Chapter Text
The days with the little foundlings could be exhausting. But it gave you hope being with them — their curiosity, their unabashed excitement, how sweet they were made you feel the future of the covert was secure as these foundlings would grow up to be the warriors for the tribe. As an omega and a Mandalorian, you found comfort in their round faces and bright laughter. Especially after 34 long years, you had yet to find an alpha to pair off with.
Your tribe had always been thin, with few alphas and even fewer omegas unbonded. It was never any cause for worry though — it was not required of you to be mated. And any alpha who would think of dishonoring themselves by pressuring you would have immediately been dealt. But there was the occasional annoyance as you would have to let down — sometimes multiple times — any alphas attempting to court you. It wasn’t that any of the alphas of your tribe were not worthy companions, they just … they were not for you. The soft words and small gifts of flowers were lovely but would not make you sigh with pleasure. They often showed how you longed for more.
You knew you were softer, more thoughtful, and not quick to action — your omega rounded your edges, gifting you a nurturing nature not many in your tribe possessed. You found no fault in yourself. You just wanted a contrast. You did not want to see yourself in your mate — you wanted your alpha to be biting, firm, strong, and unyielding. He would be gently aggressive, but not soft in his romancing of you. But that seemed to be a contradiction the galaxy could not find an answer for.
So after years of never being tempted, you had been more than surprised when for the first time, an alpha scent had caught your attention.
A clan of Mandalorians had been driven from Nevarro and showed up one day at your covert, their alor flanked by a heavy infantry warrior and two bounty hunters as they asked for asylum with your tribe. As the greetings occurred, the bounty hunter with green armor grabbed your gaze and seemed to hold it without effort.
You stayed at the back of those from your tribe who had rushed to the site to see who had arrived. All four of the new Mandalorians kept their helmets on as the conversations continued — you wondered if they thought they would find resistance.
But the initial conversation ended cheerfully and the alors embraced briefly before the new covert representatives were invited to find their places of refuge. You felt rooted to your spot. The green Mandalorian had turned to you and continued to stare, transfixed. But surely he was looking at someone behind you …
“Come, Y/N! Alor wants us to gather some things for them,” Ati, your friend and fellow nursery helper in the tribe, grabbed your attention from the new warrior.
You let out a disappointed sigh quietly — for some reason, you had hoped to catch his scent …
You and Ati had worked together for a number of years and you both were a well-oiled machine when it came to completing tasks. She was probably the closest person to you in the tribe. She had mated late in life, when an alpha from the tribe returned after a long absence. Mahr was in every way Ati’s perfect mate. You had been jealous, but Ati had been a constant friend during those days, understanding the difficulties of being an unmated omega surrounded by alphas who were not appealing to you in any way. She had remained your truest friend through it and you couldn’t have asked for more.
Of the small buildings and huts your tribe had constructed through its time on the Outer Rim forest planet, there was one that had been left vacant for guests. It was larger than your own small hut and consisted of only one open room, with a refresher area off the back door. You and Ati worked quickly to furnish cots with blankets, pillows, canisters of water, and small bits of dried fruits and meats for your guests as a welcome.
“I think they are coming soon,” Ati said softly as she turned down the last blanket. “Mahr will be wondering where I am.”
“You go on then, I can finish up,” you said with a smile, knowing that Mahr was particularly protective when Ati was close to heat.
“No, it’s just a few more…”
“That I can handle perfectly well,” you interrupted her, pulling her back from the cot. “Go, if only to assure your Alpha that no ill will has befallen you.”
She sighed, “He is prickly the week before.”
You shrugged, “He loves you and protects you. There’s nothing prickly about that.”
Ati grinned, hugged you quickly, and slipped out of the building. You took a deep breath and started back to finishing your tasks, hoping to also slip out of the building before the new guests would arrive. You were just smoothing out a blanket when the hairs on the back of your neck stood up and a scent you had never smelled before invaded the room. Every bit of your body froze as the scent wrapped around you like the arms of a familiar lover…
You stood slowly and turned, almost afraid to see who was in the doorway behind you.
Strangely though, when your eyes landed on the imposing figure of the Mandalorian in the green armor, fear wasn’t what you felt at all.
“I’m almost finished, then you and your companions will be able to rest for the night,” you said without prompting, turning back to fold down the blanket on the cot you were next to.
“Is this clan in the habit of forcing unmated omegas to do things like this?”
His voice was not what you expected, even through the modulator of his helmet. An accent you weren’t familiar with, a gravelly tone with a scratch that hit something way down deep in you.
At his question, you stood and turned to him, your back straight and proud, your face as blank as you could make it.
“I’m not forced to do anything. The alor asked me if I would help our guests, and I agreed to,” you responded. “Not every clan in the galaxy turns their back on those like you.”
You weren’t sure why you let it slip past your lips — knowing your luck, your insinuation more than likely came across as insulting. Of course, you knew of the clans of Mandalorians who had their own views. Most were viewed as fanatical but you had never seen any proof or reason to believe such. As a Mandalorian yourself you knew what it meant to be passionate and stubborn and ready to fight.
Mandalorians who never removed their helmets in the presence of others were often seen as … a cult. But so far, the guests to your village had given you no reason to think they were any different than you.
Obviously, this Mandalorian thought you did from your statement.
“And what do you imagine I am, little one?” he asked, gravelly voice causing a very pleasant shiver to course through you.
One so pleasant you clenched your thighs.
You stared straight back into his helmet, calling upon that fearlessness your people were known for, especially when facing a fellow Mandalorian.
“That remains to be seen,” you said after a moment.
His low chuckle was … encouraging. It pulled a soft smile to your face. Wiping your palms on your skirts, you bowed your head. “If you or companions should find you are in need of anything or something is not to your liking …” you started.
He tested you again, taking a few more steps into the small hut, “You don’t have to worry. You’ve done well in welcoming us, Omega.”
This had not been the first time an Alpha had gotten bold and called you by your designation. The tactic often made your skin crawl and a feeling of disgust climb in your throat. But with this Mandalorian … you bristled, but you had a feeling that was his aim and it caused you to choose your next move carefully.
So you slowly moved toward the doorway, keeping your face schooled as blankly as you could. When you came to his shoulder — he towered at least a head above you — you paused and turned your face only slightly toward him.
“In our clan, you have to earn the right to call an omega by their distinction,” you stated firmly.
The Mandalorian next to you hummed deeply and shifted his blaster in his hands. “Noted.”
When he offered nothing further, you took a step out of the hut.
“Until that time, what would someone like me call you?” his question brought an interesting lift to his tone.
You stopped and again turned just enough to see him facing you. You allowed yourself a small smile as you gave him your name.
And just like that, everything in your life began to change.