I hold my hands up. “Oh, I’ve never met her, but she’s friends with Red Jones, my—” I stumble to a halt, heat burning up my neck.My omegalingers on my tongue, fizzing for a moment before dying away. “My client,” I finish with.
He brightens, the scowl dropping away to reveal a much more attractive visage.
Pierce jumps in to affirm that I’m Red’s lawyer and Leroy adds we flew out to pick Red up after her cross-country jaunt.
“Do you know if she was simply here to visit my Rose?” he asks, stroking his short orange beard.
I stare at him. Did he not hear the news?
“Agent Colt’s been away on omega leave,” his superior clarifies.
Agent Colt and Liam share a loaded look, like something significant happened while he was away. I wonder for a moment if they’re more than work colleagues, but the older man goes on, smirking as he delivers the news. “Colt doesn’t know the Laversham omega broke a feral out of prison.”
The ginger agent sputters in shock, and since everyone here has clearance, I tell the whole story as I know it. Leroy adds what he knows from the Bureau’s end, and then winds the conversation back to the ferals, their triggers, and the bombing. I play the recording snippet from Zack where he mentions lights and a challenge, and Agent Colt nods sadly.
“Unfortunately, I can answer that question because my omega and two ferals are also affected by flashing lights.”
We sit in stunned silence as Colt and another man who’s gone undercover in the rings share how the fight setup works, and how different colored lights flash to indicate the “dogs” are in the chutes or entering the ring. They’re trained to react aggressively to those revolving lights. So perhaps that ingrained response helped Zack break through the paralysis, not only because of his strength of will, but because of training. You’d have to be conditioned to throw yourself into an arena for a fight to the death.
I slump back in my chair with a chill growing in my bones, reminded once more how much Zack’s grown since the first time I saw him. Considering the life he came from, it’s a miracle he didn’t kill someone on those courthouse steps.
What will he do if someone in prison is mad enough to threaten him? I need to see Alhedy immediately and find out if Zack’s in danger. If so, I’ll get him transferred. We need some kind of house arrest or separate facility for people like Zack. Is our judicial process so limited that the only place to put him is with fully socialized alphas? What would be the best solution, given Zack’s one of dozens of ferals rescued from the underground rings?
The agents discuss what lights to look out for, and Pierce finds it immediately in the media footage from the day—a remotely activated portable light on one of the courthousestatues. Someone camouflaged the damn thing to look like a bird deterrent.
“We’ll trace street activity,” Pierce declares darkly, determination setting his jaw. They’ve got a lead to chase, at least. And so do I.
As the conference ends, I ask Colt if we could talk for a minute, and the other agents leave us to it, heading out to track their targets.
Colt turns away from the camera for a moment as his room empties before switching his focus back to me. “What can I do for you, Callisto?” he asks.
Damn, where do I even start? I clear my throat, feeling more nervous than I ever do in a courtroom. “You live with two ferals in your house. Is that correct?”
“Yes.” He runs one hand through his ginger crew cut. “And I’m a certified rehabilitator.”
Another rush of guilt barrels through me. I’ve read the theory book but haven’t found time to go do the physical training. “Right,” I mutter. “Guess that came in handy for the new alphas.”
He chuckles. “You bet, but mostly only for the physical handling. Rosie is the one teaching them and coaxing them back to humanity.”
I nod slowly. “I think it’s the same for Red. Except she refused to put him in a cage, so she trained him to go out on a leash.”
Colt whistles and grins. “Fuck, that takes some balls.” As soon as he says it, he winces and waves one hand. “Sorry, I didn’t mean it literally.”
A laugh escapes me. “I get it,” I say. If any omega out there has alpha-level courage, it’s Red.
Colt shrugs and continues, “I’m learning the hard way to trust my omega’s instincts regarding those boys. She seems to know what they need, even without a bond.” He taps the side of hisnose and grins, but then sobers. “Although, I bonded one of them to suppress the aggression, so we both have a better idea now.”
“I’m sorry, what?” My mouth drops open as I stare at him. “You bonded one? That must be chaotic as all hell.” Another thought follows on its heels: if I were bonded, I could understand Zack much better. Maybe. I shake my head. Must be losing my marbles for sure. Still, if the thought’s crossed my mind, how about Rickon? That could turn dangerous for an alpha with not much presence.
The agent on the video call nods. “Yeah, it really is chaotic. The hyperalertness is something I’ll take a long time to get used to, and I’ve been in the military and law enforcement for decades. To these lads, nothing is safe, and even more so when they have an omega.” He whistles under his breath, and pain colors his deep voice when he goes on. “Can you imagine never having proper food, or gentle touch, or a kind word? Being sick without nursing, bathing without tenderness?” Agent Colt shifts forward in his chair, locking gazes with me through the screen. “They’re starving.”
His declaration hits me like a blow to my guts, and I slump back with a sharp exhale. And I simply thought Zack was a nuisance—an object in the way of my plan to win Red back.
Colt shakes his head slowly, smiling at some memory. “At first we thought Rose was making up the scent-matching out of pity for them, and we thought we’d eventually get rid of the two ferals, but Zane and Uno are pack, plain and simple.” He shrugs, and one side of his mouth lifts. “She just knew it long before we caught up. And if I was in their skin, I hope someone would give me the same chance to live.”
Like Rickon did. He accepted Zack without question.
I wrestle with my thoughts for a moment but decide Colt’s a perfect reference point for me. “Red’s not doing well without her bonded alpha,” I admit slowly.
