My Mate Is An Omega
Chapter 48

Caitlyn

POV

It was around six in the evening when we returned from a short stroll across our lands. There was still an hour before dinner, so Lance and I went back to our room to take a quick shower and get dressed in new, clean clothes. As much as we wanted to lie down on our bed to cuddle for a while, we had other responsibilities to take care of. Hopefully we would be able to enjoy ourselves for a while after the event if we weren't too tired.

During our meal, we chatted a little more with the ranked members of Mariners Moon. Bianca and Sasha were getting along pretty well - I believe it was Gamma affinity. The boys also engaged in a casual conversation, except for Beau, who seemed to be a little more shy. Megan joined them as soon as they started talking about fighting, the one subject she couldn't stay away from. Alpha Marcelline and Lune Fintan continued to discuss a few more details with my mate and I.

The female leader also let us know she had contacted the Chief of their Canadian ally skulk to arrange a meeting between us during their visit that would happen the next morning. Since foxes were usually wary of werewolves, she volunteered to serve as a bridge between us, which should make it easier. I was finally starting to believe this crazy idea could work, thanks to the support of the American pack. Of course, it was still on us to convince the skulk to sign a treaty with us, but if we managed to get it, it would be our first step to successfully defend Diamond Tempest - or, like my mate suggested, engage an attack against the bears before they could cause us any more harm.

After dinner, my Alpha and I were feeling much more confident and relaxed. We managed to have a few moments of peace by ourselves before we eventually fell asleep in each other's arms. At first light of day, we woke up and got dressed in formal outfits once again before heading to the cafeteria alongside Mariners Moon's team to have breakfast before we left for our meeting. Since having our Beta with us was essential for business negotiations, we decided to leave the pack in Jasper and Sasha's hands.

It was only a half-hour drive to Red Earth, the skulk we were visiting. Marcelline briefed us on a few fox traditions along the way, also letting us know a little more about their alliance. She even listened to the deal we intended to propose and helped us perfect it. Although she couldn't speak for the other leader, she said it was likely they would accept our proposal.

As soon as we crossed the borders to their territory, I noticed how different it was from ours. Unlike the dense forest we lived in, their village was located in a flat land with patches of tall grass. Apparently, foxes didn't rely on the coverage offered by trees, like us; instead, they would rather hide in holes they dug themselves. Their houses were much simpler and placed a lot closer to each other.

Our driver parked the limousine in front of the main building, which wasn't nearly as big as ours. The whole place had a rustic feel to it; it was interesting, and it showed just how different our cultures were. My eyes soon fell on a tall man who seemed to be around his thirties. He was dressed in a wine red tunic - according to Fintan, it was easier for foxes to shift if they wore loose clothes. His eyes were a mystical shade of yellowish-brown, but the most interesting detail about him was his grayish-black hair with a single auburn stripe.

"Alpha Marcelline. Lune Fintan." The man nodded at the unusual couple as soon as we hopped out. "It's a pleasure to welcome you to our home." His attention then fell on us. He observed us cautiously for a few seconds, but a smile eventually lit up his face as he stretched his hand out to us. "You must be Alpha Lancaster and Luna Caitlyn."

"Precisely," Lance immediately replied, shaking his hand. "It's an honor to meet you, Chief Zorro."

"Please make yourselves at home. Any friend of Mariners Moon is our friend as well."

"Good..." Marcelline chimed in. "Because I was hoping Red Earth Skulk and Diamond Tempest Pack could become allies. I'm sure you two could help each other out."

The fox leader remained silent for a moment, searching for the right words. "Well, we can certainly discuss the issue later, but first, let me show you around." He turned to the female Alpha. "You and your team are already quite familiar with our lands, but our new guests might enjoy getting to know the place."

"We would love to." I promptly nodded at him. "Thank you for your hospitality."

"It's my pleasure," the kind man reassured me before taking the lead.

Their territory wasn't nearly as large as ours, which made sense, considering they weren't as many as us. Red Earth had around a hundred members, and Zorro didn't hesitate to explain everything about them.

A skulk's organization was different than that of a pack - the leader was called Chief instead of Alpha, followed by the Sub Chief, the second-in-command. They didn't have a third-in-command, but the next highest rank in their hierarchy was the Shaman, who was usually one of the oldest and wisest members of a pack. Unlike wolves, foxes valued intelligence and spiritual connection with nature over strength. The workers were of equivalent position to Omegas, but with a slight difference; not only were they cleaners, builders, and cooks, but all of them were also warriors. Since foxes weren't the strongest of shifters, they had to stick together to defend their community.

As we walked around the small, rustic village, the foxes hopping around frequently stopped to watch us. According to Marcy, the members liked to spend most of their time in animal form, only shifting back when necessary. It was clear they were wary of our presence judging by the way their ears jolted up the second their eyes locked on us.

"Don't worry, they just want to make sure our community is safe," Zorro observed, probably noticing how distracted I was due to the constant stares. "They are especially careful around wolves because of our recent history of war. Also, when we are approached by other species of shifters, it usually means trouble."

