Chapter Eight
Ford
Chase was a good alpha, despite his age and upbringing. Ford had been worried that he’d take more after his prissy father than the strong omega mother who raised him, but every word and instinct he had proved the opposite was true. Wynna Walker had raised a damn good alpha.
“You okay, baby?” Chase sat by Lucky’s hip and ran a hand over his hair. “Does it still hurt?”
“Yes.” Lucky reached out a hand that Chase didn’t hesitate to take.
Ford stood on the other side of the bed, not sure whether to get involved. Lucky had said they were mates―which was the mind fuck of the century―but he was intruding on a bond that Chase had already partially started.
Chase kissed Lucky’s temple. “Can you sit up? We’ll get you a drink, if you can manage?”
Lucky nodded, clinging to Chase’s hand. Lucky sat up slowly, with Chase supporting his weight until he was propped against the pillows.
Chase lifted the cover from the bottom of the bed over Lucky’s legs, instead of asking him to move, and wrapped Lucky’s legs like a burrito. “Water or juice?”
“Anything.”
Chase crossed to the side table, where multiple refreshments had been placed. He grabbed a bottle of juice, two bottles of water and placed them on the bedside table, then left the room.
Ford arched an eyebrow at Lucky, who blushed adorably. “He’s awfully efficient, ain’t he?”
“He’s good in a crisis.” Lucky used the words Jesi hadn’t wanted to and pressed a hand into his stomach so hard that Ford’s guts twisted. He was clearly in pain, but holding it at bay. “Could you―” He paused, swallowed and wetted his lips. “Hold my hand?”
His feet moved before he’d decided what to do, crossing to the bed where he perched on the edge.
Lucky took his hand, holding on tight. “Squeeze as hard as you like. I’ve been at my fair share of shock labours, in the ORT.
Held a few omegas while they rode out the contractions, and all through the birth. ”
Lucky rested his head against the pillows. “Why does that make me happy?”
Ford laughed, stunned that it did. “’Cause you’re omega?” he guessed, figuring that was the only answer that made sense. He was about to say more, to give him a story that would distract from the pain, when the door opened and Chase walked in with a half dozen snacks.
“I wasn’t sure what you fancied, and since my mother is paying, I brought everything.” Chase smiled innocently while Lucky practically melted. With Lucky smitten and Chase attentive, Ford kept his cynical mouth shut.
Chase helped Lucky pick something light to eat, held the bottle for him to drink from, and fussed over his mate as a good alpha should.
Ford cleared his throat, instantly gaining Lucky’s full focus.
“I didn’t get the chance to tell you, but Jesi―the one who took charge,” he waited for Lucky to nod and admit he remembered that much, “he’s the only omega in history to become an ORTa, an Omega Rescue Taskforce Agent.
He’s here with something that will help you, but he also brought someone who wanted to see you, if you’re willing. You can say no.”
Lucky frowned and sipped from the straw Chase had put in the bottle of juice.
“Rafe is an ORTa, deep undercover in the Market, about to make contact with Tomlinson, who is―” Ford laughed at his own runaway mouth. “Doesn’t matter. Rafe is ORT. He’s been worried about you.”
“Why?” Chase asked, before Ford could get there. He wanted to ease Lucky in gently.
“Because Rafe is Scout. The trader who brought me to appraise Lucky.”
The weight of that information hung heavily in the room, with not even Chase speaking. It took a moment, no more than a minute, before Lucky passed Chase the bottle of juice and pressed both hands to his stomach. “I’m okay, if he wants to see me.”
Ford nodded, intrigued by the careful phrasing.
Lucky could be literal, meaning that all Rafe would be allowed was to step in and see he was safe before being asked to leave, but that might be enough.
Rafe wouldn’t be fit to continue working if he kept beating himself up about what had happened to Lucky.
Selfishly, he couldn’t afford to lose Rafe. Tomlinson was one of the biggest fish in the Omega Market, the head trader and the one who delivered omegas between teams and province borders. If Rafe could get close, they were halfway to ending the Market.
Lucky
Lucky’s head and heart were jumbled and nothing made sense for long.
Somehow, Chase was sitting next to him, he’d felt a mate bond with Ford, and Jesi was the sweetest, most comforting presence in the room.
