Page 48 of The Omega Trials: Part Two

My grandmother’s warm, greeting face shifts to confusion, then her eyes jump wide with realization.

“Oh, my Sinny girl!” She squeals and pulls me across the threshold into a tight bear hug.

I can’t stop the tears that spill in droves at her warm embrace and nostalgic scent. The pilled fabric of her house dress rubs against my cheek, smelling of potpourri and fresh biscuits. She holds me firm and coos, “Shh, shh now. It’s alright, baby. We’re alright.”

When I find the strength to pull away, I sniffle and laugh at the same time. “I just missed you a lot, I guess.”

“Oh, how I missed you too, my love.” She pats my cheek tenderly then turns to the men, placing a hand on Titus’s shoulder. “And Mr. Crocker, it’s so good to see you again. I’m sure you’re laughing all the time with this guy around.”

I feel like I’m in some parallel universe as I flatly agree, “Yeah, he’s a real hoot.”

My grandma outstretches her arms, and now I’m positive this is some alternate reality because Titus warmly accepts her hug with a smile—asmile!

She gives his shoulder a knowing nudge when they let go. “Did you get a chance to take that new elevator, huh? Grinwald, that useless rat, finally did something for once.” She chuckles then bustles toward the kitchen, waving us over. “Now, sit, sit—I’ll put on some tea.”

I’m still frozen to the spot she pulled me into. Overwhelmed, confused, but so fucking happy I think my chest might actually split open.

Bishop takes my hand and whispers, “I like her.”

“Yeah.” My voice cracks, and he pauses to wipe the tear at the corner of my eye with his knuckle. “She’s pretty great.”

While we’re still by the door, I ask quietly, “Why didn’t Titus say anything before?”

He smiles softly. “It’s in the silent things that Titus shows his love.”

Then he gently pulls me toward our family, old and new.

Chapter 17

Loyalty

Titus

The moment Seventeen tells us we’ve been called to the Great Hall, I know another Trial is about to take place.

I keep catching Sinclair giving me these long, inquisitive, thoughtful looks, like she’s trying to reconcile the man I’ve let her see with the man who’d check on her grandma.

Now is no different. We’re the last pack to arrive at the Great Hall, and she’s surveying me from the corner of her eye. I wonder if she’s figured out the elevator getting fixed was me too. Pretending I don’t notice, I look down at the polished marble floors.

I remember how my blood looked pooled on the glossy surface after being lashed, how slippery it became, and an uneasy feeling sinks into my stomach.

The packs are standing in distinct clusters, but Paisley immediately waves Sinclair over to her alphas and her.

My hackles rise when I see the Beryll alphas after everything they put us through, whether intentional or not. Well, they didintentionallylie about Sinclair’s whereabouts so they could gather information to lord over us for the Intelligence Trial. But I can tell Paisley’s friendship means a lot to Sinclair.

I’m not saying I trust her completely, but I won’t discount the value a friend can play in a place like this. Especially for Sinclair; she has—hadno allies before us. At least me my brothers and I always had each other.

“Do you know anything?” Sinclair whispers, gesturing with a nod toward the Cyan and Azurite Elder standing in the front.

“Only that it’s a Trial,” Paisley responds quietly. “There’s only Loyalty and Fortitude left.”

I make eye contact with Bishop and Ecker, and we share an unspoken word of solidarity. Whatever it is, we will get through it together.

“Noble alphas and omegas,” the Azurite Elder begins. “I’d like to first congratulate you on making it this far in the Trials. You have all succeeded in proving your Courage and Vigilance. Now it is time for you to prove your Loyalty.”

“A long speech on the virtue of loyalty is not necessary, for it is one of the innate principles all great alphas are born with,” the Cyan Elder continues. “It is our nature to band together, to form packs,families,but that does not mean it is always easy.”

I crack my knuckles as I consider our Intelligence Trial assignment. How loyal is it to spy on our own members? Or to lie about it being a one-time break from tradition when we nowknow the Berylls were assigned to us? It makes me wonder if all the other packs were told the same thing, fed a crock of shit.

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