Page 9 of Dual Nature

Expanding my search, I pulled up all social media and anything else tied to these two men. As soon as I pulled up the profile picture for Colt Harris, one of the alphas of the Knoxville, Tennessee pack, I knew I’d found the right one. Cory and Colt could have been twins because there was no denying how closely they resembled each other. Colt was older, with a thick, full beard, but they had the same honey-blond, curly hair with amber eyes. His gaze was so commanding, even from just a picture, that I almost couldn’t look at it; the need to submit was so strong.

Closing the picture, I was able to take a deep breath once the pressure was gone. Okay, let’s try again without the picture. Pulling up his information, I found a few phone numbers listed, but I wasn’t sure which was current. I picked up the satellite phone, pausing before I dialed.

Am I really going to call this guy? If I did this, by law, he would have to take me in and be responsible for me because his brother had turned me. Everything would change instantly. Once he was my alpha, I wouldn’t be able to work for the Organization without his permission, and being that I was an omega, he wouldn’t give it. Especially since his brother had been taken from him all those years ago. But what did I know about being a werewolf? My life was going to change, one way or another, but right now I had to make a choice that would directly impact just how much it changed. And how much help I’d have with managing those changes. This wasn’t a decision to be made lightly.

Maybe I should just call Margaret and let her know what’s going on. She would already know I was alive since I’d accessed the bunker. Then again, I would have to tell her I fucked up and got bitten by a werewolf… and was an omega, at that. Hell, Margaret might tell me that I had to contact this guy since we would be in hot water with the Senate for not following their shifter laws. And that was on top of fucking this job up.

“UGH!” I yelled, slamming my fist on the table, which proceeded to leave a crack in the wood.

Taking a deep, calming breath, I typed in the first phone number and hit the call button. “I’m sorry, the caller you are trying to reach—” Hanging up, I went to the second, then the third, the fourth.

“Who the fuck is this, and how did you get this number?” a deep voice growled. I almost dropped the phone, his tone alone making me want to run and hide. Before I could stop myself, I whined, curling up into a ball on the chair. What the hell is wrong with me that I’m acting like a scared child? I’ve killed some of the worst of humanity, yet I’m cowering because of a voice on a phone?!

There was a sharp intake of breath on the other end before he spoke again. “Easy, now. I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to yell,” he murmured, his voice soft and comforting. “This is a protected number that not many people are supposed to have. Can you tell me how you got this number, little one?”

He thinks I’m a kid.

“Cory. I’m looking for his brother, Colt Harris,” I answered, my voice hoarse from nerves. “He told me to find him, that he would help me. Cory didn’t mean to bite me; he was scared, and I moved too fast. Everything is changing so fast I don't understand what is happening to me. I haven't even shifted yet.”

The more I spoke, the more irritated I was with myself. I sounded like a scared child, not the seasoned assassin that I’d been for the last twenty-five years.

“You know my brother?! Where is he? Tell me right this second!” Colt barked.

This time, I did drop the phone, backing away from it to crawl under the bottom bunk. Shivering, I felt tears of anger and frustration running down my cheeks at my inability to fight this reaction.

“He’s dead,” I whispered, afraid of the reaction my words were going to bring. “I couldn’t save him.”

The sounds that came out of the phone next seemed like someone was destroying everything in sight, crashing and banging, along with lots of swearing.

“Colt, what the fuck is going on?” another voice asked. “Who are you talking to? Give me that before you break it.”

There were sounds like someone was trying to take the phone from Colt, then it was silent for a bit.

“Hello? You still there?” the new voice asked.

This voice was warm and smooth, with a little bit of a Southern lilt to it. Crawling out from under the bunk, I reached for the phone again.

“I’m here.”

“Would you tell me your name, sweetheart?” the man asked.

I licked my lips, wanting to give him a false name just in case I hadn’t called the right person—even though the reaction to my news told me I had—but the pull to do as he requested was too strong.

“Finley,” I blurted, my voice cracking with the urgency to answer.

“Holy fuck.” The voice came back, shocked. “Finley, did you feel that you had to answer my question? Fuck, sorry! I’m guessing that didn’t help.”

“Yes, I can’t seem to fight against your request. Are you an alpha as well?” I inquired, thinking that could be the cause of this irrational behavior.

“Are you telling me that you feel my dominance that clearly through the phone?”

“Yes. Now, please, I’m begging you, stop asking me questions. I don’t even know who you are,” I gasped, putting all my resistance into my request.

“I’m sorry, Finley. I’ve never interacted with an omega before. My name is Lane Cunningham, and I’m the second alpha to the Knoxville Pack. Now, I really don’t want to do this, but I need to know where you are. We need to come get you,” Lane coaxed, keeping his voice soft.

“I’m in New York, about three hours north of New York City. I’m in a safe location, and I can stay here for a while if I need to. I am not in any immediate danger and can defend myself if the need arises,” I rattled off just like if I were talking to Margaret. “I was on a job when I met Colt’s brother. He bit me, and before he died, he told me to find his brother.”

Lane cleared his throat, giving himself a moment before he answered. “Alright, we’ll go over all of that in more detail once we get to you. Colt and I will be on the next flight out. How can we get ahold of you when we arrive so we can find a meeting point?”