19. Admit the Truth

“Today’s the day!” Dalton practically sang. “I can feel it. He’s going to restart the testing!”

“Hmm,” I made a noncommittal noise. I knew there were a lot of betas pushing Blake for the testing to resume. There had been many false starts, with the elves wondering why we couldn’t replicate the first change.

Thing was, we didn’t know exactly what had changed Tate and Asher. Was it the bite they got from Roan? From Hiroshi? Was it from both? Or was it just prolonged exposure to their pheromones? All the sex they were having? Were there environmental factors we were missing?

Over the couple of months since Hiroshi and Tate had their babies, testing was supposed to be ongoing. Except it wasn’t just as simple as telling the betas to do x, y, and z, then, boom! they’d be an alpha or omega. We didn’t have the magic formula to make it happen.

Blake had the witches try some potions. Poppy and her wife, Zinna, had been spending a lot of time in Abrocaelum and were working on potions there. They thought they could unlock the gene using magic. So far, they had been unsuccessful.

We had tried it as a form of healing. Nothing.

It was nil for… I’d lost count there. The betas were exceedingly patient, but Blake felt them getting frustrated.

The truth was, we didn’t have a clue why it had worked for Tate and Asher, and Blake wasn’t willing to continually break his pack’s hearts until we had more information.

Jake and Sebastian were begging for a chance to try breaking their bond and re-bonding. Today, Blake would give an answer on if he was going to allow it.

“Oh, come on! This is exciting! After all the false starts, it’s good to have some news.”

“It is,” I admitted, “but there’s so much research still to do. It’s not like there are a ton of alphas lining up to bite betas, especially if they are going to turn into alphas.”

“Oh, we had a call from Poppy! The witches might have something this time. I’ve got a good feeling.”

“Right, well, I better get to the meeting. Are you coming to take notes?”

“With the way you remember conversations? Yes,” he snarked as he picked up his tablet.

We left for Blake’s office together. I got the feeling Dalton had something to say. He kept opening and closing his mouth like a goldfish and occasionally bumping into me. I didn’t get a chance to ask before we got to the office, the door standing ajar as the room filled.

Teagan, instead of T, was standing with ívarr behind Blake’s desk. Dakota was in a corner seat, looking prepared to take notes of his own. Roan sat with Kade and Deke on the sofa, Chase was at their feet looking relaxed. Aldrin and James were sharing a loveseat. Poppy was on the video screen, a sweet smile on her face. We were the last to arrive.

I took my place behind Kade, massaging his shoulders. Dalton sat on the floor next to Chase, knocking his shoulder in a familiar gesture.

The meeting really didn’t take long. There were another couple of treatments the elves wanted to use. Gene therapy from Tate and Asher with compatible betas. ívarr was assigned the task of looking for testing subjects. Poppy had more potions, each going along the lines of power boosting.

Blake gave the green light for Jake and Sebastian to try re-bonding.

“Axel, can you wait, please?” my youngest brother asked as the meeting broke up. I nodded and stood to the side to let others out.

Kade squeezed my hand, Chase hugged me, “just tell him, please.”

Well, it seemed I was getting questioned.

One by one, I watched them filter out, all looking at me curiously. I heard Roan tell Kade he was headed to the clinic to try one last healing. T had told me he might be late for dinner. At this rate, there was every chance he would beat me home.

“Could you close the door? Maybe set a ward?” Blake asked. He took a seat on the sofa and patted the cushion next to him.

I did as I was asked, reminded of the time, months ago, when we’d done something similar. That time, it had been a warning. Was this to be another one?

“If you’re going to say anything about Teárlach being a prince,” I said as I took the offered seat next to him. “I don’t want to hear it. My relationship is off the table for discussion. We’ll work it out or not. I love him. He loves me. I have faith it’ll work out.”

“Me too. I’m not worried about that at all.” Blake shrugged easily. “Look, I don’t want to be having this conversation—“

“Great,” I said, standing.

Blake gripped my wrist. “Axel, please. Just… Can we talk? I feel like you’ve been avoiding anything that isn’t about the babies or pack duties.”

I stared him straight in the eyes. Of course, it was this conversation. It had been brewing between us since I’d been told my results and had chosen to keep them quiet.

“The pack—“

“Is that the only reason you want to know what I’m supposed to be? Worried they’ll want me to take over?” I asked bitterly.

“No! So you are an alpha, then? That’s why you’ve been hiding it?”

I scoffed, then said nothing else.

“Do you want the pack? I’ll step aside for you to take over.” Blake reached for my hand. I felt his wolf and the agitation they both held tightly. I let him take it, trying to calm them both.

“Blake, nothing in this world could take this pack from you, least of all me.” Our eyes met and held.

“Then why didn’t you tell people you’re an alpha?”

“Because I’m not. I wasn’t going to lie to anyone.”

We stared at each other while what I said worked its way through his overloaded brain. He’d recently turned twenty-three, had triplets under one, and a massive pack. He could be forgiven for failing to get what I was saying.

