Ties That Bind

Chapter 1

His day started promising enough, bright and sunny, not a cloud in sight, just clear blue skies.

He walked up the driveway of his university with a happy jaunt in his step and a ready smile for anyone who caught his eye. It was the last working day for the current semester and classes had ended a week ago but he still hadn't submitted his preliminary outline for his graduating project or registered for next semester's classes which was due to start in three weeks. Thankfully, his teachers had approved his late submission and his new class schedule allowed him to sleep late every day apart from Saturday's: lab days, which was a thing to celebrate in itself. He hated waking up early, he could stay up all night, if required, but once he slept even a pack of howling wolves couldn't rouse him.

His day, following, went exceptionally good until he reached home and saw cars in his driveway. He remembered his father had a meeting today, which meant a bunch of opinionated codgers. Since, he didn't want his good streak to end by being introduced to them he sneaked towards the back of the house into the kitchen.

The aromatic delicacies assailed his nose before he stepped inside and his eyes feasted on the array of dishes laid out on the centre table just waiting to be devoured. He reached for one and yelped in pain as a ladle smacked him right across his knuckles.

'Not for you. These are for the guests.' said the chef.

'Just a taste,' he said. At his unrelenting expression, 'A nibble,' he pleaded with a doe-eyed expression that he judiciously employed to his benefit.

The chef pretended to be immune to his powers of persuasion, but nevertheless, headed towards the back where he had saved some for the little scamp along with his favourite drink nom yen, though he wasn't that little anymore, at least age wise.

With a look of triumph, he took his plate and drink to the table by the window so he could enjoy the view of the garden. It was a wide and open space filled with flowers, a herb garden in a corner and even a small stream that joined a river behind a row of trees. The garden was his mothers's dominion and nobody dared ruin it, not even his father, Khaemkhaeng, Alpha of the Saynakhon wolf pack.

The Saynakhon werewolf pack was one of the largest packs in Thailand, it had over 300 active members and over a 1000 members spread across the country who had integrated themselves with humans, they could also call upon many allies from Thailand and the neighbouring countries due to the combined efforts its Alpha and his mate.

His peace was soon interrupted by his mother, the Alpha-Luna, but he was lost in his thoughts to notice her. She knew her only son lurked in the kitchens when there were guests at home he wanted to avoid. He didn't realise her presence until she kissed his head.

'Mom,' he exclaimed, getting up to hug and kiss her in greeting.

Luna Pensri was a statuesque woman, despite her name she wasn't beautiful in a traditional sense, but had an arresting quality that drew people in. Some form of inner beauty that eclipsed her looks. She was taller than most omega's and quite robust, owing to her daily routine of practising martial arts and had a bearing of a strong alpha. Her defining feature was her unbridled smile with dimples in one cheek which she had passed down to her son. Her mate often spoke about how he fell instantly in love with her smile and would agree to anything just for a hint of that dimpled smile.

However, she wasn't known far and wide for her smile, but for her diplomatic prowess she used for her varied charity work and most importantly, the strides she has made for the empowerment of omegas.

However, the Alpha and the Alpha-Luna weren't completely unbiased about omegas, especially when it came to their only son. He was a blessing after many miscarriages and stillbirths and weren't disappointed their son was an omega and not an alpha. They believed it was a blessing from their Goddess for the changes they were striving for.