The room was opulent. It was larger than the master bedroom in my parents house and was decorated like I was in the fanciest hotel on the planet. Ok maybe that was a bit of an exaggeration but it was still too much. The carpet was a cream colour and was so soft and plush under my feet that I had to take my socks off and dig my toes into to soft pile of the fabric.
The bed was a huge queen size with four dark wooden posts and midnight blue bedding. There was also a small sitting area set up in front of a gas marble fireplace and the same dark wood made up the bookshelves that had a selection of different genre books on them. Well at least I wouldn't be bored while I was here.
There was an en suite bathroom that was just as outlandish as the room with a large soaker tub that could fit at least three people and a stand alone shower withe different shower heads attached to it. I was not accustomed to such luxury and had no idea why I was being treated so well. My father had never let me anywhere except the main floor of the pack house the entire time I had lived here so why now?
The questions bounced around in my head as I finished surveying the room that would be my accommodations for this trip until the fatigue and stress hit me all at once and all I could think about was sleep.
I stripped down to my boxers and climbed under the soft duvet on the bed. It was comfortable and warm, and I hated it. I missed my hard and lumpy dorm bed. I missed my tiny twin bed that my feet hung off in my parents room. This bed was just too much. It however didn't keep me from falling into a deep, thankfully restful sleep.
The next time I opened my eyes the sun was just colouring the sky the deep orange and yellow of dawn. I had slept the entire day and then some. My body groaned in protest as I rolled off the bed, stiff from sleeping over twelve hours.
I showered and dressed quickly, and my stomach growled as I walked out of the bathroom. I was wearing jeans and a hoodie, my hair was damp and hung loose to my shoulders. I knew my father would hate it. He was always so uptight and formal that I had never even seen him in casual clothing.
I grabbed a black hair tie from the night table and saw the white pill bottle sitting there. I didn't remember taking my suppressants out of my toiletry bag but there they were. I took the bottle and shook two pills into my hand. There was a glass by the sink in the bathroom and I filled it with water to chase the disgusting pills as I swallowed them. The pack knew what I was but it was better that I didn't draw any more attention than needed while I was here.
My stomach rumbled again and I took that as a sign to go in search of breakfast. The upper floors were still quiet. Any guests that were staying in the pack house were likely still sleeping. The staff however were awake and bustling through the main floor as they prepared breakfast and any of their other morning duties.
As I wandered into the informal dining area I saw a few things already set out for the early risers. I however was the only guest in the room, which was fine with me. It meant no questions or awkward conversations. Most days breakfast was a serve yourself buffet. There were plates of danishes, muffins, and other pastries, as well as tea, coffee, and juice already set out. I went straight for the pitcher of orange juice and filled a large glass, downed half of it and filled it again. I then grabbed a random muffin and sat to wait for the hot food to arrive.
As I picked at my muffin I saw Alex walk into the room and pour a cup of coffee. He looked over at me and smiled before he walked up to the table and sat across from me.
"Good morning Prince. You look well rested." He took a sip from the mug then placed it on the table.
"What do you want Alex?" I grumbled as I popped a bite of muffin in my mouth.
"Isn't that what I should be asking you? I will be acting as your escort today."
"Don't you mean babysitter?" I watched the humour fade from his face. He hated that I thought so little of the pack and felt that I should take on the responsibility of the prince. The fact that I didn't have a wolf never did bother him as much as it did everyone else.
"Call it what you want. I am here to make sure you stay safe until I can find a proper bodyguard for you."
"Doesn't my father need you for something more important? Like protecting the borders and getting security ready for the big day." I really didn't want someone following me around the entire time I was here. All I really wanted to do was go back home to grab a few things then head back to the city. That had been the plan until I was bombarded by the mating ceremony and everything.
"He will be fine. I assigned Caleb to help with security detail. You however have a garment fitting this morning in the village and the Alpha scheduled a physical for you this afternoon."
I dropped the half eaten muffin on the plate when I heard that. There was only one reason my father would want me to go for a physical. He wanted to make sure I was viable to be a proper mate and carry an heir. I went pale as the panic started to seep into my bones. I did not want to be sold off to some other pack, to be nothing more than an incubator for someone's pup. That was the main reason I had run in the first place.
A warm hand on my shoulder snapped me out of my panic. Alex had gotten up off the table and was attempting to ground me as I was hyperventilating at the table.
"Take a deep breath Prince, you don't want to pass out at the breakfast table." A beta could not ground me as effectively as an alpha could but the warmth and pressure on my shoulder helped as I took a deep shaky breath to steady myself. "Better. Now how about we head into the village and we can grab something more substantial to eat before your fitting?" I just nodded, my orange juice and half eaten muffin forgotten as I stood and allowed Alex to lead me to the front door and into the same black SUV I had arrived in yesterday. The silence inside the vehicle was more comforting than the vast echos of the pack house and my heart rate was back to normal by the time Alex had walked around the front of the car and slid into the driver seat.
I hadn't noticed that he decided to put me in the front passenger side of the SUV until he spoke. "I know you didn't want to come back." He said softly as he started the vehicle and drove down past the front gate and headed towards the village. "I also don't know what your father was thinking when he decided to mate with Cynthia. He is keeping secrets even from me and I don't like being kept in the dark."
I glanced over at Alex, surprised that he was being so open with the Alpha's omega son. "Why are you telling me this? It's not like there is anything I can do about it." I replied into the darkness.
"I'm telling you to help keep you safe. You know how Cynthia feels about omegas and given your reaction earlier you know what it means when the Alpha wants you to get checked by the pack doctor." Alex looked concerned as he pulled onto the main street of Dark Pine village. Most of the shops were still closed but the diner across from the park would be open already.
I nodded. "He wants to either sell me off or use me for some political gain." I mumbled.
Alex nodded as he pulled into a parking spot on the side of the road and turned the engine off. "Before you ask, no I don't know which pack he wants to send you to. I will try to find out as much as I can though."
"Why would you help me Alex?" I asked softly. "I am just a weak omega."
Alex's eyes flashed amber with anger, the wolf coming close to the surface. "You are not just an omega. You are a person, and you have alpha blood in your veins. I also know that you are stronger than you think you are." He then took a deep breath to calm himself and exited the vehicle. "Come on, breakfast is on me." He smiled.