Page 73 of Feral Alphas

I pull out the radio. “Bring the Omega Center transport forward. We’ve secured captive omegas.”

The gnawing emptiness in my chest grows as we escort her down the hallway and out into the tunnel. A small coach bus with blacked-out windows rolls up in front of us.

The girl turns and rests one hand on her heaving chest. “O-4. There was a woman who went missing weeks ago; you have to find her. She has dark blond hair and green eyes.” She holds her hand up a foot above her head. “This tall.”

I smile. “Who do you think sent us?” Even if this girl hadn’t perfectly described her, I remember Rose’s former designation from our interview.

The girl slumps against the side of the bus and closes her eyes for a long moment. “Good. That’s good.”

I flex my shooting hand as I watch her climb into the bus. Hopefully she gets the help she needs and finds a loving pack. Same goes for Rose; they all deserve better.

Me? Well, I think I’m fated to be a loner.

The other OCB teams bring out more omegas and I watch as a gangly boy barely a teenager walks past. Male omegas are rare as diamonds, and I shudder as I think what might have happened to him if he’d been sold from here. That’s why I’m an agent. There are always more people out there willing to abuse gentle omegas. In fact there’s still some who slipped our nets at the underground fight.

The male omega eyes me from under dark lashes, probably never having met real alphas before. He’s about the same age my Harrison was when I lost him. My heart aches with fresh pain. Best not to think about some things.

I nod once to the boy, then slip my hand into a pocket and turn away. Yeah, I’m more attracted to the male body, but I like my men big and strong. Although I’d gladly help an omega through a heat, they always seem so fragile to me, like I could break one with just a touch. Besides, I’m a man married to his job, and I have ways to let off steam.

I run a hand through my black hair, loosening the damp sweat caked with dust. Today was a big win. There’s no reason for it to feel so hollow.

Chapter twenty-eight

Rose

My eyes widen as Leslie tells me the good news. “They really rescued the other omegas?”

She nods. “Yes, Agent Liam emailed me to say the place was raided and everyone you mentioned is accounted for. They’re settled at the Laversham Omega Center. Would you like to video call with them?”

Tears stream down my face. “Yes! Yes, please.”

Leslie smiles and taps into her tablet. Then she sets it down on a little stand on the table and turns it my way. A telephone noise rings for a moment, and then the video switches on to reveal a woman in blue scrubs. “Hi, Rose. There are some people here who wanted to talk to you.” The room on the other end whirls as she spins her screen, and then I see them, clustered around a table as if it was another day to play Uno.

I press my trembling fingers to my lips. O-9, O-18, and O-11, plus others. “You’re all okay!” Tears blur my visions. “I’m so sorry I was wrong!” For a minute, none of us make any sense as we break down, crying and talking at once. Fingers loom across the screen as if they’re trying to reach me from miles away.

“Tell us what happened to you!” O-9 says.

I glance at Leslieand she nods. “Whatever you’re comfortable with, Rose.”

O-18 scrubs at her eyes. “You even have a proper name now!”

“Yeah, although it wasn’t how I thought I’d get one.” The women sit spellbound as I skim through the details of the kennels and the underground fight ring. “But I got my scent matches, and I’m getting a real pack!” Fresh tears fall. “But all that time they lied to us, and I didn’t even want to question it.”

“None of us did,” O-9 says, swishing her luscious dark hair over her shoulder. “But thanks to you, they found us.”

O-18 leans forward, blocking the view with a grin lighting up her face. “You did what I asked. Agent Liam said you told them where to find us!”

I rest my hand over my heart, feeling it thump heavily in my chest. Agent Liam did my OCB interview, and he seemed nice. He also mentioned he worked with Colt. “I’m glad, so glad they found you.”

“Look, we met someone new after you disappeared.” O-18 tugs a young guy into view. “This is O-20.”

I wave and smile. “Hi!”

He hides behind the scarred teenager’s shoulder but peeps out shyly. “Hello.” The fact he’s with them at the Center definitely means he’s a rare male omega.

O-11 raps her knuckles on the table, her pretty face pinched with impatience. “Are we going to play or what? We can fit a game in before my pack comes for me.”

I choke, laughter and happy tears mingling together in my throat. “You’re right, O-11, they’re coming to get you.” Now it might be possible for her to get the ending she always wanted.

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