Chapter Text
Shen Wenlang stood before the window of his office on the second floor of his house, watching as the Omega recommended to help his son entered through the front door. From a distance, the man could have been mistaken for a beta, given his height and broad shoulders; he wasn't what Shen Wenlang had imagined when he was recommended as an Omega helper. He had expected someone with a more typical appearance for his second gender, given the work he did.
“He's the best helper in cases like Shen Lele's, so keep your temper in check. You don't have the privilege of him rejecting your proposal.”
Hua Yong's voice behind him was firm and crisp, Shen Wenlang simply nodded. He knew very well what was at stake.
“What are you still doing here?” He said instead.
“As co-leader of this pack and Shen Lele's godfather, I have decided to stay and do damage control.”
“It's not necessary, I'm under control.”
The mere image of his son in his bedroom, connected to so many machines, was reminder enough that he couldn't let his prejudices and feelings towards Omegas get in the way. He had already caused enough harm to his son without realizing it. He didn't want to miss this last chance to save his Lele.
He moved away from the window when he could no longer see the Omega. Turning around, he found Hua Yong sitting lazily in his chair.
“Move out. Don't you have your own office? Or go bother Sheng Shaoyou in his.”
The Enigma got up from the chair but did not leave the office.
The next few minutes passed in agonizing silence, waiting to hear the footsteps that would announce the arrival of their last hope.
Despite being alert, he didn't hear those footsteps until they were almost at the door of the office. They were lighter than he expected, as if the man making them didn't want to make a sound.
The knocking on the door startled him slightly, causing Hua Yong to raise an eyebrow.
“Enter.” He said it with firmness in his voice, even if he didn't feel that way at that moment.
When the door opened, the first thing he noticed was the faint scent of sage, unlike anything he associated with Omegas. It wasn't cloyingly sweet, but rather had a subtle hint of evergreen freshness. Like a summer's rain.
The second thing was that he was as tall as Shen Wenlang had perceived him to be through the window, his height only just below Hua Yong's.
And the last thing he noticed, before his vision turned red and his ears went deaf, were warm brown eyes behind glasses. Like a fountain of melted chocolate.
Every single thought, every worry and fear from the past few weeks, vanished from his mind. There was only one thought, one feeling, one certainty.
MINE.
ONE WEEK EARLIER
Gao Tu took the folder that his coordinator had handed him. He opened it slowly and carefully read the first page.
NAME: Shen Lele
AGE: 7
DESIGNATION: Undefined
HEALTH CONDITION: Omega Pheromone Deficiency.
HEALTH STATUS: Serious.
Lele. His heart broke. It was a popular name, but it would always hurt him to hear it.
“How long has it been since the child had contact with Omegas?” He asked as he turned to the second page, trying not to think that his own son would be that age.
“Never had. He was abandoned by his Omega father right after birth and his Alpha father has not allowed contact with other Omegas.” Said Ma Ling crossing her arms.
“An Omega-phobic?” He asked rhetorically.
“One of the worst. And someone relatively famous.” His coordinator responded anyway. “Shen Wenlang. One of the three leaders of the Jianghu pack.”
Gao Tu knew who he was, not only because of the news that had come out a little over a year ago when the three current leaders formed an alliance to displace each of their parents from their Alpha leader positions, combining three packs that were already big in the largest pack in the country, but because Gao Tu had attended the same high school as the Alpha for a couple of weeks before all hell broke loose.
Don't think about it. He said it to himself.
“Another of their leaders, Hua Yong, has contacted us regarding the child's health. I don't know how he found out about our existence, but knowing who he is, it doesn't surprise me.”
“The only Enigma of this century.” Gao Tu said, laughing half-heartedly but without humor. “And that's where you want to send me to work? The biggest pack in the country with an Enigma and two S-tier Alphas as leaders?”
“And without a Luna.” She said sympathetically getting up from the chair. “I'll leave you alone to read the file. But, Gao Tu, the child is dying, and I believe you are his only chance.”
Without a Luna. He repeated it to himself.
The world is divided into countries and countries are divided into packs; the provinces and states were replaced by these when the virus brought the Omegaverse.
The S-tier Alphas became leaders, managing the economy, administration, security and laws of the packs. They appointed lower-ranking Alphas and betas to positions within it, leaving the Omegas with social and nurturing tasks. And one Omega among them becomes the Alpha leader's mate and the pack's Luna, the spiritual and social leader who maintains the peace inside the pack.
