Chapter 16
SIXTEEN
Atlas and Athena are in the nest, resting after that whirlwind of a call with the Knight pack.
It’s clear Icarus is a brilliant research physician and cares about his sister. His theories seem sound, but they still don’t give us the information we need on how to handle this. Our circumstances are unprecedented, and honestly, the whole thing is a mindfuck.
I’ve heard of some packs with two Omegas, typically because they’ve already taken one and then meet their scent match. I don’t know of anyone who has taken two Omegas at the same time or had two Omega scent matches.
The problem is, even for packs that have two Omegas, those Omegas were never Betas. They were not forcibly changed into what they are now, fighting their instincts, or, in Atlas’s case, outright denying anything has changed when it is clear to everyone that it has.
It’s likely that reminding myself repeatedly how unusual this situation is serves as a coping mechanism, as I have no idea what to do now.
There is no plan for how to move forward.
I’m typically the logistics guy. I’m the one who takes our goal and makes it happen.
I told them we’d figure this out together, but after that fucking bombshell was revealed, that whatever Omega’s genetics were used to create Atlas and Athena was dead, I’m not sure if there is a way to help them accept their designations.
How could they, knowing that someone had to die for them to be created?
As soon as Icarus confirmed her assumptions, Athena froze up.
All emotion dropped from her face, her breathing slowed, like she was sleeping, and the only sound she made was a soft whine.
It was like she wasn’t in her body anymore.
Atlas took her away and left us Alphas metaphorically holding our dicks around the dining room table.
“We need to go after them. They need us.” Charles, in true Chuckie fashion, is trying to fit our two Omegas into rigid boxes that he’s been conditioned to believe are how things are supposed to be. He’s trying to force himself to be the Alpha his parents trained him to be.
But what does that matter if that’s not the Alpha our Omegas need?
“What are we going to do here?” I ask, rubbing my hand across the rough, scarred skin on the side of my face.
“We’re their Alphas, so we need to take care of them. We can support them,” he says, pacing the dining room.
I shake my head. “This isn’t normal Alpha and Omega stuff. This is way over our pay grade, and we still have traffickers to catch. Traffickers who may be looking for their successful science experiments or the doctors who made them.”
I’m not worried about them finding the doctors, though. The Hawks have them locked down.
I don’t like referring to Athena and Atlas as science experiments, but it’s no doubt how they were viewed by whoever arranged this. That’s why they were there. There is no way that their being turned into Omegas is a happy side effect.
This was purposeful, and their proof of concept, along with the individuals who could repeat the experiment, is now missing.
“Fuck,” Wyatt hisses. “I wasn’t even thinking about that.”
“Well, we have to,” I remind him. “It’s not only our Omegas who were hurt.
There are more out there who are going through hell.
The doctors swear they were the only ones running experiments, but the Hawks are still questioning them.
None of this even touches on Tyler and the Omegas he’s trafficking.
If we don’t get this figured out, the cops who have been paid to look the other way are going to crack and try to take this the legal route. You know what will happen if they do.”
The government of Lunarcrest City is more corrupt than most would believe. Kieran Cobb was greasing palms left and right. The Hawks do too, but at least we’re doing it for good reasons.
If this case gets handed over to the cops, we can kiss the hope of finding those missing Omegas goodbye.
“How are we supposed to lead an investigation with everything we have going on? We need time to adjust as a pack,” Charles insists. “To get them settled. We can’t walk out on them right now. They need us. We’re their Alphas. It’s our responsibility.”
“Chuckie, man,” Wyatt drawls. “What they’re going through isn’t something that’ll be fixed in a few days. We’re looking at months and years of recovery for them. We can’t put our lives on hold.”
“I’m not saying we need to put our lives on hold,” he says emphatically. “But we need to prioritize them for at least a little while. Do you think either of them will react well to being abandoned by us right now?”
Wyatt scoffs. “Atlas won’t care.”
“Maybe not for himself, but Athena would be upset if we left, which means Atlas will be, too.” Charles crosses his arms over his chest. “Say what you want about me, but you know that I’m right about this.”
