I Was The Only Omega In The Beast World-Chapter 40: CP: Hope You Choose To Stay

The walk back to the heart-lodge felt endless.

Every sound amplified: soft wolf paws on frost, rustling watchers in the underbrush, distant howls Alex couldn’t translate but felt in his bones.

Each step widened the gap between him and his mates, triggering a primal scream in his hindbrain—pregnant creatures don’t separate from their protectors. He was walking into danger alone.

The babies agreed.

Their movements had shifted from restless fluttering to sharp, painful jabs against his ribs. Alex winced, pressing a hand to his stomach.

"Easy," he whispered. "I know. We’re okay. We’ll be okay."

The jabs continued.

[System: Baby Stress: HIGH

Your Stress: CRITICAL

Mate Separation Anxiety: ACTIVATING (omega biology realness)

Symptoms: racing heart, shallow breaths, nausea, temperature swings

Recommendation: Calm down. Your stress transfers to them. Fetal stress hormones = bad.]

[You’re walking into wolf territory pregnant and solo? Brave. Stupid. I’m proud and horrified.]

"Still not helping," Alex muttered.

Storm’s ears flicked. "Speaking to your spirit guide?"

"Yeah. It has opinions."

"What does it say?"

Alex remembered the ancestors’ truth-only rule. "That I’m brave and stupid, and my stress is affecting the babies."

Storm was quiet, then said gruffly, "Breathe slower. Deeper. Four steps in, four out. Matches your pace. Helps."

"You’ve been pregnant?" Alex blurted without thinking.

"No. But I’ve assisted many births outside our pack. Helped females through difficult ones." His voice stayed rough but not unkind. "Breathing works. Trust me."

Alex tried it—four steps inhale through nose, four exhale through mouth. Awkward at first, but soon his heart slowed. The babies’ thrashing eased.

"Better?" Storm asked.

"Yeah. Thank you."

Storm made a noncommittal sound, posture loosening from pure hostility to wary professionalism.

They reached the clearing. The heart-lodge loomed larger in afternoon light, wolf-mouth entrance watching with patient knowing.

Lucas waited on the stone steps, flanked by Ash, Fang, and Blade. All four studied Alex as he climbed—curiosity, calculation.

"You accepted my terms," Lucas said.

"Reasonable terms with reasonable modifications,"

Alex corrected, stopping one step below so their eyes nearly met. "Guest. Not prisoner. Not prospective pack member. Defined rights and boundaries."

Lucas’s lips quirked. "You negotiate even after agreeing. Interesting."

"I clarify."

"Is there a difference?" Pale eyes glinted—amused, maybe. "Very well. You are guest. Treated with respect, given comfort. But you are evaluated. Every word, action, demonstration of your ’system’ magic—judged by me, my seconds, the elders."

He leaned closer.

"Seven days. Convince me the Essence of Renewal is real and will save us—we trade. Fail—" teeth flashed "—we renegotiate. Less generously."

A Polite threat.

Reminder Alex of mercy’s limits.

"Understood," Alex said steadily. "Then I’d better make them count."

"Indeed." Lucas gestured to Ash. "Show our guest to his lodge. Ensure he has everything needed—food, water, blankets, pregnancy comforts."

Ash stepped forward, silver-gray fur catching light, golden-brown eyes sharp with curiosity rather than hostility.

"This way," he said gently. "Private, but near protection."

Alex followed around the ancient tree, feeling Lucas’s gaze until he vanished from sight.

The guest lodge nestled into pine roots—stone walls, bark roof, chimney already smoking. Warmth hit Alex like a shock after the cold.

Inside: crackling hearth, thick furs on a wide sleeping platform, low table with water and dried fruit, shelves of blankets and supplies. Crystal window filtered soft light.

Comfortable. Almost too comfortable. A luxurious cage.

"Fire maintained all stay," Ash said, watching Alex absorb it. "Meals three times daily—more if needed. Healers at sunrise and sunset. Mates’ visits dawn and dusk, one hour each, bridge, guards present."

"Any Questions?"

"Can I go outside? Walk?"

"Designated areas—clearing, bridge path, healer’s grove. Escort required. Not distrust—mostly."

Ash’s ears flicked. "Woods have dangers. Bears. Neighboring packs. Better not lose our guest to something stupid."

"Fair." Alex leaned his staff against the wall, sank carefully onto the furs. They were impossibly soft, warm. His body melted after nights on hard ground.

"Bathroom?"

"Behind the lodge. Private. I’ll show later."

Ash crouched near the door. "Rest now. Stressful morning. Babies need calm."

"You know a lot about pregnancy."

"Healer in training. Assisted births since I was young." His expression softened.

