2

“Lady SooAh, please wear this. It will guide you to safety.”

The mother and father were confused and frightened by the old woman’s words and behavior.  How was it that just moments ago they were celebrating the birth of their son and now they were being told to wear jewelry and to find safety. Was the old woman going mad?  

Finally Jihoon spoke up,

“Halmeoni, you are scaring my wife. Please just slow down and tell us calmly what is going on.” 

The old woman looked at the man and woman in disbelief. Could they not see? Did they not notice that within his mother’s arms lies an omega? A male omega! Did they not catch a glimpse of the electric blue eyes that are now peacefully closed in sleep?

The old woman tried to contain her frustration and began to explain to them clearly how serious of a situation they were in, “My lord, I never intended to scare either of you, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t be scared. Your son...” Then pointing to the tiny bundle in SooAh’s arms, she finished, “is an omega.” 

The man and woman didn’t know how to process this information. They had never heard of a male omega outside of myths and story books. Could this be true? 

Mother HyunYi noticed their doubt immediately and went on, putting as much weight into her words as she could, 

“Your son is an omega, and if anyone finds out, you are all dead. Your family will be exterminated completely. Do you understand me? There is a reason you’ve never seen an omega male! That’s because they are killed immediately after they are born...without exception, and its so rare that decades pass before it happens again. But I know this is true. I’ve seen it with my own eyes, and I refuse to see it again, if I can help it! Do you finally understand what I’m telling you?!” 

It was too much to take in. SooAh had just given birth. All of this was so overwhelming to happen at once. The mother and father looked down at their newborn baby. The bright skin of his cheeks, his little button nose, and precious pink lips were all they could see poking out of the swaddling blanket.

Gently SooAh positioned the baby on her lap and slowly began to pull back the swaddling blanket from his face. The first thing she noticed was her baby’s hair. He was almost bald, but he did have a thin smattering of shimmering silver strands that swirled around his beautiful round head. But just that would not convince the mother. She had to see his eyes. All wolves were born with brownish gray eyes that eventually turned dark brown or black. If Mother HyunYi were correct, then seeing his eyes would be the way to know. 

SooAh could feel her husband’s steady presence beside her, silently encouraging her to go on. They both had to find out for themselves, had to see with their own eyes, if their son were truly an omega. 

With the tip of her finger, SooAh began to massage under the baby’s chin, she ran her finger across his eyebrows, she tickled his little nose, and rubbed his cheeks. When her finger came close to his mouth, the baby instinctively began to open his mouth in search of milk. Then just for a moment, he opened his crystal blue eyes, and the parents could no longer deny the truth. 

The old woman barely gave the couple a moment to process this new reality before she began rummaging through her bag once again, pulling out shiny black stones that were also engraved with those same strange symbols. 

“Lady SooAh, keep that necklace on and never take it off. Do you understand me? It will guide your way. Lord JiHoon, if you want your wife and child to survive, you will need to do everything I say and protect them with everything you’ve got.”

Mother HyunYi locked eyes with the mother and father before speaking again,

“I don’t have much time before MiSun makes it back here, so listen very carefully. My younger sister lives deep within the Black Forest. Ever since I discovered what happened to the male omegas I helped to deliver, she and I have been devising a plan. The necklace you have around your neck, Lady SooAh, has been engraved with many ancient spells. As you enter the Black Forest you will be led directly to her home by following the trees that glow as violet as that amethyst stone. Do not deviate from the path. She and I have reinforced these spells for decades, all with the intention to save the lives of as many of these innocent creatures as we could. Her home is also protected by powerful incantations. You will be safe there.”

Handing the couple 3 of the black stones she had taken from the bag, she went on,

“Only by holding onto these stones will you be able to approach her homestead. One for each of you and the baby. Keep them close to you and do not lose them.” 

JiHoon grabbed the stones from the old woman’s wrinkled but sturdy hand and rubbed his thumb across the engravings. He was scared. He didn’t understand half of what Mother HyunYi was saying, but he knew one thing: He was a wolf. An alpha. And he would protect his omega wife and son with all his might. 

Jihoon turned toward SooAh and his baby, who was sleeping peacefully in his mother’s arms with no notion of the circumstances he had been born into. He noticed the tears streaming down his wife’s face, as she pressed their son close to her chest. Bending toward her, he kissed SooAh’s forehead breathing in her rose scent that he loved so much now marred with the smell of sadness and fear. He did his best to push his own anxiety as far down as he could and to fill his own scent with comfort and strength. He then began to nuzzle his wife’s face and neck, covering her rose scent with his cedar one and wiping the tears from her cheeks. Then, reaching for his baby, he lifted the tiny bundle up, and staring at his beautiful child, he vowed that he would give his life to keep him safe. This was more than duty to his family, this was his eternal promise of unconditional love for his family. 

Just then the door opened and a cheery voice filled the room, breaking them from their introspection. 

“Halmeoni, I’m back. Sorry I took so long! All the maids wanted to hear all about the baby, and I just had to…”

^^^To be continue... ^^^

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