2. Brody

Chapter two

Brody

I read over the files for my new pack until my eyes were bleeding.

Today is the day I finally meet my pack. The beginning of the rest of my life.

Well, as Felicia, my Omega Representative, so poetically puts it.

Ever since the day I perfumed, it's all I have ever thought about. But that doesn't mean it was what I necessarily wanted.

It was just the hand that fate had dealt me.

Like I had any choice in the matter; I never even got to choose my pack.

Just like every other Omega in the city.

They put our details into a 'specially curated algorithm' until the perfect pack is found.

And it was just so that I matched with the Titan Pack, and could there be a more pretentious name for a group of Alphas?

Brody Titan. It has a nice ring to it, I guess.

I was one of only five male Omegas to graduate from the Academy this year, and the city is abuzz with excitement.

As a result, I have become the talk of the town, and the Academy had to hire a security detail just to transport me to my new residence.

That's because there is political unrest currently on the streets.

The Betas have been protesting ever since their leader was arrested, and now there is no longer a Beta seat on the council.

I saw some protesters just now with signs, and several others setting off smoke flares.

My government car has bulletproof, blackout windows, but I'm not scared.

I have some military training. As courtesy of Oliver Hart, the first male Omega to graduate from the Academy; he fought hard for Omegas to be taught how to defend themselves, but I was never much of a fencer like he was.

It's archery I love.

I picked archery over baby classes, anyway. I would much rather shoot an arrow than burp a plastic babydoll—a babydoll that would have ended up lost or horribly maimed in some way if left in my care.

Felicia stiffens beside me as the car pulls up at a stoplight. There's a group of Beta protestors on the sidewalk, but they're not doing much at the moment.

Several Betas glance at the government car, and she closes her eyes, taking deep breaths.

They're her people after all. Surely, she has nothing to fear.

The Academy insisted she come with me to help me settle in. It's also to ensure that my new pack treats me right.

After all, I was a huge investment. A lot of money was spent in order to get me here today, but I can handle Alphas.

My father was one.

And the worst kind of Alpha too.

"It's okay, Brody, honey. They won't harm you…" Felicia fusses, reaching across to pat my shoulder with a gloved hand.

She was told not to get her scent on me for fear of upsetting my new Alphas.

"I'm not afraid," I reply, re-reading the files.

All my new alphas are mercenaries, fighting for anyone who will pay them.

But after they accept me today, they will all receive a government stipend to protect their new Omega.

Because we all need so much protection…

Just like the foo-foo bitches back in some of my classes at the Academy. They were expert damsels.

Bridget, the Academy's resident mean girl and major bitch, was the best damsel of all.

And evil incarnate.

She insulted me at every chance she got, and she never came up with anything original.

Four eyes, specs, poindexter… The list was endless.

I push my glasses up my nose, going over my new pack's file for the millionth time.

Theo: Pack Leader

Likes: authority, working out at the gym, and elephants.

Elephants? A little random.

Kellen: Pack Enforcer

Likes: TV, working out at the gym, and puppies.

Oh please, they have to have a freaking puppy…

Alastor: Pack Spy.

Likes: reading, working out at the gym, and the eccentricities of cats.

And I wouldn't say no to a cat, too.

The file doesn't tell me much about them since it's all vague at best, but out of the three of them, I think I will get along with Alastor the most.

But the algorithm matched me with the entire pack.

If it doesn't work out, then it's straight back to the Academy.

Bridget graduated with honors, so at least I won't have to put up with that Grade-A bitch.

The government car finally arrives at its destination, and now we drive up a long stretch of dirt road until we arrive at the pack house.

It's picturesque, with a porch swing and a big yard. There are woods around the house too, and why do Alphas always like a house by the woods?

To match their wild, Alpha natures perhaps?

My security detail escorts me to the house, leaving poor Felicia behind to catch up in her heels. The pointy things keep getting stuck in the grass, and I would laugh if I wasn't so nervous.

One guard presses the doorbell and it takes a while for one of them to answer.

As I cast my gaze around, I find no dog house or even a cat to silently judge me on the porch.

So, no pets.

Not a big deal.

Unless they have an elephant out back, but I don't spy a big trunk either.

Felicia stops beside me, huffing and puffing as she wipes down her suit, and now she dons her best Omega Representative hat.

