Rogue. That’s the green-eyed alpha, and Devlin is my cold-faced dark-eyed savior.
There’s a silence, and I realize they’re waiting for me to respond. “And you are…” Ace prompts.
“792.”
The two new alphas jerk at my quiet answer and Ace’s brows fly up into his hairline. Frowning, Gabe looks to Rogue and Devlin before settling on me, confusion on his face.
“You don’t have a name?”
Rogue has been silently watching us, and he sighs before answering Gabe. “I said it was complicated. Turns out the compound doesn’t use names for their omegas.”
Gabe’s mouth twists, a look of disgust creeping over him.
“That’s fucking barbaric. You need a name. I’m not calling you 792!” Ace shakes his head next to him, clearly in agreement. His eyes sweep down to the collar around my neck and his lips thin in clear disapproval.
I stay silent and glance at Rogue. I don’t want to tell them and then be punished for it. Devlin cuts in before he can speak.
“Harper,” he barks. “Hernameis Harper.” Although he still looks angry, he shrugs when everyone glances at him in confusion. “Christian said it. And I’m not using a number either. Even dogs have names.”
I’m not sure if the barb is intentional but it hits me all the same, and I flinch at the reminder that my omega status essentially makes me no better than their pet.
I drop my eyes to stare at my hands. The room is quiet until the chair next to me edges out with a screech. I hold my breath before the scent of baked goods invades my nose. Gabe. That’s definitely Gabe. Staring at my lap, his hand carefully moves over until it’s over my hand, and he gently clasps it for a second.
“Harper is a nice name. It suits you,” he whispers. I don’t know what comes over me. It would get me punished at the OC, but… I’m not at the compound now. I turn my hand, wanting to feel his palm against mine. I can’t remember the last time I truly felt a normal human touch.
Gabe sucks in a breath at the contact but curls his fingers gently over mine. The contact settles me, something inside calming at the feel of his warmth. A low thrum of approval sounds in Gabe’s chest, and I flush lightly.
The moment is broken as Ace interrupts.
“So, what now, Rogue?”
We all look over to the pack leader. He shrugs, looking slightly uncertain.
“I guess we get her stuff in from the car. There’s a manual you’ll both have to read, and we’ll need to talk over how this will work.”
Looking at me, he adds, “It’s been a long day. Harper, maybe you’d like to rest for a while?”
The last thing I want to do is go back inside my cage. But I need to show that I can be obedient. Nice or not, they’ll still follow the law and I’ll be sent back if I don’t at least follow the basics of the omega creed.
Omegas must follow alpha commands at all times,I remind myself,and nod at Rogue.
Gabe pulls back and jumps out of his chair.
“C’mon, I’ll show you to your room. It’s only the guest room. We didn’t know that you’d be here today, or I would have sorted it out – but it’s quiet and cosy.”
Interrupting him, Devlin says to Rogue, “What about the cage?”
Ace whips his head between the two, as Gabe stops to stare at Dev in confusion. “What cage?”
Rogue waves him off, saying “We’ll sort that later when we get everything out of the car. It won’t hurt for a couple of hours. Take her up, Gabe.”
Devlin presses his lips together but doesn’t argue. I panic as Gabe grabs my hand to pull me up. Do I need to kneel? I should kneel. I move off the chair and drop down to my knees, wincing slightly at the discomfort. Was it only this morning that I was kneeling on rice? And now here I am, away from the compound… with a pack of alphas.
I hear a hissed intake of breath before Ace appears in front of me.
“What are you doing?” He sounds confused.
He’s confused?I’mconfused. Do they not know the rules of the creed at all? I slide my eyes to Rogue in uncertainty, waiting for direction.
