Page 18 of The Omega Project

I nod, since we have a thick file on Rick Wagner, including the shady deals he does out of his sports bar and the kickbacks he takes from the cops when he sells out his patrons’ secrets. “He also said he has incriminating stuff on both Emily and her sister, Claudia.”

“Digital?”

“Didn’t say, but I’ll start digging.”

“Put a team on it.” He nods and gets to his feet. His movements are as smooth and efficient as usual, but I can tell his afterglow is fading fast. The suppressed violence he’s been carrying around since he arrived settles back over him like armour, and I quirk a brow at him. “You want the green light on this guy?”

“He’s a mission, but not the main mission.” A distinction we’ve made plenty of times in the past when we’ve run up against a particularly nasty individual. Between us, we always have a dozen targets on the backburner, but from the look on Creed’s face, we’ll need to move Rick Wagner closer to the top of the list. “He thinks he owns her, Finn, and he plans to do something about it.”

I shrug and get to my feet. Guys like that are always thinking something until they come face-to-face with reality, which inthis case, is the full force of my attention. “And we’ll deal with him. But right now, we need to take the next step, Creed.”

This time, he doesn’t argue with me. “Lang should have finished the tour by now. You sure you don’t want me to come with you?”

I reach out and grip his shoulder. “You’ve done your part, brother, now let me do mine.”

Emily

“Hey, Emily. How are things going? Derek told me you were starting today.”

I’ve been sitting at the desk Langston gave me for less than an hour, but I instantly perk up at the sight of Clark Robinson’s face smiling down at me. He wears his silver-blond hair in a fashionable fauxhawk, and like always, Derek’s former housemate is in a smart suit that accentuates his lean build and striking looks. He’s an omega, but his scent is light and pleasant, like peppermint tea with a hint of vanilla. More importantly, he’s one of Derek’s favourite people, and I really appreciate that connection right now.

“Want to come into the breakroom and grab a coffee?”

I give a vigorous nod, grabbing my phone and security badge off my desk and following him towards the small kitchen. There are about twenty desks spread across the floor, all with state-of-the-art workstations, although most of them are empty today. Langston introduced me to Tony Gann, the project lead and my boss, and I chatted to a few of the other team members who crossed our path. They all seem like bright, capable people and while they were polite about my thesis, I have to wonder what exactly I can bring to the table. Not that I had any hangups about my own abilities – I’m a strong researcher and give my all to any project. But the team is obviously doing complex, important research, and I want to make sure I don’t let anyone down.

“Are things good with your pack?” I ask as Clark expertly coaxes the coffee machine into producing a couple of frothy cappuccinos.

“Great, actually.” Clark hands me a coffee and snags a couple of raspberry muffins from the staff fridge. “Kat’s court case has wrapped up, so she’s training to defend her title next year. A fighting Kat is a happy Kat.”

I nibble on a muffin, watching him with wide eyes. A few months ago, Clark’s packmate Katrina ‘Knockout’ Nicks won the welterweight championship match, but when she came out as a beta who switched to an omega, the boxing federation tried to strip her of the title. The fans went nuts, and the case ended up in the courts. I was glad to hear the decision was reversed and her win upheld, although I’m also curious about his connection to the project. “So, that’s why you’re here? Because she’s a switch?”

“We both are. I triggered her first, actually.” He tilts his head, smirking at some memory. “You could say we brought out the unexpected in each other.”

I sip my coffee, fighting down a pang of jealousy. Not because he’s a switch and has the rare ability to change designations, but because he’s so clearly found the person who puts that sparkle into his eyes. “I’m glad you’re happy.”

“Thanks, although the switch part kind of snuck up on me. One moment I was certain I was ace and would never be attracted to anyone, and then I met Kat and Jordan, and I was suddenly very,veryinterested in being the sweet filling in a beta sandwich.”

Derek instantly springs to mind, and I can feel my cheeks burn when I think about what we did on Clark’s couch last night. But sitting here talking to him is a bit like tuning into a TV documentary on famous packs. The things he’s describing areout of reach of ordinary betas, in the same way marmalade toast doesn’t have a lot in common with exotic sandwiches.

“And your alphas?” I ask, because at heart I’m a sucker for a love story. “How was it going from single life to a packhouse with so many big personalities?”

It’s common knowledge, given the rabid sports media, that Clark is also mated to two international rugby players and an Argentinian ex-polo player who owns a rum empire. All three of the men are the height of masculine attractiveness, and while the idea of a beta sandwich is tempting, the thought of an alpha smorgasbord has me plucking at the collar of my shirt.

“Big is definitely a word for them,” Clark muses, but he’s smirking as if he can read my mind. “Luckily, Roman bought us a size-appropriate house so there’s enough room to accommodate all their egos.” I laugh and take a bite of my muffin, but Clark’s eyes have narrowed on my face. “What about you, though? No alphas on your horizon?”

I can’t stop my gaze flicking to the door of the break room, but I shake my head. “Not for me.”

“You don’t like alphas?” Clark clears his throat and sits back, looking slightly bashful. “I’m sorry if that’s a bit nosy, but you’ve always struck me as such a kind, capable person. Like Derek, you’d definitely be an asset to any pack.”

I smile, pleased that he’s championing our mutual friend. If anyone deserves the support of a strong pack it’s Derek, especially after his idiot friends ghosted him in high school.

“I don’t have anything against alphas,” I reply, “but I grew up with a very dominant, manipulative father. He destroyed my mother when he left, and I’ve always vowed that I’ll be an equal in any relationship.” I think of Rick, but if Derek hasn’t told Clark about my ex, I definitely don’t want to bring him up. “Power isn’t just dangerous in the wrong hands, it’s devastating.”

Clark’s face softens with sympathy. “I’m sorry that happened to your family.” But then he leans forward, his lips curving up like they do when he has a great idea. “You and Derek should come by the gym. With Creed’s help, we’ve just launched classes for the victims of designation abuse. Along with the usual self-defence skills, Kat and Tate are teaching them how to resist alpha commands.”

“You’re kidding.” I almost drop my muffin in surprise. “Creed is helping with that?”

“It’s his program. Or more accurately, he was the one who taught my mates.” He leans further forward, his eyes sparkling now. “I’m not the biggest fan of overly dominant alphas, but Creed is a good guy under all those eye-watering pheromones.”

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