The train ride was quiet. The first half of the trip was packed with students heading home, but as we got closer to the end of the line there were fewer and fewer people aboard. Not many would be taking the train to the last human village that was right at the end of the Dark Pine forest.
Unsurprisingly once I left the small station there was a black SUV waiting to take me back to the wolf's den. It was my father's beta, Alex that was leaning against the vehicle as Peter and I walked up to the vehicle.
"Welcome home Prince." He addressed me with a bow.
I sneered. "You know as well as I do that I am no prince in the eyes of the pack." I opened the back door, flung my bag inside and got in. Peter slid in beside me with even asking if he could accompany me to the pack house. I was sure that is where my father would be instead of the private residence he had for my mother and where I was planning on spending my visit.
Alex had a slight smile on his face as he closed the back door and walked over to the driver seat. He looked at me in the rear view mirror as he started the SUV. "Regardless of your Mother's side of your parentage you are still the only son of our Alpha which still makes you the Prince."
I didn't know what it was with betas and their cold logic. Was being blatantly truthful a quirk of their gender? Regardless it did make them excellent strategists and Alex was the best.
The ride through the forest highway and into the village was a quiet one. My heart started to hammer in my chest as the giant manor that was the pack house came into view. Peter gave my shoulder a reassuring squeeze as we pulled up to the main doors.
Alex opened my door and I reluctantly got out of the safety of the vehicle into the open frigid air of the forest. Peter was out the other back door and waved a hesitant goodbye before he made his way down the drive towards the village before he could get wrapped up in pack politics.
"Coward." I mumbled as I turned to watch him go. I saw him flip me off and knew he was smiling as he kept walking. "Stupid wolf hearing."
I heard Alex chuckle behind me as he walked up to the door of the house and opened it. "Shall we Prince?"
I let out a shuddering breath as I attempted to slow my erratic heart and nodded as I followed him inside.
The front entrance of the house was large and tastefully decorated with beautiful dark hardwood floors. It opened up into an open concept living area with a huge dining area and a kitchen with all stainless steel appliances. There were two curved staircases that went up to the guest rooms. The third floor is where my father's office and the family library was. This was also where the beta and his mate had their suite of rooms. The Alpha and his family all had rooms on the fourth floor and only the family, the beta, and my father's personal staff were allowed up there.
Alex lead me up the stairs to the third floor and down the hall to my father's study. I heard low murmurs of conversation before the door opened. He already had someone in there with him.
"Maybe we should come back later." I whispered as I started to back away from the door.
"There is no need for that." I heard the low growling baritone of my father's voice come from the other side of the thick wooden door. Just hearing his voice made me want to whimper and submit to the Alpha.
The door opened a moment later and there he was, all six foot four of him with wide well muscled shoulders, short dark brown hair, and hard grey eyes. Even if he wasn't an alpha he would be intimidating. He looked me over, his expression never changing then stepped back and tuned to his desk. I took that as the invitation that it was and stepped into the room.
The desk was large and made from dark wood. There were matching bookshelves along the walls with a sitting room tucked into the far corner of the room for informal meetings. Since my father had gone to sit behind his desk this was going to be formal, which meant pack politics.
I straightened the polo shirt I was wearing and crossed the room to sit in the empty chair in front of the desk.
"You look well." My father commented in that bored business tone he used during meetings. Though he had been cold since my mother died.
"You don't need to lie using pleasantries. I know I look like shit. Now, I'm exhausted so why don't you tell me why I had to come here so I can go rest and get back to school as soon as possible." My father's mouth twitched into an almost smile. I knew he could hear my heart frantically beating in my chest even though I fought to keep from trembling in his presence.
"Very well. I only extended this courtesy to you because you are my son and even though she was human I loved your mother very much, but this pack needs a Luna and I need an heir that is strong enough to lead this pack when I am gone."
He waited to see what my reaction would be and I just shrugged in acknowledgement. I knew I could not lead the pack as an omega and even if I found and bonded with a strong Alpha I still would not be recognized as I don't have a wolf.
"Because of this I have decided to mate bond with Cynthia from the Red Dawn pack. I wanted to formally introduce you to your new step-mother."
I didn't know what to say to this. I knew of Cynthia. She was a strong alpha female that could have been Luna of her own pack but she had a reputation of being cruel to those weaker than her, especially omegas. I knew this was going to be a disaster the moment I saw her move from the couch of the informal meeting area and walked over to the desk with the strong grace of a predator.
"Hello Riley. Your father has told me so much about you." Her voice was gentle as she smiled at me but that warmth did not reach her cold, calculating eyes.
"I'm sure he did." I replied curtly.
"I want you to be here for the bonding ceremony. It will take place later this week so it will not disrupt your... education." My father said the last word like it was a bad taste in his mouth. He hated the fact that I went to art school instead of something useful like business or logistics.
"Fine, but I'm leaving as soon as your celebration is over. Can I go now? I want to head back to my room to rest." I got up from the chair and turned to leave.
"You will be staying in the pack house. I already had Alex take your things to your suite upstairs."
"But I..."
"That was not a request." He growled.
My hands started to shake as I felt my father's alpha power flair and his scent started to fill the room. Pine and the deep musky smell of the forest. If I had a wolf it would have offered protection from my own family but because I didn't I was affected like any other omega and I hated it.
"Fine." I spat as I raced for the door. Alex was waiting in the hall and I knew he had heard everything that had happened. He however didn't say anything as he lead me to the room I would be staying in while here. I wasn't even afforded the comfort of sleeping in my own bed. This meant that he wanted to keep track of me, to make sure I would not run off. Which made me wonder why he wanted to keep a wolfless omega trapped within the confines of pack territory.