The Amnesiac Omega Awakening

03

Chapter 3

"Ahh!"

A bloodcurdling scream ripped from my throat. A monster loomed before me, its grotesque features twisting in the bathroom mirror. Panic seized me; I scrambled out of the bathroom, my feet tangled, and I tumbled to the floor.

"Alruna!" Curtis's voice cut through the air, sharp with alarm. He caught me before I hit the ground.

He looked at me, his eyes wide with concern. Terror choked me; I pointed a trembling finger towards the bathroom. "I-I saw a monster! It's in there!" I stammered, my voice barely a whisper. He looked at me, his expression a mixture of confusion and concern. He helped me to my feet, his hands firm and reassuring.

"What monster are you talking about?" he asked, his gaze searching mine. The triplets appeared behind him, their faces mirroring his confusion.

"You're not playing a prank on your mom, are you?" Curtis asked the triplets, his voice serious, his eyes questioning.

"Dad, Mom's pregnant. Why would we do that?" Freya asked, her voice laced with a hint of exasperation. Curtis nodded, his gaze shifting to the bathroom door. "I'll check it out." I followed him, clinging to his arm for support.

As we stood at the doorway, I saw it again – the monstrous figure. I was about to scream when Curtis quickly covered my mouth, his hand gentle yet firm.

"Calm down. I don't see any monster."

Then I saw it: my reflection. It wasn't a monster at all. When Curtis realized the situation and saw himself with me in the mirror, he barely managed to suppress a chuckle, his shoulders shaking with barely contained amusement.

He turned away, covering his mouth to stifle his laughter. The triplets stared at me, their expressions a curious blend of confusion and amusement.

"So? Are we monsters too?" Freya asked innocently, her gaze shifting to her sisters.

"We're not. Mom doesn't look like us," Kara replied, her voice matter-of-fact. The triplets took off running when I jokingly threatened to bite them. I frowned, straightening up, my embarrassment battling with a growing sense of self-awareness.

The original Alruna's body… it was something else entirely. I couldn't quite comprehend how she had looked. How had Curtis endured being near her, looking at her like that?

"Hey, it's fine. You're beautiful," Curtis said softly, his voice gentle and reassuring. I stopped, turning to look at him, my expression skeptical.

"If you're saying that to comfort me, it's not working," I snapped, my voice sharp. He laughed, taking my hand in his, his touch warm and comforting.

"I wasn't talking about your appearance," Curtis said, a genuine smile gracing his lips. Don't smile; it was too effective.

"I'm an ordinary beta, not an Alpha. I don't care about appearances," he continued, his words sincere and heartfelt. I remembered that betas were often more drawn to pheromone scents than physical appearance.

"Can I know what color my pheromones are?" I asked, my curiosity piqued. He paused, a thoughtful expression on his face. "Have you ever seen an aurora?"

"Yes," I replied. Not in this time period, but I had witnessed the breathtaking spectacle in my past life.

"That's the color of yours."

I imagined the vibrant, swirling colors, and a genuine laugh escaped my lips. "Now I know why you're so smitten with me."

Yes, we were reaching a point of comfortable familiarity, of easy banter and shared jokes. It wasn't that Curtis and the children disliked me; they simply found it difficult to approach the original Alruna.

Curtis mentioned he would be working late, so I prepared dinner early. The triplets helped, their small hands surprisingly capable. My princesses were only six years old, and they already contributed so much to our daily lives.

My large belly made moving and bending difficult. I couldn't stand for long periods, making simple tasks challenging.

"Wow, so much food!" Kara exclaimed happily, scrambling onto a chair.

"Eat plenty, okay?" I instructed. The three of them replied "yes" in unison. I looked at the empty chair beside me, a pang of loneliness striking me.

Even at night, Curtis worked tirelessly to support us. I needed to find a way to earn money so he wouldn't have to push himself so hard.

After dinner, I sent the children to bed. I fixed their beds, giving each a kiss on the forehead.

"Mom, goodnight," Kara whispered, her face half-hidden under the blanket. Of the three, she was the most similar to Curtis in personality – a push-and-pull dynamic.

"Goodnight, baby. Go to sleep."

I sat for a while at the edge of her bed, patting her back gently. The former Alruna hadn't been a good mother, but I wouldn't repeat her mistakes.

Even with my efforts, they still doubted my sincerity, her past actions casting a long shadow. I would accept that and wait patiently. I believed that if I proved myself to be a good mother and wife, if I showed genuine care and sincerity, they would eventually open their hearts to me.

