Page 50 of Carmichael's Omega

I pull my phone from my ear and blink at the screen. Wow. Alphas.

"Gio," Mattie greets the young male walking into the apartment, rolling a suitcase behind him. I offer Gio a smile.

"What are you doing here?" Mattie asks, bewildered.

"Alpha Alex wants me to stay with you for the remainder of the semester," Gio says seriously.

"I love you, Bee," Mina says as she reclaims Alpha Alex's phone.

"I love you, too," I reply absently, trying to keep track of the conversation occurring between Mattie and Gio.

"I seriously don't need a bodyguard! I already told T!" Mattie protests.

Gio shrugs. "Alpha's orders. Besides, at least I still remember college. He almost sent Hank here."

I snicker. Gio is only twenty-four. Hank is our retired Gamma. He's at least eighty and almost blind as a bat.

"Tell Mattie we love him. I'll call again tomorrow," Mina says.

"OK, bye, Mina."

I turn to look at Gio. "Alphason Carmichael went to ClearHowl, Gio?"

"It took serious balls," he replies solemnly. "I heard Beta laid him flat."

I sigh, feeling upset on more than one level. "Do you want me to make smoothies?"

Gio grins. "Please do."

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13 - The LaNu Secret

Cassidy

Well, I should have timed my Monday-morning arrival back to the LaNu House a little better. I'm an early riser, and so is Gio, so I thought it was no big deal to have him bring me home before my first eight am class starts. I chose to come home this morning instead of last night. I wanted to spend as much time with Mattie as possible. I needed some twin-time.

I didn't figure on Rique's walk-of-shame, however.

Gio pulls up in the front of the LaNu House and walks to get my overnight bag out of the back of his SUV. He's already glaring at Rique as he shoulders my things.

Rique isn't backing down, of course. As I watch, he abandons his shoes and lets his t-shirt hang, unnoticed, over his shoulder. Muscles tense, and his step quickens.

"Who is this, Cassidy?" Rique asks, eyes narrowed on Gio.

Gio doesn't flinch, even from a Beta-Blood. He's a tough male, and I know he takes his job protecting Mattie and me seriously. I need to jump in before they decide that words are a waste of time.

"This is Rique, Gio. Gio, Rique," I rush out, almost tripping over my words. "Rique is Miranda's um... she's a sister... her boyfriend," I tell Gio. "Gio was sent here to protect my twin, Mattie, and me," I blurt out to Rique.

I honestly have no idea what I just said that was so wrong, but both males go DEFCON-1. Canines are glinting and bared, lips pulled back in snarls, claws peeking out of their fingertips.

"You don't need protection from anyone else," Rique says.

"What makes Cassie your business, fucker?" Gio returns hotly.

Rique growls. "She is my luna,pinche ojete."

Gio growls. "She's the ClearHowl Omega, jerkoff."

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