The Omega Mated To The Four

Chapter 17 2/2 The Omega: Mated To The Four Chapter seventeen-1 I wanted nothing more than to leave and retreat to the safety of on cabin, but Mariah's gentle touch on my arm stopped me.

"Stormi," she said softly, her voice coaxing. "They want to talk to you. Just for a moment. Listen to them, will you?" I frowned, my chest tightening. I didn't want to listen to them. I didn't want to be anywhere near them. But Mariah's eyes were filled with quiet insistence, and I knew she wouldn't let it go.

"Fine," I muttered, crossing my arms. "But make it quick," I said after Mariah said she'd go ahead so she could start prepping dinner.

The four of them exchanged glances, relief washing over their faces. Elijah stepped forward first, his dark eyes unusually vulnerable.

"Stormi," he began, his voice low and careful, "we just wanted to apologize-for everything." Isaiah nodded, his usual cocky demeanor replaced with something almost genuine. "We know we've treated you horribly. We were wrong, and we're sorry." "We didn't understand what you meant to us back then," Austin added, his voice softer than I'd ever heard it. "But now we do, and we'll do whatever it takes to make it up to you." Alex, who was usually the quietest, took a deep breath before speaking. "We're not asking for you to forgive us right now. Just... give us a chance. Let us prove that we're not those guys anymore." Their words hung in the air, heavy with emotion. I wanted to believe them, to take comfort in their remorse, but a part ofstill ached from years of their torment.

"I don't know if I can forgive you," I said honestly, my voice steady despite the storm of emotions inside me. "Even if I wanted to, it's going to take time." "That's all we're asking for," Elijah said, his tone earnest. "Time, and a chance to prove ourselves to you." I hesitated for a long moment before giving them a small nod. "Fine. But don't expectto make this easy for you." A flicker of relief crossed their faces, but I quickly turned away, signaling that the conversation was over.

"We'll walk you back to the cabin," Alex offered.

"No," I said firmly, shaking my head. "I can walk myself." They didn't argue, though I could feel their eyes onas I walked away. The quiet night wrapped around me, the cool breeze a welcreprieve from the tension that had filled the house.

As I walked through the woods, my mind churned with everything that had happened. Eira's revelations, my mates' apologies, and the overwhelming responsibility that seemed to rest on my shoulders. I wasn't sure how to feel about any of it.

Then, a soft whisper filled the air, carrying with it the familiar cadence of the riddle from my dream: Whispers from the ancient Willow's boughs, In a cavern's shadow where history allows.

By the moonlit lake, reflections guide, Symbols hidden in ripples, where secrets abide.

1/2 Chapter seventeen-1 Guardians of the night, statues stand tall, Midnight echoes in the pack's sacred hall.

Within the ancient forest, the howls reveal, A path to follow, a destiny to unseal.

At the mountaintop ruins where stars align, Celestial convergence, a gateway to find.

Decipher these riddles, a cosmic quest, To the Moonlit Nexus, where the Keystone rests.

I froze, my heart racing as the words echoed in my mind. They were coming from somewhere nearby. Slowly, I turned my head and saw it-a small white orb, no bigger than a fist, bouncing lightly along the forest floor.

"What the...?" I whispered, taking a cautious step toward it.

The orb seemed to beckon me, its soft glow pulsing in twith my heartbeat. Before I knew it, my feet were moving, following the strange, luminous guide deeper into the woods.

Chapter Comments Mirela *with the white elk or maybe the orb Michele Gremillion I'm sure the white stag sent out the orb. he is a messenger from the moon goddess VIEW ALL 2 COMMENTS > 2 POST COMMENT 2/2 The Omega: Mated To The Four Chapter seventeen-2 The trees grew denser, their branches forming a canopy that blocked but most of the moonlight. The orb ledto a clearing where a massive white elk stood, its antlers looked like branches adorned with delicate green leaves. My breath caught in my throat.it was caught in a trap.

I hesitated for only a moment before rushing forward. The trap was made of jagged metal, biting into the its hindley. Carefully, I worked to loosen the mechanism, my hands trembling as 1 freed the wounded elk.

When the last piece of the trap fell away, the elk seemed to shudder slowly, it straightened, rising to its full, towering height. It looked down atwith what felt like gratitude, its massive antlers inting faintly in the dim light.

The elk bowed slightly, a gesture so unexpected it leftspeechless. Then, with a final rustle of its leaves, it turned and disappeared into the forest, its form fading into the shadows.

I stared after it, my mind struggling to make sense of what I'd just witnessed.

A hand on my shoulder startled me, and I spun around, my heart leaping into my throat. Elijah stood behind me, his face a mix of relief and worry.

"Where the hell have you been?" he demanded, his voice sharp.

I blinked, looking past him to see the rest of my mates standing nearby, their expressions mirroring his concern.

"What are you talking about?" I asked, confused. "I've only been gone for a little while." "A little while?” Alex said, stepping closer. "Stormi, we've been searching for you for hours. One moment you were ahead of us, the next, you were just... gone." and I frowned, glancing around. The forest was dark now, the moon high in the sky. How could that be possible? It hadn't felt like hours to me.

"I don't know," I admitted, shaking my head. "I just... got distracted." Isaiah's eyes narrowed, his sharp gaze scanning the clearing. "Distracted by what?" "Nothing," I said quickly, not wanting to explain the strange encounter with the tree. "It's nothing. Let's just go." Elijah looked like he wanted to pressfurther, but he held back, nodding instead.

As we walked back toward the cabin, they stayed close, their protective presence both comforting and stifling. When we reached the edge of the woods, Alex surprisedby pullinginto a hug.

"Don't ever do that again," he murmured, his arms tight around"Letgo," I muttered, struggling against his hold.

He sighed but released me, and I stepped back, putting distance between us.

When we reached the cabin, Mariah was waiting on the porch, her face pale with worry.

"Where were you?" she demanded, rushing toward me. "I was worried sick!" "I guess I got lost," I said, avoiding her gaze.

1/2 Chapter seventeen-2 Mariah frowned, her expression skeptical. "You've known these wool like the back of your hand since you were a toddler. You don't just get lost." I opened my mouth to argue, but she held up a hand, stopping me.

"Maybe it was everything you heard today," she said gently. "It's a lot to process.

Just promiseyou'll be more careful." "I promise," I said, though I wasn't sure I meant it.

After Mariah leftalone, I climbed into bed, my mind racing with thoughts of the

day's events. The tree, the orb, the e riddle-all of it felt like pieces of am puzzle. douldn't quite put together.

And then there were my mates. Despite everything, I could still hear them outside my window, their quiet presence both irritating and oddly comforting.

Sighing, I pulled the blankets over my head and closed my af a few hours of peace before the peary eyes, hoping for chaos began again. Chapter Comments Mirela *with the white elk or maybe the orb Michele Gremillion I'm sure the white stag sent out the orb. he is a messenger from the moon goddess VIEW ALL 2 COMMENTS > 2 POST COMMENT