Bridger's POV

I stare at my laptop, eyebrows creased and eyes heavy from lack of sleep. But I don't have time to sleep when my time with the omegas is waning. I've trained all the omegas in the past, but I have a different plan for Kian; a plan that seems impossible and definitely a plan that needs to be as foolproof as possible before I present it to Kian.

On my laptop screen are academic papers approved of by those vile bastards on "unconventional werewolf packs". In these papers, werewolves who have gone to The Academy or The School of Supernatural visit different packs around the globe and even outside Earth that aren't affiliated with The Elders (they don't really recognize them as independent packs).

These packs include one-gender packs (all male or all female), packs with more than two alphas, packs that act as a monarchy, and more. While there aren't many packs like this and it takes a lot of unnecessary drama to not be harrassed by The Elders, this research helps me greatly with my plan.

In the end, we werewolves are familial creatures and we don't always need or thrive in the traditional way of living. It comes down to just one thing: family. Contrary to popular belief, wolves don't have a huge "alpha, beta" pack; instead, they have their family. And that's it.

While I love my pack dearly, I still barely see everyone as a big family. However, I see the way Kian and his friends are with each other. They're more than friends, they're family. They've gone through so much together and escaped together; they've feared together, probably cried together. They are a pack by themselves.

They just need to be guided in the right direction.

That and we need to find Mika and Katie. Those poor omegas. They're probably wandering out there, terrified not only for themselves but for Kian, Jenna, and Peyton too. I shake my head to get keep my thoughts from moving to a dark place. I can only pray to Goddess that She keeps them safe.

I remember Kian's anger towards me early this morning - or rather, yesterday. He's convinced that everything is a lie and while I respect his refusal to believe in Her, I just need to convince him that he's stronger than he thinks. The saying goes that during the war, Goddess chipped a piece of Her own soul and put it in omegas; they are pieces of Her. Closer to Her than any of us can get.

That is no lie.

Suddenly, I hear rustling.

My ears perk up and I try to hear a heartbeat, thinking it's a wild animal getting a little too close to my cabin. It's not located close to the pack house, more on the outskirts of the pack and I enjoy a nice run to the pack every morning before I go to work. I'm located closer to our lambdas who are required to live outside the pack to be the first contact of any trouble that comes our way.

But I'm never disturbed by unwelcomed visitors. So I assume it's just another animal and go back to my research.

Then I hear whispering.

I close my laptop, surrounding myself with darkness as I listen. My cabin looks very lived-in and welcoming outside. There are flowers I've allowed the pups and omegas to plant around my house and in the windows making me look like some Disney princess and I even have a gnome statue that a nymph gave me a long time ago.

The whispering continues and I slowly stand up to look out of my window. I see nothing at first but I know someone is out there and near my window. I can hear two separate heartbeats and my senses tell me that they're werewolves.

'need my help?' Jace asks, fully alert now.

'no...I don't think so' I stay still and listen for more.

There's a soft knock on my door and I'm practically running out of my bedroom. I rush down the dark hallway and into the living room before looking out of the peephole on my door. Two beings stand on my porch. I quickly turn the porch light on and both beings practically jump out of their skin. I open the door slightly, not enough to even look between the crack.

"Who are you?" I ask.

"Um...my name is Katie."

'the missing omegas?' Jace asks.

I sniff the air around me and that confirms it. Sweet scents travel through my nose and instantly relieve me of any worry of a possible unwelcomed visitor.

I open my door fully and they both instantly back away. Katie stands tall and lanky much like Kian but instead of curly blonde hair, she boasts bone-straight black hair that reaches her waist. Behind her stands who I assume is Mika. He's much shorter than her with wavy black hair. He holds tightly onto her arm and when his wide eyes land on me, they somehow get even wider.

"Katie, we should go," he says as he starts to pull her away. She lets him as she takes in my own build, probably realizing I'm a beta or a zeta - either way, they know that I pose a risk to them.

I hold my arms up. "My name is Bridger, your friends, Kian, Jenna, and Peyton are staying in my pack. They are safe and you will be too, we've been looking for you for the past few days."

"Peyton?" Katie asks with hopeful eyes, "he's here? V-Voluntarily?"

I nod. "I promise you that they are safe. Jenna is getting care for her and her baby - please, let me help you."

They share a look and Mika shakes his head but Katie nods, grabbing his hand and holding it tightly. I smile at them and hold the door open for them and they hesitantly walk inside. I quickly turn the light on and close the door behind them, locking it. They give me fearful looks as they press their bodies together and stand stiffly in my living room.

"It's pretty late now," I say as I walk into my kitchen, "you two can stay here and I'll take you to the clinic so that you can be checked. I'll have to warn you, the Upsilons will check you for anything that poses a risk to our back, but you won't be stripped search; standard protocol."

"Where are our friends, s-sir?" Katie asks.

