Page 54 of Feral Alphas

I grip the phone tighter. “Ms House, if there’s any chance I’m a match, I won’t be passing up the opportunity.”

Her breath rustles the phone line. “I hope you still think that when you arrive because this is a one-of-a-kind situation. Take down my number and contact me when you get here.”

“I will do. Thank you for the opportunity.”

As I hang up the call, I let out a whoop. “Did you hear that, Princess? We might have a scent match!” I fist my hand in the air in celebration, and then the euphoria fades. An omega held captive all her life in the underground? A shudder runs through me. What has she suffered? She needs someone like me to cherish her, and show her the finer things in life and—

The banking app lays open on my phone and even though it’s logged out, I don’t need to see the dollars for the truth to hit home. I’m in no position to take care of anyone since I’m struggling to take care of myself. Unwanted tears burn up the back of my throat.

“Fricking cheeseballs!” I slam my fist down on the armrest. I better strip the apartment and rent it out while I’m gone, and hope that this OCB agent has some cash to his name.

Chapter twenty-one

Colt

I flex my hands on the steering wheel over and over as I drive home. A headache thrashes through my skull after the draining day spent at the Omega Center, and I shake my head in awe of the sudden chaos. Well, they do say an omega changes everything.

Rose’s revelation dropped a bombshell into the organization, and into my own soul. The chances of her meeting a scent match in an illegal fighting ring would have to be one-in-a-trillion, and yet she claims two of those savage beasts are her soul mates?

I wouldn’t put it past her to make it up in order to save their lives. I think she’s already figured out that the Omega Center will attempt to move the heavens to keep one of their charges calm; happy omegas are their creed, after all.

If she’s lying, I wouldn’t blame her one bit.

And really, none of it matters. After the shitty start Rose’s had in life, she’s owed everything she wants, and it’s my job to figure out how to make the logistics work because she’s my omega. A visit with her to the Alpha Lodgings, applications to the Alpha Center, making sure I’m up to date with the rehabilitation license, and house renovations. I’m going to have to treat this like a work case in order to keep organized.

The Omega Center will contact the other alpha she’s matched with. I hope to God he’s a decent fellow who’ll get on board with Rose’s needs, not to mention Luka’s quirks. A bit of money wouldn’t hurt either. I can’t rely on that though, because I’ve been identified as the primary scent, and Rose has to choose me if she wants any chance at being with her wild alphas.

I just hope the ones she picks don’t include that bleached-hair mongrel who went for Felina’s throat. Adopting him would be hard to explain to my partner.

I glance at my phone on its dash cradle and frown. Luka didn’t reply to my text. I hope his phone hasn’t broken and he’s getting stiff knees in the foyer. Rain splashes down on the windscreen, and I turn on the wipers. The lamp-lit streets blur like a watercolor painting as I get off the highway and follow the backstreets to our little suburban shack.

I swear as I pull into the driveway and look over the small brick building. We have a room for Rose, but another alpha and two ferals? We’re so screwed.

I lift my jacket up to cover my head as I race for the front door, realizing with detached clarity that no house lights glow through the windows.

“Shit, it’s pouring,” I say as I swing through the door.

Emptiness greets me.

The wind blows a folded piece of A4 paper, sending it skittering across the floor and cold dread clamps my chest. I throw my bag on the side table and scoop the paper up, kicking the door shut and wincing as my bad knee throbs. Did the Arsenic Brothers find out about Luka and come to finish the job, or take to him blackmail me?

Luka’s tiny print greets me as I flip the page open.

Sir, I’m so grateful for all that you’ve done for me. Technically our contract expired years ago, but you continued to protect me. One day I hope to pay you back, but today the only thing I can do for you is leave. I know they won’t allow you to bring an omega home with me in the house, so I’ll take off now.

You were the best of masters.

With heartfelt devotion,

Luka

PS: iron

He’s even signed it with his safe word. A feeling I can’t identify races through me, like a wildness that threatens to burst out through my skin any second. I stalk to the side table and shove my bag away, grabbing a pen out of a pocket to scrawl ‘bullshit’ on the closed piece of paper.

“You fucking idiot, Luka!” It looks like my night’s only just begun.

I stop in the house long enough to take some headache pills and grab a bottle of sparkling water, groaning as I find everything neat and clean, but his clothes and a backpack missing from our bedroom. I’m wound so tight I really might have a heart attack as I throw a change of clothes and a sleeping bag into the car trunk, along with the precious papers I used to defend his ass today.

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