Chapter 12
3rd POV
"Well Omega…how do you feel?" Aleu asks as we head over.
Like I'm about to go through Tartarus without a weapon, Omega thinks rather balefully but he only nods his shaggy head.
"As ready as I'll ever be," he admits with a bit of hesitation in his voice.
They are on the outskirts of Nome again, but this time with a different destination. Far from the desolate boat in its isolated state they will instead make their way to the boiler room where the dogs get together for their evening meetings. Granted the warehouse where the room is located in, rests along the exterior of the settlement, but it's still too close for comfort on his part.
It is dark and most of the residents are asleep but Omega doesn't want to risk being spotted by a lone night wanderer who would happens to look out a window. Then again he is about to fully reveal himself to a bunch of dogs who could go crazy, wake the neighborhood and the fat will really be in the fire then.
"Omega," Aleu sighs as if his hesitance is annoying her, which it probably is, "it'll be fine, what's the worst that could happen?"
"Aside from getting hit in the head with a mop?" Omega quipped as he reminds her of the first time she introduced him to someone new, "not much."
Aleu grins in mild embarrassment before she starts pushing him forward or at least she tries to, "well if you don't want the humans to see you, then get moving."
"But I'm not sure if I want the dogs to see me either," he protests.
"This has to happen sooner or later." She growls at him with that familiar determination blazing in her eyes. "Now, will you get moving or do I have to drag you?"
"You?" He questions with a raised eye ridge, "drag me?"
"By the tail if I have to," she huffs with her irritation clear in the open.
The giant black creature regards her smaller frame for a moment before giving her his infamous wicked smile, "lead the way then."
In the Boiler room
"So who is Aleu's new friend?" Kodi asks his father with a meaningful look on his face.
That quickly disappears though when Balto gives his son a harden look, "they are friends Kodi and nothing more."
Kodi glances away to escape his father's glare, unsure if he has ever seen him act this way before. Noting his son's silence, Balto sighs and bumps into Kodi's shoulder. "I'm sorry son," he says, "I just…don't trust this…creature, especially when he is with Aleu."
Kodi feels like he has more questions than answers now. His father has more than enough reason to loath humans, wolves and dogs. Despite that though he always kept any demeaning talk to himself and shows everyone respect or at the very least keep silent when he has nothing nice to say.
To hear him speak so balefully about this Omega and with no clear indication of what his species is…is a bit unnerving. He notices the same behavior in his mother who is sitting beside Balto, keeping silent and seems deep in thought. Kodi begins wondering if now is a good time to tell his parents about his and Dusty's surprise.
At this thought he glances at Dusty who is snuggled next to his body looking like she is about to drift off at any time. He really doesn't have a choice though; soon Dusty will be unable to run and he will have to ask his father for help in filling in for her.
Should he say it now? No, best he wait till Aleu gets here, she'll probably be over the moon about this without a doubt.
Kodi, his team and family are in the boiler room, all warm and cozy along with the other dogs as they talk about their day. Kodi missed this, the sense of community that they all take part in. Sure he and his team are welcomed into any town they bring the mail to, but none have a warehouse with a running stove that they could all congregate in.
He notes how Ralph is trying to hit on a husky and Ralph is making a friend with a Rottweiler as they talk of the many uses of cheese. Or rather where to stuff it in order to get a funny reaction from their owners.
All seem right in the world, but his parent's unease is starting to get to him. He wonders if he should try and pry from them again when the main door opens a bit and allows a familiar grey figure in.
"Aleu," Jenna practically cries out as she stands up with a relieved look on her face, "did…did everything go well with Omega?"
Kodi notes the hint of fear in his mother's voice but bites down on his questions for now.
"Things are great," she finishes as her tail swishes fast in the air. "It couldn't be better."
"Aleu," Balto says with a light warning in his tone. Kodi recognizes the tone anywhere. His father can sense when one of his children is hiding something from him and he wants to know what it is.
