It had been three weeks since the recovery. Arthur Steelheart walked outside into the Rivers Pack Hospital backyard in his hospital gown. Whispers followed him—eyes noticed he was an Alpha. The surprise among the nurses and doctors was palpable. Why is an Alpha here in Rivers Pack territory? Arthur overheard. I thought only Betas and Omegas were allowed.
Then, someone mentioned that it was because of their leader, Rangar, who had saved him and brought him in. Gasps followed at the mention of Rangar's name. Arthur ignored them, lost in his thoughts. That explains why he smelled no Alpha scent but his own.
A female Beta nurse, panicking, rushed over, worried about Arthur. He should have been resting, not walking around, potentially straining his body. Arthur apologized and followed her back to his room.
Talon Rivers, a Beta, visited Arthur soon after. "You've got the nurses and doctors worried," he chuckled. "By the way, Rangar will come back to check on you after he was done with his meeting with the Alpha Alliance."
Arthur was shocked. Where he was from, Omegas weren't allowed to join Alpha Alliance meetings.
Arthur hesitated, then asked Talon, "Honestly, why is Rangar letting me stay here? Doesn't he know he's breaking the rules?"
Talon explained, "Honestly, I don't know. He was just determined to save you. I've literally never seen him behave like that. When the nurses tried to take you from him to treat your wounds, he growled at them. The nurses didn't know what to do, so they called me. He finally calmed down and let me take you to the hospital room to be treated."
Arthur felt embarrassed, realizing how much trouble he had caused.
At the Alpha Alliance meeting, Rangar's dominant blue eyes made every Pack Alpha leader and their Beta nervous. Thorne Steelheart was laughing to himself about why everyone was so anxious. Rangar Rivers noticed that Thorne smelled just like Arthur's scent. Thorne, in turn, noticed Rangar smelled like his son. He didn't say anything until after the Alliance meeting.
Later, in his office, Thorne smelled it again—a familiar scent. He looked up, and there was Rangar, the Rivers Pack Leader, a dominant Omega. Thorne chuckled.
"Rangar."
Rangar's Beta glared at Thorne with annoyance.
"He belongs to the Rivers Pack now," Rangar said with command. Thorne Steelheart's eyes turned red with anger. He released his own hormones to try and get a reaction from Rangar. Rangar only smirked.
"I see that brat is with you," Thorne said, trying to assert his Alpha supremacy.
"Why, you bas—" Rangar's Beta was cut off by a subtle hand command from Rangar. Thorne was about to retort.
"Judging by your attitude towards your son, I guess you didn't know he attempted to commit suicide," Rangar said, glaring at Thorne.
Thorne Steelheart's face shifted from anger to confusion.
Rangar closed his eyes and opened them as he spoke again. "I see judgingby your reaction you didn't know . He must've cut you off from the link i see why ." Before Thorne could stand up to speak, Rangar Rivers had already left.
The car door opened, and Rangar Rivers, followed by his Rivers Beta, got in. Standing nearby, Grey watched the car drive off. He heard them talking about Arthur and Rangar wanting to see him. Grey sighed in relief that Arthur was okay.
A familiar, gentle voice called his name. It was Elias, his Luna Omega, whose blue eyes shimmered upon seeing him. Grey smiled, embracing Elias. Elias saw the car driving away in the distance.
"Who was that?" Elias asked.
"I don't know," Grey answered. "I just came out to wait for you when I saw it. I heard them mention your older brother, Arthur."
Elias's eyes widened with shock.
Elias quickly changed the subject. "Let's head to the Pack Leader's House. Father wants us over for dinner; he has something he wants to tell us."
Grey smiled. "Okay."
Their fingers intertwined as they walked the path to the Pack Leader's House.
They were greeted by the housekeeper. Elias ran ahead when he saw his father, Thorne Steelheart. Thorne smelled cheerful. Thorne noticed Grey and greeted him. "Let's go. Dinner is ready at the table," Thorne said. "There's something I want to tell you two."
Grey and Elias looked at each other, confused. Thorne Steelheart watched them head to the dining table. He decided he would tell them about Arthur, but not the suicide attempt.
They chatted during dinner, and then Thorne Steelheart spoke, telling them Arthur was well. Elias's eyes exploded with concerned questions. "Really? Where is he? I want to see him! I want to apologize for everything!"
Thorne Steelheart cut him off. "He won't be back. He's no longer part of the Steelheart Pack."
"What do you mean, no longer?" Grey asked.
Elias looked at Grey, guilt returning to his face.
"He joined another Pack. His Pack Leader came to tell me," Thorne stated.
Back at the Rivers Pack Hospital, Rangar and his Beta's return excited everyone. He was heading to Arthur's room but suddenly halted. Something rose in Rangar as he saw Talon talking naturally with Arthur. The Beta behind Rangar chuckled inwardly, knowing exactly what it was.
"Looks like you two are having a great talk, hun Talon," Rangar said.
Talon shivered, hearing his name from Rangar. "Oh, Rangar, it's nothing. Just keeping Arthur company," he said, trying not to panic. His eyes met Rangar's blue ones, which had darkened. "Well, I gotta go. Nice talking to you, Arthur. See ya, Rangar. Hey, fellow Beta, let's head out!" Talon said it so fast, pushing the Beta out of the hospital room.
Everyone left, leaving the two of them in silence.
Arthur hesitantly pulled up his hospital covers, feeling nervous. Rangar rubbed his kinky black, curly hair, his blue eyes looking at Arthur as he spoke.
"I met your father," Rangar said.
Arthur's eyes widened. "You saw him?" He pressed his lips together, looking down.
"Yes. Don't worry, I didn't tell him what happened. But I did tell him you're no longer part of the Steelheart Pack," Rangar confirmed.
Arthur looked up at Rangar. "What do you mean, no longer part of the Steelheart Pack?"
Rangar Rivers' dark skin seemed to glow as he walked closer, stopping right in front of Arthur. His face was so close that Arthur's heart thumped, and his face turned scarlet red. Arthur squealed, burying his face in the pillow.
"Please don't tease me," Arthur mumbled. Rangar started laughing.
Rangar smirked, moving closer to Arthur's ear. "It means you're part of the Rivers Pack, and from now on, don't let anybody get close to you. Only to me," Rangar Rivers whispered in Arthur's ear.
Arthur's eyes widened with shock, blushing as he looked at Rangar's smirking face.
Rangar watched the lingering blush on Arthur's cheeks, a satisfying warmth spreading through his chest. He moved his hand, running his knuckles lightly along the Alpha's jawline.
"It means I saved you, and you are mine to protect," Rangar clarified, his voice dropping from a dominant whisper to something softer, more private. "Don't look so terrified, Arthur. I'm not a monster. But I am an Omega, and when I claim something, I hold it close."
Arthur swallowed hard, the shock fading into a quiet realization. He reached up, touching the spot on his ear where Rangar's lips had been.