Quietly slipping into the house, Sean didn't bother to turn on any lights. He could see just fine in the dark and wanted to sneak upstairs before his parents discovered he was back so early. He'd managed to limp over to the steps, when the light in the living room clicked on and his Alpha of a father asked in a cool tone of voice. "What happened?" Shrugging, Sean avoided looking in the direction of the living room when he said casually. "Nothing much. I got bored." The chair squeaked as his dad rose from it, causing Sean to sigh heavily in defeat. Leaning against the doorframe to the living room, his dad coolly stated. "Did Mark drive you home?" Sean gave him a subtle nod but kept his eyes low. He wasn't afraid of his dad, but he could sense what was coming. Tapping his nails on the frame, his dad exhaled out with careful thought. "Why are you limping?" Bowing his head, he mumbled out embarrassed. "I wasn't watching where I was going. Dad, I'm tired. Can I-?"

His dad cut him off to say firmly. "Sean, we've talked about this. You promised to go out and socialize. You can't just keep running back with your tail between your legs. Mark is... You can't isolate yourself from the others in the hopes that Mark will pick you. You need to put yourself out there." Whimpering a little, Sean whined back softly. "I do. I hang out with my friends all the time." His dad stepped closer, firmly blurting out. "I'm not talking about the Omegas, Sean. At this rate, when your Heat comes no one will be-" Sean couldn't take it anymore and snapped back with submissive dread. "It will NEVER come! It's a month late! No Alpha wants a broken Omega anyway!" Sean started to limp quickly up the steps, while his dad called up gently. "Sean, don't say that. You're not..." His dad drifted off and Sean slowed to a stop at the top of the steps. His Omega mother was standing there now in her pajamas. Giving her mate a warm sleepy smile, she told him calmly. "Honey. I got this." His dad gave her a guilty nod, then walked away.

Wrapping her arms around her ribs, she sweetly told Sean. "Talk to me." Sean shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. Moving closer, she whispered to him. "Did the Alphas say something about your slick?" Sean closed his legs tight in shame but shook his head. Only to sniffle out in a broken voice. "Mark... He made me feel so..." Touching the underside of his chin, she smiled brightly and finished off for him. "He said some things that made ya feel bad?" Nodding, he hugged himself and mumbled out. "I didn't know he... he felt that way about Omegas..." Coaxing him up the steps and toward the bathroom, she comforted him with a light chuckle. "Oh, puppy. Don't take it to heart. I'm sure he doesn't mean it to sound... mean." Sean flashed her a doubtful look, prompting her to help him strip as she said confidently. "I know how it sounds, but it's true. He's fresh out of Alpha school. He's used to talking and acting in a certain way. It takes them awhile to adjust. All that testosterone and territorial dominance stuff that he's used to doing around all those other Alphas... It's hard to shake off."

Sniffling, Sean shook his head, telling her firmly. "You didn't see him, Ma. He was so... disinterested and closed off." Smirking, she started the tub and chuckled out. "Yep. Sounds like he's still full Alpha mode. You have to understand, Puppy. Alpha school isn't anything like the Omega school. He didn't get a chance to have fun. He was trained to protect, fight, and provide." Rolling his eyes, he mumbled out. "That's a lie. I saw them dance..." His mom snorted, shooting back bluntly. "I know you think that's what it looked like, but for them... that is nothing more than synchronized training. Learning to work and think as a unit. To know one's strength and that of your team members. You can ask your father. That's not playing. It's a display of dominance and skill." Her smile faded as she added scented bubbles to the bath, before adding very quietly. "The sad truth is, puppy... Mark and the other Alphas... They've been drilled so hard that they've forgotten how to be anything else. So, try not to judge him too harshly."