The biggest pack in the country without a Luna is a recipe for disaster. And Gao Tu will have to go work there. But a child is dying, and if there's one thing he promised himself seven years ago, it's that he'll never let another child die.
TWO WEEKS EARLIER
The machine's beeping echoed in the room as Shen Wenlang clenched his fists tightly, stopping himself from shaking the doctors and nurses working around his son, demanding they do more. But he knew there was nothing more they could do, and Sheng Shaoyou and Hua Yong's hands on his shoulder reminded him that he would be stopped if he tried anything.
The head doctor turned around to talk to him.
“I know you're not happy about us sedating your son, but right now the best thing we can do is conserve his energy, and a deep sleep is his best option until we find a solution. Omega pheromone deficiency is very serious in children his age. As you know, children need both Omega and Alpha pheromones to develop healthily.”
The doctor's words held a reproach, and under other circumstances, Shen Wenlang would have condemned the insolence. But the doctor was right; his own prejudices, and those of his father before him, had led Lele to this situation. Faced with the possibility of his son's death, what did it matter if Omegas were pathetic and ambitious creatures?
The medical team withdrew from the room, leaving the child asleep and the three leaders around his bed. Shen Wenlang felt enormous anguish as he looked at his son, so gaunt and with labored breathing even asleep.
“We're going to find a solution.” Sheng Shaoyou said, staring intently at Lele.
“I may have found one.” The Enigma said, looking also at the child.
Wenlang sharply turned around to look at him. “Don't play with me.”
“Do you think I would do it with Shen Lele's life at stake?” Before Wenlang could respond, he continued speaking. “There is an agency, it works from the shadows, and it is very secretive, the reason being that it only employs Omegas and remains anonymous to protect them.”
Shen Wenlang looked at him intently, asking him to continue.
“They handle all kinds of cases where the help of Omegas is needed. One of their divisions is dedicated to providing support to children with various illnesses and disabilities, one of which is the one Lele has. I contacted them three days ago. Don't ask me where I got the information, as that's the favor I did in exchange for the contact.”
Both men accepted the last thing without saying anything; there was something more important than Hua Yong's secrets.
“And?” Shen Wenlang asked impatiently.
“They agreed to review our case, so we have to prepare all the information for them. If they accept us, perhaps this is the miracle we've been waiting for. There's one employee in particular in this division who handles the most difficult cases and has had a 100% success rate so far. All the children under his care have made a full recovery and are now leading full, normal lives.”
“But what exactly does this Omega do?” Sheng Shaoyou asked, still without taking his eyes off the child.
“My contact didn't tell me, apparently because he doesn't want to break the Omega's confidentiality. He's very grateful to him for saving his daughter. All he told me was that Gao Tu is efficient and will heal our pup in less time than we expect.”
“Gao Tu?” Shen Wenlang asked. Why did that name sound familiar?
“The name of the Omega.”
“Okay. Contact them. Give them all the information they need.”
“You've already done it, right?” Shen Shaoyou said, rolling his eyes.
“Of course, I'm always ten steps ahead of you.” Hua Yong said, very pleased with himself.
“Only ten?” Shen Wenlang's sarcasm was more than evident.
PRESENT DAY
The beta who accompanied him through the immense mansion was very friendly; he had introduced himself as Chen Pinming, head of the pack's secretaries and personal assistant to one of the three leaders.
There was an air of expectation in his manner of speaking, so Gao Tu assumed that the beta was aware of the reason for his visit.
“I'll accompany you this far; the office door is the first one on the left.” The man extended his hand in farewell, and Gao Tu shook it without hesitation. “Whatever you think of Shen Wenlang, please accept the job.”
Gao Tu looked at him closely. He was surprised, and pleased, by the commitment and loyalty the beta showed. If more people were like him, perhaps the pack wouldn't be as problematic as he thought.
The Omega nodded without responding verbally. He didn't want to say anything he hadn't yet decided. Although, if he was honest with himself, he had already made his decision the moment he read Shen Lele's report. He couldn't let the child die.
He walked the last few steps to the office slowly and silently.
“Enter.” A deep voice that made him shiver answered after he knocked on the door.
The man staring at him was even more handsome than he remembered from high school. His features had become more pronounced, giving him the air of the natural leader he was.
The scent of Iris made him dizzy, and when he looked into his eyes he felt something he had never felt before.
HOME.