26. Theo

Chapter twenty-six

Theo

I find Brody hiding one of his bowtie shirts behind a couch cushion in the living room, whistling as he walks with an extra spring in his step, and what the hell has gotten into him?

That's when I catch her watermelon scent on him, and I can't stop the growl that rumbles in my chest.

That Rogue is stealing away my Omega, but I suck in a deep breath, putting on my pack lead hat.

"What are you doing?"

The Omega stiffens and a red blush takes over his cheeks when he spots me. "How long were you standing there?"

"Long enough. Who's the shirt for?"

I nod my chin toward the couch. I can imagine it's one of many shirts he has buried thus far.

Unless he is preparing for the winter, I want to know why.

He spent all day in her room yesterday, and now her arousal is all over him.

Once again, I bite back a snarl, and I know it's more than just anger and jealousy.

It's lust.

My Alpha is rearing his head, and he likes the smell of that Rogue.

He roused too when he found her in his shirt in the basement, the hem of the dark cotton barely reaching past her knees.

It looked so good on her…

Maybe that was her trick all along to seduce me, and she really is a calculating minx.

But we have to go about this the right way or we risk losing our Omega.

We haven't even bitten him into the pack.

That Omega came along and derailed our plans, and for that reason, she must go.

Soon.

When Brody is bored with her and his Omega's needs take over.

After all, his heat is close. That was why he had the spike. A mere warning for what's to come.

The Rogue has to go before then.

I just need to tread carefully or I risk losing my Omega, and then we're all back to square one.

I don't think my pack would recover if Brody left.

In such a short time, he has already stabilized our warring Alpha energies, and now he has become our sole focus.

So, I cannot lose him.

"W-what shirt?" Brody stammers, trying to feign ignorance, and fuck if he can't tell a lie to save his life.

Hence why I adore him.

He's innocent and kind, and just what this callous pack of Alpha brutes needs.

I square my shoulders, crossing my arms as I throw him the stare.

It's my thing. No one can resist when I fix them with my manic stare.

Someone once told me it was like being sucked slowly into the void, so, I will become the void.

It's for Brody's sake after all.

Brody sighs. "Fine. I… I was leaving them for Ell—Twenty-two…"

He recovers quickly as he was about to say another name, and I narrow my eyes. "Elle?"

Brody laughs nervously. "Who… who's Elle?"

"That's what you were about to say. So… who is Elle?"

Again, I suck him into my eyes, hoping he caves before it's too late.

He shakes his head. "I… never mentioned any Elle."

Despite my best efforts to make him talk, Brody schools his features, and I bite the inside of my cheek.

I will get to the bottom of that name eventually.

"So, you're leaving shirts for her now?"

"Yes."

My blood simmers, but I rein in my Alpha, speaking more carefully. "So, Kellen was sulking in your nest yesterday. He believes you are mad at him. Are you?"

Brody stumbles. "N-no! Why would he think that?"

I shrug. "Who knows? He's always been dramatic, but the question remains. Why do you insist on spending time with the Rogue rather than your Alphas?"

His cheeks pinken and it seems we are about to get to the heart of the problem.

"Look… I can explain…"

"Well, I'm all ears, Brody."

He meets my eyes. "I like her, okay? Is that such a crime?"

I think for a long moment. "No. Not in an ideal world. If she were your average Omega perhaps, but she's not. She's a Rogue, Brody. That makes her dangerous."

"Oh, don't give me that bullcrap again. I thought we were over this. She is no monster."

"She may not be a monster, but she's still a killer. She killed an Alpha and a full-grown mountain lion."

"In self-defense! And the Alpha and the lion had it coming."

I grit my teeth, breathing steadily through my nostrils. "Look, we did as you asked. We took her out of the cell and let her live in the house. But this has to stop before it goes further. She is poisoning you, Brody. You have three Alphas ready at your beck and call, and yet you neglect your own needs and see to hers."

"Fuck my needs. All I care about is knowing she is happy and safe."

Shit. Maybe Alastor was wrong…

It seems our Brody has already fallen for her. I know because his words reflect how I feel about him.

We're already too late. The damage has been done.

But I'll be damned if we don't put a stop to it now.

We have to show him what she is. That she will hurt him and can't be trusted.

The Omega clenches his fists and hunches his shoulders, and not once does he take those soft brown eyes off me.

It seems he is finding his balls.

