4. Theo

Chapter four

Theo

F uck me…

If my new Omega isn't the finest thing I've ever seen.

With curled locks of light orange, perfect skin, and fawn brown eyes, he awakens something deep and primal within me, and now I breathe in his scent of sour cherry, stepping closer.

The Omega's eyes blow out, and now his fawn eyes turn as black as night as I tower over him by several inches, flexing the muscles of my arms.

I'm only going to touch when he gives permission, but I just want to rub my scent all over him and make him mine.

I'm pretty sure he is my scent match.

Why else would my Alpha be losing his shit?

I must look dangerous because the two bodyguards he arrived with move back a little when they met the feral beast in my eyes, and so much protection they are…

Most Alphas are smart to keep their distance from me.

But they are not needed anymore.

From this day on, I will protect the Omega before me, and give him everything he could ever need.

We have been waiting a while for this day. Even more so when I lost my job at the prison.

My Alpha is unstable, and he needs the equilibrium that an Omega can provide.

We all do.

We're all fucking unhinged, but now when I look at the little Omega, the one wearing the red bowtie and neat corduroy suit, I know it deep in my veins…

He is ours.

I could almost push the little Beta woman that he came with aside, but I must have restraint.

The last thing I need is more on my record.

"M-Mr. Titan…" she peeps.

Finally, I tear my eyes away from the Omega and look at the Beta.

I don't speak.

She takes that as her cue to continue, tossing Alastor and Kellen a nervous glance on either side of me.

We all just want her to get this formality over with.

"My name is Felicia. I will be overseeing your Omega's initiation into your pack, ensuring that all goes well and the match runs smoothly…"

I crack my knuckles and she pales at the small gesture.

Her job is to ensure we treat our new Omega right and that all his needs are met.

She continues her spiel, pushing her glasses up her nose. "So, first things first. A house tour. Everything must be in neat order before we proceed with the match."

Luckily, Alastor is a neat freak, so our house is always pretty clean.

The Alpha cleaned the place from top to bottom before the arrival of our Omega.

Normally, it's an Omega's job to keep an Alpha's house in order, but Alastor would rather die than see his new, potential Omega clean up his mess.

Kellen is the messy one, and I always make an effort to stay far away from his room whenever I pass. He peers at the two guards, and again, they keep a respectable distance.

In the end, I roll my eyes, stepping aside for the small perky woman.

The guards keep close to Brody as they step in after her, and now the house tour commences.

My every nerve ending is on fire as the small woman goes around our home with a pen and clipboard, taking notes along the way.

Her eyes go wide when she spies the Katana above the fireplace, and I curse fucking Kellen.

Why did we let him mount that thing to the wall?

Thankfully, it's just a replica.

That sword couldn't do any real harm.

Kellen just likes to show off his big dick. Since that's what the sword represents.

He has more in his room…

Felicia takes a note and I try to peer over her shoulder.

She tenses when my ozone scent cracks the air, and then she moves to the kitchen.

The Beta is quite happy with what she sees and proceeds to the basement.

When she only finds a typical utility room with a shower we barely use, she smiles and continues the tour upstairs.

Thank God she never noticed the trap door that leads to the 'real' basement.

Alastor has some strange hobbies…

I can't keep my eyes away from Brody the whole time. Whenever he catches me staring, he turns bright red and pretends to be distracted by Felicia.

But I know what he's really thinking.

He was thinking about my big, fat knot.

Oh, I plan to give it to him all right and then some.

Felicia doesn't even bother to open Kellen's door when she detects the smell, but she approves of Alastor's room.

When she comes to my room, she takes more notes, and I crane my neck again to see what she's writing.

Annoying little woman. Resisting the urge to kill her is hard.

"Now, if you will show me to the nest."

A smug smile takes over my face. Oh, we were very prepared there.

Right now, it is bare. We wanted to wait until our Omega arrived before we started decorating.

Kellen is giddy as he bounds toward the nest. This is his area of expertise.

He's like a big red retriever. All he has ever wanted was an Omega he could dote on and cherish, and it seems he got his wish.

It seems we all got our wish.

I really do hope we pass all of Felicia's inspections. Because I can't vouch for her life if she were to take our new Omega away.

It's a dangerous game she is playing, dangling that perfect creature before us like bait.

A very, very dangerous game.

Finally, she clicks her pen and looks up at me brightly. "Congratulations, Mr. Titan. You have passed the Academy's inspections."

Thank fuck.

Now she gets to return home to her boring husband and their equally boring sex life.

Betas. They really are missing out…

No wonder they're all losing their shit out there. They had to escort Brody to the house in a government car, but who could blame them?

One look at my Omega, and a full-blown war would start.

