11. The Call

The Call

Dalton

F or days, I'd been working on concepts for our partnership with the demon Larken and the others had saved. Toth, his name was. His mate had mentioned his special apples and the possibility of a partnership during the daring rescue and the failed attempt at capturing the witch, Basil, who had plagued both our pack and the Northarbor Coven with his illegal spells.

Dakota had a lot of business skill, though he fell down on the accounting side of things, which is where I came in. I worked over a few days, running the numbers, checking market trends with Dakota, until we had drawn up what we felt was a generous proposal.

Partnering with a demon was a risk the pack desperately needed to take, thanks to the continued harassment from the Northarbor aviary. They were doing everything they could to damage the pack's standing in the community, still disrupting deliveries, damaging stock. Now they were just being more covert about it. We knew it was them, we just didn't have the proof we needed to get the council to act.

Not that the council was useful for anything. Like Axel, Blake, Dakota, even Deke, all believed the council was in on the aggressions from the aviary. Some of the aviary's moves on us were just too spot on to be coincidental. Someone, likely a council member, was feeding them information directly from our pack.

Alpha Blake was on a visit to the demon realm. He wanted the partnership to start out friendly. He'd taken a liking to Toth and Cody when he had met them, so wanted them as friends, not just business associates. Blake and Kade had taken the triplets to the orchard Toth ran so they could sample the fruit there and also negotiate the terms of the contract.

I knew the conditions attached were more than fair. The compensation was generous. Honestly, Blake was showing his hand a little by giving so much. Toth would be a fool not to join the Sweetwater pack's cider business. He probably needed us more than we needed him, since demons weren't able to trade as easily as shifters were. Yeah, discrimination laws didn't quite cover demons, apparently.

With Alpha Blake away with his family and Deke acting as security, Axel was sulking with Chase near the door to the mansion, taking their turn guarding us. Both of the twins had wanted to go to the demon realm, but Blake knew only taking a few people was less conspicuous than half the pack leaving.

As such, the mansion was quieter than usual, missing the sounds of the children, and I had the time to really look over the books to see the damage the aviary was causing to our bottom line. The money we'd claimed back as compensation had done a lot to rectify the damage, but we couldn't continue as we were. The temptation was there to be creative with the accounts to cut our tax burden. I knew all the tricks, legal and, um, otherwise. I just knew Blake wouldn't go for it. There was also a pang in my gut which told me not to.

The guiding sense of doom and dire consequences was the only thing that stopped me from picking up my phone and calling my old contacts to play the market some. I knew I could generate some much needed cash for the pack if I wasn't too firm with my morals. Yet, every time I truly thought about it, I just couldn't bring myself to do it.

Slipping back into those habits was wrong. I'd worked so hard to get where I was. The pack had a stellar reputation now. Far from the days when Blake's father had run the pack into the ground. I couldn't risk shattering it .

Roan interrupted my musing. "Do you know where Axel is?"

"He's at the door. Why?"

"Dammit!" Roan scrubbed a hand over his face in frustration. "I need to be ready for when Blake and Kade come home. I need you to get him to go over to the science center."

"Oh-kay, why?" I couldn't get a handle on Roan's mood. He was usually calm, very cool, and collected. Now he was standing in front of me, practically dancing with… happiness, maybe? Had to be something to do with Hiroshi.

"There's a meeting and we need the pack leadership represented. Blake will need to know what this means for the pack. Well, not just us, everyone!"

So, not Hiroshi then. "Huh? What's going on? Roan, are you okay? You're jumpy."

"Tell Axel to get to the science center as soon as possible. Hiroshi's figured out the beta sickness. He knows why it happened."

The bottom fell out of my world then. Something so important to not just my future, but to all betas who had been sick was about to be explained. Ever since I'd woken, I'd wondered why The Luna had put us through it all.

Shaking, I got up and dashed for the front door. I had to get to Axel. I just hoped he would let me come to the meeting.

Axel! "Axel!" I cried as I got close.

"Woah! Where's the fire?" He took me by my shoulders, halting my run. I looked up at him, almost at a loss for words.

"You're needed since Blake isn't back yet! There's a meeting at the science center!" I struggled to even say that much. My skin felt too tight. I was ready to beg him to let me go too.

Fear and hope warred within me. I knew I was shaking. Axel was pretty much the only thing keeping me up.

Finally, I got the words out. Ones I knew were just as important to him as they were to me.

