Chapter 2 A NIGHT MEANT FOR DARIUS

Sebastian’s Pov

Fuck me.

I groaned deeply. Then, with all my willpower, I stopped, unfurling my fingers from my throat, keeping my other hand from reaching where I really wanted it to go. If I continued, I wouldn't be able to get back to bed and I had work to do at the pack house today.

“An omega,” I muttered, aggressively fluffing a pillow, angry and frustrated. “They’d never—!”

Omegas were the lowest of the ranks. We have the reputation of being weak and quite emotional. We meant to serve and support, not to lead or fight. The pack members could push me around like I was dispensable if they wanted, and they sometimes did. I'd even heard a slur whispered at me before. Runt, Michell had said, laughing like it was funny.

It hadn’t come as a shock to me when I’d gotten my results after the series of mandatory tests a week before my birthday. It had been kind of obvious, even though I’d vehemently hoped against it. I lived in my body, I knew what I could and couldn't do and yet I hoped.

Because Alphas like Ragnar needed someone strong, someone who could stand by their side and match their power. An Alpha like him or a Beta, even a Gamma maybe. Not me. Never me. 

It wasn't possible. I had never heard of an Alpha mating with an Omega. It just wasn’t done. The Elders would probably lose their minds if they even thought about it. 

I stood up and started pacing the room, my bare feet slapping against the cold wooden floor. My head was a mess, thoughts spiraling out of control. 

My obsession with Ragnar was getting worse. It wasn’t just sketches anymore. I thought about him all the time— when I was working, when I was eating, when I was trying to sleep. Two nights ago, I had dreamt of him again, a dream so vivid it had shook me to my core. 

In it, Alpha Ragnar had looked at me, really looked at me, like I was someone who mattered. He’d reached out, his hand warm against my cheek, and said my name. My name. Not ‘kid’ or ‘omega.’ Sebastian. Me.

I stopped pacing and leaned against the wall, my heart still racing. “They’re just dreams,” I tried to tell myself. “Just stupid dreams.” 

But they didn’t feel stupid. They were beginning to feel real even, like the Moon Goddess herself was trying to tell me something. Or maybe I was just desperate, clinging to anything that made my pathetic crush seem less hopeless. I'd bet money I didn't have that it was the former.

“What am I supposed to do? Just keep drawing you? Keep dreaming about you?”

I buried my face in my hands, as if not seeing him around me would make it better. It didn’t. I sighed and, in the quiet of my room, I admitted the truth to myself. “It’s not enough anymore.”

The worst part wasn’t even that he was way out of my league. It was that Alpha Ragnar was alone. And unmated. 

Every year, I prayed to the Moon Goddess that he’d stay that way, that no one else would claim him. And simultaneously I prayed that he'd find his Fated, so my heart could finally be shattered and let go of this stupid hope.

But truly, it was mostly the former which was selfish, I knew that, but I couldn’t help it. He was powerful, the strongest Alpha our pack had ever seen, but that power came with a price. 

The council was already whispering about it— I’d heard them when I was cleaning the pack hall last month. They said Ragnar needed an heir, that he couldn’t stay unmated forever. Soon, they’d start pushing him to choose someone, and when that happened, I’d lose even the tiny sliver of hope I was clinging to. 

Which was good. And so very bad, it would probably make me fall ill.

A loud drumroll echoed outside, snapping me out of my thoughts. The drums? What time was it? Morning already?

I got to my feet and went to the window, pushing the faded curtain aside. Sunlight streamed in and I squinted against it to see what was going in. 

Down in the street, a guard in green and gold— the pack messenger’s uniform— stood with a small crowd gathered around him. He raised his hands, his voice amplified over a speaker so it carried over the chatter.

“Fellow members of the Pack MoonCrest!” he called. “Alpha Ragnar has spoken! He invites you all to the Moon Ceremony at the pack house. There’ll be food, drinks, and plenty to take home. Come celebrate with your Alpha!”

I knew the invites would be sent by phone too and reshared everywhere within point eight seconds. Alpha Ragnar just used the messenger because it kept old traditions alive.

The crowd murmured, some cheering, others nodding as the messenger moved on, to spread the word to the next part of the pack. I leaned against the window frame, trying to stop the fake scenarios that had begun to play in my head.

A Moon Ceremony at the pack house. 

So that was why Lindsy asked me if I would be available for a cleaning job today, one that she promised a bonus for. The Alpha was throwing a party.

We celebrated the full moon every month but sometimes the Alpha had it celebrated in the pack house as an official party. The last one was about seven moons ago and I had food for three days after.

I turned away from the window, my hands shaking. A Moon Ceremony meant everyone would be there, including Ragnar. My mind went straight to the dream I’d had, the one where Ragnar had looked at me like I was the only person in the world.

I could see him again, maybe even get close enough to hear him talk. The thought made my stomach flip, and I wondered if I had anything acceptable to wear.

I started pacing again, my thoughts a jumbled mess. “Maybe I should just stay home,” I muttered, irrationally anxious. “It’s safer that way. No embarrassing myself somehow, no getting my hopes up.” 

My wolf, Alisander, had been quiet all day, but now he stirred awake. His growls in my mind were clear, pushing me in the direction of Alpha Ragnar. He was partial to him too, of course, with how obsessed I was.

But even as I’d said it, I knew I couldn’t stay away. Not when Ragnar would be there, not when I’d take any moment I could with him.

I was going. 

And maybe, just maybe, I’d finally muster up the courage to say something to him, even if it was just a greeting. And maybe he’d reply. Gods.

Suddenly I couldn't wait.