Page 2 of Broken

Most people find out what they are by their early 20s. I’m just past 30 and no one has been able to give me a straight answer. It doesn’t help that I skimp out on all the ‘super cool things’ I can do—Gloria’s words, not mine.

Unfortunately, a creature without a designation is nothing better than a wild animal. I have no roots, no book to live by, and must figure out my abilities the hard way—through trial and error.

Which is a lot more difficult than it seems.

In a world of creatures, there are just some that don’t exist. They’re part of folklore and legend, years of stories twisted by storytellers’ imaginations and warped for future generations. I’m pretty sure I’m one of those but there’s no way to figure out that kind of information without inciting a riot. So, I’m stuck here, falling into whatever shoe fits—vampire, werecreature, whatever suits the public’s fancy.

I turn on the faucet and wash my face before brushing my teeth. My unruly brown curls need to be dealt with but that’s an issue for another time. After I find that sixth Omega. I’m determined to find her alive and figure out who the fuck is taking one of the weakest creatures in the food chain.

The moment I step back into my office, I remember Gloria is waiting there for me. “Mr. Lev, are you okay? You look a little sick. I don’t know. It was a bit warm in here so I turned on the air.” She shoots me a bright smile and I hope for all the world she doesn’t experience another terrible thing in her life. Unfortunately for me, it’s now too cold in my office, one of many things that I can add to the ‘I don’t know what I am’ pile.

Extreme temperatures? Perfect. Literally any other temperature? I’m either too hot or too cold. People just think I’m odd. I’ll let them continue with that.

“Feeling peachy, Gloria. Go home. There’s nothing for you to do here today.” There’s never anything for her to do here but I’m not leaving her in my office while I’m gone. I have no idea who will walk in here looking for me and leaving this girl here is the worst idea. “I’ll be at the precinct, anyway.” I stroll past her, rustling her hair before grabbing a coat and sniffing it. It’s clean enough.

“Didn’t one of the detectives tell you not to go there anymore?”

Gloria hears way too much for her own good. “It’ll be fine. I won’t even ask any questions.” I don’t plan on speaking with anyone once I step inside. I’ll just grab a seat and sit against the wall before disappearing into the background.

Literally.

So long as I don’t move, no one will see me.

It’s one of my favorite games—hide and seek. And I’m the fucking best at it.

Chapter 2

LEVIATHAN

As much as I enjoy information gathering, I hate the seat I’m currently stuffed into at the back of the precinct. The little waiting room that looks over the rest of the office has the best vantage point but it also brings back the worst memories. Moments after my father was killed, the monster that took him from me was dragged into this very precinct snarling and yelling that I would be next. I was barely fifteen at the time, hiding behind an officer’s desk but I couldn’t escape those amber eyes locked on my lanky form.

It was only the second time I caught someone’s scent and was able to pair it with a designation. Everyone thought my father’s killer was just a werewolf gone rogue. However, that man’s scent was nothing like my father’s, an actual werewolf.

He was something else entirely.

I’ve still never been able to match his scent with a designation but I’m still holding out hope that maybe one day it’ll come to me.

With a deep breath, I rest back in the worn office chair, eyes peeled for any useful information about the case I’m not supposed to be on. Nearly every officer in this precinct has told me to keep my nose out of this particular investigation but I can’t. Four girls have died and this last one might already be dead. No fucking way am I going to sit back and watch the police department fumble this shit again.

A shimmer of magic runs through me, a familiar feeling when my image disappears into my surroundings. I’m not invisible. I’m not a witch. However, my skin can mimic the colors and patterns of the surrounding area so I’m nearly impossible to see. Granted, it looks very strange when I’m clothed but I can’t very well sit here naked. One quick move and that little party trick will disappear just as fast as it came.

Despite the uncertainty of my designation, I find humor in spending my time at the edge of the police station, blending into the background. My job requires information and what better place to grab it than here? Officers and suspects spill bits of info when they think no one is listening, from a disgruntled neighbor to facts on a case to things that should never come out of a suspect’s mouth in a precinct.

The thought of getting caught only makes these moments more exciting and overshadows the dreary memories attached to this place. Slowly, I focus on the chaotic chatter and zone in on the pieces that I need.

"Another fucking Omega? This shit is making us look bad."

"From her own bed, too."

"That's not what I heard. The street camera caught her stepping outside and meeting someone. The image is shit so other than knowing the girl spoke to someone before she disappeared, we have nothing else to go on. No car. Nothing."

"That's not helpful. Vince is definitely in over his head this time."

My gaze falls on a petite police officer, Avery—I think—and her loosening grip on whatever trash she managed to drag in. Her partner is halfway across the office, chatting about last night’s football game, oblivious to her struggle. I’ve watched him do this more than once, throwing the rookie under the bus when she fails to complete what even the most experienced officers have a difficult time carrying out. Like keeping a struggling criminal twice their size in check.

Just by his scent, I can tell he’s some sort of shifter. A fox or a coyote, possibly but the special cuffs locking his arms behind his back keep him from calling upon any of his magic. Pure metals would be the one thing that Mother Nature can’t fight against. He looks every bit the monster that the man who killed my father did, adrenaline racing through me at my chance to flatten the bastard on the ground.

Avery grunts as she tries to drag the male farther into the precinct, the beautiful Fae slowly failing her task. She knows it too, by the way her blue eyes widen. The handcuffed male jabs backward, Avery ducking just in time to avoid an elbow to the jugular but that gives him the boost he needs. Not on my watch. He takes off, stupidly right past the small little waiting room. A wicked smile spreads across my lips as I stick my foot out, stifling the chuckle in my throat when he flattens on the ground. Avery is on top of him in a second, her partner bounding around the desks with the decency to actually look embarrassed.

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