Part 1
The night was cold and stale, even a werewolf nose would have trouble finding and tracking a scent. Guarding the borders of California was a position of high honour but it was also the most boring job for an Alpha or a strong Beta to have. For centuries Alphas and Betas had patrolled and protected the towns in California, including the prosperous Beacon Hills and the greater city of Beacon Heights, from the dangers that lurked beyond the borders of the forest. Packs of deranged and power hungry Alphas roamed between the territories, looking for Betas and Alphas to kill to gain their strength. Even rogue wolves could cause a problem by disrupting the local wildlife and hunting areas.
Greenburg, the Beta in charge of this mile stretch of the boundary, looked out into the darkness but even with his advanced werewolf sight it was nearly impossible to see into the tree line beyond the clearing. No animal stirred in the stillness of the night and even the moon high above granted them any light. Suddenly, red eyes appeared in the opposite line of trees and Greenburg was instantly on guard. Red eyes rarely meant anything good.
"Who's there?" Greenburg shouted into the blackness, just in case it was a friendly from another pack wanting to peacefully visit their territory. "What is your business here? Do you mean us any harm?"
"What makes you think they're going to say if they are here to 'mean us harm'?" Finstock angrily said as he pushed Greenburg further into pack territory and safety. Finstock would protect Greenburg himself instead of let the idiot make inane and stupid questions. "What do you think they're going to say? "Hi, we're here to eviscerate you, prepare to die."? You are a different kind of smart Greenburg." Alpha Finstock knew any unidentified Alpha was always approached and questioned with caution, as would anything even of little threat would be.
The red eyes moved and multiplied. Finstock and Greenburg were shocked still as they now knew what they were looking at; an Alpha pack. Jumping into action, Finstock pushed Greenburg further into the tree line to hide him, and ran into the small insulated cabin right near their post. Inside Finstock knew exactly where the metal high-powered bow and self-igniting arrow was secured. He need only grab these items, return outside and shoot them into the air to notify the sentries further within Californian territory to the presence of the murderous Alpha pack. If he failed, every pack in the vicinity was in danger.
The Alpha sentry reached the cabin and grabbed the alert set of bow and arrows. Turning suddenly and exiting as fast as he could, he immediately felt that something was wrong outside of the cabin. There was Greenburg, perfectly still and standing erect, a clawed hand poised at his throat. Attached to that hand was an arm, and attached to that arm was the body and face of an Alpha of an Alpha pack; Deucalion. A repeat threat to the territory of California and a great enemy of their Supreme and Benevolent Alpha, Lydia Martin.
Seeing the acceptance in Greenburg's eyes, Finstock raised his arms where he had the bow poised and quickly pulled back the string tightly to release the arrow as high as it could go to increase the chances of the sentries seeing it. Deucalion growled at Finstock for the audacity of the man to alert the packs of their arrival.
"Now everyone knows you're here." Greenburg mocked the Alpha who was threatening to kill him, unafraid for his life in the want of a chance to stand up to the Alpha pack.
"Excellent." Deucalion smirked smugly as if his plan of attack didn't originally include the element of surprise, stealth and destruction. The cheeky bastard.
A thousand miles away, in the heart of the Californian territory, High Alpha Lydia Martin reposed on her shiny throne that was the centre of power for all the werewolves in the region and quite comfortable. She was busy talking with her advisor Peter Hale when Talia Hale and two of her personal bodyguards stormed through the carved oak doors of her throne room and knelt elegantly at the bottom of her throne's dais.
"My Alpha, Deucalion and his Alpha pack has infiltrated our land and on their way to assassinate you." Talia Hale bowed her head with dignity to her Alpha, though she herself held great Alpha powers and had the respect of being Lydia's General. Her lose silky hair flowed over her broad shoulders, contrary to the heavy and solid armour that seductively covered her curvy body. Known as a great leader, Talia Hale was a powerful woman.
"Outrageous! No one dares cross our borders!" Talia's younger brother, a Beta named Peter Hale, objected in the security of his confidence in the defences that he had planned himself. He as sure that the alliances he had forged with other packs would have made them too much of supreme power to dare try to attack. Though he was devious, Peter was a caring Hale family member and devoted to the protection of his pack.
"My men will stay around the palace to protect you, Your Majesty." Talia Hale stated strongly, confident in the strength and dedication of her personal pack and army to protect their greatest Alpha.
"No! Send your army to protect my pack." Alpha Lydia stated as she rose from her throne and thought only of the thousands who could die because Deucalion was on his way to kill her; the pack's survival was her main priority. "Call up a conscription notice and recruit as many new fighters as you think we'll need to stop Deucalion and his Alphas. Do what you must to protect the people, Talia."
