2. Brody

Chapter 2

Brody

T he black government car awaits me on the sidewalk as nurses wheel me out of the clinic.

Well, so much for my first heat. Spent alone inside a white, sterile room. It had to be the most miserable time of my life. But the doctors helped to ease the pain by giving me medication, and just like that, I fell into a deep, deep torpor.

It was highly necessary. Because I could not stand to spend another moment in Theo's company. Kellen's too.

They both failed me. Worst of all, they failed Ella. They let her go…

Felicia steps out of the car, a genuine smile on her round face, and it's the first real expression I have ever seen on her.

It seems she does actually care about me, and now I feel bad. I always considered her a robot. Another government drone. Maybe she is sweet deep down.

"How are you, Brody?" she asks with nothing but sympathy.

I wince as two nurses help me out of the wheelchair, handing me off to Felicia as they pass her my after-care plan.

I don't see the point of it. The worst part is over.

However, there is still a lingering, empty ache inside me. The pack only got me through the first wave. But I had to spend the others under a myriad of drugs and anesthetics.

"It's okay, Brody. You're in good hands now," Felicia keeps saying as she helps me into the car.

I can barely stand straight and now a ghost of a cramp shoots down my spine, reminding my body of what I missed.

A big, fat Alpha’s knot.

The clinic had toys, but I just…couldn’t.

I didn’t want to look or hold anything that reminded me of an Alpha (even if the silicone toy had four settings and ridges like the structure of a car tire).

"Brody!"

Speaking of big, fat Alpha knots, my insides flip upside and down, and then I squeeze my eyes when I hear that voice.

Theo. I should have known he would ambush me the minute the clinic discharged me.

"Mr. Titan, please… keep back…the situation is delicate…"

"Don't tell me what to do with my Omega, Beta!"

With a sigh, I look out the bulletproof, blacked-out window of the government car, and there I find Theo, muscles bunching as he prepares to take on the Beta.

My security detail steps in front of Felicia, protecting her from the Alpha storm that is Theo Titan.

Felicia is actually being reasonable for once as she stands her ground. After all, it is her duty to ensure I am taken care of. And since Theo failed to see to my needs, she has every right to keep him away.

I never wanted it to come to this. I do genuinely care for Theo, but he has a lot to learn about compromise.

He could just never see how much Ella meant to me. How much she could mean to him one day.

I saw how he looked at her. It may have merely been lust, but he would have had my blessings if he ever decided to court her.

But unfortunately, he gave in to prejudice, and he really is an idiot.

The Alpha cranes his neck, trying to see over one of the bodyguard’s massive shoulders. “Brody! Please! Hear me out!"

"Mr. Titan, Brody is a little sore right now. He needs—"

"You don't get to tell me what my Omega needs!"

Felicia finds her teeth at last."Oh, really? Then why did he call me and beg me to take him away during his heat? You failed, Mr. Titan. I'm sorry. But it's all up to Brody from here on out."

Wait, it is? I always assumed I had no autonomy here. Maybe the government does afford us some freedom.

So, it's my choice if I want to return to the pack.

It's a tough one. I'm still hurting, and I can't go back if Ella isn't there. I just… can't. Her absence will kill me.

She was all I could think about at the clinic. The thought of her beautiful blue eyes got me through the worst of it.

"Brody, please…" the Alpha begs now, and I roll my eyes.

"Felicia, it's fine. Let him talk."

It's more than he deserves, but he just sounded so pathetic. He sounds worse than Kellen, and I’m surprised the other Alpha isn’t with him.

I remember how the redhead accepted his mistakes, letting Felicia take me in the end. He didn't chase me, and I’m grateful.

Kellen knows he failed me, and Alastor is lord knows where.

I asked him to find her and he left straight away, even ignoring Theo of all people.

He managed to resist his pack lead’s command and vanished into the woods, and I wonder if he has found her already.

Finally, my security detail moves aside, giving me a view of the Alpha at last.

Holy shit. And I thought I was looking rough.