Helping him into the tub, she sweetly informed him. "Whatever he said is probably due to the fact that they trained him to handle everything... except horny and cuddly Omegas. And that scares him. You are something new and different to him. You're not puppies anymore. You won't look at each other the same way or feel the same way. It's a lot to get used to." Sitting on the edge of the tub, she lifted his leg to help clean the dirt off his scuffed knee and twisted ankle. He was used to bathing around her and the other Omegas. It was natural and provided a sense of safety. Since Alphas were not allowed to bath with them for... obvious reasons. Even Betas were told to keep their distance from Omegas. Omegas craved and needed strong social circles to thrive both mentally and physically. He wouldn't have to worry so much after he was claimed, but until then... Alphas and Betas could pose a danger if caught off guard by an Omega's Heat.

Relaxing in the warm water, Sean asked her a bit distressed. "Ma? Is something wrong with me? I... I should have had my..." He couldn't finish, allowing his mom to reassure him. "Everyone's body is different. Your Heat will come when you are ready. Don't stress over it." Sighing, Sean grumbled aloud. "But if it doesn't come soon..." He blushed when he saw his mom giving him a knowing smile. Pouring water over his leg, she cooed out. "You're hoping Mark will scent you out?" Reluctantly nodding, he broke down and just blurted out. "It's selfish and stupid, I know. But ma... I can't explain it. I just... I see him and everything aches. I've tried not to like him. Honest, I have." Smiling, she put his leg in the water, purring to him lovingly. "Sounds like something for the great mother Luna to deal with. She decides who will become mates for the strangest reasons."

Helping to soak and soap up his hair, she simply continued. "You have just as good of odds as any Omega to be scented out by him, pup. Who knows. Maybe the great Luna is withholding your Heat for a special reason. My great grandmother used to say that in the old days... an Omega got their first Heat because they were in the presence of their mate. Their bodies just... knew and signaled each other." Sean's heart sank when he grimly mumbled out. "I was around Mark today... nothing." Tugging his hair playfully, she sweetly retorted. "Give it some time. He made you feel bad. It's hard to attract someone to you when you don't feel like attracting them, pup." Kissing his forehead, she whispered to him with a prodding grin. "He drove ya home. That has to count for something. Not only that... but I saw him smile at you. It's hard to make an Alpha smile like that." Flicking a few bubbles with his fingers, he admitted a bit brokenheartedly. "I confessed to him... He wasn't smiling then..."

Touching his cheek, she reassured him. "Alpha's rarely say how they feel or what they think. As the Pack Leader's son, he... he probably doesn't want to hurt you by giving you false hope." Sean nodded, slipping under the water to rinse his hair. Patting his shoulder when he came back up, she told him sweetly. "Finish up and get some rest, pup. The Pack Leader is holding a meeting tomorrow that demands Pack attendance." Sean waited until she left, before sinking in the water as he whined out. "Ya... she's arriving to take him from me." Finishing up his bath, he carefully got out and slipped off to his room. Sitting on his bed, he began drying his hair but stopped when he looked out his window. Across from his bedroom was Mark's bedroom. He could just see Mark inside. Mark was slipping out of his leather vest, revealing his strong muscular back. Sean could barely breathe. Tossing it aside, Mark started to unbuckle his pants, and a tiny whine left Sean.

He told himself not to watch, but he couldn't stop. Mark started to push the hem of his jeans down his hipbones, then stopped. Suddenly, glancing over his shoulder to look out the window. Sean froze, there was no point in trying to hide. His ankle hurt too much to move that fast. He was sure he looked guilty, but he couldn't tell if Mark was upset with him. He hadn't been looking at his face when he turned to face him and slowly closed the curtain. Mostly because Sean's eyes could only widen at the sight of Mark's open pants that revealed thick dark public hair to him. Even after the curtain closed, the image was burned into his mind now. Gulping, he glanced down and cursed as he felt the slick start to leak from him again. Cleaning up, he slipped into bed with a deep groan of frustration. When he finally fell asleep, Sean never wanted to wake up, because Mark was there. In his dream, he replayed his interaction with Mark.

