Chapter 1 : The Forgotten Omega
The plate crashed to the floor, breaking into tiny white pieces that spread across the kitchen tiles. The noise made everyone stop and stare.
"Liana! That's the second plate today!" Head Cook Marta's face turned as red as the apples in the basket. "What is wrong with you?"
Liana's hands shook as she knelt to pick up the broken pieces. "I'm sorry. I don't know what's happening to me."
And she really didn't. All morning, her head had been spinning. Strange smells kept hitting her nose - wild, forest-like scents that made her dizzy. She had never smelled anything like it before.
"It's probably because it's her birthday," whispered one of the cooking helpers. "Turned eighteen today. Probably hoping for a mate to save her from washing dishes forever."
The other workers laughed, but quickly got back to work when Marta glared at them.
Liana kept her eyes down. It was true. Today was her eighteenth birthday, but she wasn't expecting anything special. Omegas like her rarely got noticed, especially not by anyone important. They were the lowest rank in the pack. Good for cleaning, cooking, and staying quiet.
"Go take out the trash," Marta demanded, pointing to the back door. "Get some fresh air. And try not to break anything else!"
Liana nodded, taking the heavy trash bag and pushing through the back door into the morning air. The sun was barely up, lighting the edges of the trees surrounding the pack area. She took a deep breath, trying to clear her head.
The weird smell hit her again, stronger this time. It smelled like pine trees, rain, and something else she couldn't name. It made her wolf stir inside her, which was strange because her wolf was normally quiet.
"Happy birthday to me," she mumbled, dropping the trash bag into the big bin.
"Happy birthday to you!" a happy voice sang out.
Liana turned to see Talia, her only real friend, bouncing toward her with a small paper bag in her hand. Talia's wavy red hair was wild as usual, and her smile bright against her freckled face.
"I was looking all over for you!" Talia said, pulling Liana into a quick hug. "You weren't in your bed this morning."
"Marta needed extra help for the Alpha's breakfast," Liana stated. Like she had a choice when the head cook banged on her door before sunrise.
"Well, I brought you this." Talia passed over the small bag. Inside was a tiny cupcake with blue frosting. "I saved up and got it from the bakery in town. I know blue is your favorite."
Liana felt a lump in her throat. "Thank you. Really."
"So," Talia wiggled her eyebrows, "feel any different? Any special birthday feelings? Any... mate tingles?"
Liana was about to laugh it off when another wave of that strange smell hit her so hard she had to grab the wall to stay standing.
"Whoa!" Talia caught her arm. "Are you okay?"
"I don't know," Liana revealed. "I keep smelling something. It's making me dizzy."
Talia's eyes went wide. "Oh my gosh! That could be it! That could be your mate scent! Some omegas find their mates on their eighteenth birthday. My cousin did!"
Liana shook her head. "No way. Who would be matched with me? Besides, don't you usually feel the bond, not just smell it?"
"Maybe it's starting! Come on, let's follow your nose!" Talia tugged at her arm.
"I can't. I have to get back to work or Marta will skin me alive."
As if hearing her name, the kitchen door flew open and Marta stuck her head out. "Liana! The Alpha's son wants more bacon. Now!"
Talia winced. "Which one? They're all so..."
"Scary?" Liana offered.
"I was going to say hot, but okay." Talia grinned. "Go. We'll investigate later. Save me your cupcake!"
Back in the kitchen, Liana tried to focus on cooking the bacon just right. The Alpha had three sons - triplets - all of them big, strong Alphas in their own right. Everyone expected one of them to take over the pack someday, probably Kael, the oldest by a few minutes.
As she placed the bacon on a plate, another wave of that smell rolled over her. The plate wobbled in her hands, but she managed not to drop it.
"Take this to the dining room," Marta ordered. "And be quick about it!"
Liana nodded, pushing through the open door into the fancy dining room where the Alpha family ate. She kept her eyes down, the right way for an omega to behave around higher ranks.
"Finally," a female voice said sharply. "Some of us are starving."
Liana recognized the voice as Celeste, the Beta's daughter. Everyone knew Celeste expected to mate with one of the Alpha's kids someday. She made sure everyone knew it.
"Sorry for the wait," Liana mumbled, setting down the plate.
That's when it happened. The smell hit her so strongly that she gasped out loud. It wasn't coming from the kitchen or outside. It was coming from the table. From the three young guys sitting there.
Her eyes snapped up without her permission, meeting three pairs of eyes that were suddenly locked on her. Grey, green, and blue - all looking at her with the same shocked expression.
"You," said one of them - Kael, she thought, with the grey eyes. His voice was deep and confused.
Liana felt her wolf howl inside her, something that had never happened before. The room started to spin, and the plate slipped from her fingers again, crashing to the floor.
"What is wrong with you?" Celeste snapped, jumping up as bacon scattered everywhere.
But Liana barely heard her. The three Alpha sons were still looking at her. Kael looked angry, Jace looked surprised, and Rowan looked... curious.
"Out!" the Alpha's voice boomed. "Everyone out except for the girl."
Celeste made a sound like she was choking. "But Alpha Henderson, we were in the middle of--"
"OUT!" he repeated louder.
The room cleared quickly, leaving only Liana, the Alpha, and his three boys. Liana's legs were shaking so badly she thought she might fall.
"What's your name, girl?" the Alpha asked, his voice slightly quieter.
"L-Liana, sir. I'm from the Omega quarters. I'm sorry about the plate. I don't know what happened."
The Alpha shared a look with his sons. "How old are you, Liana?"
"Eighteen today, sir."
The silence in the room was heavy. Finally, Kael spoke, his voice tight with something that sounded like anger.
"It's not possible. Not with an omega."
"She's lying," said Jace, the one with green eyes. But he didn't sound convinced.
"She's not," said Rowan quietly. The youngest triplet, with the thoughtful blue eyes. "Look at her. She's as confused as we are."
The Alpha stood up slowly. "Come here, girl."
Liana pushed her legs to move, stepping closer to the table.
"Do you know what's happening?" he asked.
She shook her head, fear making her throat tight.
The Alpha looked at his boys again, then back at her. His eyes were sharp but not mean.
"When an Alpha finds their mate, there's a scent recognition. From your reaction, I'm guessing you've been smelling something strange all morning. And from my sons' reactions, they're smelling it too."
Liana's heart stopped. "But... that would mean..."
"It would mean one of my sons is your mate," the Alpha finished. "The problem is, it looks like all three of them are having the reaction."
Liana's knees finally gave out. She dropped to the floor among the broken plate and scattered bacon. This couldn't be happening. Omegas like her didn't mate with Alphas, especially not the Alpha's kids. And definitely not all three of them.
"Get Elder Mira," the Alpha ordered Rowan. "Now. We need to figure out what's going on."
As Rowan rushed out, Liana looked up to see Celeste watching through the doorway, her beautiful face twisted with hate.
And in that moment, Liana knew her life would never be the same again.