Chapter Text
“You’re going to have to be the one to do something about it!” Xaldin roared, his alpha pride wounded as Vexen tended to his injuries. Xemnas sat atop his throne, watching as his pack’s healer dabbed salve into the still-fresh wounds on Xaldin’s body. Xigbar sat nearby, accepting a long drink of water from a bowl provided by Demyx, his mate.
“You’re just pissed because you got your ass kicked by an omega,” Xigbar snickered as he passed the bowl back to Demyx. The young omega shook his head at the older pair of alphas, moving away to set the bowl down on a nearby table.
“Laugh all you want, but that omega has taken a sizable stretch of our northern territory,” Xaldin growled, pulling away from Vexen’s attention to approach Xigbar. He looked as if he was spoiling for another fight.
“Enough!” Xemnas said, his voice reverberating throughout the room and immediately regaining the attention of every pack member in the room. All eyes moved to the Lead Alpha atop his throne. He stood, walking down the steps to place himself between Xaldin and Xigbar. Xaldin averted his eyes and backed off a bit, a low, grumbling growl reverberating deep in his chest – a remaining sign of his displeasure.
“I gave you two a simple task – to find out who had moved into our territory. Your duty was fulfilled. Both of you, rest and recover. I will deal with this upstart omega,” Xemnas said, glancing from Xaldin then to Xigbar. The one-eyed alpha shrugged before pulling Demyx into his lap, causing the younger omega to yelp in surprise before laughing and nuzzling against Xigbar’s neck.
“Fine by us… you just watch yourself out there, fearless leader,” Xigbar said, winking his good eye. Xemnas nodded in acknowledgment of his second’s words. He glanced over at Xaldin who had gone quiet, shaking his head lightly. Xemnas smiled lightly.
“I’ll be fine…” Xemnas stated, beginning to walk out of the throne room. He rolled his shoulders as he picked up the pace and eventually broke into a run. His shift always started as an itch in his shoulder blades, the desire for something to be free. He often “shrugged” into the shift, taking only a few shakes of his form to change from man to wolf. He ran out of the castle as a wolf, letting out a triumphant howl to let his pack know he was leaving, but would return. A few howls answered him back, causing his wolf-spirit to soar as he ran into the woods surrounding Hollow Bastion.
Hollow Bastion had always been Xemnas’s home, he had been born here and knew every inch of his pack’s territory even before he had become Lead Alpha. It was his duty to ensure that his pack had enough, that their territory was defended from outside and inside threats. When Axel had announced that he scented an unknown omega in a northern part of their territory, Xemnas had at first waited to see if this omega was interested in parlaying, coming forward to offer Xemnas their allegiance. No such offer came, so after three weeks of waiting Xemnas commanded two of his strongest alpha warriors – Xigbar, his Second in Command, and Xaldin, his War Leader – to go see this omega and find out more about them. They had returned to the castle with quite the story – a story about an omega who had managed to defeat the both of them in combat. They had the wounds to back up the tale, having preferred to make their escape away from the fierce omega and report back to Xemnas.
There was something very intriguing about this omega and Xemnas was having a hard time squashing the echoing voice of his father, the previous Lead Alpha Xehanort.
“A strong omega means strong pups,” Xehanort had been fond of saying while he had been alive, usually while staring straight at Terra, the omega who had birthed Xemnas.
Xemnas had to shake his shaggy, silver head to chase the memory from his mind. He didn’t want to think about his father right now, but the sentiment held true. Having a strong omega by his sidewould only be an asset. The question would be how he could get this omega to join his pack…
The scent of an unmarked omega hit Xemnas full in the face as he reached the Northern-most stretch of the Hollow Bastion Pack’s territory. The omega had been marking the area that they had claimed as their own in a very alpha-like manner. It was easy to track down where this omega was staying, but Xemnas moved cautiously while trying to keep himself down wind. He would rather have the upper hand (or perhaps paw?) in this meeting.
The omega had set up a den in the hollow of an old tree, the roots providing good cover and stability to the dug-out den. Currently said omega was laying outside the den and the sight of their wolf form caused Xemnas’s breath to momentarily stop. They were a steely grey in color, the sort of grey that went blue in the right light. They were licking a wound on their front leg, so Xaldin had managed to land a hit. Xemnas crouched down, belly to the forest floor as he watched the omega.