Mark was charming when he offered him a ride. Instead of taking him home, Mark just drove around some backroads. Finding a nice private spot in the woods, he confessed to him and Mark responded by pushing him against a tree and kissing him. Everything about it was perfect. He didn't even stop Mark when his hand drifted down his stomach to cup his crotch. Giving it a light squeeze that made Sean part his lips with a moan for Mark to claim with a deeper kiss. Only for the moment to be ruined by a shrill ringing. Groaning as he opened his eyes, he turned his head to stare at the nightstand. The wired phone flashed as it continued to ring for a few more seconds. After it had stopped, Sean waited until his mom called up to him. "Sean! It's for you!" Lazily picking up the phone, he put it to his ear and grumbled into it a bit bitterly. "Somebody better be dying." On the other end, Arin chuckled out. "Ooo, got up on the wrong side of the bed this morning, princess?"

Letting out a low growl, Sean told him with disinterest. "I'm hanging up now." As he pulled the phone away from his ear, he heard Arin yell into it. "Wait!" Rolling his eyes, he put it back to his ear and yawned out. "What is it?" Arin's voice turned excited when he teased out. "Rumor going around the dog park is that Mark drove you home! Is that true?" Weakly glancing out the window toward Mark's window, he asked defeatedly. "Where did you hear that?" In the background of the phone, he heard Ethan answer loudly. "Tiffany saw you two together! She was making out in some Beta's car and saw him pick you up!" Arin's voice cut back in shortly after. "You sly dog! I was going to chew you out for ditching us until I heard the news! So?! Details!" Sean perked up, barely listening to his friends, when he saw Mark's mother push Mark's curtains open. Revealing that Mark was yelling something at his father. Cliff pointed directly at Sean's house, yelling something in return and Mark pointed back at his father before yelling something even louder.

Suddenly Arin called out from the phone. "Sean? Sean, are you still there? Did it not go well?" Lowering his eyes from the window, Sean answered numbly. "It... There is nothing to say. I broke my phone, and he offered to drive me home. That's it." Arin's voice dropped into a sympathetic tone, when he said gently. "Oh, Sean. You told him, didn't you...?" Sean inhaled slowly, admitting honestly. "Doesn't matter. He'll find his mate before my Heat comes anyway..." Sean's eyes teared up as he snuck another glance at Mark. Mark was alone not and kicking his mattress over and over in a rage. After throwing a trophy against the wall, Mark slid down the wall by his bed to drop his face into his hands. It broke his heart to see him so distressed and unhappy. While over the phone, Arin told him a little bashfully. "Actually... I might know a way to help your Heat start up. It apparently worked for my cousin. She called me yesterday and was all excited about it. Maybe it could work for you?"

Sitting upright in bed, Sean asked eagerly. "What did she do?" Arin struggled to find the words, but Danny chimed in from the background. "She fucked herself silly with an alpha toy!" There was a burst of laughter, before Arin snapped out at them. "Not so loud! My parents are in the kitchen!" Narrowing his eyebrows, he nibbled on his thumb when he asked. "That really worked?" Arin shushed the others, before answering casually. "It seemed to. She said that if you... play with it inside you for about ten to twenty minutes. It tricks your body into thinking an Alpha has mounted and knotted into you. Forces your body into a Heat to... to start breeding." Removing his thumb from his between his teeth, he whined out. "I don't have that kind of toy. I have... teething toys and heating blankets for when my Heat comes. I never... I was too embarrassed to..." Sounding genuine, Arin told him casually. "Get up and meet me at my house. I'll take you to get one. You should have at least one to help with your Heat anyway."

Nodding, Sean told him before hanging up. "I'll be over in ten minutes." Launching out of bed, Sean dressed himself and started racing down the stairs two at a time. Almost running into his mom, who stated a bit startled. "Whoa! Where are you running off to?" Snagging her cup of coffee, he took a sip before handing it back and answering. "Arin's. He wants to take me shopping. I'll be back after." Sean only made it to the door, when his dad called out from the kitchen. "Heel!" Sean stopped cold in front of the door, waiting for him to say what he wanted to tell him. Reaching the hallway, his dad finished a plate of food, before telling him seriously. "We don't have time for that today. The Pack leader wants us all in the park." Sean gestured to the door, pleading hopefully. "Dad, please? I'll just be a minute!" Shaking his head, his dad told him firmly. "All of the Pack is heading there now. You can shop if no one will be there. Now get your stuff and let's go."