"Hiroshi has figured out why we had the beta sickness."

"What?"

"They want you to represent the pack at the science center. You have to go." Take me with you , I wanted to say to him. My raccoon stirred at my anxious thoughts.

Axel didn't take me with him. Didn't even think about it. He made a hasty goodbye to me and his twin, and ran for the science center.

"Hey, Dally-do, it'll be okay," Chase said as he wrapped his arms around me. "Hang out with me for a bit. Get yourself together while I get cover for the door."

I couldn't help but think the wrong twin was comforting me, then I felt bad. Chase was a perfect friend and deserved better of me. I sank into his embrace. "Thanks, Chasey-choo."

His smile was blinding. "I promise, it'll all work out."

For hours I waited for more news, for an explanation I was beginning to fear would never come. Would Roan really tell me something so damn important and then just never tell me anything more?

I asked him. Goddess, had I asked him. He just refused, saying we had to wait for Blake to give the go ahead first. I just wanted a clue. It was like trying to get blood out of a stone, leaving me frustrated with him on top of the situation.

Then the call came for us all to gather at the back of the house. There was going to be a celebration. I already knew the demon wanted to partner with the pack, I'd been present, trying to get more information out of a taciturn Roan again, hoping a plea would work, when Kade and Blake had returned.

No, there was something else to celebrate. Our luck was changing.

The air was charged with expectation, or perhaps that was just my anxiety giving me the feeling. We waited patiently. Okay, not in my case. I had an almost feral need to know what was happening.

Blake called the meeting to order as friend groups all huddled together, whispering their thoughts. Everyone fell silent as Blake told us about Toth and introduced the demon to us. The partnership was going to save our asses financially.

There was some grumbling, which was cut short, when Blake reminded the gathered shifters of the discrimination we had all undergone at some point. The world wasn't perfect, and humans could be jealous. I knew omegas had it harder than most, particularly male ones, since humans didn't have males giving birth. Hell, the medication given to omegas to suspend their heats was pretty toxic and had nearly robbed Kade of his fertility. It had poisoned him, cutting him off temporarily from his wolf.

My raccoon stirred at the thought of being blocked from communicating with me. Mine , he said in his high little voice. I adored my alter.

I was so busy soothing my shifter side, I almost missed Hiroshi taking center stage and Blake's announcement that it was because of the beta sickness. Hiroshi began what felt like a lengthy lecture on genes and the beta sickness, along with evidence he had found. Really, it was only a couple of sentences with a few questions thrown in. I was just too impatient, wishing Hiroshi would get to the point.

Eventually, really only minutes after he stood in front of us all, he explained there would be testing.

It was Blake who really made me understand just what Hiroshi had been trying to say to us. I was sure others got it much more quickly than me, I just needed it spelled out. It was too unbelievable to comprehend.

We could change designations.

Change designations. It was a mind blowing thought.

A gene. Just a simple sequence in our DNA could be activated, taking us from beta to alpha or omega.

I could stop being a beta!

What a gift this was from our goddess!

"If you want to learn your new designation, please form a line and inform whoever you speak to if you want to play a part in the testing. Thank you for listening. I hope you are as excited as I am about our new future."

Alpha Blake was grinning from ear to ear. Rightly so, this was a monumental occasion, not just for our pack, but for all shifters!

Almost as one, the betas formed a line in front of Axel's elf and Hiroshi, where they would be spelled for privacy and told their designations.

All around me, betas were chatting to their friends, wondering aloud which designation they would get.

An enforcer pair, both birds, were first in line. I saw the delight on their faces as they were told their fate. They eagerly nodded, so I assumed they entered the testing. I knew I would be offering, even if I didn't have an alpha.

My eyes strayed to Axel. He was unusually withdrawn. There was a distance between him and the elf. Was it because of his designation? If he changed, he would have the biological urge to find an omega and have children. He couldn't do that with the elf, given that male elves could not carry babies. This had to be a major hurdle in their relationship. If he stayed as he was, would he grow bitter as the years passed, knowing he may have given up the opportunity for love?

I noticed there was also a wall between him and Blake. Was being an alpha designated beta creating a distance? If Axel changed, he would be the true heir of the pack, being the eldest. There were plenty who would support him taking over. Not me, I knew Axel too well to believe he would be half the leader Blake was. Our current Alpha had charisma, fantastic communication skills, and a more level head than his eldest brother. I loved Axel, but he was no Alpha leader.

