Page 73 of Shared Omega

“Bishop?” she gasps. “But how?”

Bishop. I remember now what Dr. Frostgrave told us when he first introduced Dog in the briefing room. He said that Dog was cloned from the cells of a dead soldier named Bishop. Apparently Lily and her Alphas met that person, and not on good terms.

Perhaps they are even the same Alphas who killed Dog’s predecessor.

And if I don’t do something to cool down the situation, it seems like history might repeat itself.

A major commotion has overtaken the cathedral. In response to the Alphas’ threatening behavior, Dog’s body shifts into a fighting stance. A moment later Kane starts growling at Dog. Apparently he’s siding with his tribesmen.

If I don’t do something soon, there’s going to be a big fight.

Before there’s a chance for violence to erupt, I leap forward, placing my body between Dog and Kane, and I shout at the top of my lungs, sending my cry echoing through the long nave of the cathedral.

“Stop! Please listen.”

The growling subsides, but the tension does not. All of the Alphas still have their hackles up, and I know it won’t take much for this whole situation to go sideways.

“Listen, please. This isn’t who you think he is. Dog is a clone. I don’t know what bad blood there was between you and Bishop, but Dog is a different person.”

“A clone?” Lily looks Dog up and down. “Of course. It only makes sense. Think about it, guys. The last time we saw Bishop, he was mangled beyond repair, but this guy doesn’t have a scar on him.”

She pauses and gives me a quizzical look.

“Wait, did you just say his name is Dog?”

“Is there a problem with that?” Dog mutters under his breath beside me.

“What is a clone?” The lead Alpha growls, still not convinced that Dog is not an enemy.

“It’s like a replica of a person made from their genes.”

“Genes?”

“Like an identical twin,” she explains. “But instead of being created by mating, this man was made by scientists in a lab. He may look and smell like Bishop, but he’s a different person.”

The lead Alpha sneers, but he relaxes a little, still keeping his mass positioned in front of Lily.

“Like I said. Outsider sorcery.”

Lily silently shakes her head and pinches the bridge of her nose as she gives up on explaining further.

It seems like the threat of an all out fight has been avoided, at least for now. Kane and Dog both assume a more relaxed posture, as do the other Alphas. Still, the thrum of tension remains in the air.

The lead Alpha straightens and begins to speak.

“Let us parley, then,” he booms. “Kane, perhaps you can shed some light on what is going on here.”

Kane bows his head toward this Alpha in a sign of respect.

Is this guy Kane’s boss? Perhaps he’s the chief of the whole community.

“Addom,” Kane answers, his deep baritone voice easily filling the cathedral. “Thank you for coming here with your pack.”

He gestures toward me, Dog, and Truk with a wave of his arm.

“We have some…unusual visitors. I felt it was of the utmost importance that you meet them right away.”

Addom, the leader, looks all of us up and down silently for a moment. His gaze catches on the triple marks on my neck, and I notice his eyes widen with surprise as he realizes what that means.