“Naw,” I grunted into the new beer the bartender set in front of me. “You’ve got plenty of your own shit to catch up on between work and pack responsibilities,” I said with a sigh. “Besides, it’s a matter of pride, now. Could you just let me know if you hear of anyone in the Blood Valley area that matches that description?”
“A pregnant male Omega on his own?” Rafe shrugged. “Sure. I’ll let the boys know to keep an eye out.”
“Great,” I groused into my mug. “Just fucking great.”
Rafe cocked his head. “Okay. There’s obviously more to this story, so, spill.”
I felt my lips draw back in a snarl as I considered it, finally deciding to get it off my chest.
“The Omega I’m looking for,” I started, “he’s a hyena.”
“Okay.” Rafe nodded. “So are you, right?”
I nodded.
“So, it’s personal?”
“Not exactly,” I hedged. “I mean, I don’t think so.”
Rafael snickered. “You’ve spent months hunting an Omega of your own species, a rarity in this country – a mission you kept from us while we were working together, by the way – and you aren’t sure if it’s personal?”
I heaved a sigh. “If you’d shut the fuck up, I’d explain.”
Rafe made a production of drawing his finger over his lips, miming a zipper and then tossing an imaginary key over his shoulder and I sighed again.
“Fine.” I finished my beer in two swallows and waved for the waiter. There was no point in doing this sober. “It started just before Easter,” I started. “I met this Omega on an app. He was in heat, but swore he was on birth control.”
Rafe’s eyes widened, but he kept his lips zipped.
“Yeah, I know. Anyway, we hung out for a few days and then he kicked me to the curb once his heat faded.” Where the hell was my replacement beer? “Anyway, I kind of liked him, so I tried hitting him up again, but his profile was gone.”
Rafe shrugged. I wasn’t the first guy to be ghosted after a hookup.
“Anyway, then I got an offer for a job. Hyena pack was missing an Omega. AyoungOmega. Just eighteen. When they sent the endangered warrant through, it had a picture. I’m guessing you see where this is going.”
Rafe winced. “Young but still legal,” he observed.
I nodded. “So, anyway, I went back to the apartment we’d been holed up in and found out that they’d never heard of Jay.” I slammed the beer and wiped my mouth on the back of my hand. “Turns out, the real occupants were out of town for a month or so and someone broke into their apartment and made himself at home.”
“Shit.” Rafe’s jaw dropped. “That could be problematic.”
“You think?" I asked, sarcasm dripping from my words.
“I do,” Rafe said, ignoring my attitude. “But if he was on birth control, explain the pregnant part.”
I shrugged. “I can’t. According to the clan head – his older sister, incidentally, – he disappeared just before his heat was due and when he returned, he was knocked up.”
“And you were the only Alpha he was with?”
I snorted. “Not even close, but he definitely wasn’t pregnant when we started fucking.”
“And when you finished?”
I shrugged again. “Honestly, I didn’t notice a change in his scent, but I’m not sure how long it would have taken. Still, I’m definitely on the suspect list.” Rafe started to open his mouth and I sighed. “No, Rafe. The people who hired me don’t know I was involved with him.”
“But you’re sure he’s up the mountain in Sharon Hill?”
“Not sure,” I admitted. “I knowhehas been. Remember when I accidentally grabbed Sonny?”
