Page 21 of Omega's Salvation

“I can never refuse those pretty eyes and that pout, Bambi.”

The memory disappears as fast as it came but I realize that I’ve lost all the memories where Darius is concerned. I thought he might have been taken from me when I was a kid. It would explain why I didn’t remember him. But in that memory, I am clearly a teenager, old enough to meet my Alpha mate and join the Redstone and Nightshade packs.

But that never happened.

Darius was ripped from me and neither one of us remembered the other until that memory two days ago, even though I had been having dreams of him for a while. I don’t understand why my father or Locke never said anything. Why no one in our entire pack mentioned Darius or the lack of his presence. I fight hard for more memories, my face scrunching up in determination until lips meet the bridge of my nose.

“Relax, sunshine. What’s going on in that pretty head of yours?” I stare up into Remi's ocean-gray eyes before sporting a small smile to ease his concern. We’ve stopped just inside, my Alphas peering down at me, waiting for me to be ready.

“I remember Dari—Darius. We were… he was my Beta. He came to our pack and-” I pause, chewing on my bottom lip as the realization that there’s a whole life I’ve lived where I’ve fallen in love and can’t remember. I used to think those feelings were for Flynn. It’s one of many reasons why I didn’t ditch his ass sooner after he carried me out of the forest. I thought that he had been my first love. “I lost him, Remi. Someone took him.”

Remi gathers me against his chest as the chatter of the diner dies down. Everyone is watching us but I don’t care. I need them to understand that I didn’t lose Darius when I was five.

I lost him when I was fifteen.

“How did I not know he was gone?” I mumble into Remi’s chest. It feels like the world is slowly closing in on me with every new revelation. Part of me wants to run home and wrap my arms around Darius and the other wants to rip apart everyone who’s brought me to this point. How could I not remember my own first love?

Remi’s purr starts up as he rocks me side to side, calming my erratic emotions until I lightly push against his chest. “We’ll figure this out. Let’s get through dinner and then we’ll talk to Darius, okay? I promise you that he’s not going anywhere again.”

My Alpha can’t promise that but I trust him anyway as we finally make our way to the very same booth I caught them at over a week ago. River and Remi slide in first and then Asani as I stand beside Mateo, waiting for my moment to address the pack. There can’t be more than fifteen or twenty people here, Alphas, Betas, and Omegas perched on different seats and resting against the booths along the back wall.

The council is obviously absent. I wouldn’t expect any of them to be here after Mateo fired them and especially not Kylan when he wants Mateo’s position. It must be where the rest of the Nightshade pack is.

Many smiles are staring back at me, hope and excitement in their expressions. Mateo clears his throat to grab everyone’s attention, even the few working behind the counter and in the kitchen pausing to listen.

It’s then that I realize that even though this diner is part of this little city, wolves of the Nightshade pack are also employed here.

The surge of power when Mateo begins speaking is stronger than anything else I’ve ever felt before but it’s the start of a new Nightshade pack Alpha. “The council briefly announced the change of leadership over a week ago. The torch was passed from Calista to myself and my Omega, your Luna, Nepheline. We are the next leaders of the Nightshade pack and will carry on the Awang name.” I try to keep a neutral expression because I hope he has no funny ideas for trying to get me pregnant. One day. Not now. “I’m proud to serve after my fathers, Ilsa and Gael.”

Silence follows his words and I realize he’s waiting for someone from the pack to mention the lack of Calista’s name. We don’t have to wait long. “What about your mother?” An adorable little Omega asks before his eyes widen and then he shuffles into his Alpha’s chest.

I snort and then cover it up with a cough, Mateo grabbing my hand to silently tell me to behave. “Unfortunately, it has come to my attention that the woman who helped birth me had a hand in my mate’s pack's death as well as my father’s. She has been behind many of the mishaps in our pack since Silas was exiled.” He blows out a deep breath and I squeeze his hand to give him the courage to continue. “Calista is also the cause of Gael’s decline in health. I only found out this morning but it seems that she rejected my father over a week ago, maybe longer.”

