1. Adrian

one

"Hurry, Doctor." The harried night receptionist of the Omega Refuge leads me through a maze of corridors. She glances back anxiously, her ridiculous corkscrew curls bouncing with every step. I've been here many times, but they usually prefer using female doctors at night. I was surprised to get the call so late. They must be desperate, which tells me things must be bad.

"Tell me what's wrong, slowly, this time," I say, and shift my bag to my other hand so I can sweep my hair back. It's getting too long, but he said he liked it. I wince at my runaway thought and push him out of my mind.

"She was found half an hour ago, curled up by the back door. She's not conscious, and the damage, well, it's severe. It looks quite bad. We called you straight away."

She, the receptionist, Margo, or is it Martha, slows and turns, gesturing to a door. "Through there."

"Thank you. Fran," I say, recalling her name suddenly, "stay close, I might need your help."

"Yes, Doctor."

I walk inside and see a lump in the middle of the bed, looking incredibly small on the cheap blue sheets. She's tiny. Is she a child? They wouldn't have brought a male, even a boy, this deep into the refuge. I pull up a chair and set my bag on it, trying not to make any loud noises. I hope she's not a screamer. I always get terrible nightmares after I treat them. She doesn't move as I pull out a blood pressure cuff and take her readings or when gently place my stethoscope under her shirt and listen to her chest.

It takes exactly one swift glance up and down her body to establish that, no, she's not a child. Her hair is dark, and her lashes are long. That's about all I can tell about her features other than she's too thin, and she's bruised all to hell. The swelling is everywhere.

Her vitals seem good, her heart strong. Her pupils are responsive. I frown and start cataloging the collection of bruises she's covered in. Her face has been hit several times. She's got a broken nose, split lips, black eyes, and a nasty cut to her temple that I suspect is where the majority of the blood comes from.

I can't even tell what colour her hair is because of the blood. I work my way down, checking her front and back, and finally hesitate. There's only one thing left to do, but I"m not doing it without permission, and there has to be another woman here. I refuse to be that trauma.

"Fran. It's not as severe as it seems. But, hmm." I look at the tiny woman and wonder how someone could do this to someone as small as this woman. After the things I've seen, I know it's possible. I suddenly realise I can't even catch her designation. It's not unusual for perfume under extreme pressure or influences of drugs to become undetectable or appear as something different. I make a note of it in the chart for the refuge.

The receptionist comes inside with an armful of blankets and a bowl of steaming water. "Do I need to check for-"

The woman sits up, gasping. I reach out, cradling her back, taking the pressure off her as she fights to work out where she is.

She moans in pain, lifting a hand to her face, and lets out a small sob. I should be used to this, but it never gets easier.

"Easy, love, easy. It's okay, you"re safe now, you made it to safety." I keep my voice low and unthreatening. "My name is Adrian Shultz. I"m your doctor."

Her wild eyes find mine, and I"m stunned to find that behind the swollen flesh, her eyes are a strikingly unusual violet colour. They seek me out, searching into my soul, trying to discern if I"m lying.

I've never felt so raw. Faintly, I catch the barest hint of blackberries.

"Do you know your name?" I ask in a low voice.

The terror scent in the air spikes, and she shakes her head.

"All right, that's fine. We'll call you Jo for now. Okay?" I ease around, so she can see my face. "Listen, I need to do a test to see if he raped you. I'll be quick and gentle. I know it's difficult, but I'll make it as painless as possible."

She shakes her head and moans. I hate the fingerprints on her throat. Would that I could erase them.

"Didn't get a chance," she whispers huskily.

"Are you sure?" I'm not sure if she's lying or not, but I get a sense she's telling me the truth.

"Very. He didn't do anything but what you can see."

The sour scent of terror is easing, but the assault of it on my senses still urges my alpha out to destroy whatever threatens her. I've never reacted like this before.

I lick my lips and swallow hard. "Okay, do you have any family?"

Her eye's cut away from mine, and her fingers clench the sheet until her knuckles turn white. "No. But can you find Onyx Treyfield or Hazel Montford?"

My eyebrows rise. Those are two names I wouldn't have thought she'd say. "I"ll bring them here."

Her energy has flagged so much that I don't even think she heard me. I quickly give her a sip of water, and then offer her pain pills or an injection. She takes the pills and swallows them with difficulty. As soon as she's done, I help her lie back on the bed and tuck her in.

I stare at her longer than I should before I pack my equipment up and quietly leave the room.

"She's going to be in a lot of pain. Tomorrow, when she's mobile, I want her to go for x-rays on her ribs, left wrist, and her hand. I've left the medication there. Give it to her in four hours." I pause and shake my head. "No, I"ll be back first thing in the morning, and I"ll take her myself. Just watch for signs of a concussion, the usual."

"Thanks, Doc."

Fran walks me to the entrance and unlocks the glass door that allows me out to the visitors section of the refuge. This place is like a fortress. She follows me and unlocks the front door, letting me out onto the street. The two doors are an extra set of protections that keep unwanted guests from getting to the women hiding here. It is unfortunate but a necessary evil.