A sudden cold breeze swept through the room. I looked up at the window. The curtain was open. I stood to close it.

As I reached for the curtain, I saw a figure outside the fence. Its eyes glowed red, large and menacing.

I slammed the window shut, my heart pounding in my chest. I grabbed the bolo hanging on the hut's post, my hand trembling. I looked towards the door.

Curtis wasn't there. What if it was an evil creature? Holding my belly, I sat down, my gaze fixed on the door.

Fear gripped me. Where was Curtis? I wished, with a sudden intensity, that I wasn't pregnant. After what felt like an eternity, I heard someone at the door.

"Who's there?" I asked, standing up, my voice shaky. The movement at the door stopped.

"Runa?"

It was Curtis's voice. Relief washed over me. I went to the door, but stopped abruptly. The scent hit me – a strong, overwhelming smell of blood.

"Are you hurt?" I asked, my voice barely a whisper. Years on the battlefield had heightened my senses; I could smell blood from a considerable distance. The intensity of the scent was alarming.

Curtis didn't answer. Slowly, I backed away from the door. It wasn't Curtis who had been calling at me earlier.

After about an hour, the sounds of barking dogs and raised voices reached my ears.

"Alruna!" Curtis shouted, his voice filled with urgency and concern. I ran to the door and threw it open.

"Curtis!"

He pulled me into a tight embrace, his body trembling. Then, screams and cries erupted from the nearby houses. I looked towards the next fence; a large crowd had gathered, our neighbor wailing.

Curtis led me inside, closing the door behind us. He sat me down, kneeling before me, his eyes filled with concern and a hint of fear.

"Why are you still awake?" he asked, his gaze falling upon the bolo on the table.

I held his wrist, telling him about the figure I had seen. Curtis stopped, sitting heavily on the floor.

"Curtis..." I began, my voice choked with emotion.

"I'm sorry. Tomorrow, I'll resign from my night job. I won't leave you and the children alone at night again," he said, hugging me tightly, his body trembling. Just moments ago, I had been considering how to broach the subject of his dangerous night work.

"It's alright. I didn't open the door," I said, patting his back to calm him. We had almost died; he was the one terrified.

"How did you know it wasn't me knocking? Rogues can imitate voices," he asked, his eyes searching mine.

"The smell of blood was too strong. I asked if you were hurt; you didn't answer, so I knew it wasn't you," I replied. He took a deep breath, his chest rising and falling. He didn't know how he'd even gotten home.

"When we received a signal from this area, I was terrified. It was just you and the children, and you're pregnant."

An omega's pheromones were stronger when pregnant, making them easy targets for Rogues.

I frowned, shaking my head. "Curtis, you don't need to work at night."

"Don't worry; I've saved a lot from your earnings. It's enough for the delivery. I'm not spending much," I added, my voice firm. We were in a border area, more dangerous than the capital, especially at night. I was worried about his late hours work.

"Curtis! Curtis!"

Curtis and I looked towards the door. He stood up, walking towards it and opening it cautiously. Two men stood there, their faces etched with worry. "Are the triplets alright?" one asked.

Memories flooded back: Ryull and Skoll, Curtis's friends, betas, and fiercely protective of him. They were also very angry with me.

"We were worried because we saw traces of blood near your yard. Is your family okay?" Skoll asked, his gaze sweeping over me. He looked inside, his eyes widening slightly at the sight of me still awake.

I awkwardly waved at them. Ryull nodded curtly. At least, despite their anger over my past actions, they weren't disrespectful.

"Thanks to Alruna, she didn't open the door, so nothing bad happened," Curtis said, his voice filled with relief. The two men exchanged glances, their expressions unreadable. They seemed to have something they wanted to say to Curtis, their gazes shifting between me and him.

"Curtis, I'm going back to our room. I need to rest. I cooked plenty earlier; eat and invite your friends. Just keep your voice down; the children are asleep," I said, standing up. Curtis nodded, his gaze filled with gratitude and unspoken affection. "Goodnight. I'll prepare your bed too. After you've eaten, go to sleep."

I turned and walked slowly back to our room. I heard Skoll mention that two pregnant women in their village had died recently, and three children were missing.

"What are the border guards doing?" I muttered, rolling my eyes in frustration.

The next morning…

"Mom, good morning!"

