The Lycan King's Outcast Omega (by Cara Anderson) novel Chapter 26

Chapter 26

Sage

Everything hurts. I discover muscles I didn’t know existed as I drag myself out of bed the morning after training. But the physical aches are nothing compared to the panic that sets in when Iris bursts into my room like a whirlwind.

“Emergency!” She’s already throwing open the massive wardrobe that intimidates me daily. “The Northern Pack delegation is arriving tonight for a formal gathering. We have exactly eight hours to make you presentable.”

My stomach drops. “I can just… not go?”

Iris spins to face me, hands on hips. “You’re living in the Lycan King’s packhouse. Attendance isn’t optional.” “But I’m just-”

“If you say ‘just an omega‘ I will throw something at you.” She rifles through dresses I’ve been too scared to touch. “You calmed a feral wolf yesterday. Pretty sure that earns you a seat at the table.”

Right. The incident that everyone’s probably still talking about. I bite my lip, remembering the way Alaric looked at me afterward – like I was a puzzle he couldn’t solve. But I didn’t do anything special. When you’re used to being a target, finding ways to soothe a savage beast becomes second nature.

The next few hours are a blur of fabric and frustration. A seamstress clucks over my small frame while taking measurements, speaking rapid–fire to Iris about necessary alterations. I stand still and try to disappear, a skill I perfected at Blackthorn.

“Shoulders back,” Iris instructs for the hundredth time. “You’re not in Blackthorn anymore. You don’t need to make yourself smaller.”

Easy for her to say. She was born into this world of protocol and power. I catch snippets of servant gossip as they pass in the halls:

“Can’t believe he’s letting a wolfless omega attend…

…probably another of his charity cases…” ”

hear what happened at Blackthorn? They say she and Cassius…”

did you

My chest tightens, Memories surface – Cassius’s cruel smile as he rejected me in front of his entire pack, the jeers, the pain.

“Ignore them.” Iris’s voice cuts through the panic. “Half of them are just jealous because my brother watches you like you hung the moon.”

“He doesn’t “I start, but she’s already dragging me to my next torture session, etiquette lessons.

“Okay, so when greeting an Alpha, you bow like this.” She demonstrates. “But for their Luna, it’s more of a curtsy. Unless they’re from the Southern territories, then

My head spins. There are apparently seventeen different ways to show respect depending on rank, territory, and moon phase. I’m going to mess this up. I’m going to embarrass Alaric in front of important allies.

“Breathe,” Iris instructs. “It’s not as complicated as it=”

The air shifts, filling with the scent of pine and winter wind. Alaric appears in the doorway, and my heart stops. He fills the space in a way that makes me intensely aware of every inch between us.

“How are the preparations…” he trails off as his eyes find me. I’m suddenly very conscious that I’m still in the

Chapter 26

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+25 BONUS

half–pinned formal dress, my hair a mess from trying different styles.

Something flashes in his steel–gray eyes before he masks it. “Carry on,” he says gruffly, but pauses on his way out. “Blue suits you, sweetling.”

The heat in my cheeks lasts until he’s long gone.

Evening arrives too quickly. I stare at my reflection, barely recognizing myself. The dress is midnight blue, making my violet eyes seem brighter. Iris worked magic with my hair, weaving silver threads through the braided

crown.

“Stop fidgeting,” she scolds, adjusting the delicate crescent moon pendant – the only piece of jewelry I own. “You look perfect.”

But nothing feels perfect when I enter the great hall. Whispers follow me like shadows. I try to remember all the protocols, but there are so many people, so many ranks to remember.

I manage basic greetings until I reach a distinguished–looking wolf with silver at his temples. Panic sets in as I realize I can’t remember if Northern Pack Alphas prefer formal titles or-

“Harrison,” I squeak, forgetting any title at all. The room goes silent. I’ve definitely messed up.

But before anyone can react, Alaric materializes at my side. “Harrison prefers a less formal approach, don’t you, old friend?”

The older wolf laughs. “Indeed. These young ones with their stuffy protocols. In my day…”

I breathe again, but the relief is short–lived. At dinner, I reach for the wrong fork, and Eris pounces.

“Oh dear,” her voice carries perfectly. “I suppose they don’t teach proper etiquette to omegas in… where did say you were from? Oh right, you don’t know.”

Ou

The words knock the air from my lungs. I’m on my feet before I realize I’m moving, fleeing to the garden where I can breathe. The moon is rising, and I touch my pendant, fighting tears. A shadow falls across the path.

“The moon sees true nobility,” Ms. Winters’s voice makes me jump. “And it has nothing to do with knowing which fork to use.”

She disappears as silently as she arrived, leaving me to puzzle over her words. Moments later, another set of footsteps approaches – these ones familiar enough to make my heart race.

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