He's just that irresistible.

Male Omegas are so precious in our world and they need to be protected.

And I swear to protect Brody for the rest of my life.

I can't wait to claim him and bring him into the pack. It's what we all need.

I will be the one to do the honors. As peak lead, it's my job to bite new members into the pack.

Felicia turns to Brody, handing him her card.

It reeks of her boring sawdust scent.

"My number is on here, Brody. If you need anything, you just let me know."

I curl my fists and I sense the same shift in Kellen and Alastor.

How dare she insinuate that we are incapable of seeing to our new Omega's needs.

Brody peers around at us with those big innocent eyes, and we all stop.

I stare at him impressed.

Such power he yields; we all just want to submit to him.

He sighs and takes the card from her hand. "Thank you, Felicia."

Felicia smiles and holds out a gloved hand. "I wish you all the best, Brody."

Our Omega takes her hand, and thank God for the gloves…

If she dared to get her sawdust scent on him, I would have lost my shit.

"Thank you again," Brody says.

She gushes, "Just maybe you really will name one of your babies after me someday."

Hold the fucking phone.

We all growl in unison, and she blanches, knowing full well she spoke out of turn. "I… I guess I will be on my way…"

She scurries down the stairs, followed by the guards, and I guess this is it.

The beginning of the rest of our lives.

Soon, it's just us and Brody.

No one knows what to say at first. Even long after the insufferable woman has driven away.

Brody yanks on his bowtie, and we watch his every move like a group of buzzards.

He's sweating, and his lust blooms around him like an intoxicating cloud.

Somehow, we manage to rein in our beasts.

Brody is the kind of Omega that needs to be cherished, not ravished, anyway.

He's not some common Beta whore.

Those, we are done with.

It's Omega sweetness from here on out.

"So… uh… do any of you like to watch movies?" he chirps.

I cock a brow, looking at the others.

Kellen's smile is wide, but Alastor is monotone as usual. But there's no missing his slight smile.

I can sense my pack brothers through the bond. They all want the same as me.

We just want to rip off all his clothes and sink our teeth into his skin, but we can wait.

In a few days more perhaps.

This needs to be perfect. Not rushed.

"Hell yeah! We have a movie room," Kellen shouts.

Brody's soft brown eyes waver, and if it isn't the cutest thing I have ever seen. "I always wanted a movie room…"

"Well, you're in luck. Let's go!"

Kellen doesn't ask for permission when he lifts our Omega over his shoulder. He just yanks him up off his feet, knocking his glasses off along the way.

Alastor kindly picks them up and follows after them.

Unfortunately, I can't join them.

Because I just got a text from my former boss.

What does that prick want?

Alastor stops, carrying Brody's adorable horn-rimmed glasses. He doesn't speak, communicating with his eyebrows.

I sigh through gritted teeth. "I have to take this. Tell Brody I'm sorry I can't be there for movie night."

Alastor gazes down at my phone. Then he turns his back on me and joins the others. "All right. Don't leave it too long."

There's no missing his insinuation.

They should both respect my position as pack lead.

If anyone gets to bond Brody into the pack, then it's me…

But I have no choice.

After all, when the Alpha Governor calls, you can't ignore him.

***

Everyone is afraid of me as I stalk down the prison hallways like a goddamn shadow of death.

After all, I killed a former colleague.

Of course, that was after he tried to kill the warden's sister a few months back.

He had been working for the enemy. He had to die.

Show those fuckers what happens when you screw with us and our Omegas.

Now that I have my own Omega, I'm ready to crack some more skulls.

Those Beta bastards outside the city will have to get through to me first before they get their hands on Brody.

Lightening cracks through the air as I barge toward the office at the end of the hall.

The guards stationed outside open the doors before I have a chance to slam them, and there I finally meet the smug eyes of my former boss.

I'm still salty that he fired me.

After everything I did for him and his pack too.

I was there the day he and his pack took on Lily. I disowned that bitch because I believed that Gryphon was the best to lead us.

But right now, he is trying my patience.

Another Alpha stands by his side, one with storm-cloud eyes, and it takes me a moment to place his face.

Both Alphas are tense, and I have a feeling I am not going to like what either of them has to say.

"Theo… we're so glad you could join us."

My nostrils flare as I glare at the governor.

To kill him would be high treason, and I'm no treasonous cunt, but God, he is trying me today.

I had to skip out on movie night with my new Omega.

So his summons better be more important than that.

Finally, I take a seat before his desk, and the room grows thick with tension.

Meanwhile, Gryphon narrows his eyes, studying me carefully.

"New cologne?"

I perk up at that.

Brody's sour cherry lingers on me.

Gryphon is no idiot. He knows it's an Omega scent, and I finally slouch in my seat, smiling like a smug prick.