Gasps can be heard through the diner, echoing off the walls as the members slowly rise to offer their condolences. No one approaches Mateo but the sorrow in their eyes is enough. Everyone here loved their previous Luno.

The same Omega that asked the question looks horrified. It’s the same way I felt. Being rejected by a mate after bonding is the worst form of torture. Very few Omegas find a happy ending after that. Gael never will. His peace will come in death.

“She has rejected her claim on my father for reasons beyond my understanding. She didn’t bring this to the council nor the pack Alpha.” A growl vibrates through his chest as he fights back his wolf. “As such, because she renounced my father, I have renounced her as my mother. I will not tolerate such disrespect in this pack for my family or for yours. I suspect that everyone here today stands with me and the pack that Ilsa built. If you would rather stand with Calista and any others that wish our pack harm, know that you are not safe here on these lands.”

No one moves. I didn’t expect them to.

Mateo continues. “To cleanse our pack of those who would seek to harm it, I have removed the current council from power. It may be a few days before the power of transfer is complete and even longer before I am able to refill those seats. I know that as a pack we have always had elders on the council and working with us to stay true to the old traditions. Unfortunately, those same elders are also the cause of our suffering and will be removed." Many of the members are in shock at his words. It isn't every day that an entire council is overturned. "River and Remi will remain your guards; Asani your doctor.” His head turns to the booth and Asani stands before bowing his head.

“My loyalty is with the Nightshades regardless of what pack I was born into. My pack Alpha is Mateo Awang and no one else.” They share a firm glance before Asani returns to his seat.

“Nepheline will be your Luna and her two other mates will reveal themselves when they are ready.”

Mateo squeezes my hand, leaning down to press a kiss to my head. Is that my cue? Because I’m not ready. Everyone is staring at me, hesitant and yet confident that I am the right woman for the job. I plaster on a smile, trying to lean into my Omega as I accept my role.

I don’t get that far as one of the older women towards the back of the diner stands up. An Alpha with her Omega beside her and children surrounding them by the looks of it. “Luna, your mates wouldn’t happen to be male? All six of them?” I nod. “You are the one bringing back the magic. We can all feel it. The energy that was here when Alpha Mateo's father—Ilsa—was young, it’s here again. Shifting is easier and faster. We are one with our wolves where there used to be a disconnect.”

I hadn’t noticed those differences but I’ve felt the power every time Mateo’s emotions shift. “Yes, I am your Luna.” My voice squeaks and I silently curse my lack of confidence. Being the center of attention has been something I’ve known since I was born. The daughter of the pack Alpha, an Omega shifter, and the one who would join two packs together. However, being a leader of this pack while also representing mine isn’t something I prepared for.

I’m not sure what I expected. Everyone is still waiting for me to say more as I try to put something together that will show them I’m more than just Mateo’s Omega. “I noticed the magic returning when I brought Flynn to the heart, the Beta who had betrayed me. Since then, it has grown stronger as I’ve grown closer with my mates and I know that it will help us rid of the poison that has infected our pack as well as take down those who would tear us apart.” I clear my throat, Mateo smiling down at me as I grab onto the confidence trickling through the bond. “I will not be perfect. I haven’t been a good Omega for a long time, not since…” My breath catches in my throat but I shake away that nightmare. "I will be the best leader I can be and I have the strongest pack of mates surrounding me to do it. I will stand by Mateo as he leads and take the lead where I'm needed but I'm not going to be perfect. I just ask that you give me a little grace." A chorus of laughter meets me when I hold up my thumb and pointer finger less than an inch apart.

I look from Mateo to Asani to River and then Remi, all of them with heat in their eyes and proud smiles on their faces.

Someone starts clapping and then another until it’s a mass of applause and howling in human form. The air feels supercharged as Mateo scoots me into the booth and then cases me in, a waitress coming to take our order. I recognize her as she smiles and says how happy she is that we are the new pack leaders but I can barely hear anything over my heart beating in my ears.

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