"Please, just call me Bridger and they stay in the pack house, on the Omega Floor."

"The Omega Floor?" asks Mika, standing up straight now and not cowering behind Katie.

I nod as I pour them a glass of water. "Here we have a floor for our omegas guarded by Epsilons every night. We have roughly five omegas. Unfortunately, you and your friends won't be staying with us permanently but I've convinced your friends to stay with us for the rest of Jenna's pregnancy."

"Jenna!" Katie exclaims before lowering her head. "S-sorry for yelling, but...h-how is Jenna?"

I smile and shake my head. I hand them the glasses before sitting down in one of my chairs. "No worries, you don't have to fear any punishment here. We're not like the pack that you come from. Anyway, Jenna is doing great. Her pup is well and she's been up and walking around. She's currently staying in the clinic just to monitor her and her pup, but aside from that, she's in excellent condition."

Katie beams at that. She sits down on the couch across from me and Mika follows her, his body basically glued to hers but she doesn't seem to mind. He sniffs the water, no doubt trying to tell if there's something in it. I don't say anything and I let them get comfortable.

"I'll bring you two a blanket," I say, "I have a second bedroom in here unless you're more comfortable sleeping in the living room?"

Katie shrugs so I decide for them, gesturing for the two to follow me. I guide them to the second, smaller bedroom in the small hallway. My cabin is nothing extraggavent and even my own bedroom isn't huge, but it's small and comfortable and something I can consider home.

"It's not much, but it'll hold you overnight," I say with a chuckle. "I clean my place constantly so the room and bedding are all fresh."

"Th-Thank you..." Katie says.

She and Mika walk into the room, Mika still trying to merge with her. They both look around the room which isn't much. It's just a full-sized bed, a comfortable armchair, a bedside table, a dresser, and a window. Nothing special, just cozy.

When they get comfortable, I say, "Anything you need, feel free to ask."

They both nod and I duck out of the room. The part of me that was worried about those two is now relieved and I'm excited to bring them into the pack. I bet Kian and his friends have been worried sick about Katie and Mika and I can't wait to see their faces when they're reunited.

With nothing else to worry about at the moment, I take my seat in front of my laptop and return to my research, opening another tab to add notes to set my plan into action.

Jenna is four months pregnant and will - hopefully - give birth in two months. That gives me two months to train Kian, develop this plan, present it to him, and hope everything goes well.

It feels impossible, but I know with hard work, I can do it. I just hope that Kian will be on board with everything too.

_____ _____ _____ _____

Kian was the first to see Katie and Mika. As he reported to the Zeta's Lounge, I had just finished introducing Katie to one of our etas who just happened to be her mate. They had just finished their early morning training and were taking their first break when I was passing the lounge to take the two to the clinic where I expected Kian and Peyton to be. Katie had stopped us all in our tracks and pointed at the lounge, eyes wide and almost frantic.

"I was told that I'd never have a mate," Katie had said as I led her and Mika into the building. "That's why they all said."

I didn't ask her to elaborate as I assumed her pack had told them that bullshit. Nonetheless, there stood her mate standing in a sports bra and sweating bullets: Charlise. Char is one of our best etas and was going to be fighting for the new zeta but now that she's currently doting over her mate, I can't see her going through with her training right now.

Then Kian showed up outside and they had their little reunion minus Peyton and Jenna. Mika has yet to leave Kian's side and it became clear to me that he basically just clings to anyone he can. Then again, he's still very much a pup in my eyes.

"Kian," I say as I walk toward the two of them. Mika's head is rested against Kian's chest while Kian rubs his hair and rocks him from side to side. It's a precious sight that makes me smile. He looks up at me so I continue.

"We should get started, Mika should go to the clinic."

"I'll take him," Char pipes in, "I need to take Katie so he should tag along."

I smile down at Mika who glances up at me before looking at Kian. I watch Kian's hand squeeze Mika's before he lets it go. Katie holds her hand out to him and Mika quickly takes it. With Rosa in the front, they walk out of the Zeta's Lounge.

I turn to face Kian properly and he looks up at me through those long eyelashes of his. Once again, I'm taken aback by his beauty and I realize too late that I'm staring. He clears his throat, looking away from me and around the sparring room. I clear mine too as I try to get my bearings together. I can hear Jace cackling and I curse him.

"Today, Kian, we're just going to read some more. Then we'll begin some basic field training at noon."

He nods and I lead him to the exit of the sparring room. I have high hopes for this plan and the more I think about Kian and his friends, the more dedicated to and confident in this plan I become.

- - -

Word Count: 2149

I really hate my writing in this chapter 😭😭

Someone may be wondering why I haven't posted what Kian looks like and that's bc I can't find a model who looks like him lmao

Also Katie's mate was apparently supposed to be names Rosalia but for whatever reason, I started calling her Charlise. I changed her name to Charlise. Tell me if you find any mistakes 💀