't." Turning, she again takes off running down the path towards the house.

Worried now, I speed my pace heading towards the training grounds. The closer I get the more sounds of distress and crying I can hear. I'm in a full out run now, as panic starts setting in. My thoughts are jumping to horrible scenarios of what might be happening ahead of me. As I clear the path through the tree which separates the house from the training areas, I stutter to a halt as my eyes try to comprehend what I'm seeing.

There are 10-12 female Omegas in a circle about 30 yards in front of me. Some are standing, some are on their knees, and almost all of them are crying. Directly in front of me is a woman with her back to me, she is standing but starts to crumble to her knees as I watch.

While trying to figure out what's happening, I've moved closer, and when the Omega in front of me collapses, I can see into the center of the circle. There is a small figure lying there curled protectively in a ball, and I realize it is Wayo. Small shoulders hunched, back curved, knees tucked close to his body, arms wrapped around himself as protection, and as I watch, he throws his head back as a strangled cry of pain escapes his throat.

I don't know what's happening, but I don't care, because suddenly I'm running again. I launch myself over the kneeling woman in front of me as a boy, but land in the middle of the circle as a wolf. My torn clothes are hanging around me, but I don't care.

Baring my teeth, I let out a fierce low growl, as I stand over Wayo protectively while glaring at the women around the circle. Some stumble back, startled by my growl and display of teeth. All are looking at me in fear, all except one I realize. Turning my head slightly, I find myself being stared down by Tasha. It doesn't look like she is afraid of me, but she raises her empty hands and tilts her head back offering her neck in a sign of submission.