Page 41 of Broken Dreams

“So what are you worried about?” Duncan asks drolly.

“A lot,” he confesses. “I don’t know how I fit into all of this, but I know I can’t live without Makayla.”

“Okay,” I murmur. Fuck, here goes nothing. “We have something to tell you that may help with that part, but I have a few questions first. Is Bret doing something to mess with your biology?”

“That’s a very specific question,” Linus says, surprised.

Good, he’s smart. I want him to begin moving in the direction of what I need to tell him before I do it. It’ll make it easier to accept, I hope.

“Mmhmm,” Duncan says noncommittally, waiting. We are very comfortable with silence. Neither of us have any trouble waiting him out.

It’s several minutes before Linus begins to speak, but he finally gathers his thoughts. “Bret injects all of his omegas regularly with some kind of cocktail that’s supposed to be a birth control for the female omegas. Everyone receives something so he can control our heats, as well as antibiotics to keep us healthy since we see so many clients,” he says. “He’s gone in and stopped an omega’s heat if it seems to be going too long. It hasn’t happened in a few years, so I suspect that he’s gotten better at limiting how long his omegas’ heats go.”

They’re not his. Neither are you.I hold the words tightly to myself, because I don’t want to interrupt him. Cutting a glance at my older brother, I see that his fist is against his lips. Focusing back on the road, I force myself to listen while only glancing at Linus occasionally in the rearview mirror. It’s safer that way. I don’t want to crash.

“Makayla and I suspect that he’s doing something to fuck with our senses. It wouldn’t be good business for us to scent match with an alpha visiting,” he continues. Bingo. God, Bret is such a manipulative pencil dick. “I don’t know what kind of agreement he’s striking up with alphas who come to the club.”

“I read the paperwork sent over to me,” I say, feeling my anger building.Breathe, Callum.“Alphas agree that if they scent match with someone at the club that they won’t tell the omega. Nor will they attempt to remove them from the club.”

“So much for that,” Linus says with a soft snort. The sound makes me smile in amusement. I really like him. He’s got a goodsense of humor despite everything, and I’ve also seen the fire inside of him.

I can’t wait to see the way he spreads his wings once he gets to experience his freedom. He may be my scent match, but I meant it about not clipping anyone’s wings. No matter how much I want to keep them safe.

I’m no better than Bret otherwise. The very thought contorts my face as I silently gag.

“Yes, well, we may have ignored that clause two fold,” Duncan says, seeing that I need a little help.

“Two…” Linus says before falling silent.

“When I walked closer to you to get water for Quinn, I realized something,” I say.

Just fucking say it!God, why am I so damn nervous? He’s absolutely going to freak out.

“Pull off the bandaid,” Linus says, gasping in a breath. “I need to hear it, Callum.”

“You’re ours too,” I say, feeling lightheaded. Fuck, it’s like when you get to the top of a rollercoaster and then get dropped straight down. It’s terrifying and exhilarating at the same time.

Makayla sighs softly in the back seat and I freeze, as does everyone in the truck. There are several tense moments before Linus speaks.

“She’s asleep again,” he says. “I don’t… I mean, we don’t get a lot of sleep so I think she may be out till we get to your house. I can’t guarantee it, but I’m hoping she is. This is something that you should tell her face to face. Seriously, we’re both your matches? What are the odds?”

“I think that’s one of the reasons Callum’s foot is so heavy on the gas,” Duncan mutters. “Jesus, slow down, man.”

Nodding, I raise my foot until it’s a decent speed and switch on the cruise control. He’s right. Getting pulled over wouldfucking suck. I can see Morris keeping up with me, staying close as we drive.

We’re both anxious to get to our destination and off the damn road.

“I don't know what the odds are, but I’m eternally grateful for it,” I tell him truthfully. “It’s clear that you’re very close to her. You know her in ways we don’t anymore. This wouldn’t be an uneven relationship. It’ll just mean more communication to make sure everyone is getting what they need.”

My mind races as the miles between Michigan and us grow wider. This escape all hinges on Makayla and Linus not having trackers under their skin. I’m going to need to run an app on my phone over them.

Ugh, may as well do it now.

“Trackers,” I grunt, handing my phone to Duncan. “Can you find the app I have to check for them and run it over them?”

“I never heard Bret say anything about trackers,” Linus admits. “It wouldn’t hurt to check, though.”

Duncan unbuckles as he turns on the flashlight on my phone, and gets on his knees as he faces the back seat, hanging over our seats to get closer to the omegas. My brother has a one track mind once he has a task to complete.

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