Everyone
in Austin’s small world had heard the legend of Broken Fang. Austin believed
the myths, but his twin, Artis didn’t. Most shifters thought it nothing more
than a fable, a superstition to keep young shifters in their place.
But
when Austin became an adult, his Omega status cemented, the legend of Broken
Fang faded into childhood memories. Being an Omega was hard enough as it was,
the emotions of the pack driving everything else from Austin’s mind. Austin’s
link to his twin severed when Artis challenged their cruel uncle and became
Alpha.
Life
changed with Artis leading the pack, his brother unsure of himself even after
winning the challenge, the pack seeing him as weak and ineffectual. Some of the
stronger wolves manipulated Artis, using him and causing havoc and violence in
the pack. All that ended the day a very strong Alpha entered their territory.
MaCraye
was big and powerful, but didn’t seem interested in helping their small pack,
even when Austin encouraged Artis to talk to MaCraye. Austin could feel the
potency rolling off the stranger. An immense power pulling on him as no other
alpha did. He didn’t understand it, and it wasn’t likely he ever would with
MaCraye turning his back on them.
*~*~*~*~*~*
MaCraye
wanted to run and run far when he felt the Omega that was destined to be his
mate—again. Five centuries and he’d avoided the pull, a fate he didn’t want,
not after losing Terric. He’d managed to avoid his reputation as well, hiding
until most shifters who knew who Broken Fang was died out, or forgot him. His
infamy fading into obscurity.
But
the bond of a mate would bring it all back. The power running through him would
increase, and his destiny would grip him, forcing him to lead the shifters of
the world into a better, brighter future. A responsibility he didn’t want. Look
what happened last time?
But
he couldn’t abandon this Omega, especially with a brother that wasn’t strong
enough to lead. Did they not know that this—Artis?—was not an alpha? Had
shifters gotten so complacent that they allowed any common shifter to lead
their packs? Did they even realize there were no true alphas in their pack? The
prophecy had foretold of a day when alphas would cease to exist, but MaCraye
hadn’t believed it, until now.
Without
a choice, he was going to have to be there for the Omega, for his mate. He only
hoped when the shifter found out exactly what that meant, he wouldn’t abandon
MaCraye and was strong enough to not go mad and take his own life, as Terric
had.