This omega was certainly larger and more muscular than any omega Xemnas had ever seen, clearly capable and well-fed. Their form was also unmarred save for a single x-shaped scar over their brow. The scar looked far too clean to be random – someone had intentionally scarred their face in that way. The thought of anyone doing such a thing to an omega made Xemnas’s hackles rise. He may not be a traditionalist, but the thought of anyone intentionally harming an omega brought his alpha instincts to the forefront of his consciousness. The alpha watched the omega for a few moments before making a decision, this omega had already proven themselves in battle against two seasoned, strong alpha warriors. Even as a Lead Alpha Xemnas was faced with the very real possibility that this lone omega could defeat him, a great dishonor for any alpha. No, a different approach would be required. So Xemnas took a gamble and got up, walking out of the underbrush and standing stock-still in sight of the omega.
The action had an immediate effect as the unknown omega quickly leapt to their feet, hackles raised as they let out a fierce growl. This territory was theirs, the growl said, and they weren’t about to be kicked out without a fight. Xemnas had no plans to fight and just stood still for a few moments, watching and waiting. This omega wasn’t about to back down, but neither were they advancing to attack. So, Xemnas decided to go one step further and began to shift back to his human form. This obviously takes the omega by surprise, their ears going forward with interest and their growl stopping – a very good sign. Xemnas spread his hands in a peaceful, welcoming gesture.
“I have not come to fight you. You bested my Second and my War Band Leader in battle, that I can respect. Shall we talk?” Xemnas asked. The omega’s ears flicked back and forth a bit, obviously checking to see if this was some kind of trap. Cautious, Xemnas could appreciate that. After a few moments of silence, Xemnas standing perfectly still across the clearing from the omega, he finally sees the omega drop their head slightly and transform. The figure crouches for a moment before standing tall, proud.
The omega’s human form is just as muscular and strong as their wolf form. They stand nearly as tall as Xemnas and willingly look him straight in the eyes – golden yellow eyes meet Xemnas’s fiery orange. The steel grey fur gives way to blue hair, revealing their bloodline to Xemnas as there is only one pack that he knows of that can boast blue hair. The scar translates over to an X crisscrossing the bridge of their nose between their eyes.
“Fine, let us talk,” the omega finally says after a few moments. Xemnas smiles when he hears the omega’s voice, deep but smooth.
“I am Xemnas, Lead Alpha of the Hollow Bastion pack,” Xemnas offers, beginning to approach. The omega doesn’t back down, but rather stands his ground.
“Isa,” The omega responds without hesitation; however, he does not offer a pack name. That is a telling sign, he either abandoned his pack or they abandoned him.
“Welcome Isa, it is good to meet such a fearless and formidable omega,” Xemnas said. He heard Isa snort softly at his words.
“Your Alphas must be screaming for my blood,” Isa stated.
“Xaldin is… Xigbar is just as impressed as I am that someone could trounce Xaldin so thoroughly,” Xemnas said.
Isa hummed lightly, a sound full of disbelief. “So, come to deal with the renegade omega yourself, Lead Alpha Xemnas?”
“Yes, in a manner of speaking….” Xemnas responded. Isa raised an eyebrow, curious but still cautious. “I find myself in need of a Lead Omega.”
Isa’s eyes went wide at the statement, shocked and surprised. “You do not have a mate?”
Xemnas just shakes his head. Currently there were only four omegas in his pack: Vexen, who was too old and no longer fertile, Zexion who was just now coming of age but was one of Xemnas’s half-siblings, Demyx who had been claimed by Xigbar, and Luxord who had been claimed by Xemnas’s half-sister Larxene.
“Why?” Is Isa’s next question. Xemnas offers him a gentle smile.
“Tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine,” he says, tapping the same spot on his own forehead where Isa’s scar would be. That causes the omega to flush and look away.
“As you wish,” Isa says. Xemnas nods, he does wish, very much.
“Follow me, we’ll talk on neutral ground. There’s a pool not too far from here,” Xemnas says, beginning to walk away. Isa follows him cautiously, glancing around every now and again for threats or a trap. It’s not the flinching caution of an unsure omega, unused to the presence of alphas, it’s the cool and calculating gaze of someone making quick threat assessments so they can respond without hesitation. Xemnas likes that, it shows a wisdom that he hasn’t seen in many alphas or omegas. The pool isn't too far from the den Isa has set up and Xemnas goes to take a seat on a rock near the water, watching as Isa walks over to the water’s edge to wash out the wound on his left arm. Xemnas watched him with a light frown, moving to pull a small healing kit from his belt pouch.