"Terrifying even in safety. Can’t imagine here."

"Then why support Lucas trying to claim me?"

Ash stared at the fire. "I’ve buried too many females and young before first winter. Rare females we convinced to stay couldn’t survive the cold. Bloodlines end despite everything. If Lucas believes you can stop that—joining or providing Essence—I support trying. Even if it makes you uncomfortable."

Grief in his eyes, worn smooth by years.

"We’re dying," he said simply. "Slowly. I’m tired of watching and unable to do anything about it." 𝓯𝓻𝓮𝙚𝙬𝓮𝙗𝒏𝙤𝒗𝙚𝙡.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Alex’s chest twisted. He understood desperation’s math—impossible choices, least terrible options.

"The Essence is real," he said quietly. "No reason to believe yet. But it will work. I just need to prove it."

"Then I hope you can," Ash replied, standing. "For us all. Dinner soon. Rest."

He left, door clicking softly.

Alone.

No Naga’s protective coils. No Leo’s watchful golden eyes. No constant reminder he wasn’t solo.

Just him, six unsettled babies, comfortable prison.

Alex lay back, staring at firelit ceiling patterns.

"Okay," he said aloud—to self, system, babies, universe. "Seven days. We can do seven days."

[System: Seven days to earn ~462 SP.

Daily achievements:

Meaningful pack interaction: +20 SP

Demonstrate system: +50 SP per verified proof

Maintain pregnancy health: +10 SP/day

Build trust with Lucas: +30 SP/positive interaction

Survive without mates: +15 SP/day

Potential: 500–700 SP

Success probability: 61%

Mates storming by day 3: 87%]

"Confidence inspiring," Alex muttered.

Babies shifted—calmer, but missing Naga’s cool scales, Leo’s warm fur, dual heartbeats.

He pressed hands to stomach, breathing four-in, four-out.

"I know. I miss them. But we’re safe. Seven days, we go back. Promise."

A sharp kick—skeptical.

"Yeah. We’ll try anyway."

Outside, afternoon faded to evening. Wolves hunted, trained, lived shadowed lives.

At the bridge, two apex predators braced for the longest week of their lives, counting to dawn.

Alex closed his eyes. Breathed. Survived hour one.

****

DAY ONE – EVENING

Dinner arrived promptly—tray carried by a lean russet-furred wolf radiating nervous energy.

"I’m Copper," he said, setting it down. "Ash said make sure you eat everything. Pregnant males need lots of food. Is it true? Never seen a pregnant male. Is it—"

"Copper," Ash interrupted from the doorway, exasperated. "Let him breathe."

"Sorry. I talk when nervous." Copper ducked out.

Ash inspected the tray: roasted meat, mashed roots, stewed berries, jasmine-mint tea.

"A lot of food," Alex noted.

"You’re eating for seven," Ash said. "Healer Moss calculated needs—size, multiples, stage. Eat. I’ll wait."

Comforting. Oppressive. Watched compliance.

But the food was excellent—hot, nourishing after travel rations. His stomach settled; babies calmed as nutrients arrived.

[System: Achievement: "Actually Taking Care of Yourself"

+10 SP

Current: 348

Note: Basic self-care = achievement. You’ve been terrible at it. Congrats!]

Ash’s lips twitched—maybe amusement. "Your spirit guide seems sensible."

"Not really. Most of the time it only makes my life harder. "

System: ⁠(⁠ಠ⁠_⁠ಠ⁠)

[ How dare you? Should I take back the Extra SP?]

" Haha...ha. What are you saying? You’re my most beloved—most beautiful—most furriest cat system in the world. Your beauty knows no bound. You’re the best system any one could ever ask for. "

System: (◣_◢)

[ Hmm. You better be speaking the truth. ] System flickered it’s tail and swing it’s head side way in scornful expression.

" Yes–yes. 100% truth. "

After coaxing system Alex quickly finished eating. When the tray was empty, Ash collected it and stood.

"Healer Moss at sunset—about an hour. Rest."

"Wait," Alex said. "Why did Lucas really let me stay? Endgame?"

Ash paused, tail swishing.

"Honestly? Hopes you’ll choose to stay. Week of pack life—how we live, care, desperation—makes you want to help without trade."

He met Alex’s eyes.

"Lucas is firm but fair. Doesn’t want force. Hopes convincing works over claiming."

"And if I can’t be convinced?"

"Harder choices," Ash said simply. "For all of us. Alternative is watching three thousand years fade."

He left.

Fire crackled. Shadows danced.

Alex lay back, hand on stomach, wondering if seven days would prove he could save them—or give Lucas time to make staying inevitable.