Aleu's smile drops before saying, "remember when you said Omega needed to introduce himself to the dogs and wolves?"
"…yes?" Balto says with an uneasy tone.
Aleu then whispers something beneath her voice.
"What?" Balto asks.
Aleu speaks softly again.
"What?" Balto asks a second time, a bit firmer.
Finally Aleu sighs, "he's outside the door."
Outside the Door
Run, run, run!
Omega has to fight off this instinct as he looks around him every few seconds. This is a really bad stupid idea. He is lying in the snow again but he is about to have a nervous breakdown, he can feel it. His spine is starting to shiver and it's not because of the snow. He feels like bolting, like getting as far away as possible. Logically he should but he couldn't. He breathes out heavily, he couldn't abandon Aleu. She trusts him. It's time he trusts her with telling the absolute truth.
Inside he can hear the dogs, chattering away in cheerful voices as they talk of their families, their homes and little complaints they have about their neighbors. If Omega didn't know any better he could have mistaken the room to be full of humans.
Humans or not, he still doesn't belong, and that thought puts a dull ache in his chest as he heaves heavily. What can he do when neither men nor beast wants anything to do with him?
The voices inside quiets down a bit and he thought he heard Aleu speaking. He couldn't really hear what she is saying exactly but he notices how the babble of conversation slowly becomes quiet before dead silence is all he hears.
A couple of seconds passes when the crack in the door widens and Aleu pokes her head out and she sees Omega in the snow. She smiles and cheekily says, "You're so cute down there."
Omega feels his face burning but is able to hide it by huffing with mock irritation before saying, "Really?" Aleu chuckles softly before licking his cheek. The smile fades from her muzzle as she says, "they're waiting for you."
Omega sighs as he rises up onto his four legs and says, "Might as well get it over with." Aleu nods as she pushes the door open some more as he carefully rises and he walks inside.
Omega slowly steps into the room and stands on his back legs. His entire expression changes to one of confidence and intimidation. He keeps his eyes steady as he stares ahead, but that doesn't prevent him from seeing the dogs and their reactions.
Or rather the lack of thereof.
Everyone is staring and gaping at him; the largest wolf looking creature that they have ever seen. His dark coat hides him in the shadow and the red glare of the fire that reveals his shape makes him look monstrous, his glowing eyes that seemed to switch color between red and silver probably didn't offer comfort either. The only dog that isn't frozen was Balto, aside from locking eyes with Omega the hybrid seems more concern with his mate and grown children as he looks back and forth between them.
A loud snap makes everyone jump at the sound.
Omega looks down and sees that he has just stepped on a cow's femur bone and broke it in two. Breaking the bone of a large animal without effort.
Oh yes, that sure looks normal to the light footed dogs.
Omega lets that thought cross his mind and he grins before becoming straight-faced again. He decides to stop there and carefully sits on his hunches. But it didn't do much to ease the tension, as he is still at least two heads taller than any of the other canines. He draws his front paws closer to him, hoping that nobody notices they look more like hands than paws.
The silence continues before a grey shape maneuvers herself beside him and clears her throat, momentarily getting everyone's attention. "Hi everyone," Aleu says carefully as she smiles, "um…I…like you all to meet Omega," she finishes with a jerk to the giant wolf before them. "Omega is Percy's animal companion," Aleu continues, "they will be living here so…Omega thought it was time he got to meet you all."
Like I had any say in the matter, He thinks to himself.
The room remain quiet as no one dares to speak or breathe. "So…" Aleu trails off, her tail starting to swish back and forth in a nervous manner, "any quest-"
"What are you?" a voice in the back asks. The dogs looks over their shoulders, but don't see the one who spoke. If it was due to him being shy or not wanting to risk provoking Omega's wraith is anyone's guess.
Omega remains cool headed as he clears his throat and thinks of an appropriate response.
"I'm an unnatural wolf breed, which is the reason for my oversize condition. Another thing that you all should be aware of is that Perseus Jackson and I are the same being. We-" He says.
