Page 50 of Hunting Their Omega

“We were told there were no longer fated mates—that the blessing died with the Witch’s curse. We know now that is not true,” I said.

“How do you know you are fated?” another male asked.

“We can feel each other’s pain and sense location like tales of old.” I look at Wynn for permission to share our newest discovery. “We can even use our bond to call on each other.”

“By the Goddess,” someone exclaimed.

The pack’s head Healer, Korren, stood. “What does that mean regarding the Hunt?”

I met his gaze. “It means that the Council has either forgotten this is possible or disregarded it. If the latter is true, they’ve continued the Hunt knowing they are displacing potential fated bonds.”

Rage flowed through the bond. Every day, we discovered new half-truths the Council had spoon-fed the packs to encourage their ignorance.

The males were outraged. They understood the ramifications of the Council’s actions, the fate they wished to deny. To impede the joining of mates was to reject the Goddess’s will. It was sacrilege.

“What else have we been lied to about?” Korren asked.

Wynn stepped forward, and I listened as he dispelled the common fallacies surrounding Omegas. It was eye-opening to hear how many believed that Omegas were mere vessels for breeding, weak and inconsequential in the pack hierarchy.

My wolf growled. The Council had poisoned the well. Isolde’s smiling face flashed through my mind. Knowing the life they subjected her to—a life countless Omegas still led—made me want to rip every last Council member to shreds.

How could we have been so blind?

Had the other packs figured out the Council’s flaws? Were they choosing to overlook them?

Alaric’s voice rang out, firm and commanding. “Omegas are integral to our pack’s survival. Even before the Goddess’s gift, they balanced the dominance of Alphas, assisted Betas in soothing the pack, and offered Gammas respite. Their unique instincts and abilities are not weaknesses.”

“This misconception about pups needs to end,” Wynn interjected. “Omegas have boundaries, and their autonomy is not up for debate.”

“The Council’s decision to keep Omegas out of sight isn’t about weakness,” I stated. “We thought it was to shield them from harm and safeguard the future of our packs, but now we see the damage they have caused.”

My words settled over the assembly. I saw perspectives shift as our males listened to the truth. It was a pivotal moment, a chance to rewrite the narratives that had long clouded our understanding.

The bond hummed bright as sunlight, glowing with the Goddess’s approval.

“What will we do about the Council?” Valor asked. “We cannot call ourselves honorable if we allow them to abuse the Omegas or subject them to their Hunts.”

A murmur of agreement rose through the gathering.

It was true, but our hands were tied.

For now.

“The Council has the upper hand, but they won’t for long. For now, we must play by their rules to an extent. A single pack does not have the power to eradicate the Hunt or the Council, so ourmain concern is Hidden Creek. Going forward, the objective of the Hunt will be to rescue the Omegas we capture.”

Theories circulated among the gathered males about hidden agendas and ulterior motives as I walked over to Alaric and Wynn, giving the room time to discuss the news.

“That went better than expected,” Alaric said, crossing his arms and scanning the room for any hint of aggression or unrest.

“It’s a good thing,” I said, draping an arm over his shoulder. “Maybe you should act like it.”

He snorted, turning to Wynn. “That was a bold statement you made.”

“It’s the truth. Now that we know fated mates exist, we’ll send our units in to sniff them out.”

“And if they don’t find them?” I asked.

“Then the unit and Omega can either choose to keep the bond or wait for their fated mates, just as it was in the days before the war.”

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