Bastard thinks he's so lucky because he has two Omegas, but Brody is all I need in this world.

Gryphon pinches between his eyes, getting straight to it. "Theo…"

I wait for him to finish.

He moves his hand from his face, fixing me with those reddish-brown eyes. "There's something I need you to do… and I believe that you and your pack are the only ones capable of such a delicate task."

My heart thumps.

If he thinks I will be going on a mission…

I'm done with mercenary work. I have an Omega to take care of now.

The government will see to our needs as a pack.

Our first check should be due shortly.

"Well, go on. Let's hear it."

Gryphon clenches his jaw. The Alpha beside him won't stop assessing me.

What is his problem?

"This task is top secret. No one but you and your pack must know."

My heart bangs louder.

Well, what the fuck is it?

It's the other Alpha who speaks now. "We need you to take a Rogue Omega under your wing."

It takes a moment for his words to register. When they do, I laugh out loud.

Now I know where I have seen him.

He's Jeremy Snow.

His pack took on a Rogue Omega just a few months back.

The governor's very own sister. Well, sister via bond.

She's the biological sister of his Omega, Oliver.

"I know I have a screw loose, but I'm not that fucking insane… a Rogue?"

I'd be signing my own death wish.

Rogue Omegas are highly unpredictable.

They don't crave knots like normal Omegas.

Instead, they crave blood.

They were sent by the Beta Rebellion beyond the city lines to throw us off guard.

But we're more prepared this time.

"No," I say.

Gryphon tenses. "I think you're mistaken. I wasn't asking for your permission."

Oh, so it's an order?

I throw my energy his way, but I smack into a wall when both Alphas hit me full force.

Fuck. I may be a tough asshole, but I'm no match for either of them.

They're both dominant Alphas in their own rights.

"You're the best Alpha for the job, Theo. I wouldn't be giving you this order if I didn't at least believe you could do it."

"Ah, that's sweet, boss, but I already have an Omega…"

Both Alphas tense. But why look so surprised?

They must have known from the moment I walked in here smelling like sour cherry.

"So, I must refuse."

Brody hasn't even settled in yet. How would he feel if we brought a new Omega into the mix?

Omegas get possessive of their Alphas, and while I would love nothing more for that quiet Omega to tear up some shit, I have to decline.

We're still in the preliminary stage. The Academy won't be pleased if they find out that we're mistreating our new Omega and neglecting his needs.

Gryphon goes back to rubbing between his eyes. Jeremy looks glum.

It seems I was their last hope, and now I want to meet this Omega out of curiosity.

They must be pretty special for them both to be so worked up like this.

I get it, I do.

They love a former Rogue and only want the best for all of them.

But they can't save them all.

As far as I'm concerned, that Omega is already damaged goods.

It may be kinder to just let her go…

There's no telling what she would do.

Besides, I won't have her anywhere near Brody.

If Gryphon made this request a few months back, maybe.

But it's too late.

We have Brody now. And I will not destroy that bond before it has a chance to bloom.

"What if I paid you extra?"

Now he has my attention.

Considering the creature will take more work than the average Omega, I decided to haggle.

"Double pay."

Gryphon grinds his teeth, and I smirk at him like a fox.

It seems my pack is going to become quite rich.

We already get six figures a year for one Omega…

Who would say no to more money?

I guess I could come to some compromise then.

Besides, it's more money for Brody. After all, Omegas like shiny things...

Gryphon sighs, "All right. Double it is."

Now I show all my teeth as a chuckle escapes me.

Things just got a little more interesting.

"Well, go on. Let's see the creature."

They growl at the term.

"Sorry, the Omega …"

Jeremy looks at Gryphon. The governor nods.

Jeremy eyes me viciously, and it's a threat. Then he leaves the room and now it's just me and my former boss.

I raise a brow at the stiff, and it's good to see he still has that same old stick up his ass.

He is not impressed with me one iota.

I just thought he would really appreciate that traitor's guts strewn across the floor…

Finally, Jeremy returns, and I finally fix my eyes on the sorry creature at his side.

What a pitiful sight.

Keeping her alive is just cruel.

I know why they're so desperate.

This Omega is destined for the gallows.

This would be her last chance to redeem herself.

But she's already so far gone.

"Theo, I would like you to meet Twenty-two?"

Twenty-two? How fucking sad.

The Omega looks up, and I finally meet those light baby blue eyes.

Something comes over me the more I look at her. So much fear and uncertainty in one gaze, but there's no missing her hatred.

Or the murderous glare.

She's going to be a challenge all right, and it just so happens that I love a challenge.

I will break her all right.

Fair enough.

Let the challenge begin.