All the Alphas have returned to their packs with their new members. It was sorted by lottery.

Thankfully, no one made a scene or asked to be in another pack despite getting a different name.

Feather is exhausted after the farewell of the members and the Alphas, she is about to go to their room to relax when Juliene calls her through the link.

She groans and staggers her feet to where Juliene is. Her office.

"I'm so damn tired, Juls. What do you want?" She grumbles and flops down on the spinny chair, spinning in circle.

Juliene has a somber look on with her arms crossed over her chest. She looks stern and serious, which puts Feather in an alert mode. She sits up straight and stares at her sister in anticipation.

"Stop giving me that look and spit it out." She grits, without her knowing, Feather searches in her mate bond and relaxes when she feels the calm and happy trail in it.

"It's about time we introduced the Aleph to all of them. Through a ceremony. He also needs to be joined with us to have a mind-link with all of us. For his own safety."

Feather rolls her eyes and sighs. She knows what the other is saying is true, but she's so exhausted now to think about such solemn matters. Also, she's still not ready to share Florian with everyone.

What if Florian himself isn't ready to be on a leading role?

"I dunno, Juls. I'll talk to Flo and get to a decision."

Juliene nods understandingly. "I'm just saying the faster it's done, the better. You've got no less enemies, if Florian's not connected to us, it could be used against you.

The other Alphas now know you have an Omega mate. And some of them didn't seem too happy about it. They could join forces and come against you."

Feather growls, feeling both frustrated and anxious from the weight of truth of the words being said. She just doesn't want to admit to them. She huffs and stares out the window for a couple seconds before replying.

"I know. But I also know that they have no chance against me. They wouldn't be able to even form a single army with my men spreaded all over. They know what I've done for them. I trust my people and their loyalty!"

Juliene once again nods solemnly, believing and knowing the Alpha's words by heart but she couldn't also help but worry as a Beta, and as a sister.

It worries her sometimes that being too strong for too long may be taken as an advantage against the young Alpha.

"Just think and talk. I'll get the guards be on more alert, just in case."

Feather rolls her eyes again but she gets it. Juliene gets a little overprotective, even though she is the younger one. Feather's also very protective over her sister, they only have each other from their family now.

So, they're always cautious about any possible danger.

"I will, Juls. Just take it easy and spend some time with Grant. You've been stressing out too much for the past few weeks."

Juliene lets a ghost of a smile take over her face but keeps it shut and rolls her eyes playfully. "I'll head to bed now. Good night."

"Night night." Feather smiles and stays there till Juliene leaves. Her eyes stare up at the ceiling as she plays the words over in her head.

Would her people be that disloyal and team up against her just because of some level of her mate? Does a classification or label matter that much? Where did the love for mates go? The sacred belief on the Moon Goddess? How could they raise fingers at something that was destined before they were even born?

It really hurts.

"Feather."

A soft, small voice lures her out of her drowning thoughts and Feather smiles. It is almost scary how much the boy affects her mood. She almost, unknowingly, depends on her mate to have her spirits lifted.

"Yes?"

"Are you busy?"

"No, I'm heading there now. Is something the matter?"

A slight pause of hesitance later the voice speaks again. With more shyness to it.

"I can't sleep."

Feather smirks and shakes her head fondly, speeding up her pace to reach their room sooner. Her heart constricting with happiness that her mate wants her to be present to sleep.

"I'll be right there, sweetheart. Just a little longer."

"Hm."

Feather almost sprints to their room and bursts the door open, startling the smaller boy. But his face is quick to lit up as his eyes glimmer with joy seeing his Alpha standing at the doorway.

Their smiles could decieve someone into thinking that they haven't seen each other in so long.

But that's the beauty of their relationship, the impact of love they shared even without uttering it. The need and want for the other depicted by small gestures.

This is what binds them.

"Hey." Feather smiles widely, she fears she'd never smiled this big in her life before. Her heart flutters when her smile is returned just as widely.

"Alpha!" Florian softly squeals and runs over to the other and abruptly pulls her in a hug, leaving them both stunned.

This time when Florian calls her Alpha, Feather realizes it's not out of any obligation, or respect of status, it's just his way of acknowledging that she is indeed his Alpha.

And the idea brews a sense of accomplishment inside her heart, a tickly giddiness surges throughout her whole body.

She hugs him back just as tightly, nosing his glands and loving the calm and relaxed pheromones he releases.

Florian knows how much stressed his mate has been for the week, he wants to be of her help as much as possible. He wants to do something for his Alpha to relieve her stress, from his own capacity.

"I missed you." Florian admits shyly and pulls away from the hug with a beautiful smile.

Feather smiles down at him. She tucks some curly strands of hair behind his ear and lets her hand cup his face. "I missed you too. Have you eaten yet?"

Florian nods. "I did. With the members before they left for their new packs."

"That's good. Why didn't you sleep yet?"

"I couldn't." He says cheekily, playing with the blonde ends of Feather's pony tail. "I wanted you close."

Feather must say, her little Omega is being really bold tonight. But she loves it. It agitates her, which also concerns her since her agitated mind could lead her to do something they both aren't ready for.

"I'm here now." She whispers for no reason, afraid to break the calm atmosphere. "Let's sleep."

Florian doesn't know why, but hearing her say those words makes his cheeks heat up and heart rate accelerate. He feels warmth in his stomach and looks up at the taller Alpha with a glaze in his eyes.

The glaze swirling around the grey eyes causes Feather's heart to skip a bit. She swallows and a shiver runs down her spine.

Is it only her or the temperature of the room has suddenly rose up?

__________

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