Omega Bound Chapter 128

Ayla

I feel Raven tense next to me. Well, I guess the Cyrus is out of the bag now. "The Alphas service the she-wolves in shifts and there is never the same alpha each servicing, which helps prevent attachments. Also, our female staff provide the actual care of the she-wolves in heat. Things like eating and bathing. This lessens the interactions between the Alphas and the wolves in heat. There is less chance of forming a bond this way. I would be concerned that making the environment more home-like would increase the risks of unwanted bonds forming because the environment would be more home-like."

"Respectfully.... Mr. Snow, how does a home-like environment increase the chances of bonds forming?" Raven asks and I too find myself trying to understand.

"Well, the alphas and the she-wolves would be able to see themselves together, intimately, sharing these feelings and hormones flaring, in a home-like atmosphere. It would be easy for them to get lost in that idea of perfection in the moment and mark these wolves whether they asked for it or not."

The reasoning makes a little sense. If I try hard enough to give it some credit. I can see what he is saying, but I don't think the environment plays a part in the mating and marking aspect of this. If the hormones are surging and the heat is in full swing, I think the Alpha would mark the she-wolf no matter the environment if that is what he wanted. "How do you choose your Alphas for these shifts? You would need to ensure the safety of the she-wolves that are here. They would need to be the best of the best right?" I ask hoping Raven catches that yes Cyrus was servicing here, but also yes, he was chosen and that could say a lot.

"Yes. Our Alphas go through health screenings. Then they must meet physical requirements which is overseen at the training yard. The long-term she-wolves with scheduled heats also meet the potential Alphas. This also checks for mates within the group. If the she-wolves have no problems, then they have a few trial runs where they are observed for a while to make sure that there are no behavioral issues noted. Of course, Alphas and the she-wolves consent to this. We can't have Alphas that can be trusted to control their urges, and it is important for the she-wolves to approve of them. We don't want anyone feeling uncomfortable. We haven't had any issues that arise. Most of the pack know each other well enough."

"Do you have any nests?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"No. Again, we don't want to encourage marking outside of the mate bond. We also currently have no omegas that require servicing."

"I just am having a hard time wrapping my head around how a more comfortable environment can be a bad thing. I get what you are saying, but I don't like the idea of this sterile, hospital-like environment. Or prison like. I apologize, but I feel there has to be a better answer."

"As I said Luna, we have different opinions on this, but now that we have a Luna within the pack, you have the say here. I manage the facility and can show you more of it and what we do behind the scenes, but you have the legal right to change anything you want. I just hope it doesn't cause harm." I hear what he says, but I also hear the threat and accusation between his lines. 'Don't screw it up and if anything goes wrong, I know who to blame', threat. Got it.

"Why don't I leave you here for a minute while I go grab some policy manuals and staff binders. We can review them as well. I can explain why we have some of the policies if you have questions and you can talk amongst yourselves and ask me any new ones you think of." Leo exits the room, and I turn toward the girls.

"Am I wrong about the environment?" I asked, looking at Monica. Of the three of us, I feel she would have the most accurate insight as a born into pack member vs us two just arriving here.

"No, I don't think you are wrong. This atmosphere is oppressing. I wouldn't want to have my heat on plastic like bed sheets. Yuck." Monica shivers with her tongue out and I agree.

"I think he is right. Treating this as a get in and get out job or transaction is the best way to prevent shifters from forming bonds with each other. However, I don't think painting the walls and floofing up the bedding is going to change that. It is the actions of the shifters here that will, not the damn pillows." Raven gives her opinion, and I find myself dying to know how she feels about the revelation she learned today.

"I don't know what the answer is. I think it needs to change, but I don't want the worse to happen." I say, concerned I am going to screw this whole building up, but I can't stand it how it is and what it reminds me of. "What if there are others like me. There is no way if someone like me needed to be here that they could. I want to throw up just sitting here."

We sat in silence for a while before the idea came to me. "What if there were still individual rooms and everything ran the same, but it was more home-like. Maybe like a lodge. Little apartments?" I am reaching, trying to mesh the old with the new and coming up with random ideas that lead nowhere.

"Horny hotel." Monica laughs.

"Hottie Hostel." Raven suggests next and then we are all laughing.

Remodeling to individual hotel-style rooms using the same model would be an improvement.  We can meet with some of the shifters involved here, both Alphas and the she-wolves. If we met with them outside of here, they could be more honest and forthcoming about their feelings of the clinic or things they would like to change." I suggest and I write it down as our next to do.

I suddenly jump in my seat and turn toward Raven, grabbing her arm as I realize that she has met her mate. Her heat will be coming. "They say heats happen within a few weeks of meeting your mate. Did you have one when you were taken?" I ask Raven.

"No. I guess it was because of the rejection."

"Yes, but now what are you going to do?" I ask hoping she realizes what I realize.

"Wait, does Raven have a new mate I don't know about?" Monica asks.

"Well, I guess I will have to use this damn heat clinic." she sighs out.

I wish she would have this conversation with Cyrus. I can't fathom how he will react if he finds this out. His mate at a heat clinic. I think it would destroy him.