Fuck me. Syrus is so nonchalant as he whips out questions. My dark eyes narrow fractionally at his question, deciding to give him minimal information.
“I’m with some friends, and I told them I’d handle our car issues,” I reply. “They’re the alphas, and I’m a beta. Being in a car for a long period of time means that scents mix.”
I’m actually not a beta either, but rather something else entirely. Omegas are memorable, and since I need to get in and out of places without being a liability, I’m heavily medicated.
I have been for the last ten years, and only go off my medication once a year to have a heat so my body can self regulate. It’s dangerous, but my work needs me to do it. I’m willing to sacrifice my body for the cause, shutting down sex trafficking cells.
It’s hard on my mental health as well, yet I manage with my pack. Harlan and Kyren know I’m an omega, but no one else does. It’s simply easier to keep it from everyone else, even Harlan’s brother. If I’m not being fucked by the person on my team, then it’s none of their business.
I refuse to be seen as the weakest link because of my designation. It doesn’t affect how effective I am for the team, even though Syrus is intriguing. I can tell my dick to chill out. I don’t even know if the sheriff swings my way, and I’m working. I’m also pretty happy in my relationships.
None of the weirdness that I’m feeling can stop me from digging for personal information I might need down the road. I’m a fucking professional.
“I noticed when I came in that Shepherd glared at me a bit. He also interrogated me, asking if I was sure I wasn’t an alpha. Why is that?” I ask.
“Hmm,” Syrus says, getting comfortable. He really gives no fucks about the fact that we’re hanging out in a mechanic shop, and acts as if we’re just shooting the shit. “We aren’t very partial to alphas. They’re a wild card the omegas in this town would rather not deal with. The town as a whole feels this way.”
“So there’s no alphas here at all?” I ask. “That’s a pretty bold statement.”
“Not really,” he shrugs. “We’re wary of alphas, but there are a few who live here and even own businesses in town. We’re a haven for men and women who have been hurt by alphas in the past, or who would rather live independently from them. If an alpha lives here, it’s because they’ve been vouched for by a resident of Widows Peak, and they’ve proven to be a good addition to the town. In the experience of many here, alphas tend to take advantage of biology. They’re bigger, stronger, and have the power to dominate omegas.”
“That’s a blanket statement,” I remind him again. “Not all alphas are like this.”
While I’m working on a case where the alphas buying omegas are disgusting, I know for a fact that not all alphas are terrible people. What kind of world am I trying to make better if I believed they were?
“Are you trying to make me think differently of your friends?” Syrus asks, rolling his eyes. “We don’t have power dynamics in this town. Everyone pulls their own weight, and there’s a community I’ve never experienced before Widows Peak.”
“Aren’t small towns more inclined to do that?” I ask, confused.
“Maybe, but our crime rate is much lower than most places, and designation isn’t a popularity contest,” he says. “If an omega wanted to be a cop, they wouldn’t be discouraged from doing it. In fact, there are quite a few people on my team who are omegas.Another example of this is our mayor, who is a female omega. Things are different here, and we like it this way. Your friends may not be warmly received.”
Thinking about Aiden, Sloane, Harlan, and Kyren walking around the town, I’m not worried about them. Knowing them, they’ll divide up to walk around so they won’t be as noticeable. Harlan will find the nearest bakery with coffee and order a slice of pie to sit and chat with the owner. These small towns have a gossip mill, and Harlan can listen while appearing to talk your ear off.
It’s a special trait that he has.
“If there’s pie, I think Harlan will be fine,” I grin, making my thoughts known. “We’re not here to make trouble, Syrus.”
“Does this mean you’ll be leaving right after Shep replaces your battery?” Syrus asks.
My hand slides into my pocket, shrugging as I push a button that’ll definitely be keeping us here for longer. Oops, looks like my engine is going to have a problem next. It’s all smoke and mirrors, but it’ll take Shepherd a while to figure out. It’s on a controlled timer, so it’ll be a few minutes before it begins to smoke.
“Maybe,” I concede, not meaning it as I return my hand to lay in my lap. “Are you kicking us out?”
“If your guys ask around enough, they’ll find out that’s part of my job,” he says.
“That’s not very nice,” I chuckle. “Where’s this small town charm I hear so much about?”
“It’s pretty much removed from alphas we don’t know,” he shrugs. “Why fuck with a good thing, ya know? We’re expecting our first snow soon, which means you might get stuck here if you don’t get moving soon.”
“It’s nice here,” I concede. “We may want to stay.”
“Then we might have a problem?—”
“What the fuck!” Shepherd yells, forcing me to hide my smile. It looks like my smoke bomb got a little excited and is working sooner than expected.
I manage to look perfectly innocent as Syrus twists toward the sound. There’s a solid wall behind him, so he won’t be able to see into the garage from where he’s sitting.
“He really should have help while lifting cars,” he mutters. “Look, I’m not trying to be a dick, but if your friends upset people, it’ll make me very grumpy.”
