Ashraf had always been a bit of a sensitive soul, prioritizing others over himself just to see them happy, protecting those who could not protect themselves, always running errands and doing favors for others whenever he could. And heartbreak had touched his sensitive heart early.<br/><br/>He could remember his first love, Shuriya, a sweet and quiet pup the same age as him. They'd been 7 when they met, Ashraf a stocky, golden tan-faced young pup with wild dark brown hair, Shuriya, waifish and olive-skinned with long, black, pretty hair, rosy cheeks and big eyes. It'd been love at first sight. A shy pup, he hadn't known how to express his emotions. He remembered plucking a single flower from his mother's garden and grasping it in a tight little fist all the way to Shuri's house. The flower'd been white, it reminded him of Shuriya's name which meant “Shining Moon”. He remembered approaching the front entryway of Shuri's house, knocking once, twice, before placing the flower at the foot of the door and bolting away.<br/><br/>He'd been 9 when his family told him about alphas, omegas, and betas. He was built to be an alpha, his parents had told him. He'd lost his baby fat and was growing tall and strong. He was going to be an alpha and Shuri would be his omega one day, he'd told himself.<br/><br/>He kept giving Shuriya flowers for the entire time they knew each other.<br/><br/>“The flower has your scent. It smells like...” Shuriya's nose had wrinkled, brain working to come up with a name to match the scent. “Smells like when my mom roasts meat.” Ashraf remembered looking up from his drawing in the dirt, stick frozen mid-circle. “I don't smell like meat,” he had squeaked, incredulous. Why had no one told him before? How embarrassing. He remembered feeling his shoulders drooping. “No silly,” Shuriya had said, flipping long black locks over his shoulder as he dropped from a crouch to his knees. He had to get close to the ground to draw the details of his own picture. “You don't smell like meat...or smoke either. You smell like... You smell like Warm.” Warm. Ashraf had cocked his head to the side. Shuri smelled like the grass after it rained: the scent of freshness, coolness. Cleansed earth. Shuri smelled good. He hadn't known if 'warm' was a good scent or not.<br/><br/>He had loved Shuri, or assumed he did every time his little heart flip-flopped at the sight of him. “I'm going to marry a big alpha,” Shuri had said one day out of the blue. Ashraf remembered visibly perking up. “My parents said I'm going to be an alpha,” Ashraf nearly shouted, rising to stand at his full height. “Yeah! And they said I'm going to be tall, too!” Shuri had giggled at him. “You don't know what you'll be. You might be an omega,” Shuri teased. He had had another one of Ashraf's gifted flowers tucked behind his ear. “Or I might be an alpha. If we're both alphas...we're going to fight!” Shuri had attempted a scowl and a soft little growl. It had been Ashraf's turn to giggle. There was no way no one as pretty and nice as Shuri would become an alpha. He was going to be an omega and Ashraf was going to be an alpha and then they could get married. Or so he had planned.<br/><br/>“I think we would be good mates,” Ashraf had offered one day, sharing some dried fruit and bread with Shuri. He had said it casually, cooly. In truth, he'd been shaking on the inside, wondering what Shuri would say. Shuri had simply called him silly and popped a dried apricot in his mouth.<br/><br/>Ashraf had tried again months later. He was refused. He had tried again weeks after that, another refusal. Soon his little heart grew too tired and too wounded. He remembered crying in his friend Kelen's arms. He had wept and wept and wept until his eyes began to run dry.<br/><br/>It'd been Kelen who'd brought him out of his heartbreak, sweet and fiery and pretty Kelen. It'd been Kelen who'd offered something akin to a marriage pact. And it'd been Kelen who eventually became his mate.<br/><br/>He awoke early, as was his custom, washing his face and shaving along his jaw with a long sharpened blade. He watched his own reflection as he readied himself for the day. His eyes were hazel and flecked with gold, unique and striking. He was a tall alpha, above average in height with a lean and muscular build. He was athletic mainly from hunting and fishing—two things he planned to do that day. He was a mated alpha and, as such, wanted to provide for himself and his mate. He finger-combed his dark fringe into place, hair dark and choppy and framing his face. He had handsome features, strong dark eyebrows, a high nose, full lips, and sun-kissed tan skin. His jewelry was minimal: two gold rings, one set with a ruby on his index finger and the second around his ring finger. A single gold earring adorned his left ear.<br/><br/>Some said he exuded alphaness, he moved with confidence, chest forward, shoulders squared, eyes always looking forward. Though he was gentle and kind, few tried to take advantage of him, too afraid to evoke typical alpha aggression, which, despite all his kindness, he still possessed (usually controlled). But for the most part, he wanted to live quietly and he was, for the most part, successful. And as part of his quiet existence, he would go fishing today.<br/><br/>It was noon when he returned, the sun high in the sky and beating down with an unforgiving intensity. “Kelen,” he called, approaching the omega from behind, thoroughly familiar with his figure. He had a satchel of freshly roasted fish, some fruit, and bread with him. He quickly pressed a chaste kiss to the omega's right temple. “Say you'll take a break and enjoy a meal with me.”