The pack's adoption ceremony was always a busy affair, filled with the mingling scents of new arrivals and long-standing members. William had never paid much attention to it before. As the son of the pack leader, he had other responsibilities—patrolling the borders, training younger alphas, preparing for the day he would take his father's place. The steady rhythm of pack life had never been interrupted by anything or anyone.
Until today.
William stood on the raised platform beside his father, arms crossed as he observed the small group of omegas being introduced. The air carried a mixture of nervous scents—soft florals, faint vanilla, hints of citrus. Most omegas smelled light and delicate, unassuming. But then, there was one scent that stood out.
Something sweet, but not cloying. Warm, like honey melting into milk. It drifted toward him subtly, not demanding attention but impossible to ignore.
William's gaze locked onto the source.
Est Supha.
He stood slightly apart from the others. He wasn't defiant—no, that wasn't it. But there was a quietness about him, something reserved. His posture wasn't hunched in fear, but measured, controlled. He wasn't trying to make himself invisible, yet he wasn't seeking attention either.
William inhaled deeper without thinking. His own scent—bold, rich with a deep woodsy spice—was often overpowering to others, making omegas shy away or blush under the weight of it. But Est's scent didn't retreat. Instead, it mixed in the air, blending with his in a way that made something inside William still.
They smelled good together.
The ceremony continued, but William found himself distracted. When it ended, the new members were guided to their quarters. William should have turned away, should have gone back to his duties. But when Est passed by, their eyes met—just for a moment. A flicker of something unreadable crossed Est's face before he looked away.
His scent lingered in the space between them, and William stood there longer than he should have.
He didn't know what it was yet. But he knew one thing for sure.
He would be watching Est closely.
---
---
The night air was crisp as William sat outside the pack house, watching the newly arrived omegas settle into their quarters. His father's words from earlier still echoed in his mind.
*"Support system adoptions strengthen the pack. We take in the ones without homes, train them, protect them. But not all will fit in."*
William never cared much for the politics of it. He believed in strength—both physical and mental—but he had never paid attention to the smaller social struggles that happened within the omega ranks. Until now.
From his spot near the main house, he could hear the whispers carrying through the open windows of the omega wing.
*"Why is Alpha William being nice to him?"*
*"He barely talks to the rest of us."*
*"It's because Est acts all mysterious—like he's better than us."*
William exhaled through his nose, unimpressed. Omegas could be vicious when they wanted to be, their rivalries sometimes sharper than any fight between alphas. It wasn't surprising, but something about it didn't sit right with him.
He thought back to earlier that day.
It had been a small moment, nothing dramatic—at least not to him. One of the younger omegas, Gam, had stumbled when stepping forward during the ceremony, her foot catching on uneven ground. Instinctively, Est had reached out to steady her. But before she could right herself, another omega bumped into him, making him lose his own balance.
William had stepped in without thinking. A firm hand on Est's wrist, steadying him before he could fall.
"Careful," William had said, his voice lower than usual.
It was nothing. A simple act. But when Est had looked up at him, wide-eyed, William had caught it—the quick shift in Est's breathing, the way his scent curled just a little richer in the air. It had lasted only a second before Est looked away, murmuring a soft, "Thank you."
William had released him, stepping back as if nothing had happened. But apparently, the rest of the pack had noticed.
He had never gone out of his way for any omega before. Never shown interest, never cared about the whispers of who wanted his attention. And yet, the moment he had done something as simple as catching Est, the rumors had already begun.
William shook his head slightly.
Let them talk.
---
The next morning, William found himself outside the healer's quarters under the guise of checking in on their stock. The reality was something different.
Inside, Est was quietly arranging supplies under Hong's direction. He moved carefully, hands steady as he sorted herbs and wrapped fresh bandages. William watched as Hong leaned over and murmured something to Est, who nodded in response.
"Good hands," Hong called over his shoulder when he noticed William standing there. "He'll do well here."
Est didn't turn, but William saw the way his shoulders stiffened slightly.
William stepped inside. "You have training in healing?"
Est's fingers brushed over a strip of cloth before he finally glanced up. "Some."
His voice was soft, but steady.
William took a slow breath, letting the moment stretch. The room smelled clean, but underneath it was the same honeyed scent from the night before. His own scent thickened instinctively, and for a brief second, William swore he saw Est react—just the slightest shift in his breath, the faintest hitch in his chest.
William didn't comment on it. Instead, he let the corner of his mouth lift just slightly. "Show me."
He pulled off the outer layer of his tunic, revealing a healing wound along his arm from the last hunt. It was mostly closed, but Est's brows furrowed just slightly as he examined it.
Without hesitation, he reached for a clean cloth and a salve, his fingers brushing William's skin.
William felt it again—how their scents blended in the air, how the contact sent a hum through his veins.
Est didn't meet his eyes. But his hands didn't tremble either.
William let him work, watching every movement, every shift in his expression.
And for the first time in a long while, he felt something new settle deep inside him.
A feeling he wasn't sure he wanted to name yet.
YOU ARE READING
Unclaimed
RomanceIt had been one year since the night of the Full Moon Ritual, the night William and Est had sealed their bond beneath the celestial gaze of the Moon Mother. One year since Est had hesitated, since William had claimed him, since the pack had watched...