"I understand," my mate replied. "Considering how close Red Earth is to our territory, I reckon the bears must have been terrorizing you just as much."

"It used to be worse," the Chief told us, sighing heavily. "They used to attack us frequently. Since they are much larger than us, it was easy for us to hide from them in our underground tunnels, where they couldn't come after us. However, they would still damage our structures and steal our resources." He turned to Lance with a concerned expression on his face. "My guess is they are too busy tormenting your pack now, and I truly hope you can defeat them. I'm sure they won't hesitate to come back for us if they aren't stopped soon."

"I'm afraid we can't win them on our own anymore. Not only have they been growing in number, but they've also weakened us after so many attacks." My mate's stern semblance never faded. There was a hint of fury in his lively green eyes. "But I have a plan. If wolves, foxes, and cats can unite to eliminate our common enemy, I believe the odds will finally be in our favor."

The man seemed thoughtful for a while. "Perhaps we should head inside, where we can have some more privacy."

Chief Zorro brought us all back to the main part of the territory, inviting us into the Town Hall. It wasn't nearly as luxurious as a pack house, but it was definitely more sophisticated than the buildings around the village. Its wooden walls were decorated with gold hand-painted art, mostly depicting flowers and leaves. He introduced us to Kettu, the Sub Chief, and he joined us for the meeting in the leader's office.

First, the fox leader laid a single folder on the table to discuss the terms of the alliance he had with Mariners Moon Pack. Since it was just a quick review of the treaty they had established five years ago, we were allowed to stay inside while Alpha Marcelline, Lune Fintan, and Beta Beau signed the renewal papers.

Once they were done, I proceeded to explain the details of the idea Lance and I had developed together. I told him about how we planned to join forces with other species of shifters so we could finally be the ones engaging an attack instead of defending against one. He seemed impressed when I let him know we had a witch on our side who would help us track the bears to determine the exact location of their hideout. Although it wasn't common for leaders to reveal such confidential information, I knew it wouldn't be used against me; foxes were extremely smart, and I was certain Zorro would recognize the benefits of forming an alliance with us.

"So, you're asking for warriors to help defend your pack until the time comes for us to attack the enemy, but I believe you have more to offer us than an uncertain promise of peace." The Chief arched an eyebrow at my mate, who glanced over at me from the corner of his eyes before turning his attention back to the conversation.

"Of course." Lance smiled, running his hand through his wild hair. "We have just started our own building company, Timber Wolf B. C. By becoming our allies, you won't have to pay for our services."

A small smile appeared on the leader's face as he leaned forward over his desk. "Well, fox communities are just starting to rise now that the war against wolves is over. It would come in handy to have assistance as we expand our village."

"And we would be glad to help you." My mate smiled back, looking into the man's eyes as he stretched his hand out. "Do we have a deal?"

Zorro shifted his gaze between the two Alphas in front of him one last time before shaking my mate's hand.

"We have a deal," he affirmed.

Roughly an hour went by as we prepared and signed the papers for our treaty; all we had to do was take the documents to our Elders, who would make it official. The Chief led us outside and we said our goodbyes before hopping in the car to head back home. As I stared into my man's eyes throughout the short ride, I had to resist the urge to kiss him. I was overwhelmed with happiness and inner peace; after our second successful meeting, the first step to solve all of our problems, I wanted to celebrate with him. The way he urgently caressed my thigh and played with my hair let me know the feeling was mutual. However, we would have to wait until we were alone.

As soon as we got home, Alpha Marcelline and her team gathered their belongings so they could head back home. We walked our guests out, thanking the American leaders one last time while some Omegas prepared the car to drive them to the airport. "All I did was point you in the right direction, but you accomplished everything yourselves," Marcy replied as she shook our hands. "You weren't standing still, you were preparing while you waited. As soon as the opportunity came, you were ready. This is why I'm sure the two of you will manage to solve your problems and become amazing leaders."

"May the Goddess hear you." I smiled at her.

"She often does," she chuckled playfully, glancing at us over her shoulder as she made her way to the limousine. "Stay safe. I'll hit you up when I need to get some building done in my pack."

"Just give us a call, and we'll be there!" My mate waved at her.

Once our guests were gone, Lance and I returned to our room at the top floor of the packhouse. He opened the door for me as usual, but as soon I heard it close, he surprised me by lifting me in the air. A gasp escaped my lips as his strong arms wrapped around my back, pulling me closer to him. I didn't have time to catch my breath as his lips soon crashed against mine, his tongue exploring every corner of my mouth with desire and urgency. Instinctively, I closed my eyes, giving into the amazing sensation. My hands reached for the back of his head as I wrapped my fingers around his hair, pulling on his soft strands.

"You... Are... Amazing," he breathed out in between kisses before finally looking into my eyes. "It was all you. The reason why we now have a shot at survival is you."

"And you," I whispered in return.

"Us." He smiled. "It was us. And it will be us for eternity, until the day I die."

I smiled, vowing with him, "Until the day I die."