I watch her from the corner of my eye. She's not a bad person. Just annoying.

Way too bright and perky during our early Monday morning meetings.

The Beta glances at me with a practiced smile, and I bet she perfected that Cheshire-cat grin in the mirror. "Well, this is it, Brody. The beginning of the rest of your life."

My heart pounds, and now my breakfast tries to make a reappearance as I hold back vomit.

"Yeah, awesome…"

She giggles. "Maybe you can name one of your babies after me."

Oh, dear God.

I smile through gritted teeth. "I'll bear it in mind."

Felicia preens like a peacock, and now I look at the silent Alphas on either side of me.

They don't speak. Nor do they touch me.

They can't get their scents on me after all.

Finally, the door cracks open, and now a pair of hooded green eyes stares back at us.

Felicia waves. "Hello."

The person on the other side of the door still doesn't speak. All they do is blink, and I just wish this could be over and done with.

"I'm Felicia, a representative from the Academy. I come—"

The door opens at last, and I meet my first Alpha.

Ear-length sable hair, piercing eyes of forest green, and ghostly skin.

He doesn't even look at Felicia or the massive Alphas on my side.

He only has eyes for me.

Now I understand why we matched…

His scent of lime, the one that matches his bright eyes, complements my perfume of sour cherry, and we go so well together.

Still, I keep my wits about me, holding out my hand.

The Alpha gazes at my fingers. Then he peers up at me, a slight curve to his lips.

"B-Brody… Nice to make your acquaintance."

He narrows his emerald eyes, taking my hand at last. "Alastor…"

Fuck me. His voice is like a dark caress down my spine, and I shudder as he appraises me with those too-green eyes again.

It seems he approves of what he sees.

I just hope the others feel the same.

"Nice bowtie," he whispers, and startled, I reach my hand up to the red bowtie clipped to my throat.

I'm glad someone likes it.

I'm wearing a corduroy suit of burgundy as courtesy of the Academy, but after today, I am free to wear sweatpants and shirts.

My look is 'trendy nerdy' as the stylists called it, but the bowtie was just too much.

Yet if Alastor likes it, then I don't see a problem.

Those green eyes still pin me in place, even when a large hand yanks the door open wider, and I finally meet one of my other Alphas.

Long, red hair flowing behind his back, and gray eyes and freckled skin, and now I get a sharp scent of cinnamon.

His nostrils flare as he takes me in, and he doesn't look pleased by the sight of my security detail.

In a bid to break the tension, I reach out my hand, and the Alpha looks at me surprised.

"B-Brody. Nice to make your acquaintance…"

Now I sound like a parrot.

Unlike Alastor, he grins broadly, showing me his sharp teeth, and then he chuckles and yanks me closer for a hug.

"A fellow ginger…"

What?

He laughs and squeezes me harder, then ruffles my hair.

"You're kissed by fire, like me…"

Okay. I would say I was more strawberry blond, but whatever makes him happy.

He pushes me back to study me at arm's length, and his grin doesn't let up.

Just like his pack brother, his scent of cinnamon draws me in like a magnet, and maybe those specially curated algorithms aren't a complete waste of time after all.

Just maybe, every so often, they get it right.

"Kellen," my second Alpha says, introducing himself, and despite how nervous and a little aroused I am, I smile.

Two out of three.

I just hope the third one likes me.

Theo. The pack lead.

Alastor and Kellen look behind them next, and now they move aside to let the third member of their pack through.

Holy shit…

If I thought the first two smelled great.

The scent of ozone fills the air, and I swear my hair stands on end as a thunderstorm gathers overhead.

It's not the weather.

The thunderstorm is my third Alpha.

Theo's obsidian eyes narrow as they rake me up and down, and there's no missing that strong, Alpha energy as it flares my way.

Even the two big Alphas on my side flinch.

Felicia squeaks.

Theo is a Greek God. The lord of the Underworld.

Hades himself.

Large arms and shoulders and beautiful, tanned skin covered in dark tattoos.

His soot black hair is shaved at the sides, but longer at the top, flowing down into his eyes.

His nostrils flare as he takes in my perfume, and if I thought his eyes looked black before…

I know in that very moment that I am where I am meant to be…

Theo is my Alpha.

And I am his Omega.