Chapter Text
Harry hated that he had to fight for his life the second he was born. He hated the way people acted like he was a delicate flower when they were near him, careful not to make him upset as if he'll cry at the drop of a hat.
Before he was born, there was an attack on Harry's home, the castle. Rogue wolves from a certain rebel pack raided and ruined the castle walls, even getting as far as the Queens room.
That's where Harry's mother was left to die. Stabbed by Harry's own cousin, Vernon. Harry knows now that Vernon's mission was to kill him and take the throne to become King. He remembers always asking himself 'why' when he was younger, yet it's all clear now. Vernon was luckily unsuccessful.
A doctor and a guard had come in, bursting through the Queen's magnificent doors only to see her gasping for breath as if all of them would be her last.
The Queen ordered them to take out the baby, and hide him. They were reluctant, obviously, but they had to do as she wished. There was only one doctor in the castle at the time, so he couldn't try to heal her and deliver a baby at the same time.
After they finished the C-section, Harry's mother was barely breathing. Her last breath gasped out the little prince's name.
"Harry."
She smiled at him as the doctor held him up so she could see him before she passed.
Her eyelids fluttered and her smile slowly faded.
And she was gone.
As a pup, many people wouldn't talk to Harry. He didn't have any friends. To this day he still can't figure out why. The reason could be because he's a prince, but that just doesn't seem to fit the puzzle.
By the time he was ten, he was introduced to a boy named Liam, who was sixteen.
Liam taught Harry how to be a proper prince, how to defend himself in his human form, and help him shift into his wolf form flawlessly and quickly.
The two became best friends. It was inevitable due to Harry being so clingy when he was younger, and Liam because he thought Harry was a lot more mature than he appeared.
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And here Harry is now.
Pacing in his library, frustrated and slightly annoyed with his omega sister.
"Harry, what are you going to do when I have my babies? You have to take over soon. Within the next year. Unless you want Vernon coming along-"
"ENOUGH!" Harry slams his fist on his study desk, his voice making the whole room shake. Gemma flinched and took a few steps back.
"You're not even pregnant yet just-" he pauses,
"I don't think I'm quite ready." He runs his long fingers through his hair. He cut it recently, his signature long curls long gone. It's short, but long enough for a few hairs on the sides to curl around his ears.
"Harry, love, I cant imagine what you're going through, but Uncle Sky can't just become king when you, the kings son, could be king. You know it's law." Gemma huffs and sticks her chin out.
Harry hates himself for it, as it's against his alpha nature, but he has the audacity to duck his head in shame.
"You're right. I'm sorry. I just- I don't know what to do. Or how to do it. I'd make a horrible leader, Gemma. I can't do it all by myself."
Gemma pokes a finger right between his eyes, "Now, now, Harry. I'll still be here to help you and I'm sure you'll be amazing. Our uncle can't rule this place forever, love. I know that you'll handle everything well. Liam taught you everything there is to know." She smiles sadly at him and Harry wants to crawl in a hole.
Harry scoffs though, trying to get some sense of control back, "How am I to be a king when I have no person to rule by my side? You know it's tradition to have a mate before you get handed the crown." Harry is doing everything he can to make excuses. He can't rule a kingdom. He's just not ready. Especially not at his age. Most Kings or Queens are thirty years old before they get handed the crown. Harry is only twenty one.
Then it was Gemma's turn to scoff, "Then go find a mate, you oaf. You're lucky you don't get an arranged mating. It shouldn't be an issue with you, all you have to do is get your shit together, find a mate, and then boom, you're king."
"It's not that simple." He argues weakly.
"Probably because you never leave this damn library." She flicks her hair over her shoulder and narrows her eyes at her brother.
Harry growls at that. Gemma knows that the library is where he goes whenever he thinks about their mother, about their future, his future, anything and everything. It's his place where he goes to think. Which happens often. Normally he's alone.
Gemma doesn't flinch at his growl. She's used to poking fun at Harry about his A+ brooding skills. She doesn't take it to heart.
"I'm heading out." The alpha grumbles. He needs some air. Although the library was his safe place, he can't help but feel suffocated now. He feels his skin to start to itch. He needs to shift, if only for a minute. He could head into the woods of their territory just to get the book smell out of his nose. He needs the wind right now. The smell of dirt and pine.
He considered telling Liam like he's supposed to each time he decides to leave the castle. Considered, but didn't do it.
"Be safe." Gemma says simply before leaving the room, probably to see her mate so they can suck each other's faces off.
Gross.
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'Shitshitshitshitshitshit' was the only thing running through Louis Tomlinson's head. Being an omega without a pack was a red flag on its own, but being an omega without a pack in a strangers territory was a death wish.
He didn't know it was another territory, okay? He didn't notice a scent change or even a territorial howl. Which was how he got into this situation.
In his wolf form, cornered by two betas (also in wolf form and much much larger than Louis) snarling at Louis and giving him threatening signals. Louis was seriously getting worried he would start to piss in fear, because he knows what happens when strange, small Omegas enter an unknown territory. He will either get beat up and thrown out, or they will use him for their own pleasure.
Louis refuses to let either of those things happen.
He decides play up the 'I'm just a weak omega' act. The wolf bows his head and backs up further against the tree, his paws dig into the loose dirt as he discreetly gets into a position to jump. Now all he needs is something to distract the two wolves, something to even slightly deter them.
Then he hears a howl. It's loud, and deep. If Louis is honest, it's one of the most beautiful howls he has ever heard. It echos throughout the forest and it's almost calming. He wants to listen to it all the time, he wants to howl back, maybe even find the owner of the howl. Louis is so entranced that he doesn't notice one of the larger of the two betas inching closer.
He only notices when he feels a sharp pain on his right hind leg. The stinging sensation caused the small wolf to bark out in pain and attempt to wiggle out of the beta's powerful jaws. He looks back at the wolf biting his leg and realizes too late that he probably shouldn't have turned his back on the other one. Not even a second after, he felt something hit him in the back of his head, right between his ears. Then everything went dark.