An uproar disrupts his further explanation.
"QUIET!" Omega roared out suddenly. "If you wish to know more, keep your mouths shut until I am done talking!"
He took a deep breath before continuing. "I was born a human boy. And when I was 16 years old, I was bitten by a werewolf. Once I was bitten, I was banished from my home in fear that I could not contain the wolf inside me. During my travels, I joined with another pack and became the Alpha of that pack for about a year. One day we were ambushed by hunters and my entire pack was slaughtered. I lost all of my friends that pack contained. I have been on the run since that incident 3 years ago." Omega explained.
A husky up front asks, "And what are you doing here in Nome?"
Omega releases a great huff, "I am here because I was looking for a new life. I want to live a life without fear of being chased out, to live in peace with both humans and animals."
"And how do you separate with the human, or how does that work?" this one comes from Aleu's brother Kodi, who looks greatly intrigued now and for the moment forgotten his fear of the giant creature.
Omega smiles softly, "during nighttime I change into this form. But once the sun comes out I change back to my human form. But when I am a wolf, my human body is resting which is why I never have to sleep to be recharged for the next day."
Slowly his body becomes less tense and the dogs in turn asks more questions as the night begins to wane on.
Time skip
Aleu has nestled herself close to her family and listens carefully to Omega's answers. He is revealing more of himself then she originally have thought he would have, which irked her a bit. She has spent so much time with him and barely knew him, now here he is giving a detailed account of his life to strangers.
But maybe he wants to no longer be an outsider to us. Perhaps he is telling us the truth in order to no longer be keeping secrets from us.
She turns to her father and whispers, "Papa, do you know if what Omega is saying is true?"
Balto has been wondering the same thing as well, but he has been keeping silent for the most part. It is Jenna that answers their musings. "It may be true." She reveals to her mate and daughter.
"But not all of it," Balto says to himself as he continues to observe the giant wolf creature, "surely he wouldn't tell us everything. He's probably just trying lessen our fears for now."
"So…he is lying," Aleu is unsure whether to be upset or happy about this.
"I'm sure he has his reasons Aleu," Balto acknowledges with a bowed head. "But there is a chance that what he is saying may have some trace of truth in it. We just don't know if he is telling us the full truth because we don't know what the actual truth is."
Aleu doesn't say a thing as she lies down and places her head on top of her paws as she continues to watch Omega talk about his journey across the vast ocean on a boat. The dogs seems to be enticed in the tale, but not her.
She is his friend, and she hopes that maybe someday soon he will trust her enough to speak the truth of what he is. She doesn't know it, but she is getting a good sense of who he is and she likes it.
Oblivious of these spare thoughts, she continues to listen as the fire keeps them warm and for the first time since Percy's arrival, the dogs feel a bit of their tension lessen as they listen to the wolf in their presence.
1 hour later
Omega POV
I had told everyone the 'truth' that maneuvered around the actual story involving the gods, but I have a feeling that some of them don't believe me. I can fix this in a go. "I know that seeing some of your faces, you still don't believe me, so I will now transform into Percy's form and show that I am telling the truth."
As I started to shrink into Percy's frame, I could gasps of the dogs around me as my body warped itself into a human form. "I know that this might make some of you uneasy around me and I understand. I decided to tell you the truth. I could've lied but I felt it was necessary to come clean. Besides, it was a lot to maintain both forms and keep a level head."
That got a chuckle out of a couple of the dogs around me. I looked in Aleu's direction to see her no longer in the room. I quickly shifted into Omega and strode up to Balto. "Where is Aleu?" I questioned, barely able to hold back any worry in my voice.
"She left, and is probably on her way to her pack. She thinks you're lying about being both the human and this form. She left just before you shifted forms." Balto said with a sad expression on his face.
I huffed and whirled around in seconds. I rushed out of the room and started making my way towards her pack's location. I had been there before when she showed me the boundaries from our second encounter.
