Chapter Three

Sutton

“Make sure you have this on auto-save.” I leaned over the omega and clicked the mouse. The omega sucked in a sharp breath as my torso brushed his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”

“No. It’s okay. I know you meant no harm. I’m always jumpy since…”

I sat down beside him. “I used to be in the military. It wears off, if that’s any consolation.”

“You were? Is that where you learned this stuff?” he asked, nodding toward the laptop in front of him.

“No. I learned that from my clan. How… Can I ask how old you are. Sorry, I didn’t get your name.”

“Harris,” he said. “I-I’m twenty-four. Those are my twins over there. Red hair. Full of energy, little kits. Can’t miss them.”

I turned around to see two toddlers, exact replicas of one another, giving an omega named Ryan a run for his money. The omega, who had a baby in his arms, was King’s mate, I thought. I was still learning names and relationships. “What are their names?”

“Keith and Kevin.” He looked down at his wringing hands. “I didn’t get to name them. They did. I swear, they picked the most generic names they could think of.”

“I’m sorry.”

Harris smiled softly at his little ones. “Don’t be. They keep me alive most days. That’s why I have to learn this. Learn something. I was there for almost three years. I don’t have any education. They need a father who can provide for them.”

“Back to work then,” I said.

“Yes. Back to work.”

I stood up, going to check on the next student but, out the corner of my eye, saw Hammer, Tyrus, and Maverick making their way to a door that went straight outside.

“What’s going on?” I asked, standing to get their attention.

Mav turned, opened his mouth and then shut it again.

Hammer nailed me with a stare. “It’s not a big deal. Carry on with what you’re doing. Thank you, Sutton.”

“Okay.”

“They take good care of us,” Harris called out, drawing my attention back to the task at hand.

“I can tell.”

I was about to move on to some more lessons when Hutch, the dragon’s mate, stuck his head into the doorway between the living areas and the warehouse. “Lunch is ready. Kids and preggers first.”

I helped the omegas get the little ones in, happy to, but my bear was itching inside me. We needed more to do. More activity. More war—that’s what he wanted. He was restless, but I didn’t want to skip out on the work to run.

The team would understand, of course, but the growly beast could wait.

For now, I would help with everyday things. It might be healing. Making and eating regular meals. Getting actual REM sleep.

Helping people.

That night, I had a video call with my brothers. The six of them had taken over my responsibilities in the clan on top of their own.

They all looked tired, and I had a pang of guilt for leaving them.

But my bear needed something more, something different and, while I hadn’t told anyone, a piece of me that pushed me toward this place.

Sure, Hammer called and asked me to come help but, once the call ended, my bear propelled me forward. Hammer said I could come in the next few weeks, but I’d gotten here in three days.

“When do we get to come join the fun?” my brother Falcon asked.

“Whenever there’s some danger. Right now, it’s normal things. Feeding the omegas. Security runs. Training. Getting ready for…I don’t know what.”

“Sounds boring.” My little brother laughed.

“Nah. It’s good for me. I thrive on a schedule. You know that.”

“I do. What about the omegas? Are they okay?”

I shrugged. “They are safe here. They aren’t being abused or...” I refused to even say the word. “They are getting fed and have medical care, and they can sleep at night knowing no one is coming to bother them. The kids are good too. You can see it in their eyes though they will always have those inside scars.”

“We all do. I gotta go, but keep me updated. We’re all packed and waiting for you.”

“Yep. Take care.”

I showered and got into bed after stripping the curtains from the window. I hated them. Hated any kind of window covering. Always felt like there was someone on the other side, ready to pounce.

But, as my eyelids grew heavy, I looked out at the sky and felt a pull toward something out there.

Huh.

That bear of mine probably just wanted a night run. He loved nothing more than to growl under the stars and the moon.

I rolled over and decided to let him run the next day.