Page 55 of Sawyer

Of course, her response isn’t what I expect. “You’re right.” In the next moment, lace panties land on Bryn’s face.

That’s when he breaks and grabs them. “Sawyer.” He moans. “This is torture. I want to lick these clean.”

“Good,” she mumbles under her breath and pops up a moment later. “You know we will have to hike these mountains and figure out what is actually going on, right?” She grabs a thermal shirt and pulls it down over her head, her hazel eyes serious.

It’s a thought I’ve already had, one I dreaded.

“Today,” I tell her as she climbs back over the seats, “we’ll see what’s in the woods, make it to the other club, and see who else is missing. My guys pulled up all the missing gammas from the last decade.” I rub the spot between my eyes. “I suspect it’s going to be a lot of the same.”

“Because the world doesn’t see us as people,” she says softly, climbing back into her seat. “We are disposable. If anyone files a report on a missing gamma, it gets thrown to the bottom of the pile.”

“I take that to heart,” I tell her, and I do. As a delta, I’m responsible for ensuring everyone has a chance at survival and a life they deserve, not one that gets snuffed out at another’s whims.

Hell, it’s been my entire identity. My only identity.

“You should,” she says with more bite than I think she’s aware of. “Deltas don’t take us seriously. They don’t see us as humans, but we are.”

What the hell am I supposed to say to that? She’s right. It’s why gamma unions exist. It’s why the new monarch works so hard to listen to them.

“Let’s go,” I mutter as I pull off the side of the road and head around the bend. More blue flashing lights illuminate the area, and several men stand in the road armed to the teeth. This is what the citizens don’t see, the side that many fear—armed deltas.

It recently came out that several had killed omegas in the past, and we’ve been working hard to rectify that, but really, everyone has a right to fear us. The bigger issue is that those men were doing as they were told.

We are soldiers, after all.

No one fears the men who gave that order, only the ones who enacted it. I stand by my men, and I will get between any order that compromises them. I always have. But I’m aging rapidly, and if I don’t bond soon, my sanity will go as well.

I park on the side of the road and lock the doors before anyone can get out. “Do not talk back,” I warn Sawyer. “Behave, all of you.” I eye Sin in the rearview mirror. He is not dressed for the hike about to take place, but I suspect he won’t care either way.

When no one argues, I take that as compliance and climb out. Two deltas walk up to me immediately.

“Sir.” One nods. “Thus far, we’ve found three remains.”

“How long have they been here?” I reach back and grab my bomber jacket hanging on my seat.

“They are at least a year old, maybe more.” The delta sighs. “We may need to call in the dogs.”

“Dogs?” Sawyer questions. “Can you not scent the remains?”

The delta looks at me with a raised brow. Now is as good a time as any to make this official. “Private, I want to introduce you to my pack.” Their eyebrows reach their hairline. They know a delta in a pack, with my rank, can bring them. Considering Bryn holds the same rank and Sin…well, Sin is an heir, there’s no fight here. “Sawyer, Bryn, and Sin.”

“Yes, sir.” The delta nods and turns to Sawyer. “We don’t have an alpha’s nose. With Bryn and Sin here, maybe you can pick up on what we can’t. Sir, if you agree, we will hold off on dogs until you sweep the area.”

“I’d hate to use dogs.” They are great, but at the same time, they might mess up a footprint. I’m also allergic to the beasts, and I’ll end up sneezing the entire time, clogging up my nose. “Good call.”

“Thank you, sir.” The delta preens at my praise, making me feel a little uncomfortable. “Your backpack is ready to go.”

The other delta walks off to grab my pack. Throwing it over his shoulder, he beams at me. “Congratulations, sir.”

Clearing my throat, I glance at Sawyer, who raises a brow. She still smells like us, and my lips taste like her when I lick them, something I do right now. “Thank you.”

Sin claps me on the back and wraps an arm around my waist. “Look at you, taking a compliment.”

“I hate you right now,” I mutter.

“But you need my nose.” He taps the side of his nose before he walks up to one of the deltas. “Got a change of clothing?”

I nod at the delta, who again looks back at me for confirmation.

---