Page 7 of Entwined

Chapter Three

After his disastrous meeting with his alpha, Bram had spent the rest of his sleep cycle in the mosses. He didn’t dare go back home. He was worse than broken, he was unwanted. What had he done that was so awful that his handsome Darby had turned him away? Bram curled into a ball on his side.

I didn’t even get to kiss him.

If he had to be alone for all the ages, at least he could’ve gotten one kiss first. Unmated omegas remained barren and without a partner, since every alpha was fated to have only one omega.

And every omega one alpha.

There would never be anyone for him.

“Bram? Darling?”

Bram sniffed and wiped his eyes as quickly as he could before his ma caught him crying. He sat up then turned in her direction.

“Hello.”

She gasped then covered her mouth as she dropped to her knees before him. “What happened, my poor baby?”

Despite his efforts to keep his sadness inside, his face crumpled and he fell into her open arms, sobbing.

“Oh, Ma. It was awful!” He tried to calm his tears, to take deep breaths so he could tell her his terrible tale. “H-he, he hates me!”

“What?” She held him away from her by his upper arms. “That’s impossible. You’re one of the most coveted omegas in the glen! All the unmated alphas had hoped you’d be their chosen one.”

Bram hiccupped another sob. “They did?” He narrowed his eyes. Sometimes his ma exaggerated a bit. But only because she loved both him and Glynnis so much. “How do you know that?”

She smiled and brushed his tangled hair off his face, tucking it behind his ears. “I know you think I’m making it up, but I swear on the Golden Light it’s true. Once your ears reached their full pointiness, not a day has gone by without at least one or two enquiries.”

“Oh my.” He frowned and stuck out his lower lip. “Then why doesn’t my alpha want me?” Bram lowered his chin. “He’s so handsome and smells heavenly. Even his touch was loving.” He covered his face from the shame of it all.

His ma pried them away by tugging on his wrists. “I refuse to believe that’s true. Tell me everything that happened.”

After Bram had given her his awful and depressing tale, her eyes widened.

“I believe I know what happened, sweetheart.” She grasped his hands and smiled. “It’s not that he doesn’t want you, it’s that he’s forgotten.”

“Forgotten what?”

“His inner fae. I confess that I myself didn’t recall that human males can’t get pregnant, so your poor confused alpha has no idea that you are his life-giver! We must remember that fairies, even dragons, unicorns and any other creature that now only exists on the other side of the human veil, is thought to be mythical and non-existent to them.”

Bram’s shoulders slumped. “I’m not sure which is worse. That he doesn’t want me or he doesn’t believe I’m real.”

That’s right. That was the first question he asked me.

“Oh, my sweet Bram.” She stroked his cheek. “Helping him to bring his ancestor’s ancient memories to the surface is something you can do if you give it a chance. Don’t despair. Visit him again when the human night falls and let him get to know the beautiful omega you are.”

Bram chewed on his lip as he played his fingers along the soft, spongy moss. “Okay. I can do that.” He peered up at her. “But I might’ve said something about hoping he’d be firebombed by sun fairies.”

She sighed and tsked. “That wasn’t very nice. You must apologize for that first thing.”

He nodded. “You’re right. I will.”

His ma framed his face with her palms then placed a kiss on his forehead the way she always did. “That’s my good boy. Now come along and have some honey water with the fresh algae and pine needle soup I prepared. You’ll feel better after you eat something.”

Bram’s ears perked up. “Are there any toasted twigs with berries?”

She smiled and patted his hand. “Plenty. Let’s go.”