"Brody… we want to bite you into the pack. To help solidify our bonds. But it's not easy if you decide to spend all your time with that Rogue."

He closes his eyes and I can tell he is torn, but he must make a choice.

Her or us.

"W-what if I bite her?"

Absolutely not. But I don't voice that sentiment.

Instead, I tighten my lips and draw up my shoulders, hoping he gets the message some other way.

"Packs can have two Omegas…" he whispers.

They can and successfully too. I can already think of two examples, but our situation is more precarious.

Our Omega is a proud killer, and she must be stopped.

I still think Gryphon was wrong to send her to my pack.

Twenty-two should have got the death sentence. It's sad but you can't save everyone, and that Rogue is beyond saving.

Though sometimes, I think I do spy something in her eyes. Something a little like hope.

But I suck it away as always, just like I suck away everything else.

Before I can talk on the subject further, my phone buzzes, and I tug it out of my pocket.

I swallow a growl when I spy the name.

Brody cranes his neck to look at the screen. "Who is it?"

I huff, "No one too important. I have to take this, but we will return to this conversation later."

I turn my back on him now as I exit the room, going out onto the terrace.

Now I gaze at the back woods of our house and click the button. "Theo speaking."

"Theodore… didn't think you would answer for a moment."

It's Gryphon, my former boss and current Alpha governor.

I didn't want Brody to see his name in case he got any romantic ideas about us having two Omegas.

Gryphon was the first Alpha in known history to take on two Omegas.

He's happy, but our situation is nowhere near the same.

Perhaps that was Gryphon's game all along, and who does he think he is now? Cupid?

His initial rejection of Mila is infamous.

The whole thing was televised.

Me and the guys laughed at the screen the moment Mila was presented to him and his pack at the Selection.

The government never even bothered to send a Beta soldier our way.

Because they knew we would have killed them.

Beta Trials my ass.

"Don't call me Theodore. My gran doesn't even call me that."

Gryphon smirks on the other end of the phone. I'm pretty good at picking up on people's expressions via phone by their tone.

"So, how's Twenty-two settling in?"

I grind my teeth. "Yes, things are going well."

They are not. He is a prick and I will punch him in his face one day for subjecting me and my pack to this shitshow.

"And is your new Omega getting along with her?"

More than getting along.

Brody has fucked her and my dick grows hard at the idea of him pounding into her, his muscles taut as he finishes off inside her ass.

Shit.

I really would like to see that one day, but I push those stupid thoughts aside and focus.

"He's fine…"

Gryphon can hear the lie in my voice, but he doesn't question it further as he starts his spiel.

"So, Theo… I'm calling to let you know that you and your pack are invited to an upcoming government benefit. I'm throwing one in Belle's honor to raise funds for Rogues. To help them with the training and rehabilitation they need."

Of course he would.

Anything for his Omega's sister.

"You are expected to be there with your Omega and Twenty-two."

He wants me to be seen in public with that Rogue?

I'd rather eat sand.

I suppose it could work in our favor. Once we debut her to the world, the Academy will learn about her existence in our pack and finally leave us the fuck alone.

Anything to stop that insufferable Felicia from coming back to our house.

If Gryphon can promise me that we won't lose our Omega in the process if we attend, then fine. I will take her to the Benefit.

"Her appearance there along with Belle's would really help morale. Send a message to the Alpha community that Rogues can be rehabilitated and they pose no risk to their safety."

A few Alpha groups oppose Gryphon's viewpoints, believing that he should let all the Rogues die.

Or worse, turn them on the rats who planted them into our midst in the first place.

I kind of share their sentiment in a way, but I'm too loyal to Gryphon.

He's my superior, and my Alpha recognizes that.

It was why I backed him up when he and his pack took on Lily.

But I'm finding myself questioning his methods.

I'm not sure what to believe.

I'm torn.

"So, you in?"

Did I really have a choice?

"Fine. We will be there."

"Good to know, Theo."

Silence rattles down the line, and I wait for him to end the call.

He's my superior officer so I show him respect.

"See you at the benefit, Theo. And try to behave yourself, all right?"

Gryphon hangs up and I stare down at the phone for some time, crushing it between my fingers.

The screen cracks and I need to get a hold of myself.

It looks like I have a benefit to look forward to.

I just don't know what we're going to do with Twenty-two. She's a lost cause.

That Rogue could never be tamed.