An Idol for the Omega

Chapter 9: A Gift

Braden

The warm, Spring sun shines down and warms up my fur as I pass out of the tree-filled woods and into the large field that will lead to the Luna's clinic. As soon as the Alpha called me through the pack link, I quickly found a replacement for me playing with the school-age pups and shifted. It's unusual to be called to the clinic, especially during working hours, and my heart is racing faster than my feet. My first worry is that something is wrong with Jae. Second to that is another scandal.

I was absolutely devastated last time when, a couple of months ago the Alpha banned me from my phone, as well as any online access, completely out of nowhere. Luna Alec assured me Jae was completely fine, but no one in the pack was allowed to share whatever they knew. I begged and begged at the Alpha's feet to know what was going on with Jae, until I was commanded to stop.

For almost three days, I laid in my room and refused to eat. My wolf whined at me the entire time and horrible scenarios pulsed through my head. Finally, the Alpha called me to his office, where the Luna and him were waiting.

At first, Luna Alec kept talking about how Jae was fine and that nothing really happened. My nerves couldn't take anymore and I burst into uncontrollable sobs. It took a while before they could calm me down. Eventually, I'd worn myself out and settled into slightly hiccoughing tears and then the Luna explained.

He told me everything in his conversation with Jae and that it was a misunderstanding. After hearing all the details, I could see their concern. Who knows what would have happened if I'd only seen the original article. The Alpha gave me my phone back and after I'd slunk back to my room, I pulled up everything, not being able to stop from reading it myself.

It helped that I'd heard the truth from Luna Alec, but it was really painful to see photos of my mate, smiling and chatting with a beautiful and talented woman. An idol herself, they probably have a lot in common, too.

It made me realize that there will come a day, where these articles will be real. As the years pass, Jae will start dating, maybe several different times, before eventually getting married. I'll be able to hear about his children through press-releases.

Just thinking about, turns the constant ache in my chest into a lead ball. Coming to a stop, I put my head down low, letting a few whimpers out. I only wallow for a few seconds before I force myself to straighten back up. It is getting a little easier to deal with.

I've set aside time first thing in the morning, where I can go through my notifications and any updates or news I can find. This gives me my energy to get up and get moving. During the day I often leave my phone behind completely while I work at my pack duties.

Any free time is spent volunteering to work, or sometimes even to take on training or patrols, anything to tire myself out. If I'm not exhausted, falling into bed at night, I know that I won't be able to sleep. Slowly, with help from the pack, including Beta Reed, I've gotten a better balance on pack life and missing my mate.

Now, I just need to get through whatever news awaits at the clinic. Resuming my run, I try to pick up my pace. I can see the two-story structure in the distance, settled far enough from any main roads that there are no neighboring buildings.

There's a couple of unfamiliar cars in the parking lot, along with the Luna's and Dee's, another werewolf from our pack who doubles as Luna Alec's receptionist and assistant. I head straight to the recently extended back half of the building, a quickly established add-on that is specifically equipped for treating the pack, depending on what form their in. While the Luna is an outstanding vet, he shares the responsibility of our care with the pack's doctor. The Luna always makes it clear that he only treats the four-legged versions.