Page 88 of Verses and Blooms
“Oh, Chief,” I said, realizing where this was going. I had a feeling he’d come to this conclusion at some point. “It’s just that I’ve got my pack now. We have plans.”
He nodded in understanding. “Yes, I’ve heard about your plans to go to the coast and start fresh. Hell, maybe we’ll join you out there. It might be nice to get my girl out of the city once I have her back. And I knew this would be your answer. I’m not sure where you’re thinking about going, but I’ve got a few job leads for you.”
He moved to the other side of his desk and pulled out a file. I opened it and skimmed through the postings. The listings were coastal: California, Florida, Georgia, Oregon.
Then one in a small town right on the edge of a forest. It stood out because I didn’t recognize the base for the Alliance there.
“Is this new?” I asked, pulling it out of the stack to show him.
“It is,” he confirmed. “Recently opened after an influx of abductions in the area. There’s word there’s an omega-only community out that way that keeps getting targeted."
“What’s the deal with this omega-only community?” I asked, not seeing the problem.
“There’s nothing wrong with the community itself,” he said. “It’s the fact that others think it’s easy pickings. They’re running a whole homestead out there, thriving, and yet omegas in the area are going missing at an alarming rate. Alphas keep coming, thinking they’ll be the one to convince them that they’re the answer to the omegas’ prayers.”
“That’s disgusting,” I said, shaking my head.
“Corruption is a given in our line of work,” the chief said. “This is considered low-stakes on paper. It’d be a good place to get your boys used to the job and start building a life.”
“Thanks, Chief,” I said. At least he understood where I was coming from. I’d exected some fight to it but he found us the perfect place instead.
“I’ve spent years searching for my little girl. I hate that it cost you so much to help me, but I’m grateful. Not only that your omega was strong enough to recognize her in that file, but that you tried to find her during that rescue. That means a lot.”
“Don’t get sappy on me now,” I teased, huffing a laugh.
“Just know you’ve got a glowing recommendation from me.”
“Now, we just have to get my pack out of this fucking place. I’ve never been more ready to move somewhere new.”
“I understand,” he said. “I’m doing my best. There’s pushback from the network. They’re trying to claim they had no idea how bad things were here. To me that sounds like a blinding sign of neglect.”
“Is that supposed to excuse them?” I shot back. Their ignorance didn’t absolve them of any crimes.
“They’re grasping at straws to save themselves,” he said. “But after this recent information leak, I don’t think they stand a chance.”
“I could save us all a lot of trouble and just burn it all to the ground,” I muttered.
“That’s too clean for you,” the chief said. “We both know you’d rather watch them suffer.”
“Do you actually think they’ll face consequences?”
He thought it over for a second. “I’d like to think there will be retribution, but they’ll likely use Malik as a scapegoat. If they pin this all on him, they can keep up the things that worked, clinics that saved omegas, while hiding the rest. That’s par for the course.”
He tapped the papers holding the job opportunities.
“Assignments like this are important. We will never rid this world of evil, but small ways help balance it out.”
“All I ever wanted was to build a legacy. To make an impact,” I agreed.
“You’ve made an impact,” the chief answered firmly. “But this job cost me a lot. My pack, my little girl. I’m going to reclaim what I can of it. I want you to make a choice that doesn’t steal away everything you care about. Hold on tight to your pack, Aeron. Those omegas have been through enough.”
My chest tightened. I’d never been close to my parents. The chief was the closest thing to a dad I’d ever had. This was his way of telling me he was proud.
The radio on his desk crackled. He jumped into action as I froze, listening to Sanchez on the line.
“We need backup. Now!” Sanchez yelled. I could hear it through the comms along with screams.
I snatched it up before Chief could respond.
