Page 17 of Faith and Fury

“Somehow I doubt that.” Faith doesn’t seem to be the sleep-in type. I just hope she got some rest in after our midnight chat—I’m not sure how much longer I can look at those dark circles under her eyes before my inner alpha snaps.

She’s not your omega, I keep reminding myself. She’s just … an omega. In your den.

I’m surprised to see Caleb pluck his work clothes out of the closet—a dark green turtleneck, tailored utility pants. After everything that happened last night, I assumed we’d spend the day with Faith.

When I ask, Caleb responds, “You and Micah can hold the fort. I need to get back to HQ—tell the squad what we know. Plus, Faith’s results should also be coming in around lunch, and I wanted to pick them up personally.”

“Her results—” I stop. “You had the hospital run a screen?”

“She was already sedated. Seemed like the best time.”

He’s not wrong, but still, it’s not exactly good form to run a battery of medical tests without the patient’s consent.

Caleb notes my look. “I thought she was feral at the time.”

“Yeah.” I shrug. “You made the right call.”

He seems unconvinced. Or maybe I’m the one who’s still unconvinced.

Before he can say anything else, Micah walks out of the bathroom, ruffling his hair with a towel. “Morning, guys.” I guess he doesn’t miss the lingering tension, as he tentatively asks, “Someone check on Faith already?”

I get to my feet. “Just about to.”

Caleb blocks me on my way to the door. For the first time since I can remember, I have to fight the urge to bare my teeth at him.

“Shower first,” Caleb says. “Then, you can see the omega.”

Glowering, I cast my gaze to Micah. He nods in confirmation.

“Sorry, Jax,” he tells me, “but you … kind of reek of alpha.”

Well that tracks. One night with an omega in the den and I’m already letting my instincts take over.

I shoulder past them on my way to the bathroom, not wanting to stick around for the inevitable lecture. This is just a job, Jax. Faith already has a mate, Jax. Don’t get too attached, Jax.

I crank the water so it’s cold, as cold as it can get, and force myself to stand there.

Somehow, still feeling warm.

Chapter Eleven

Micah

I’m staring. Arguably the worst thing I could do, given Faith’s history, but I can’t help myself.

She is quite something.

“I wasn’t sure what you liked,” I say sheepishly, gesturing to the plates of food on the kitchen counter. “So I made a bit of everything.”

Faith doesn’t so much as glance down. As long as I’m speaking, or even moving, her sharp blue eyes are on me.

Thankfully Jaxon breaks the ice, tearing in like an alpha starved. Caleb picks up a couple pieces of toast on his way out the door. He shoots me a look, his gaze probing, making sure I’m going to be okay.

Faith might not be feral like we thought, but she’s still a rogue omega with a lot of trauma. That’s just something I’m going to have to process.

I give him a short, appreciative nod.

It’s a pretty slow morning. After we finish eating, and Jaxon finishes polishing off whatever me and Faith don’t eat, I clean up the kitchen and resolve to make her feel more at home.

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