The betas – because it was obvious now that’s what they were – gave the object a kick and laughed. The object didn’t react, but from the way it moved when they kicked it, it must have been soft. I wondered what it was.
With another laugh that I didn’t care for, one of the betas picked up the object, slung it over his shoulder, and the men headed across to one of the more dilapidated buildings of the lot with the mysterious object flopping with each step. I didn’t wait to see what he did with it. It wasn’t my business, and while he was busy, it gave me the chance to move around without attracting attention.
I was determined to locate my missing omega and bring him home with me if I could convince him to leave. This pack made me uneasy and I had a strong feeling it wasn’t a safe place for an unattached omega.
I slipped through the fence that really wasn’t a barrier at all and crept up to the back of the first building I came to, scenting the air. I could detect the faintest trace of him in the swirling currents of air laced with the unmistakable dry grass and eucalyptus smells of summer, but he wasn’t in this building. Cautiously, I moved further around the cluster of buildings. The scent was still faint, and now it was mixed with a host of other competing omega scents, almost drowning it out. If I hadn’t become so finely attuned to his particular scent, I probably would have missed it altogether. It was soft and subtle and hopeful, like the early morning air on a summer’s day.
Where was this mix of scents coming from? I finally located the source of the jumbled omega scents in the last building along this side. Tucked away in the trees, it was a long, low, ramshackle building. My guess was this was the omega-house where unattached omegas lived. Although now that I thought about it, omega scents were undetectable in any of the other buildings I’d passed. I frowned, processing this. Either there were no attached omegas here at all or the attachedomegas didn’t live with their mates. Neither situation could be considered normal.
I was sure my mate was in here. His scent was strong. It called to my wolf, who was whining softly, wanting to get to him. But how?
A noise from around the front of the building startled me, interrupting my thoughts. Harsh voices. A raucous laugh. I concentrated on the voices. They sounded like the betas I’d heard earlier tormenting that poor omega when they’d been hanging out the laundry.
“Zarbius won’t know,” said one of the betas, conspiratorially.
“He wouldn’t care anyway.”
“He’d probably join in, hee-hee,” the first beta sniggered. “C’mon, I’m bored. Let’s pick one now and have some fun. Zarbius won’t be back for hours.”
Horror drained the blood from my face as my skin went chill despite the summer heat. My omega was still in there! I reacted on instinct.
Hurrying around the side of the building, I stepped out boldly, puffing my chest and carrying myself in a commanding way that left no doubt about my alpha designation, even before the betas could scent it. At first the two men were so absorbed in their gleeful anticipation, that they didn’t notice me. They were both standing in the open doorway of the omega house, drool trickling from their mouths and spiraling its way to the ground in grotesque wet strings. The falling saliva drew my attention downwards, where one of the men’s pants were tented. Oh, Goddess, it didn’t take much to guess what they wanted the omega for.
I cleared my throat. Loudly.
The two betas jumped, and turned around, different versions of the same suspicious and hostile expression on their faces. One wiped his filthy mouth on his arm.
“Who the fuck areyou?” snarled the other, suspiciously.
I hadn’t really thought beyond this point. I hadn’t planned to make myself known here, but I couldn’t stand by and let them molest a vulnerable omega… particularly as that omega could end up beingmyomega.
I thought quickly.
Did I try and stake a claim on the omega now? Tell them they had somehow ended up with my omega in their pack? I wasn’t sure they would just let him go with me, especially once they saw he didn’t have a mating mark. I was confident I could fight two betas, but the noise would attract the others I’d seen arrive in the truck, and four would be too many. There might even be others in some of the other buildings.
I also didn’t know if the omega would consent to come with me. He had left me in the cave, after all.
“Where’s your Alpha?” I demanded, not deigning to answer the guy’s question. He was out of line talking like that to an alpha,anyalpha.
“Not here, right now. Why d’ya wanna know?”
“I have something to discusswith him,” I replied, my tone indicating I certainly wouldn’t stoop to discussing it withthem.
The bulkier of the two betas crossed his arms over his chest and stared at me.
“I’m in charge when he ain’t here,” he growled. “What d’ya want?”
I looked him up and down, doing my best to show my utter disdain.
“You’re what… a beta?” I sneered. “No, thanks. I’ll wait until your Alpha gets back. When will he return?”
The man scowled at me, eyes flashing with fury. I kept my posture relaxed and confident, as though I absolutely expected his co-operation. I waited. When I didn’t back down from his glare, a flicker of uncertainty showed in his eyes. He cast a quick look sideways at his companion.
Right. He needed to save face.
I shrugged, and said in a more conciliatory voice, “It’s alpha business. He’ll want me to wait around.”
“Zarbius won’t be back until tomorrow,” he said, grudgingly.
