Page 16 of The Alpha: Part Two
“She’s going to kill him. She has a plan. It’s a good plan, but she has to be the one to do it.”
Desir’ee isn’t like Talia. She isn’t like the rest of us. She doesn’t kill people. I can’t imagine her actively killing anyone. “What did she say? What is her plan?” I remember the twins’ plan. It was a really stupid plan. I’d never accuse Desir’ee of being stupid, but she’s more aligned with giving life than taking it.
Talia’s mouth tightens. “You’re not going to like it.”
“I’m sure I won’t. What is it?”
Then she tells me, and I’m considering changing my mind about accusing Desir’ee of being stupid. And I’m about to start a fight because I might just inform Talia of the fact that she’s just as stupid.
She must see it on my face because she quickly adds, “do you trust her?”
“Of course I trust her, Talia. But that isn’t the point. She isn’t like us. She can’t kill Flores. And she’s going to get hurt, or worse, if she tries.” I’m trying not to sound angry, but fuck, I’m angry.
“Watch it,” Devon says. He’s been very patient throughout the conversation, and he very obviously agrees with me about this ridiculous plan, but the general rule with Devon is that the only person allowed to be snippy with Talia is Jasper. And even that is pushing it.
“I’m sorry, but what would you do if you were me?” I ask him. “Would you be smiling about this?”
He considers that for a moment, then he crosses his arms. “No.”
That isn’t helpful. “How am I supposed to be okay with this?”
“You aren’t,” Talia says. “But it’s happening. She can do this.”
“She shouldn’t have to. You should have made her leave with you. Y'all should have dragged her out of that hospital. She should be here right now.” I try to reign in my anger and frustration, but my words still come out harsh and I can feel the snarl pulling at my face.
Talia takes a step away from me. She isn’t afraid of me, not really, but instincts are instincts and an angry alpha is a threat.
Devon takes a step forward, but I’m already sitting down in a chair before his foot touches the ground. “No,” I say very softly. “Don’t do that. I didn’t mean for it to come out like that. I would never hurt you, Talia. I’d never threaten you like that. I’m just scared.”
“I know you are, but trust her,” Talia sits at the other end of the table. “It’s alright, Devon. What would you do if you were in his position?”
“I would have put her over my shoulder and carried her out, but you wouldn’t let me,” Devon deadpans.
Talia glares at him. “That’s not helpful. Don’t be an ass. What would you do if you were in his position right now?”
He takes a few minutes to think about it before he answers. “I made a lot of mistakes with you. Mistakes that got you hurt and almost killed more than once. I should have done a hundred things differently.”
Talia starts to interrupt, but he holds up his finger to quiet her, then he addresses me. “You have to trust them. You have to trust your omega. You keep saying Desir’ee isn’t like us, but you don’t know what she’s capable of at this point. She lost everything all at once, but she’s still fighting for her pack. She’s fighting for you. If Talia came to me and said, ‘Devon, I’m going to kill that motherfucker,’ I’d believe it and I’d do whatever I could to help her. If Talia says she’s going to kill something, she’s going to.”
I open my mouth to tell him, again, that Desir’ee isn’t like Talia, but he stops me. “Your omega has called for a death. She deserves that death. And you are going to deliver it to her, however she wants it. That’s what we do. If she wants to kill someone, you hand her the gun. It’s as simple as that, Pratchett.”
It might be as simple as that for him, but he’s never met Desir’ee. He doesn’t know how wonderful she is. He doesn’t know how kind, how selfless and caring she is. I can’t imagine her aiming a gun at someone and actually pulling the trigger. He’s absolutely right about one thing though. I’m going to deliver Flores’s head to her on a fucking platter.
Talia pulls a folded paper towel out of her bag and hands it to me. I don’t know what I expected when I unfolded it to see what was tucked inside, but a lock of hair isn’t it. One breath tells me it’s Desir’ee’s. “What’s this?” I ask. “I know it’s her hair,” I bring the tresses closer to my face to draw in her sweet scent, “but why?”
Talia flicks a look to Devon. “Don’t get worked up about this.”
“I never get worked up.”
“Devon,” she snorts, “I love you, but that’s all you do. He needs this. It will help him. Don’t be a dick about it.” Then she gets up and stands behind me and to the side. “Tilt your head like this,” she angles my head and picks up a pen from the cup in the center of the table. I am thoroughly confused as she parts my hair and starts pulling at it. Then she picks up the lock of Desir’ee’s hair and I understand.
“I thought this might help with the separation,” she says as she continues weaving Desir’ee’s hair into mine. “It should stay until we get her out. It’s right by your ear, so you should be able to smell it for a little while, and you’ll know it’s there after the scent fades. She really liked the idea of it, too.”
Devon watches her fingers moving in my hair with mostly curiosity, but his tone is curt when he says, “Jasper wouldn’t like this.”
“You’re right,” Talia says. “He wouldn’t. And he might pout. But maybe you’ll help me talk him out of being too upset.”
Devon smirks. “This is how it’s going to be for you, Pratchett. They bat their eyes and make a lewd suggestion and you find yourself allowing the most ridiculous things to happen. You haven’t even marked your Desir’ee and you’re about to take on the entire West Coast Council and an underground operation; and worse, you snapped at Talia. Tisk tisk. I’d never do something that stupid.”
