20. Rian

The older Beta woman serving me at the bookstore keeps giving me suspicious glances, and she"s not the only one.

I feel the gazes of all the women in the line behind me too.

Well, this is embarrassing, but I can"t blame them.

One of the books in the woman"s hands has an Alpha"s chest on the cover, and the model has rippling, glistening muscles in all the right places.

But I"d take him or leave him, personally.

My men are way hotter, but still; the covers are pretty lewd and obvious, and I wouldn"t normally be so explicit about my book choices in public.

Discreet covers for me all the way.

I"ve read quite a few smutty books when I"ve had the time, but only in private.

Normally in the training barracks back at the Academy when I didn"t want my comrades to know I was reading some Alpha/Omega smut.

It"s odd for a Beta to read such books, and that"s probably why I get the odd looks now and then.

Why do people have to be so judgemental?

But I do it. For Belle.

After all, she asked for the dirtiest books that I could find in that reserved, shy manner of hers, and so, I hold on to that precious memory as the woman slides each book over the scanner very slowly, that smug, smirking Alpha on full display for the whole store to see.

A woman coughs pointedly behind me, and I toss her a pointed look.

She looks at everything but me, scratching behind her ear, and I scoff.

Judgemental bitch.

I don"t judge her for her… what? Cooking book? Whatever.

Everyone is Beta in here.

Betas, traditionally, are more conservative than Alphas and Omegas, and some groups actually condemn the pack way of life.

Well, I think they"re nothing but prudes.

Finally, the woman finishes scanning my books. "Would you like a bag?"

I ponder that question.

Do I want to get the same judgmental looks on the street?

Ugh, I should have just gone into one of the Alpha districts. I bet the books are plenty steamy there, and no one judges you for reading smut.

But I wanted to keep this visit on the down low. I couldn"t risk going into any of those Alpha/Omega stores.

If I did, it would be obvious that I was shopping for an Omega. I often avoid them when shopping for myself.

After all, I have to preserve my own secret.

Still, I can"t help the sweat that drips down my back as a cloud of baby powder bursts all around me.

I"m not sure if the Betas around me scent it, but there are a few murmurs.

It"s best I leave.

"Yes, a bag please…"

The Beta woman nods, and slowly and painfully, she starts to place the books inside the brown paper bag.

I almost snatch it from her hand once she"s finished, heading out of the store. The Beta women in the line laugh behind me, and I grit my teeth, making my way out into the sunshine.

It really is a glorious day, and maybe Belle and I could spend a day in the garden.

Yet she is too scared to go outside. She acts as if someone is watching her, and I can"t help but wonder where the hell she came from to make her so guarded.

I try not to pry. After all, I have my own secrets too, but I suppose she will tell us one day when she"s ready.

She just has to feel at home first.

Unfortunately, my mate is not making it easy, and if Troy thinks he is off the hook, then he is sorely mistaken.

Belle recedes whenever he is present, and I"m going to have to nip that right in the bud before it has a chance to grow.

Troy is just going to have to learn that Belle is here to stay.

She will leave when she is ready.

My heart sinks at the idea of her moving on and possibly finding another pack, and I squeeze my fists.

I don"t want to smother her, but I really hope she stays. I could have sworn I felt something when I first scented her perfume.

I am pretty positive we are scent matches.

I had a similar reaction when I first scented Troy, and is it possible to have two scent matches?

Most would consider me lucky, but truth be told, it"s hard.

Especially as it seems that my two scent matches are at odds.

Troy is very possessive of me and sometimes he finds it hard to share me with the guys.

He thinks her staying at the house poses a danger to us, especially me.

If the government comes to our doorstep, then not only will they discover Belle, but they will discover my secret, too.

Yet it is a risk I am willing to take.

I will do it if it keeps Belle safe.

I throw the books onto the backseat of the car and drive to the house. I find Jeremy"s car in the garage, raising a brow.

He"s home early. I would have assumed he"d be gone all day.

Troy and Leo"s parking spots are still empty, and those two will be gone for some time.

I find Jeremy in front of the fireplace when I enter the house, gazing deep into the flames. I place Belle"s books onto the couch, along with a bag of clothes.

She was unaware of her dress size, so I took a guess.

I picked red and other bold colors, just as she asked.

"Jay?"

The Alpha is nursing a glass in his hand, and I balk when I sniff vodka.

What the hell happened?

"You all right?"

Jeremy sighs, running his fingers through his hair. His face is pale, and I kneel down in front of him, taking his chin in my hand.

I hate seeing my Alpha like this.

He smells odd, and I catch the faint scent of a strange Omega on his clothes, one laced with blood.

I look into his storm cloud eyes. "Speak to me, Jay…"

Jeremy has a tough job. I"ve joined him on several missions, and we have come across some upsetting things.

But Jay is good at masking his emotions.

So, for him to act like this, then it must have been bad. Really bad.

"You may want to grab your own glass," he mutters.

I gaze down at the vodka in his hand. There are a million other drink choices I would have chosen before vodka, but I heed his warning, grabbing a glass for myself.

Now he tells me what he saw.

I almost want to throw up.

"An Omega covered in blood?"

Jeremy tightens his lips. Then he throws back his vodka, gazing into the fire again.

So far, only he and his team know of the Omega. The only reason why he told me is because he considers me a part of that team, too.

The most harrowing part of his story: the Omega had killed an Alpha.

It"s that very fact that has shocked Jeremy.

His whole life, he has been taught that Omegas are the weakest designation and that they need to be protected.

But I never believed those lies. Especially as I know what I am capable of myself.

It"s the reason why the government doesn"t allow Omegas to undergo any type of military training.

And it"s the reason why I have to keep my secret hidden.

I will not be separated from my pack.

"The guys can"t know…" Jeremy says.

Great. Just more and more secrets.

I already have one between me and Troy.

Now I have this one with Jeremy.

"All right," I reply, and he relaxes in his seat when I give him my affirmation.

Well, I guess that settles it.

We continue as if nothing happened. As if he didn"t just drop the biggest bombshell of the century onto my lap.

Still, I will keep my mouth shut.

If that"s what it takes to hold on to my loved ones and keep them safe.