Thank Azrah.Whenever a call came into the ORT about a smell, nine times out of ten there were dead bodies involved.
“They suspect OX because of the contact heat?”
“Yes.”She reached into the bag hanging from her arm and removed a small pouch with Pip’s name embroidered on the front.“He’s been sneezing a lot.There’s hay fever medication and lozenges, if he starts coughing.”The change of pace was just like her, multiple plates spinning but each perfectly balanced.“The good news is that the local police had reports from that area of suspicious activity.While half the team took care of the omegas, the other half went to investigate that report.They found the lair of these bastards, who were all dead.Three men in their mid to late twenties, and it appears they’d been dead for a few days.”
Ford frowned, because that was unusual.“The omegas were left to rot, because their handlers died?”he guessed, hating that she nodded because it meant the omegas would be dehydrated, starving and have medical needs.Yet, they’d been safe since those bastards died, just waiting for when the ORT came to the rescue.Thank Azrah they’d made it in time.
Wynna lowered her voice.“The bodies flagged on our system.They’re the three young men who were in contact with Lincoln,” she explained, frowning as she glanced at Pip with concern.“There were only three of them, but Sykes confirmed they were the same men.They had a lot of money, with some lying around their hang out, and had gorged themselves on Mania.They died from overdoses.”
Ford didn’t say it out loud, but he recognised the threads of Omha’s influence.A year ago he never would have considered it, but what were the odds that the Seer had told him ‘there were only three’ and ‘it’s all over now’.Days later, he was being told that those three bastards were dead, and probably had been that night, and there really were only three involved.
They’d died from an overdose of Mania, which was a drug that mimicked an omega’s heat.They’d tried to force Lucky into an early heat, but had been killed by the very same thing.This had justice and Omha’s name written all over it.
“That closes the Lincoln case then?”Ford glanced up at Wynna, knowing she’d never believe him even if he could explain his suspicion.“I’m glad these fuckers are off the street.Now they’re gone, we don’t gotta worry ‘bout them, and three omegas get to go home.”
“You’re right.”Wynna sagged and brushed a hand against his arm.“Thank you for taking Pip.”
“Of course.”Ford walked over to Pip and lifted his backpack from the seat.He waited until Pip flashed a nervous smile, then brushed a hand over the kid’s hair, which sat at all angles.“You ready to go?”
Pip carefully closed what ended up being a comic book.
Ford unzipped his bag and held it out, to let him put the book safely away, and pointed to Wynna when he was done.“Say goodbye.Tiloo has important work to do and you get to spend the afternoon with me.”
Pip gasped and ran to hug Wynna.“I promise to be good,” he said, like there was any doubt.
Wynna hugged him and cupped his face with a sad smile.“I’m sure you will be.Ford will bring you home before tea time.”She shot him a questioning look that asked if he could agree.
“Sounds good.”He brushed his hand over Pip’s hair.“We can have lunch with Lucky and Chase, if you like?Then you can get tea later,” he hinted, giving Wynna that bargaining look back, to make it clear he didn’t mind keeping the kid longer, if she needed the time.
She heaved a sigh that aged her ten years.“I’ll keep you informed.”
“Sure.”
* * * *
Lucky
By the time his friends arrived at the quad for lunch, everyone was working and eating with little conversation, immersed in their coursework.Lucky should have known it was suspicious, but he didn’t realise how dangerous their silence was until it was too late to escape.
Caroline slammed her notebook shut, giving Grant such a fright that his pen slid across the page.He shot her a dark look, scribbled something out, and buried his head in his notebook.
“I heard that one of your alphas has arranged your bonds.”
Chase laughed, like he didn’t care that Lucky had told his friends.It had only been a quick text, while Pip was with them, so he hadn’t had the chance to go into detail.Now Lucky wished he’d taken the time to clarify everything.
“There’s some uncertainty within the ORT, about whether the OX will intensify my heat, and Chase wanted us to be prepared,” he admitted, able to say those words without the rush of anxiety and fear that used to shoot through him.
Phoenix glanced up, silently warning Caroline to shut up.“It’s a good job you have such good alphas, to take that into account.”
“I really do.”
Kain cleared his throat and leaned in.“Is it true that you guys will be equal in the bond?Do you and Ford, or you and Chase, and do they…when you’re not there?”
“We’re not jealous of one another, if that’s what you mean.It works however feels right,” Chase clarified, with a one-shouldered shrug and a faint smile.“It’s fucking hot.”
Lucky shook his head when Chase reached out to take his hand.“Says you, but I wouldn’t know.”
“You’ll find out.”Chase eyed him with flirty amusement and ducked to lick a drop of spicy sauce from Lucky’s finger.
