(11). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 11: Broken Bonds don't heal .Now alone outside, Carlos has time to breathe in the crisp night air. It’s cold, goosebumps creeping along his bare arms, but the anger inside is boiling. His stomach burns and it hurts because Ricardo is not at his side and their bond is practically shattered. Shattered into tiny pieces he doesn’t want to clean up, not right now.He crouches down to pick up the pile of clothes left behind. The only thing intact is the sweater because it’s so thick, but the pants and underwear are shredded. The sweater smells like sandalwood and Carlos can’t seem to let go of it even when the meeting ends and wolves slink out of the meeting hall, and all he can feel is pitiful eyes behind his back.“Erik said that if anyone else wants to say stuff like that, he’ll kick them out of the pack.” Leo says, standing a comfortable distance behind Carlos. “Jeff has always been a hot head, Carl. Especially with his mom. . . You can't blame
(12). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 12: You came--You called .Almost two days into the Ricardo’s disappearance, the pain has hardly subsided and Carlos doesn’t have the energy to leave the infirmary. Whenever Jorge and Yara came in, they brought with them a spare change of clothes for Carlos and some food that hasn’t lasted for long. Carlos’s weak, doesn’t want to go anywhere, doesn’t have the motivation to do anything but sleep for hours on end like he’s in hibernation or sadly look through the books.He can’t stay here forever.And Leo thinks the same.On the second morning, said best friend practically bursts down the front door to the infirmary.“I can’t let you mope in this bed anymore,” the younger omega states, crouching next to the cot. “Come on, get up, we’re going outside. It’s so nice out and you need a bath and get some sun.”Carlos blinks at Leo and frowns. He does need a bath, he doesn’t smell 100%. “But I don’t wanna leave,” the omega croaks, squinting when he l
(13). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 13: All he needs is an omega to reel him in .The alpha grins at that, wading over to close the distance between them. “Everything affects me more, remember?”The omega clears his throat and leans back against the rocks. “I didn’t think you’d come back.”That sobers them both, reminding them of exactly how harsh their last interaction had been. Ricardo looks properly chastised, which surprises Carlos, considering he’s almost seen nothing except pride and a bit of arrogance coming from the mountain wolf.“I didn’t mean what I said,” Ricardo finally says, which Carlos is figuring out by now that this is probably as much of an apology as he’s going to get. “When I left, it felt— God, you have no idea how bad it hurt, but I was too proud to come back, too stubborn. I didn’t think you’d want me back. But I remembered. . . you said you liked flowers and rabbits so . . .”“No, thank you,” Carlos replies shyly, “you remembered and that’s. . . that’s n
(14). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 14: When Alpha meets Omega.Ricardo isn’t allowed in the omega den for obvious reasons, so it’s Leo that helps Carlos with the bedding. Kai offered to take Ricardo to storage to find some clothes, which leaves Leo free to whine at Carlos without either of the alphas hearing them.“It’s not fair,” the younger omega gripes, hefting an armful of blankets over his shoulder. “You’re leaving me forever!”Leo’s being so overdramatic. “I’m not leaving forever, you know where to find me,” Carlos huffs, “besides, once you mate with Kai, you won’t be in the den anymore. You were gonna leave me first.”“But who am I supposed to cuddle with at night until then?”“Uh. . . “ Carlos’s stumped there. “Yourself?”“You are the actual worst . Why are you my best friend?” Leo laments as they make the trek back up to the infirmary, and he wrinkles his nose when they get there. “Why didn’t they give you one of the old cabins? Staying here is so lame.”Carlos rolls h
(15). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 15: maybe in the future .As luck would have it, Leo begins to show signs of having a heat not even twenty-four hours after Ricardo’s return. He’s affectionate enough on a normal day, but pre-heat Leo to exceptionally cuddly. If he isn’t clinging to Kai, nosing along the alpha’s neck, he’s hanging off Carlos, complaining about how hot he feels and how his head hurts.As wolves mature, their heats and ruts usually come and go with the cycle of the moon. A full moon means a stronger pull to mate, often sending alphas into a rut and omegas into a heat. It’s not a full moon, but wolves in their late teens and early twenties are prone to off cycle heats and ruts, so it’s really not a cause for concern.Pre-heat symptoms usually last a day, and they consist of feverish symptoms, a need for physical contact, and nesting, among other things. Carlos’s helped Leo through heats before, but with Ricardo here. . . well, he can’t stay holed up in the omega
(16). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 16: don't like you smelling like another alpha The next morning, after wriggling out of Ricardo’s hold in bed and promising him he’d be back, Carlos slips out of the infirmary and decides to check up on Leo in the den. When he gets there, however, he discovers that Leo is not in his nest, where he should be.A wave of mild panic takes over Carlos as he backtracks out of the omega den and resorts to his sense of smell instead. He knows Leo’s scent, has been around it since the younger was born, and he finds himself breaking into a run towards the forest chasing after cinnamon and. . . alpha musk.You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.Carlos almost stumbles over a fallen log but regains his balance and storms through the forest until he’s right on top of them. Them. “Leo!” the omega calls, and when he thinks he hears muffled voices nearby, he doesn’t care about privacy as he bursts into a clearing and finds Leo and Kai together on a blanket, anot
(17). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 17: what is happening? .And that’s how they find themselves in the river.Dragging Ricardo out of bed this early is a feat, but Ricardo’s awake and alert because he just wants the faint smell of Kai off the omega as soon as possible.After making Ricardo turn around again while he undresses, Carlos slips into the water and wades over to where the alpha is, leaning against the rocks on one side of the riverbed expectantly.“You know, you’re going to have to get over me seeing you naked. What are you going to do when we shift together?”“I’m going to make you face away from me during that too.”“You’ve got to be the only wolf still concerned about modesty.”The omega sticks his tongue out in response.“Get clean, little omega,” Ricardo orders with a cluck of his tongue, sinking lower in the water until it brushes over the tops of his shoulders. “You smell.”Carlos grumbles but disappears below the water completely for a few seconds before emerg
(18). When Alpha meets Omega. Chapter 18: he would do anything for his omega .Ricardo and Carlos make it back to camp just in time to see Jeff, Gavin, Jedidiah, and several other wolves appearing out of the tree line. The hunt looks like it was a success. Several of the younger alphas and betas are dragging deer behind them in addition to lots of rabbits and even some fish.Jeff and Ricardo haven’t seen each other since the pack meeting, but the tension is palpable the instant the two alphas lock eyes.“Ricardo . . .” Carlos says quietly, lacing their fingers together and squeezing once. “Don’t. Please .”The silver haired alpha’s mouth twitches once, a reflex of wanting to curl his lip back over his teeth in a dominant snarl. But with Carlos at his side, Ricardo visibly swallows and averts his gaze as they continue walking into the camp.“Surprised to still see you hanging around, mountain wolf,” Jeff calls out across the clearing, a sneer twisting his features into something ug