I jumped out of a bush, landing right in front of one of the sentries scaring him so bad he yelled in a yelp. I guess I could understand, currently, I'm on my back legs standing like a human but in an oversize wolf form. "Where is Aleu, your pack leader? I need to speak with her instantly!" I said in anger and worry.
"Are you Omega?" The wolf asked. I nodded. The wolf gestured for me to follow him and led me into the pack's home. Along the way I caught some glares as well as some looks of awe, but shrugged them off.
I eventually came face-to-face with Aleu who looked unsure as to embrace me or slap me. I fell onto all four legs and looked her in the eye, "why did you leave? Do you know how scary it was to no longer see you there? I told my life story which is what I had planned to do anyways. I no longer want to live holding secrets from you or anyone."
Aleu finally spoke, "I don't believe you. Not unless you show me that you are Perseus Jackson right now. If you can't then I never want to see you again." She threatened.
I sadly nodded and shifted to Percy's form and then back. Her face was slack in awe. "How?"
"When you are bitten by a werewolf, you can change between forms. And that is exactly what I am, a werewolf." I said.
Aleu was silent, as she turned away from me."Do you no longer want to be with me Aleu?" I asked, some tears making their presence known.
She looked at me before licking my cheek. I wrapped her up in my limbs and pulled her next to me on the ground. "I will never let you go Aleu. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I love you." I whispered into her ear.
She licked my cheek as if saying that she agreed.
1 week later
Percy POV
I was excited, I had found someone that I could spend the rest of my life with. After Annabeth had died, I didn't think that I would be able to find anyone. I have to IM my friends at camp. I threw a drachma into the air, "O, Iris, Goddess of the Rainbow, accept my offering, show me Nico Di Angelo." The mist showed me an image of him sitting at a counselor meeting.
Oh well, this is too good to not interrupt.
"Hey Neeks." I called to him which made him jump in his chair before he realized who called him. "Percy?"
"Unless you know another son of Poseidon that you haven't seen in almost 2 years. Yes it's me." I said playfully. Nico quickly called the others around so they could see me including Chiron. I explained my travels since we last spoke. They were surprised that I had gone back to Alaska. They were even more surprised when I told them that I had finally moved on from Annabeth's death.
"Who is it? Can we see her?" Piper asked.
"Okay, first off you should know that…well, she is a wolf." I nervously replied.
"A wolf…Percy?" Jason asked astonished.
"Yes a wolf, an alpha to be exact. She leads a pack not very far from the town I'm staying in. And none of you can meet her unless you swear upon the River Styx to not say anything about the Gods or the wars. She doesn't need to know about that life. All she knows is that three years ago I became a werewolf and haven't belonged anywhere since. Also around the town, I go as my human form Percy Jackson. Now swear your promise and I will flash you guys over here."
They all swore and less than a minute later, they appeared in my little home.
"Man, Percy this is so small." Jason said which earned him a slap from Piper.
I chuckled at that. "It's my home for the winter. In the Spring I move in with Aleu's pack. This was a cover for my human form. So I don't draw suspicion in town when I leave every night as a huge wolf. Now I need to shift into my wolf form, then I will lead you to a place where you can meet Aleu."
I had led them towards our regular meeting place. I know that it is daytime but I don't really care now that I can be in either form among these wolves and dogs. I howled into the air calling her towards my position.
I got no response for a full minute. Which worried me a lot, so I howled again. I got a response I thought I would never get. Her howl of pain and fury.
In that instance flames appeared on my arms making the others back up fast. I faced them and told them to stay here, no matter what. They nodded their heads fast. I flame traveled towards the pack's home and found the place under attack by a crowd of at least 15 hunters.
My entry was made known when I pulled a hunter off of Sitka who was under a net. I roared right into the man's face. He stumbled back by didn't get far as I had stuck my claws into his neck, ripping out his throat in another loud roar.
I turned to my left to find a hunter stab at another beta with a knife. He didn't move any further as I bit into his neck separating his head from his body.