Part 2
"Graceful, demure, silent and fertile." Stiles recited as he ate his curly fries. These were probably the most important things for him to remember today, as his and his family's whole future depended on him showing these qualities to the Matchmaker. Only this way could he gain a suitable husband and improve his pedigree for the good of the pack. It was even more imperative for Stiles as his father, Chief Stilinski, was the local enforcer of pack law and as such was a highly venerated Alpha and war veteran.
As Stiles sat on his spacious bed reading from the well-used book titled "How to Be a Proper Omega and Get Your Alpha", he thought how sad he would be to again see the disappointment in his father's weathered face. For his mother and father he must do his best in the Matchmaker interview. Even now he knew he was failing because he was still dressed in his rumpled sleeping clothes and had yet to wash himself. "An Omega must be presentable and clean at all times to encourage reproduction."
Stiles stealthily wrote the rules in ink on his arm to remember to perform them correctly later, when the cock outside loudly crowed. Alert and in short of time to get ready, the omega jumped from his bed and ran to the cooking area where he knew his proud father would be sitting in preparation for another day of protecting and organising the masses.
"Good morning Stiles." Chief Stilinski greeted his son as he read the papers spread on the table in front of him, his breakfast cold and overlooked on the far side. The cook always left something for the man just in case but knew the Chief was always busy and forgot to eat.
Stiles grunted as he ran hard into the edge of the table making the cup of lukewarm coffee sitting near the edge to spill over his father's work.
"Ah! Not again Stiles!" The Alpha grunted as his lap and lower chest was sprayed with the brown liquid, trying to save his soiled notes on recent illegal trespasses committed by some pack members of the territory of Beacon Hills.
"Sorry! I'll make you another!" The omega apologized sincerely as his natural submissive instincts kicked in which made him beg forgiveness from the head of his family.
"You know that the doctor said with your heart condition you're not supposed to have coffee anyway." Stiles admonished his father after he knew he was forgiven when the Chief lightly scratched the back of his neck to placate him.
"Son, you know today is important. It is your responsibility as the family Omega to-" The elder Stilinski tried to teach his son and make him understand how reliant he was on the success of the day.
"To uphold the family honour. I know." The Omega finished for his father as he had heard this speech enough times to know when to expect it. "I won't let you down. Again."
"I only want what's best for you and your future. To make sure you are safe and well provided for." Letting out a resigned sigh, the Sheriff drew his only son towards his built chest for a tight scenting hug. He needed potential Alphas to know that his son was protected and it would take another strong Alpha to care for his precious son.
"Wish me luck!" With those parting words Stiles turned on his heel and headed for the front door to make his way to the Omega Beauty Parlour for his appointment. One must look their best when possibly being chosen for an Alpha.
"Please watch over him." Chief Stilinski prayed to the carved wolf made of oak wood that stood proudly in the centre of his mantle. This statue was the physical embodiment of all his ancestors that watched over their wolf descendants. It was the way a wolf in need could ask for guidance and assistance from the moon and those She protected that had passed on.
Part 3a
"Where is that boy?" Melissa Stilinski fretted as she waited outside of the dress makers and searched the busy streets for her Omega son; her late Omega son. "Come on Stiles, not today. Any day but today."
"The Matchmaker is not a patient Alpha, Beta Stilinski. She will wait for no Omega, no matter who his or her father is." The dress maker said as she poked her small ad frail Omega head out the open entrance door to hurry along her next customer's mother. She knew from experience that if this Omega was late or not dressed suitably for the Matchmaker, they would not be getting any match; good or bad.
"I should have prayed to the Ancestor Wolf for more luck." The Beta clasped her hands and howled softly under her breath to the sky in hopes that her ancestors would hear her belated but desperate prayer for help.
"How much help can they be? The thing's made out of wood." Healer Deaton, close friend of the Stilinski's stated as he walked towards Melissa and fiddled with his small hip pouch filled with potions and remedies for werewolves. Not only a close friend, Healer Deaton was also the main herbalist and doctor for the pack of Beacon Hills and has helped the population from hunters many times.
Hearing the clopping of fast hooves, Mrs Stilinski turned just in time to see her son Stiles emerge from the bustling main street crowd sitting side-saddle, the correct position for any prim and proper Omega of good breeding, looking haggard and sweaty from the quick and jostling ride. Stiles jumped from his horse, named Betsy, and presented himself in front of his mother by presenting her with the back of his neck in a rushed and panting jerk of his slim upper body. "Present."