Chapter Two

Knocking back my second cup of coffee, I groaned. Not even a barrel of dark roast could wake this bear from a fitful sleep.

I sat at the big dining table, taking in everyone. The people there were not only a team trying their damnedest to do good things but, somewhere along the line, they had become my found family.

I kept secrets from them. I had to, for their own good, but mostly for my survival. Because I wouldn't be able to live with myself if anyone, alphas or omegas, in our little family, knew what I did for our bosses when I made sure no one was looking.

"What the fuck are you growling at?" Pop-Tart asked me and received a swift slap on the back of the head from Hammer, our leader. "Ow. What?" He shot the second question at his brother.

They played around a lot, but everyone knew that Jeremy, aka Pop-Tart, would give his life for Hammer, Hammer's omega, Gray, and their boy, Dominick. He doted on his nephew, spoiling him with not only toys but affection and love.

Reminded me of the way my twin and I used to play around and, yet, would do anything for each other.

I missed Tyrone every day. We were bonded as brothers in the womb and later would find out our dreams were tethered.

"Watch your language," Hammer said with a steady and yet warning tone.

"Watch my…" Pop-Tart let out a loud laugh. "Since when are we afraid of a little swearing? I heard King say fuck three times this morning before coffee."

I snorted but tried to cover it up with a cough.

"Language!" Hammer said, this time coupling the command with a bit of a growl.

Gray put his hand on Hammer's arm. He had Dom in his hands. "When did we make this rule? Because go fuck yourself has become my battle cry."

Everyone snorted. Hutch, a bit shyer than Gray, leaned on Maverick's shoulder. "I just blurt out fuck every once in a while. Helps with the stress." He whispered something to Mav about learning that from him, and the dragon huffed out a chuckle.

Jack cleared his throat. "And sometimes an omega just has to beg his alpha to fuck him. Hammer, you might be the leader around here, but I'm saying fuck."

Aziz slammed his coffee cup down and left the table. He'd been extra moody lately. We were all tired and stressed. Trying to figure out who the good guys were while taking care of almost one hundred omegas and children was a busy business.

Hammer balled his fists but ended up laughing and shaking his head. "Well, fuck. I was trying not to have Dom's first word be that one."

"His first word will be Dada. I know it." Gray cooed at their babe.

Gray hadn't eaten much, and Hammer was poring over his computer.

"Give me the cub." I held out my hands. "You need to eat, omega. Even though this one is crawling now, you are still healing."

Gray muttered his thanks, but I got a colossal stink eye from his alpha who muttered, "Asshole."

I got Dom settled on my shoulder, rubbing his little hand in my stubble. I'd been so tired that morning, I didn't bother with shaving. "That's going to be his first word if you're not careful."

Gray laughed and tucked into his breakfast. Mav, Hutch, and King were on cleanup duty, but it wasn't much since I tried to do it as I cooked. Besides, there wasn't too much mess after German pancakes and fruit salad.

My mind wandered to my dream, the one that had plagued me nightly for weeks.

I checked the notes I'd made in my phone last night, but no matter how much information I jotted down, it was always the same. A tugging at my chest. A longing.

The worst of it was the hazy people there. I had a sense in the dream that they were in danger and yet, I heard their laughter and could scent their joy as clearly as I could scent the wolf cub on my shoulder.

"You all right there, Tyrus?" Hammer asked. "I've been talking to you for a few minutes."

I snorted. "I'll let you know if anything develops with it. Can we leave it at that?"

He nodded. "Yeah. We're here for you no matter what. You know that, right?"

"I do."