"I"ll bring Angel Montford with me tomorrow morning," I advise Fran. I heft my bag and glance around the street. No one's out here, the normally busy city intersection is just an empty road with street lights breaking into the shadows. Who would dump a half-broken omega here? Why would you just leave her like that?

"The Detective?" Fran says with a fierce frown.

"Yes. She said she knows their omega; Hazel. Perhaps she will feel more comfortable telling this horrific story to someone she has met before."

Fran frowns and sucks her lips in, giving her a fierce and angry expression. She's not a fan of alpha's, you can pick up on it straight away. And with an omega coming, alphas will be in tow. "I"ll have one of the guest visiting rooms kept free for you."

I murmur my goodbyes and get in my silver SVU and drive through the city. What would take an hour will take less than half that time. There's no one out here.

"Dial brother," I tell my phone.

He picks up on the third ring with a muffled groan.

"I need you focused," I say calmly and drum my fingers on the steering wheel.

"Hold on." There's a groan of a man that isn't my brother, and the sound of sheets rustling. "All right, go."

Simon is nothing if not professional. We have that in common, but he is a much friendlier version of me. He blends in with our society whilst I have always stood out. They call me cold.

They aren't wrong.

"I have an omega who refuses to tell me her name. She says she knows Hazel and Onyx."

"What's she look like?" Simon asks immediately. His brain will be going a million miles an hour as he tries to figure it out. He has always been like that.

"She's tiny, with short hair and violet eyes."

Simon hums, and then snaps his fingers loudly near the phone. His husband curses. "Sounds like Jade."

"Last name?"

"I don"t know, I"d need to look through the files." Simon swears. "Is she okay?"

"No."

My brother hesitates. "Call Hazel, not Onyx."

"Why?" I demand, ready to argue.

"Onyx and her mates are in their nest. And things could get hostile if you tried to interrupt."

I wince. The familiar twinge of envy and yearning surfaces, but I"m adept at pushing it aside. "Okay. I"ll drive over to Montford after I see Darion Raptore. They'll all still be awake."

"I"ll call ahead and make sure Sven's up."

My heart pounds at the thought of the other alpha. Sven Mortenson. My crush is getting out of hand. Am I only going over there because I want to see him? Perhaps. Also, this is a perfect reason to go over there, I seldom get such good excuses.

I need to stage an intervention for myself. Clearly.

"Thanks, Simon. I"ll call you on Sunday."

"Mum's going to want to know why you aren't coming home."

"Tell her I have work."

"You tell her," Simon grumbles.

"Love you, bro."

"Love you, too."

Simon hangs up the phone, and I drive towards Darion's warehouse base. When I pull up in the carpark, Sven is waiting downstairs, his chin hunched down in an oversized jumper. It doesn't do anything to hide how cut he is. The alpha was a soldier once upon a time, and he hasn't left it behind him. I've seen his workout routine. I needed a mop to clean up the drool that I left behind.

His eyes land on me and stay there. I used to find the way he'd stare at me disconcerting, but now it's like a heated caress. Every time he does, it chips away at my iron control.

"Adrian," Sven moves closer, holding out his hand.

I peer down and belatedly take it. His skin is rough, thick with calluses and strength. He's got no hair; instead, shaving his scalp. And his hazel eyes are crinkled as he smiles at me. It's disarming and sends flutters deep inside.

"How are you, Doc?"

I sigh, trying hard not to lean into him. I abruptly drop his hand. "Could be better, Sven."

Sven puts a hand on my back and leads me into the warehouse. I would never tell anyone, but I love the way he touches me. The lingering way his fingers rest on my spine or my hand. God, this is pathetic.

We go into his office, where he hands me a coffee made just the way I like it. I sit down on his couch, and he sits beside me. The room has one window behind the desk and is plain to the point of austere. Nothing on the walls, the concrete floor is bare, his desk has not a sign of personality, and that in and of itself tells you everything about this man. There's just one oversized burgundy couch with a table in front of it. He puts down no roots, he makes no commitments.

I peer at him out of the corner of my eye. "I need your help."

"Mmm, tell me more," Sven almost purrs.

I squeeze my eyes closed, swallow hard, and force myself to recall the helpless girl in the bed. "It's bad, Sven. There's an omega who has been beaten half-dead. I might need some help for a few days."

Sven sits forward, putting his cup on the coffee table. "How bad?"

"She's been done over really good. Dozens of bruises, possible fractures and breaks. She indicated he didn't have time to rape her."

"He's going to be searching for her because she got away?" Sven nods almost at the same time as I do hesitantly. "Possibly. Working girl?"

"No!" I almost shout. "No, she's got this innocence about her. This wholesome aura, like she's not used to this world. Plus, she's too skinny, she's clearly not eating enough."

"Okay, so you think someones going to come for her?"

"I think so. Maybe. Either way, the last thing the refuge needs is trouble, and this omega doesn't have the ability to fight off an alpha."

"All right, I"ll come with you tomorrow."

"You, me, Angel, and Hazel."

Sven holds a finger up. "And Kandi."

"No-"

"Women who get hurt by men will feel safer with other women," Sven says with a shrug.

I can't protest that. "Fair enough. You're right, of course," I mutter the words with reluctance.