“Blake, I’m an omega.”

“You… what?”

“The test says I’m an omega.”

“And… you’re happy about that?”

He didn’t say it in any particular way, so I held in my reaction. I knew he wouldn’t get it.

“Ever since you were born, I’ve wanted to be an omega. It’s the only thing I’ve ever wanted.”

“But, Teárlach…”

“He knows. I thought I’d have to give him up to have a baby, but he wants to try a sperm donor when we can figure it out.”

Blake’s face was a mask of shock. “So you’ve really thought this through?”

“Yeah. I just let people assume I was an alpha. Not many will want me as Second as an omega.”

He winced then. “Yeah, I get it. Old-fashioned but—“

“But there’s been enough changes here without that, too. When the time comes for me to change, I’ll step down.”

“Ax, no!” Blake’s face was filled with conflict. He knew as well as I did the pack would make it difficult for him to keep me as Second. When my omega instinct kicked in, I wouldn’t be as quick to attack. I would be more guarded, defending others in the pack instead of taking out the aggressors. Unless I was like Kade, but he only did that to protect his babies.

“It’s fine, Blake. It’s my choice to make and I’m happy to do that for the good of the pack. Anything to make life easier for you. Goddess knows, you’ve had it tough since you took over.”

“Wow!” I chuckled, since I knew Blake likely wanted to swear. The babies were talking and little sponges that they were, copied everything. Chase was barely allowed to speak around them. “An omega, huh? That’s awesome. I’m glad you got what you wanted.”

“Yeah, I can’t wait. One day I’ll have a baby of my own.”

“We better get on with unlocking all these alphas and omegas then.”

I left Blake’s office feeling a lot lighter for finally telling him. We’d parted with hugs and promises he would do all he could to keep me as his Second. It was sweet of him to even think of trying, but I’d already made my mind up. I was in a relationship with an elf prince, my time as Second was coming to an end, regardless.

Dalton looked flustered as I returned to my office. Chase and I both had desks inside the small room, though we tried to stick to only one of us working at a time since the space was so cramped. As it was, Dalton had to have his desk outside in the vestibule, there just wasn’t the space for three desks.

“Everything okay?” I asked as I took a seat.

“Um… there were a couple of calls while you were out. I filled some orders and pushed off emails for Dakota… nothing much.

None of that really accounted for how twitchy Dalton was. He paced the room, straightening things that were perfectly fine.

“Are you excited about the testing starting again?”

He cocked his head but avoided eye contact. “Yeah, I was thinking about taking part. I’ve wanted…”

“I’ve seen you with the babies. You’ll be a great omega,” I said honestly. Dalton loved little kids, was awesome at looking after toddlers, and could change a diaper without blinking. The man was gifted.

The corner of his mouth twitched with a smile before it dropped.

“So, I, uh, well, the thing is…” He resumed pacing.

“Spit it out, Dalton, please. It’s been a long day. I need to finish up these reports and go home.” I shuffled the papers about, giving him time to find his words.

“A condition of the testing is a partner,” he finally said, nerves written all over his face.

“And? What’s the problem?”

“I was wondering ifyou’dbemypartner?’ He said it so quickly the words ran together. He braced himself on my desk while waiting for my answer.

“What?”

“Would you be my partner? The alpha to my omega?” He looked so hopeful it actually hurt that I was going to break his heart.

“I can’t.” I tried not to show my pity. Dalton hated to be pitied.

“Why not?” He backed away from the desk, frustration written all over him. “We’d make a great couple! I’ve had a crush on you for the longest time. I know you’re with the elf, but—“

“That’s not why, and while I’m flattered, we couldn’t work.” I played with the wolf ring Teárlach had gotten me for Valentine’s Day. It was comforting and designed to shift with me, thanks to magic.

Dalton’s face was so flushed, he looked like all the blood had shot to his face. He was one of my favorite people, despite his tendencies to organize me within an inch of my life. He put up with my shit, and I was just finding out why.

Damn. I had not seen the crush.

“Why, for goddess’ sake, wouldn’t we?” He tugged at his hair. “We’re friends, have fun together, I love your family—“

I took a deep breath and just told him the truth. “Dalton, I’m an omega. Like you.”

He crumpled to the floor, stunned. “What?”

I went to his side and wrapped my arms around him. “That’s what I was just telling Blake. So, while I’m flattered, we just aren’t compatible.”

His face twisted, then he broke out in heaving sobs. “What am I going to do? I… I hoped it would be you!”

“We’ll find you an alpha. Either a beta with the alpha gene, or an alpha who would be getting such a great catch with you.”

Tears streamed down his face. “I can’t believe it. An omega. Like me.”

Tightening my grip on him, I tried to be the friend he needed. I hated crushing his hopes, but I had to live my truth. Telling him now saved him pain later.

“Guess we have more in common than we thought,” I said wryly.

His watery chuckle lifted my spirits. His arms wrapped around me. We would be fine. I just needed to help my friend’s dream come true too.