Damn it.Chase was right.The Omega Rescue Taskforce were an incredible organisation who spent every day risking their lives to protect and rescue omegas.
With the professor's encouragement, Chase made his argument.“The Omega Rescue Taskforce is an independent organisation with carte blanche from the government.They have no laws to bind them, no rules to dictate their scope, and no prisons to hold them.They have an insular security system, policing their own agents, recruiting from the inside and operating in the shadows.Though agents are predominantly alphas, they’re known to be run by a single omega.This is to make sure that they operate with the best interests of omegas in mind.Their sole purpose is to infiltrate illegal operations that focus on harming and trafficking omegas.”
Professor Milliner looked intrigued.“An adept explanation, Mr Walker.Make your point.What impact has the ORT had on the modern world that would not have been possible without it?”
Chase raked a hand through his golden blond hair.“Before the ORT, it wasn’t actually illegal to use flare to influence omegas.It wasn’t illegal to sell an omega family member, to force an arranged mating or ship omegas between provinces.Before the ORT, there werezerolaws regulating what an alpha could or could not do to an omega.It was presumed that an alpha had the right to do whatever they wanted, because omegas were little more than property.”
Everything Chase said was true, and it hurt Lucky’s heart to remember reading the things that had happened to omegas back when the ORT were nothing but a dream, the hope of every exploited omega.
“The ORT began as a group of parents, mates, brothers and children of omegas who had been mistreated and saw no justice, because the law didn’t recognise the crimesascrimes.These alphas and betas took it upon themselves to go undercover in trading circles, to cross province borders and investigate, to find the people who hurt their omegas.Then they dispensed justice.”
Professor Milliner hummed, a hand over his mouth.“Some might call that vigilantism.”
“Perhaps.But they were soon sanctioned by the government, recognised as an independent agency, separate from government control to prevent corruption or political interest seeping into how the ORT functions,” Chase countered.“They proved that their system worked.They only accept alphas who can control their flare, who have a strong desire to protect omegas, and who can be around vulnerable omegas, sometimes in heat, without risking their safety.”
“And when that system fails?”
“They take care of the problem.”
The hush of the room proved he had everyone’s attention.All omegas respected the ORT, and most alphas dreamed of being worthy enough to join them.The silence was recognition for their work, their strength and forbearance, and sadness at the fact that such an organisation was still needed.
Lucky raised his hand, waiting for Professor Milliner’s permission to speak.“While I still support my argument that Omha’s Tears were fundamental in shaping our modern world, I agree with Chase.”
The professor raised an eyebrow, ignoring the sniggers of the other students.“I’m shocked.You never agree with anyone.”
He sighed, though that was usually true.“Although we bear the indignity of alpha chaperones, the raging hormones of a heat, and are genetically hardwired to obey any alpha not on Override who dares to force our compliance”—he glanced at Chase, lips twitching with the threat of a smile—“the ORT consist of alphas who are smart and self-aware enough to recognise that the single most prominent threat to omegas is alphas.”
While everyone thought he was just a mouthy, unruly omega, they forgot that all Lucky wanted was for people to be honest.They would rather bury their heads in the sand and pretend alphas weren’t raised with a sense of entitlement that put omegas in the position of chattel from birth.
“I’m not sure whether to thank you for the compliment or apologise for being an alpha,” Chase said, drawing a reluctant smile to Lucky’s lips at the teasing.“But I will take the win.”Turning away, he looked at Professor Milliner.“Do I get a trophy, Professor?We need to recognise this occasion,” Chase argued, cheeky and teasing.“It’s not every day that Lucky Darro admits an alpha is right.”
The class laughed, but Lucky didn’t mind.Even the professor was trying not to laugh.“Enjoy it.I guarantee it will never happen again.”
* * * *
Chase
“How did it go?”Neko asked, as Chase settled at their table in the quad for a study session.They had a full hour before their next class and they were all scrambling to catch up after the weekend.
“Fine.Just notes on my essay.”He’d been kept after class because his essay needed more references to support his argument, but it wouldn’t take long.
Grant nudged him and opened his laptop.“What happened to you yesterday?Jack said you went down the street and disappeared.Why the hell were you with Jack?”
Chase cracked open a bottle of water.“Bad fucking luck.”He explained how he’d gone to get noodles, that Jack had caught up and he hadn’t been able to shake him.“I bumped into Lucky Darro.Lincoln was supposed to be his chaperone, but he got distracted.”He laughed bitterly at the irony—if Lincoln had been paying attention, Chase would never have walked off with Lucky.
“That’s where Lucky went?”Neko shot Grant a knowing glance.“I’ve been hearing rumours about how pissed Lincoln was to have ‘lost’ Lucky yesterday.Did you kidnap an omega?”
Chase smiled at the thought.“Gods, he would have loved that.Could you imagine what he’d say?”
Grant waved across the quad.“Let’s ask him.”
Chase’s phone buzzed in his pocket, distracting him before he could look.After texting his mother about Hana’s behaviour, she’d called his eldest brother, Orson.He’d been so worried he’d called Chase to hear it from him directly.He was amazed Orson was texting back so quick, since he was usually rushed off his feet during the week.
Orson was the only one of the four boys who had mated, giving up his right to the family business to focus on his family.After bonded with a novelist, Farlie, they’d had three children together, resulting in a busy work and family life.Because of that experience, Orson was the only one Chase could count on for reasonable advice.Farlie was a historian and routinely rattled on about the unsuitable laws that shackled omega freedoms.Not dissimilar to Lucky, he supposed.
I’ll call Hana today.I don’t want Pip getting caught up in her problems.
Chase was confused.