“I hate to admit it,” Sebass sighs, “but Chuckie is right. As much as I hate that we can’t be a part of taking them down, we’re needed here at home. We can pass stuff off to Puck for a bit while we get them settled.”
“Hey.” Atlas walks into the dining room, looking more exhausted than he did a few minutes ago. “She’s asleep. I don’t want to leave her for long.”
“You all right?” Sebass asks, sliding Atlas’s half-empty energy drink to him. “Is she alright?”
Atlas shrugs and scrubs his hand down his face. “Yeah, no… Would you be alright, man? This is fucked. Everything is fucked. How can I help her when I’m going through the same shit myself? I don’t know what I’m doing here.”
“You could do what the doctor said and lean on us,” Charles says gently. “I know you don’t want to hear it, but you’re an Omega now, and that comes with-”
“Shut up, Charles,” he snarls. “I know how you view Omegas, and if you paint me with that brush, I swear to God I will strangle you.”
Charles slams his hands on the table in an uncharacteristic show of anger.
“No, you shut up, Atlas. This is something you need to listen to me about. You’re going through something awful and life-changing, I get it, but our hindbrains are going wild around you two.
Instinctively, we know what to do and what you need.
Quit being a stubborn asshole, if only for Athena’s sake.
Do you think she’ll let us treat her how she needs to be, like an Omega, if you’re constantly refusing us?
If you’re insistent that you’re not one?
Because if you’re not, she’s not either, right? ”
I’ve never seen Chuckie lose his temper like this, but I agree with him. Atlas and Athena are Omegas, which is a new development for all of us, and they need encouragement to embrace it in whatever way they can.
Atlas slumps into a chair and buries his face in his hands. “I don’t know who I am anymore. This isn’t me. This isn’t who I’m supposed to be.” I’ve never heard him sound defeated before. Even on our toughest gigs, he’s stayed positive, rolled with the punches.
Fuck, he went behind enemy lines, opened himself up to the possibility of being trafficked, and it didn’t faze him.
But make the man an Omega, and he’s falling apart.
“I can call Will,” Wyatt says, taking a few steps closer to Atlas. “He may be able to help you… adjust. He’s been beggin’ to see you, anyways.”
“That’s a good idea.” Sebass reclines in his chair. “Will knows what it’s like to go through what you did, and he’s an Omega. Maybe he can help.”
I can see Atlas rolling the idea around on his tongue, tasting it. “I don’t know,” he says eventually. “If Will knows, then it’s real. Then it’s out there in the world that I’m an Omega.” He turns to look at Wyatt. “You’ll have to-”
“Don’t worry about me,” Wyatt cuts him off. “This is more important.”
Charles and I exchange a look, knowing we’re missing a crucial part of this conversation, but not willing to interrupt when it seems like Wyatt may be making some headway with the stubborn man.
Eventually, Atlas nods tightly. “Yeah, okay. But maybe have him come in a day or two? I don’t know if Athena is ready.”
“You two don’t have to do everything together,” Sebastian remarks. “I mean, it’s okay if you leave her alone for a bit.”
The Omega scoffs and runs a hand through his hair. It’s longer than he usually keeps it. Would he want to go out for a cut and a shave? I should set that up. It may make him feel more like himself.
“You say that, but even being this far away from her is giving me indigestion. I don’t feel whole when she’s not around. I know you guys don’t understand it, but she’s a part of me.” He pushes back from the table. “I need to get back. I don’t want her to wake up without me.”
I don’t know what possesses me to do it, but I reach out and gently grab his shoulder. “Can we come with you?”
I’ve never considered myself as having strong Alpha instincts. Most of the time, my designation isn’t something I think about at all. But with the two of them, I feel the need to tune in more to that little, primitive voice hanging out behind my ears.
Atlas’s dark eyes observe me, but I can’t tell what it is he’s looking for. He must find it because after a moment, he nods. “Yeah, okay.”