Sven peers at me. The silence stretches. His expression softens. "But how are you? Really, Addy, you look wrecked. Aren"t you sleeping?"

I shake my head. I am so freaking tired. "Not really."

"What's going on?"

What can I say? That I wake up after an hour or two of sleep and pace my house all night with this feeling that something is missing. "It"s just nightmares."

Sven reaches out, putting a friendly hand on my thigh. I jerk my eyes to his face, but there is no sign of flirting, no sign of anything but concern for a friend. I scowl at the door.

"What's that frown for, Addy?"

"Sven," I groan, "Don"t call me Addy."

He chuckles, the sound gives me goosebumps. "It's who you are, though. You"re Addy."

"To everyone else, I"m the scary lone alpha, Adrian. Or Doctor Shultz. No one else would dare to call me Addy."

"No one else knows you like I do," Sven murmurs.

I close my eyes. "Sven," I growl in warning.

Sven shifts closer, and for a moment, I feel his hot breath on my cheek. My whole body turns to stone. His scent is so faint it's barely there. He never will tell me how he suppresses it, but the licorice teases my senses, making me feel giddy. I inhale deeply and hold him in my lungs, and then the couch shifts as he sits back, further away from me.

Again.

Like usual.

I open my eyes and sit forward with my elbows on my knees. I can't help the bitter disappointment every single time this happens. It's torture.

"Addy, I"m sorry," Sven murmurs. "If I"d met you first-"

"Look, Sven, I"m not here for that. I"m here for the girl. I have to go anyway. I need to go wake up Montford."

"I"ll come with you."

I flinch. We both ignore it. I grab up my keys and lead the way out of the factory. We don't talk on the way over to the pack house. I wait behind Sven as he knocks on the door.

Angel opens it with a fierce glare. Detective Angel Montford is a pretty, pretty man. His eyes hold something hard inside them like he will gladly rip you apart. What he lacks in height he makes up for in an aura of danger. Also, some idiot gave this moron a badge.

"What the fuck, Sven?" Angel growls. "Does anyone in this city sleep at night?"

Soren, one of Pack Montford's two omegas, sporting pink and yellow hair, yanks the door open and turns away. "Come in," he calls over his shoulder, strutting in a direct tease to his alpha.

Angel turns with a growl and snags the waist of his omega, whispering in his ear. Soren laughs and pats Angel's cheek before pressing a chaste kiss to his lips.

"We need to speak to Hazel," I say to cut through their romance. I do not need to see this tonight. "Urgently."

"Adrian?" Hazel asks from the hallway. She still retains that delicate beauty, looking breakable, but her face has so much joy in it in now. The streaky brown hair is disheveled and in a loose bun, and her eyes are clearly amused, at what, I don't know. "What are you doing here?"

I clear my throat. "I was called into the Omega Refuge tonight-"

"Is Silver okay?"

I frown and glance at Angel. "Who? Who is Silver?"

"Oh, Onyx's sister, but nevermind, tell me what happened." Hazel looks away, her cheeks flushed.

Onyx has a sister? No, I"m getting distracted.

"I was called in because a girl was found beaten half to death. When she came to, she refused to give me her name, said she had no family, but she knew Onyx and Hazel."

Hazel puts a hand on her chest. "Me?"

"I"ve spoken to Simon. We believe that she's an omega by the name of Jade."

Hazel's eyes widen. "Jade's tiny. Who would hit her?"

Unfortunately, her comment adds more weight to the belief that this mystery omega is Jade.

"I"d like you to come in with me tomorrow," I say. "Angel, I"d appreciate it if you could be there, too."

"Sure, we'll be there," Angel confirms. "Can you go home now, so I can put my omegas to bed."

"Kandi and I will take care of security," Sven says.

"Oh, I have something for Kandi," Angel says to Sven. "Come with me."

I watch them leave, but it's not until Soren and Hazel have me surrounded that I remember where I am. Damn my wandering mind.

"Doc, I've never seen you take such an interest in a patient before," Hazel says with an undercurrent of pure mischief that makes me tense and wary.

"She needs help." Even to my own ears, I sound defensive.

"Yes, but you"re the lone wolf doctor. I can say on one hand how many times we've spoken, and here you are at my house in the middle of the night."

"She needs help," I growl.

"Interesting," Soren says.

"Isn't it?" Hazel purrs at him.

"What is?" I snap.

"You like her," Hazel accuses.

"She is so injured she can't sit up, and she can't be identified. She is weak and vulnerable. There is no liking right now," I protest hotly.

They exchange excited glances and turn back to me.

"Stop. I"m just her doctor," I growl in my most fierce voice.

Hazel deflates, but when she looks up at Sven, she narrows her eyes and glares. "Impossible alphas," she spits like a curse.

I turn around, moving until I can see Sven staring at me as he walks towards me. His lips creep up in a smile as his eyes drop down my body and back up.

I force myself to turn away and try to crush the part of me that has decided it belongs to him.

Because at the end of the day, Sven's in a relationship with someone who isn't me, and there's no room for anyone else. He has made it clear that it's never going to happen.

I need to get him out of my life forever. Whatever it takes.