“Here, let me dress that for you,” Xemnas said. Isa looked up, suspicious at first, but approached when he saw the kit in Xemnas's hands. The omega sits close and offers his injured arm to Xemnas. The proximity gives Xemnas an excuse to scent Isa as he cleans the wound. The omega’s scent is like fresh earth after a rainstorm, clear and crisp. It smells of runs in dew-soaked grass under the moon, a calm scent. There is a slight metallic twang under that, a current of danger running through him. Xemnas finds it very pleasant, a promise of a rewarding struggle. He knows Isa has been doing the same when he looks up as sees the omega's eyes have become a few shades darker, lust-filled.
“So… so you want to start, or shall I?” Xemnas asked, smiling lightly as he continued to care for Isa’s wound. The omega shook his head lightly to clear it, glancing back down to where his arm was cradled in Xemnas’s hands.
“Go ahead…” Isa stated, still watching as Xemnas gently began to dab a healing salve into the wounds.
“So, you asked why I didn’t have a mate… well, it all has to do with how I took over my pack. My father was Xehanort, the Lead Alpha before me. Xehanort treated omegas terribly, he was so archaic that he thought that every omega in the pack belonged to him, whether they were mated to him or not. He ruled through fear and mistrust, even going as far as to kidnap omegas from other Packs…
“My bearer was such a capture. Terra was his name. Xehanort captured him and forced him to become his mate. Eventually I was born. I hated my father, his cruelty knew no bounds. So, when I was old enough I challenged him for the position of Lead Alpha. Obviously, I won,” Xemnas glanced up at Isa with a small smile. A smile that Isa returned before it disappeared.
“Still, you have no Lead Omega, I would think that overthrowing such a leader would make you more desirable, not less,” Isa commented, watching as Xemnas began to wrap his injury in a clean bandage.
“You would think, but our pack splintered after I became Lead Alpha. There were some alphas who believed that Xehanort was right, that omegas didn't deserve fair treatment. They were weak and needed alphas to tell them what to do and how to behave. Many Of these alphas had been given the “right” to “have” an omega mate by Xehanort and under my leadership they had lost that “right” as many of their omegas had expressed fear and unwillingness to mate with their assigned partners. That led to a massive desertion by these alphas unwilling to live under the new rule – many of them tried to kidnap their old mates. We stopped as many as we could, but the omegas had no desire to live in Hollow Bastion where they could be easily found and recaptured, so with the assistance of the High Alpha we found them new packs. I have been attempting to rebuild my pack as best I could, but it has been an uphill process,” Xemnas finished, tying off the bandage and gently petting Isa’s arm. The omega did not pull away from the contact.
“I was declared a traitor and exiled,” Isa said quietly, looking down. “I was part of the Tsviets, a pack far to the North. Their territory is in a bad spot, food and resources are hard to come by so they favor strength in both alphas and omegas, as we all must be heavily involved in the day to day struggle. I myself led many hunting parties, even as an omega, because I had proven my ability.”
Isa’s strength and ability to take down even Xaldin made all the more sense now as he confirmed Xemnas's suspicions. The Tsviets were known for their strength, but also for the unique color mix of their pack.
“I was exiled because I could not bring myself to kill a runt…. The pup was so small and weak, they weren’t expected to survive the winter and their mother had birthed two others in the same litter. It was decided that to give the two stronger pups the best chance, that the runt had to die. I was the one selected to carry out this deed, but I could not, I would not kill a pup. It was seen as weakness. My father, Azul the Cerulean, took the pup from my arms and dashed their head against the rocks before carving the sigyl of exile into my forehead,” Isa said, voice shaking and full of emotion. Xemnas moved to caress Isa’s face, gently lifting his chin. The omega locked eyes with the alpha, Xemnas did not see any fear, only regret.
“That was brave, few would stand up to their pack leaders in such a manner,” Xemnas said, smiling as he leaned forward. “That is exactly the attitude I want in a Lead Omega.”
Isa chuckled softly, shaking his head to free it from Xemnas’s grip. “You’re a fool to invite an omega you just met to occupy a position of such power in your pack.”
“I know what my pack needs,” Xemnas said. Isa looked into his eyes, searching for deception.
“I will have to think about your offer,” Isa replied, standing up and hopping down from the rock. Xemnas nodded in response.
“As you wish, I’ll await your answer at Hollow Bastion itself,” Xemnas said. He watched as Isa nodded before shifting and running away, either to go back to the den he had set up or go establish a second, fallback location. He would have to satisfy himself with the memory of the blue-haired omega until then.