Chapter 28
Gage
I’ve never met a pushy omega before, but Auryn is trying my patience.
I understand her desire to rush out and rescue Em. To find her injured mate and protect him. I get it; I really do. Time is of the essence … but she’s so small. So tiny. The thought of her racing into a house full of vicious alphas terrifies me. Me. Terrified.
Sometimes being the guy in charge sucks. Who’s left to comfort me when everything goes to shit?
I shake my head to clear it and make a sweeping gesture at the weapons locker. “Well? Take your pick.”
Auryn gives me a suspicious glare. She doesn’t trust much, despite us showing her the best care we can these past few days. Again, it’s something I understand on a primal level. She’s been through so much, endured so much, and until we can eradicate the Orions, she’ll never be free of that pain and suspicion. She’ll always be guarded until she can truly trust that she is safe. And safety means the return of her mate, and the heads of the men who took him away. I get it.
“You’re giving me … guns?”
I shrug. “Guns, knives. Hell, you can have a couple fucking swords if you want, though they’re not as practical as they might seem. They give you reach, but inside the house, they won’t be as useful in those tight quarters. I recommend some knives, maybe a couple guns, too. But I won’t stop you if you really want a sword.”
Her eyes sweep the shelves and wall displays. Though there are only three of us here–four if you count Olly, who does know how to use everything in here in a pinch–we’ve got enough arms and armor for a whole fucking brigade. These are more for when we’re hunting runaway alphas, hunting more dangerous targets who need more … coaxing than omegas to bring in.
Auryn reaches for a handgun mounted on the wall, eyeing me sideways as though she expects me to stop her. Instead, I help her get the gun down and start going over the safety brief.
Even though it’s been ages since I last had to give this brief–not since Olly first arrived here–the information is hard-wired in my brain. I could give a safety class on every single weapon in here in my sleep, and whoever listens is likely to end up with more expertise than some military veterans. I don’t leave anything out, don’t sugarcoat the dangers of the weapons, and I don’t stop until I’m sure my “student”
fully understands every aspect of using them.
Our omega’s eyes widen as I drone on, but I can see the intelligence in them, can see her interest and determination. She fully intends to make Sneed pay, and she understands that knowing how to use the gun is Step One in achieving that goal.
When I’m certain that she’s retaining my information, I have her demonstrate on a target in the back of the room. Her hands tremble at first, but after firing off a few rounds–with a little redirection and stance adjustment from Diego and me–she seems more sure of herself. Her aim is better, and she actually seems to have calmed down from her earlier rage and panic.
“Okay,”
I say as I step back, satisfied that she’s absorbed as much as possible for now. “Which one next?”
Her jaw gapes open. “You’re letting me have more than one?”
“Of course. I said ‘guns’ and ‘knives,’ plural. What did you think I meant?”
“Have you ever let an omega handle these before?” she asks.
Diego cracks a grin. “No, mi amor. You’re the exception. Most omegas don’t insist on barging into dangerous places to rescue their mates.”
“How can they not?” she asks.
The simple question catches me off guard. Omegas don’t do danger. They just … don’t. For her to not only want to risk her life to save Emmett but also to question the actions of every omega who has come before her, to question a basic fact about omega personalities … It’s unreal.
From the look on Diego’s face, he’s just as shocked as I am. We stare at each other for a moment before either of us can respond.
“You see, princesa, most omegas crave safety. They want to be loved and protected. I–I don’t know how else to explain it.”
“Well, most omegas are dumb.”
She picks up a serrated knife and holds it out to me. “Show me how to use this.”
It’s about as far from a question as you can get. She’s not asking; she’s demanding. “Well, first thing’s first: Aim the pointy end at the bad guy.”
I reach over and take the handle from her fingers, careful not to slice my arm open in the process. “Unless, of course, you’re handing it to someone. In that case, handle first. Always.”
“Oh.”
Diego pats her head. “It’s okay, baby. You’ll learn.”
“Can you take over here, Diego? I want to check on Olly.”
“Sure, boss.”
“Auryn, pick a few more. We can outfit you with something to help you carry everything, but having options will be good for you. Diego knows as much as I do about the safety briefing on everything here, so he can teach you.”
She nods, but her eyes never leave Diego’s hands as she watches him demonstrate some of the grips and attacks with her chosen knife.