Sean uttered a mix of submissive growls and whines but obeyed. An hour or two later, he was sitting in the park next to his friends in a row of uncomfortable chairs. At the podium, the Pack leader was going on and on about the current situation with the Southern Pack and their hardships. Finally getting to the part about arranging his son to the Southern Pack's daughter. The crowd burst into startled gasps and some Omegas whined with disappointment. Nobody really liked this idea. It was unnatural for a Alpha to pair with another that they hadn't scented out for themselves. Nothing good could come of it. His friends all shifted to see his reaction, but he didn't have one. He already knew this was coming. Arin placed a hand on his shoulder, squeezing it in the hopes of comforting him. Internally, Sean just felt numb to the whole thing. His eyes stared only at Mark. Mark looked just as unhappy as he was. His own mother tried to comfort him, but Mark refused to look at anyone.

From the podium, Cliff calmed the crowd by stating over their loud concerns. "I understand! But there is no reason for concern. The Southern Pack has agreed to this. They can't afford to starve through the winter, and we can't afford to go to war with them. This way, we all win without bloodshed. This way, we can expand our territories into one. It adds fresh blood into the Pack for our youth and gives them room to roam. To start families of their own. This will make us stronger as a pack! My son is doing this for all of us." Arin nudged Sean's side, whispering over his shoulder. "Ya... He sure looks happy about that." As if getting the same vibe from the crowd, Cliff turned to look at his son. Whatever expression he gave Mark, prompted Mark to stand and announce to the Pack in a voice that sounded dedicated and hopeful. "I know it's unfair to our Omegas, but it's because of them that I must do this. The Southern Pack has lost a lot of their Omegas to starvation. While here... Our Omegas thrive and almost outnumber the Alphas and Betas."

A few members of the pack chuckled, and Mark smiled before continuing with a heavy sigh. "They are offering all they have. A strong healthy Omega. It will end our fighting in the spring and fall over migrating herds. It will benefit us in the long run. As the future Pack Leader. This is my duty, and I accept it. For the pack." A few members repeated the phrase 'For the pack' before Mark turned away to sit back down. Sean's heart felt so twisted and heavy. He wanted to cry and lash out all at once. Glancing at his phone, Cliff told them all seriously. "They will be arriving shortly. Seems they got held up. Their Pack leader's Luna is pregnant. So, they are being cautious. When they get here. I wanna have a feast in their honor. They've eaten very little in the last few months. I wanna start things off right. I wanna show that we want things to work out between us." Cliff started to say more, when the rumbling of trucks came thundering down the road toward them.

All the Alphas and Betas rose to their feet and the Omegas quickly scurried to the back of the park. The big black trucks came to a halt at the park gate, before a man in a suit stepped out and announced in a friendly tone of voice. "Easy, now! I mean no harm. Where is Cliff Fischbach? Your Pack Leader?" Cliff stepped closer to the man, stating in a guarded deep tone of voice. "I'm right here. Where are you from stranger? What's your business here?" The man removed a thick letter from his pocket, cautiously walking closer to hand it off. Mark snatched it and passed it to his dad, while the stranger announced to the Pack. "I'm an envoy from the castle! The Apex Alpha's son is ready to find his mate. Your Pack has randomly been selected. All eligible unclaimed Omegas will be tagged and transported to the castle to be presented before the prince. If he doesn't find a mate from among you. You all will be safely transported back here. By orders of the Apex Alpha. To refuse him... is unwise."

Cliff took a moment to read the letter, before nodding and passing it among the Elders of the Pack. Sean's heart raced wildly. They were going to take him away? For how long? After a moment, Cliff announced coolly. "Alright. They are yours." The stranger nodded and snapped his fingers. From the trucks, the sliding doors were thrown open and armored Betas hopped out with handfuls of blue collars with blinking trackers. Some even carried lassos. Cliff raised a hand, trying to say something to the strangers, but it was too late. The sight of the armored Betas had spooked the Omegas and caused them to bolt in all directions with startled yelps.  To Be Continued...