The other hunters finally took notice of me. I must've looked like a nightmare. A pitch-black 8ft tall wolf standing on two legs, orange flames curling off his torso, beady red eyes and blood running down my muzzle. I roared out a challenge at the group and lunged towards them.
Before they could react, I had shifted into my human form and pulled out Riptide and attacked the first man. (Now I know you're thinking, Riptide can't harm normal humans. Except that when Percy was banished, Hephaestus in order to make it up to him for voting for his exile, blessed his sword making it contain mortal steel so it can be used against mortals.)
The first man I engaged in combat with didn't move as he was in shock, so I made his death quick, one strike to his neck sending his head flying. I smirked before stepping towards the others growling. I raised my blade towards the hunters and showed off my fangs.
"You hunters made the wrong move against this pack. And so you will pay with your lives. You will find no mercy from me as I send you to the afterlife." I snarled out. I made short work of the hunters including those that tried to fight back. Sooner or later they were all lying dead on the ground.
When I was done I faced the pack, "I'm sorry for switching forms without you all knowing. It slipped my mind and I could only focus on ending the threat. I don't know what Aleu told you but I am not a natural wolf as you can see. I was bitten by a werewolf three winters ago. A werewolf is a supernatural creature that can change form between human and wolf. That is why I don't look like a normal wolf. It is my curse."
Sitka spoke next, "so I guess Nuju was right. A supernatural creature. But why is it a curse, it seems kind of cool to be able to switch between forms."
I lowered my head, and faced Aleu, "I was going to tell you yesterday but I didn't want to ruin the mood." I faced the others and sighed, "I'm immortal."
A silence enveloped the wolves before one asked, "What does immortal mean?"
"Immortal means the ability to never die. Werewolves live forever unless struck in the heart by a silver blade or by decapitation, meaning that your head is severed from your body. They never get sick, but unless struck down, they will live forever."
Aleu gasped as I spoke. And I hurried over to her, "I know, and I'm sorry for not telling you earlier but there isn't really an appropriate time to say that."
She nodded accepting my apology before licking my cheek. "What does that mean about us? You will surely outlive me, so will you move on to someone else o-" I cut her off by grabbing her muzzle and nuzzling hers, as I rubbed my body against hers. She stopped talking and returned my gesture of affection. "We will talk about this later, for now let's just enjoy the day. Plus, some of my childhood friends are in town and want to meet you."
She looked at me shocked, "and they know I'm a wolf."
"Yes, they know what I am as well. They are waiting at our usual meeting place, if you want to meet them?" I asked nervously.
"Yes, I would like to."
"Okay then grab my paw and I will transport us over there. But before I do, hold your breath and try your best not to throw up on me."
"Wait, what?" She asked nervously. But she grabbed my paw and did what I asked so we vanished in flames and appeared in front my friends suddenly. That caused Jason and Piper to jump in shock and fall over in the snow. Nico just looked up from his drawing in the snow. Frank and Hazel were having a small scale snowball fight. But they stopped at the sudden increase in temperature.
"Percy!" Everyone said at once as if they had rehearsed for it or something which kind of freaked me out.
"Hey everyone, this is Aleu. She is the one I told you all about." I said pulling Aleu closer to me as they came forward one at a time slowly as to not make her jump.
Aleu faced me and spoke in my mind, "you have some weird looking friends. They also smell strange." That caused me to let out a big laugh, and then nodded to her saying that I agreed with her.
"What did she say?" Nico asked.
"She said that you all look and smell funny. And I agreed with her." I replied which earned me a few glares.
There was a rustle of bushes behind me that caused me to lunge into said bushes and bring out whoever was there. It was Balto and Boris.
"Well not exactly how I wanted to greet you again. Sorry, but I just fought off some hunters so I'm still a little jumpy Balto." He just nodded and spoke, "Kodi has some news for us. He wants to tell everyone at the barn. So come on, but the humans can't come."