Confident that Auryn’s in good hands, I amble down the hall to Olly’s lab. He took fresh samples from Auryn a few minutes ago, and I’m curious if he’s found anything yet.
In another spectacular demonstration of how fucked up life is today, I discover Olly in as close to a rage as I’ve ever seen him.
He’s got papers strewn everywhere, broken slides lie on the floor, and he’s standing in the midst of it all, his chest heaving with deep, ragged breaths, his hand in his hair, gripping it tight.
“Whoa!”
I say, holding up my hands in surrender as he wheels on me. “What the fuck happened here?”
“It’s right there, but it keeps disappearing!”
I blink because I have no idea what he’s talking about. “What keeps disappearing?”
He grunts with frustration and kicks a trash can. “The fucking protein! It’s not omega, but it’s … It just won’t fucking hold still!”
Taking a few cautious steps towards him, I reach for his arm. “Olly, do I need to get Auryn?”
Normally, I’d handle his meltdowns myself, but she might be a better choice in this instance, especially since she seems to be the source of his frustration. Not to mention, I’ve noticed the effect she has on Olly. He’s never been the most relaxed guy, but when she’s around, he seems a bit more at ease. “Maybe you can take new samples?”
“What’s the point? I can’t fucking isolate it.”
His shoulders slump, and I hope that means he’s nearing some semblance of calm. “I can’t isolate it.”
Maybe I can distract him. “Is she pregnant?”
I ask, trying to keep my voice even.
“Huh?”
I nod to one of the broken slides. “Is Auryn pregnant? Did–Did last night work?”
Olly blinks. It’s like my words don’t make any sense to him.
“Why would she–”
Then his expression changes. He scowls at me. “You were trying to get her pregnant? Gage, that’s not fair—”
“You think it’s fair to us if she risks her life today?”
I cross my arms over my chest. “If she’s pregnant, at least we’ll have the upper hand when it comes to getting her to stay. Jesus Christ, Olly, I’ve got her picking out fucking guns and knives to take with us to the Orions’. Give me something to keep her here.”
Olly frowns and mimics my pose. “No.”
His voice is solid and almost challenging. I blink in confusion. What the fuck?
“No to her being pregnant, or no to keeping her here?”
“Both.”
Fuck my life. First Auryn’s defying me, now Olly is. I can’t catch a fucking break. “Olly, she could get hurt again if she goes with us.”
Then his answer sinks in, really sinks in, and I think I’m going to lose my shit.
“Wait … You said ‘no’ to both? She’s–she’s not pregnant?”
“No. She’s not.”
She’s not pregnant. “You tested for it?”
Olly’s face turns red. “Of course I fucking tested for it! She’s barely forty-eight hours post heat.”
He shifts his stance, his scowl and posture more prickly than before. “You think I want her to go?”
Oh, shit. Out of one meltdown and into another. “Olly–”
Tears suddenly stream out of his eyes, and he clenches his hands into fists at his sides. “She’s so small and fragile, but so fucking strong, it’s insane. And I don’t just mean mentally, Gage. She choked Em before. Hell, she’s thrown me down before, and we both know omegas don’t have strength like that, but her…”
His eyebrows screw up, and his fists shake. “Here she can be like that, but there—”
His shoulders tense as another sob commences. “I don’t want her to end up like that omega you brought me, Gage. I can’t, I—”
I take one step toward him, worried he will break. He growls in frustration and holds his hand up to stop me. “I just want to keep her safe and comforted, and I can’t do that when Emmett’s in danger. And the one thing, the one thing that might have kept her here isn’t real. It’s not a fact, not true, so there’s nothing to stop her from running off and endangering herself, and I don’t know how to handle this!”
Shit. Olly’s rambling. Olly doesn’t ramble unless he’s spouting off facts. This is not good.
“Come with us, Olly.”
The words come out of nowhere. I expected Olly to come with. He always comes with on this kind of mission, and I’ll especially need him if Emmett’s hurt as badly as Auryn claims. I shouldn’t even have to ask.
“Come with us and protect Auryn.”
Olly stops. Sniffles. Wipes the back of his hand across his nose. “What?”
An idea starts to percolate in my head. I’d assumed Olly would be storming the house with us, but what if … What if he stays back at the car? Would Auryn stay to protect him, or am I just hoping for too much?
“Olly, I have an idea. We might both get what we want.”
And with that, I start to tell him my new plan.