I shook as my turn approached. A large part of me feared the result, even if waiting in line felt like a dream. Was this going to turn into a nightmare I wished I could wake from?

Surely The Luna wouldn't punish me for my past by making me an alpha. I had to believe she would give me all I ever dreamed of.

"Congratulations, Dalton, you are an omega designated beta," Hiroshi said with a beautiful smile. Seriously, the omega was cute.

It took a moment for the news to sink in.

Omega.

Just like I had always wished.

One day, I could be holding my own baby. One I'd grown inside me with my alpha by my side.

For so long it had felt like a too distant dream, but here it was, a reality, if only we could unlock it.

"Thank you so much!" I had to lock my knees to keep standing.

"It was The Luna that did this. I'm glad you're happy, though," Hiro said with another smile. "Everyone seems to be getting exactly what they wish for so far."

"No one is disappointed? "

"No. It's almost as if the goddess knew their deepest most desires."

That made me smile. Affection for my goddess swelled in my heart. She was a true example of what a deity should be.

"I'd like to be in the testing if I could be."

"Of course!" Hiro beamed at me as he noted my name down on a chart. "It would be easier if you had a partner. Best if they were another beta willing and able to change," he advised me, a slight frown marring his brow.

"Right. I'll give it some thought."

"Thanks, Dalton. Okay, who's next?"

I was dismissed politely and stood to the side, unable to believe that had happened to me. I was going to be an omega! Whatever it took, no matter what sacrifices needed to be made, I was going to do it. I wanted to be a papa.

"Hey, Dalton. You look happy, so omega, right?" Trey asked as he approached, his mate, Grady, at his side.

"Yes! Can you believe it? I never would have thought this was possible. The goddess is amazing! I'm going to offer up my thanks later. Maybe burn some candles she would like." My mind spun with ideas of how to honor her.

"Sounds amazing," Grady said with a grin on his face .

"You two look happy. Did you get what you want?" I realized the question was rude, so I hastily added. "Don't answer. That's not right of me to ask."

The pair shared a look and Grady shrugged. Trey was the one who spoke. "We don't mind you knowing. We're both omegas, aren't we, baby?"

Grady wrapped an arm around his mate. "We are, and while it was a shock, it makes sense."

They had lost me. "How does it make sense?" Fuck, that was a rude question. Luckily, they didn't seem offended in the least.

Another look and again, Trey took the lead in explaining. "We've always played with others. Our mating is pretty open and we both have our preferences… Really, it made sense to us we'd both be omegas. I never thought about having babies myself." Trey gave a self-deprecating laugh. "Never thought it would be possible after all. I'm open to it, though."

"Me too," Grady chimed in. "It'd be so hot to see you all big with a baby in your tummy, an alpha pampering us both. Our alpha."

The look they shared was heated. "So you'll look for an alpha when the time comes. Either a beta who is an alpha in waiting, or an actual alpha?"

Grady nodded. "Yeah. Someone who's open to being poly with us or just open to getting us through the change. "

Wow, that was… something. I admired them for knowing what they wanted.

My eyes caught Larken's in the crowd. "Congratulations to the both of you. I hope you get what you want."

"You too," they said together as I left them for my friend.

"Congratulations, Dimples." Larken wrapped me in a hug.

"I didn't say what I was." I relaxed into the hold, all the adrenaline leaving me feeling weak.

"You didn't have to. It's written all over your face." He stepped away, leaving a hand on my shoulder so he could look me in the eyes.

"Really?"

He laughed. When he stopped, he considered me for a moment. "So what happens now?"

"I've registered for the testing. They'd rather it was another beta I tried with at first." I felt almost apologetic.

"Hey," Larken's fingers hooked under my chin, "that's cool. What we have, it's casual, right?"

Nodding, I tried to keep my eyes on his. I felt a sense of shame for still wanting Axel while also wanting Larken. My friend was everything an alpha should be, but Hiroshi wanted beta pairs and I had to go with the best chance of getting what I wanted, right ?

"Then I'll be here, in whatever way I need to be. Once you have a beta picked out and an agreement in place, I'll step back, okay?"

My determination to become an omega no matter the cost took a hit. Larken was so sweet.

"Thank you, I don't deserve to have you in my life like this," I said as honestly as I could without wanting to cry. Our arrangement seemed so fragile then. As if the slightest thing would break us apart.

"Dalton?" Our eyes met and held. "If you can't find the right beta. I'll be your alpha."