I nodded my head and told my friends to go back home once we leave their sight. They nodded and Aleu and I followed her father and uncle.
We arrived at the barn to find everyone already seated and talking. I whispered to Aleu, "I already know what's going to happen."
Aleu turned her head shocked, "and what will the news be, Omega?"
"Dusty's pregnant." I responded and clamped Aleu's muzzle shut before she could yell.
At that time Kodi got everyone to calm down so he could explain his big news. "Okay I know that everyone wants to know why I've called you all here. Dusty and I have some big news that I'm sure you will be excited to hear." Kodi looked at Dusty before continuing, "Dusty's pregnant."
It got very quiet after that, but was interrupted when Aleu got free of my grasp and shouted at me, "how did you know that Omega?!"
Of course, all eyes turned to me. I sighed, "I already knew that you two are expecting puppies. I noticed it when I was in my human form as Percy. When you all noticed that it seemed like I froze before leaving, I could smell the puppies' scent, then I heard you two talking after everyone left. As a werewolf, my hearing and sense of smell were greatly enhanced." I explained which drew many gasps as I talked.
Dusty called out, "do you know how many I will have, or is it too early?"
I took a deep sniff, and replied "you will have between 5-7 pups, but it is too soon for me to be able to tell how many males/females that there will be."
Dusty nodded as did Kodi. But he spoke next, "can you tell anything else about anyone in the room?"
"As a test because you don't exactly trust me huh Kodi?" I sarcastically asked.
"Yes."
"Alright then let me take another sniff." I did so and could tell a lot.
"Okay, Sitka will need to relieve himself quickly. Nuju is asleep behind the door behind me. Jenna's human will be coming through that door in a couple of seconds looking for her. And Balto...Jenna has some news for you that is not my place to say. But I can promise that it will be good news." I replied with a smug smile on my face.
It got quiet before sure enough, Sitka went outside to go pee as Jenna's human, Rosy burst through the door calling out for Jenna. Kodi checked the door behind and found Nuju snoring softly.
"I believe him Kodi." Dusty called out.
"None of us were able to tell those things, so I think he's telling the truth. Besides we've all seen his human form as Percy Jackson." Sitka agreed.
"I actually have some news for you all as well." I said drawing everyone's attention. "Aleu has allowed me the pleasure of courting her."
Balto looked angry, "how can you do so when you have to ask me for permission to do so?"
"May I have your permission to do so then?" I asked sarcastically.
"No."
"Aleu is her own pack's Alpha, therefore she doesn't require your approval for any male asking. I respect you Balto, I really do, but I don't need your approval to court her. Aleu is the only one with the authority to do so as it directly affects her." I snarled out to him eyes flashing red and silver.
"She needs my approval to be courted by you. It's a tradition. The only way to be able to court her is to fight off others that disapprove." Balto shot back.
"So I can expect you to fight, Balto? How many others should I beat down to show you? You know what, if I must, I will fight the whole town whether they be human or canine. Just tell me the time and place." I growled out, small flames curling off of my paws.
"But if you decide to fight me, I will not kill you unless given a reason to do so. I was raised and taught to be honorable in battle. But if you do me wrong, I will show no mercy." With that I flame traveled into my home.
Kodi POV
I was surprised by Omega's news. Aleu and he were on their way to becoming mates. I won't lie, I am nervous for her. I am also nervous for my father, because hopefully he won't fight the huge wolf. I know that my father can fight, but he will not come out victorious against Omega. The wolf is huge, and will be dangerous if provoked too much. I believe him and trust him.
I faced Aleu, "where did he go?"
She looked at me strangely, "why do you ask, Kodi?"
"I want to talk to him without anyone around. Just to talk." She thought for a moment before walking outside to lead me to Omega's home. I looked at Dusty and she nodded before turning on her side and falling asleep.
A/N: Alright from now on, Percy will now be known as Omega. It is too much to continue to treat them as two different beings.
Updated: 04/06/2018