Chapter 35
Olly
I work on finishing up filing my logs and notes. I clean up my equipment, but I can’t stop thinking about the truth that all this time, under all our noses, we have the rarest specimen ever to walk among us.
Auryn is an alpha-omega hybrid. Medically, it shouldn’t be possible. But now, I think I understand her scars a bit better. Em had only received a shot. A single shot, likely of the omega proteins, and it only sustained him for a few days. Chances are, it’ll be tapering off soon.
But I gather that Auryn’s had repeated exposure to those proteins. Likely for years.
There’s no telling what will happen now—if those omega proteins will stay or if her alpha blood will take over now that she’s no longer getting her routine dosage of omega proteins.
Which begs the question…what exactly did Sneed and his minions have in mind? What was their end game? Why pump an alpha with omega proteins?
The idea alone is insanity. It could literally kill them.
I look up at the monitor, the image of those beautiful, co-existing shapes. Alpha and omega. I’d screen captured it for my research, visual evidence. But as I look at them, side by side, they are so much more than an anomaly.
They are what makes Auryn unique. They are her, beneath the small frame, beneath the blood and bones.
God, she is beautiful inside and out.
I decide now is a good time to probably close up the lab for the night. It’s been a long day for all of us. From the moment Emmett woke up to the onslaught of the debriefing, to Gage and Auryn…to the discovery of the truth…
I reach a hand behind my neck. I’m tired. I’m sore from sleeping hunched over while I waited for Em to wake up.
I’m tired of the last few days, all this stress leading up to this one moment, and now…
Now that moment seems miniscule with Em and his fading omega proteins that opened up the can of worms that was the discovery of my mate’s true self.
My alpha.
I stop as I turn to look back at those proteins on my monitor.
My alpha. That’s what she is.
Maybe I’ve always known that, on some level; I just didn’t understand it.
It’s why I smelled cinnamon and peppercorn. Spicy, alpha-esque scents.
It’s why I found it so easy to let her lead. So easy to do whatever she asked of me.
Because it’s no different than when Gage asks me to do something. When he tells me or orders me.
Which brings me to theotherpressing issue at hand.
Gage. He’s been my alpha—all of our alpha—for years. Emmett, Diego…yes, they are alphas too, but even among them, there is an understandable hierarchy. Will Auryn fall in line with that hierarchy? I’m not so sure.
I’m not so sure of anything anymore.
I toss my lab coat in the hamper in the hallway and toe off my shoes as I head for the showers. Thankfully, no one is there, which is a relief. I’m still not entirely sure what came over me the last time I was in here. With Auryn…and my packmates. All I know is it didn’t feel terrible, being close to them, knowing they were there.But all I could focus on was Auryn and the hurricane inside of me, tearing through my brain and my body at the same time.
I’ve never felt that way before, and it wasn’t about the sex. At least, it wasn’t for me.No, for me, it was just knowing I was safe to just…be. My omega—no, my alpha—held my unraveling heart and crumbling resolve, and she put me back together.
I undress myself and get under the spray, the hot water on my shoulders making my muscles relax if only a fraction. It doesn’t take me long to get clean, as I hate to linger. I dry myself off and slip on a fresh pair of boxer briefs and sweats, relishing in the tight feel of the fabric against my skin. My stomach rumbles, and I remember I haven’t eaten much today, Too busy and fixated on my new findings. It seems like everywhere I turn, I only have more questions, when what I want are answers.
The place is quiet. I’ve no clue where anyone is, which I’m equally comforted by and worried about at the same time. I push the concern lacing my thoughts aside as I head for the freezer, straight for the tub of rocky road Gage keeps in here for me. It’s not something I’ve ever asked for, but I appreciate it all the same. I know I need to eat better, but with the anxiety swelling within me and a plethora of questions that don’t have answers yet, I can’t really focus on healthy choices right now.
I’m halfway through crumbling my protein bar on top of the ice cream when I get a heavy whiff of cinnamon, and I look up.