As I stepped out of the hut, I saw Freya holding a basket. Of the triplets, Freya showed the most interest in medicine; she was my frequent helper, always asking questions about medicine.

"Good morning, baby. Where's Kara?" I asked. Raven appeared, already preparing the table. I couldn't see Kara.

"Dad took her to town to buy food and dessert for us," Freya said excitedly. Last night, I'd told Curtis to get treats for the children. It was amusing how readily he fulfilled my requests, especially when it was for them.

"Mom, these are dried herbs, and I've boiled water for your bath."

I thanked her happily. Raven emerged, announcing that breakfast was ready.

"Thank you, baby. Mom will take a bath first, then I'll eat."

I went to the bathroom, removing my clothes one by one. I stepped into the wooden tub, filled with fragrant flowers to soothe my skin.

I also had my homemade shampoo. Once I was sure they were effective and safe, I would let the triplets and Curtis use them.

I examined my skin and hair. After only three days, I could already see improvements, and there were no side effects. My skills never failed me. Once I saw the final results, I could use them to start a business and help Curtis.

After my bath, I stepped out. I heard Curtis's voice; he was talking to someone in the yard.

"My wife is pregnant. I can't go with you to the border," Curtis said firmly. I stopped, heading towards the yard.

Alpha.

As expected of an Alpha, his presence was commanding, but… I grimaced. I was tired of Alphas. That's why I hadn't had a partner in my past life; I was simply weary of their constant presence.

"Curtis?"

The two men stopped talking and turned to look at me. Faolan? Was this the Alpha the original owner had been obsessed with? If Curtis just fixed a little himself a little, he could easily outshine this Faolan. Of course, Curtis was still a beta.

Curtis looked at me with concern. Kara touched my arm, her gaze up at me. Gosh, Kara perfectly captured Curtis's panicked expression.

"What is it, baby?" I asked gently.

"Alruna, can you talk to Curtis about going with me to the border? Curtis is a skilled warrior; it would be a great loss if we return without him," Faolan said smoothly. For the past three months, I'd been plagued by memories of the original owner attempting suicide to force Curtis to accompany the Alpha.

Afterward, Curtis had returned half-dead, while Faolan remained unscathed. A humiliating defeat for an Alpha, but Faolan, shamelessly, took all the credit.

How did I know all this? The original owner had overheard a conversation between Skoll and Curtis. She had been furious with Curtis for planning taking credit for something he hadn't done.

"It's not that I don't want Curtis to leave, but I'm pregnant, and I'll give birth in two months. There's no other man in the house," I replied, my voice calm yet firm. Curtis stopped, his gaze fixed on me.

"Don't worry; I'll send someone to watch over you and the children," Faolan offered, his tone condescending. This guy was an i***t.

"Alpha," Curtis said emphatically, his gaze unwavering, his voice low and dangerous. I saw Ryull, who was standing beside the Alpha, grimace.

"Alpha, because Curtis respects you so much and you're his cousin, I'll act like I didn't hear anything and that you didn't come to our house to force my husband to leave, despite knowing that he has a pregnant wife and four omegas in this house," I stated, my voice even, my words carrying a weight of quiet authority.

The Alpha paled, his arrogance visibly deflating. He mumbled something about leaving and quickly departed, his retreat hasty and undignified.

I hadn't offended him directly, but I hadn't allowed him to disrespect my family either. If this reached the pack leader, I was sure he wouldn't be pleased, and neither would the people in this village.

Even though Alphas held authority, the laws applied to everyone, including omegas. Curtis had the right to refuse, not just because I was pregnant, but because, as his omega's mate, his responsibility was her well-being.

I'd recently learned that in this time period, it was legal for an omega to have multiple husbands, for the sake of the village's and the race's population. Omega is quite important in this era

"Why are you looking at me like that? Don't tell me you want to go to the border and leave your pregnant omega wife?" I asked, pointing to my belly. My children immediately sided with me, their gazes fixed on Curtis, their silent judgment palpable. Curtis threw up his hands, protesting his innocence.

I laughed, shaking my head. "I'm just kidding." I invited Ryull and Skoll inside, but they declined, leaving separately.

"Don't mind them," Curtis said softly, gently touching my arm. I smiled, nodding. I understood their wariness; I couldn't blame them for their lingering distrust. Only they had shown genuine concern for our family and for Curtis. It would have been more surprising if they had acted as though nothing had happened after the original owner's actions.