Theo is a mess. His hair is disheveled as he drops to his hands and knees on the asphalt, and people are looking at him.

How embarrassing.

There’s no missing the regret in his dark eyes when he looks up at me. He knows he hurt me, and he is here to apologize.

But it's not my apology he should seek. It's Ella's.

"Brody, I'm so sorry. I'm so, so sorry…" His voice is hoarse and it sounds like he has been yelling all night.

He most likely has, and it's hard to look at him.

Because all I can see is her…

Theo was the one who made her leave, and I clench my fists, resisting the urge to punch him. Maybe I should.

No one would stop me.

But I’m too tired. Too exhausted with heartbreak and grief.

"Brody, please… look at me. I can't live without you…"

"Oh, get a grip."

Finally, I meet his onyx eyes, and no more words are exchanged between us.

We can't even hear each other's thoughts because we haven’t bonded.

We never got that far.

But we could have. If he had just accepted that I love her.

"P-please, Brody… tell me what I have to do…"

The fact that he has to ask is telling.

His two pack brothers already knew what they had to do. Alastor is out there searching for her, and Kellen offers me space.

Yet Theo prostrates himself.

But that's the thing when you have a tender heart—people have a way of getting under your skin, even when they're pieces of shit.

I can't leave him like this. Even though he deserves it. His energy is spent, on a once-dominant Alpha who owned any room he walked in.

"Find her…"

Theo looks up. "What?"

I meet his onyx eyes. "Find Ella. And maybe then I can find it in my heart to forgive you."

It takes him a moment to process the words, and when he does, he swallows his pride and nods. "I… I can do that. For you, Brody..."

"No."

The Alpha cocks his head in confusion.

"You don’t find her for me, Theo. You find her for yourself too.”

He doesn't get with the picture right away, and it seems he really is just a pretty face after all.

But I spy the moment the penny drops and finally, he bows his head. "I… I will."

I jerk my head at him. "Sorry, you will have to speak up."

Theo sucks in a trembling breath."I… I will find Twenty-two, Brody."

"And who for?"

He grits his teeth, and he really isn't winning me over here.

I even catch Felicia facepalming in the corner of my eye. Everyone knows what an idiot he is. I see a crowd watching him bemused. Mostly Beta.

A little girl tugs on her mother's skirt, pointing at the funny man on his hands and knees.

However, my security guards are stalwart, per usual.

Theo heaves a breath. "For you, Brody…"

"And who else?

Theo grimaces and he has five more minutes to convince me that he can change.

"For her."

I roll my hand in the air, urging him on. "And?"

"And… for me …"

Finally. He has become a real boy at last. I'm proud. Someone had to cut his strings.

"Her name is Ella."

Theo looks up. He already knew that. I kind of slipped up the night she left when I asked for her.

If we ever see each other again, I hope she can forgive me. But I refuse to call her Twenty-two.

She is no number, and I think now. Should I return home with him? Suppose he has learned his lesson enough, but still… He needs to suffer a little more.

He hurt me and he hurt Ella. Now he needs to reap what he sows.

"I'm going to return to the Academy, Theo. And only when you find her, you call me. Maybe then I can forgive you. You have a long road to go."

Theo heaves a sigh, accepting my terms. "Yes, Brody. I… I promise I will find her."

I guess he does mean it then.

But I must leave him now. It's not an easy choice to make, but this is what is best for us all.

We're broken. But we can all fix each other again one day. We just need Ella back in our lives.

"Goodbye, Theo." I look at Felicia.

She joins my side in the car as she grabs the door, regarding the sorry Alpha on the sidewalk. With a sigh, she shakes her head and closes the door, and we drive off.

Still, as mad as I am at him, I turn back.

He watches the car as we disappear down the road, and I swallow back a lump in my throat.

God, I really hope he doesn't mess this up and finds her.

Because I really do want him, but he has to prove himself worthy first.

Until he finds her, I will return to the Academy.

I just hope he doesn't keep me waiting too long, for all our sakes.

The happiness of five people depends on him after all.