When Jesi walked in with Scout steps behind, Lucky tried not to react to the feelings that surfaced.
This wasn’t Scout, this was an ORTa called Rafe.
That may only be a subtle difference, but it was enough.
Ford stood by the bedside table, arms folded over his chest, looking stern and protective.
Rafe stopped at the foot of the bed with an uncertain smile. “Hi.”
Lucky swallowed his fear and tightened his hands around the cover over his legs. “Hi.” As terrified as he was of reliving the last few hours, there was something hurt and broken about Rafe. His only instinct was to lift a hand and invite him closer.
Rafe hadn’t been the one to hurt him—he’d gone out of his way to keep Lucky safe, bringing Ford into his life and protecting him from Lincoln. As Rafe approached the bed, Lucky silently lifted his arms for a hug. He couldn’t speak, couldn’t even understand what he wanted, but Rafe hugged him.
“Thank you for taking care of me.” Today must have been difficult for an ORTa who had sworn to protect omegas. Rafe must have been conflicted—close to capturing a high-up member of the Market, unable to break his cover, yet afraid for Lucky’s safety.
Rafe squeezed him tight. “With the heat hormones, you may not remember, but I did everything I could to protect you. I’m so fucking sorry I took my eye off that bastard.”
Lucky smiled against Rafe’s shoulder, releasing the tears he’d been fighting.
“Lincoln’s behaviour and decisions are neither your fault nor mine.
If we believe they are, we’ll never get past this.
” He had to hold onto that or he’d start doubting everything he’d ever said and done around Lincoln.
He’d always feel responsible for something that had only ever been Lincoln’s decision.
Rafe squeezed him and flashed a weak smile.
Jesi patted his arm, consoling without getting close. “That’s a smart omega you got.” He clasped his hands and gestured to the door. “Okay, everyone out. I need to speak to Lucky, omega to omega.”
* * * *
Jesi waited until the alphas filed out, some more reluctantly than others, then grabbed the foldaway chair from the corner of the room and placed it beside the bed. He sat, crossed his legs and folded his hands into his lap.
Lucky sat in silence until Jesi reached into his shirt pocket to remove a small vial.
“This is a single dose of a drug we’ve been developing at the ORT labs.
We’re always working to counteract the drugs the Market are using or selling, but this one is only in its third of the eight trial stages.
As this is an emergency, I’ve been given approval to offer it to you.
” Jesi smiled when Lucky opened his mouth to ask if it was safe, if it hadn’t passed all the trials.
Jesi shook his head and lifted a finger to his lips. “Don’t speak.”
Lucky reluctantly shut his mouth, amazed by how this omega ORTa could be so softly spoken, yet command a room of alphas. That was a skill he wished he’d learned.
“This is Fugue, specifically designed to counteract OX, which is one of the most potent drugs the Market have ever released. If this works correctly, Fugue will send you to sleep and eliminate the components of OX in your blood. You’ll sleep for about twenty-four hours, and when you wake up, you should feel more like yourself.
For now, I need you to vocally confirm that you understand what I’m saying for the record.
” He discreetly gestured to the ceiling.
Lucky glanced up, trying not to be obvious, and spotted a black circular security camera on the wall. “There are cameras?”
Jesi laughed. “This is an ORT-run medical facility. You got lucky with a private room designed to feel more homely. We want you to be comfortable and relaxed, because spikes in adrenaline can make the OX rush through your veins, intensifying your heat.”
Lucky nodded, accepting the information. “I understand that Fugue will put me to sleep for twenty-four hours. When I wake up, I should feel like I’ve never had OX.”
Jesi winked his approval, then pursed his lips.
“Because you have your true mate, the OX will function differently. That’s to our advantage.
Normally, after being infected by OX, you would have seventy-two hours to complete the requirements of the first heat.
” His eyes positively shone with mischief.
“The combination of Fugue and a true mate eliminates the heat. We can’t explain why or how, but our tests show that you just need to be treated like an omega in heat, without the physical act of sex.
That’s why we created it. For people like you, who have been forced into a first heat before their time.
You’d be surprised how many kids we get through here from the Market.
Nobody wants a ten or twelve year old going into heat, and this miracle drug could be the answer they need. ”
“Could?”
Jesi bobbed his head, uncertain. “Like I say, it hasn’t been through the full trial. Trials on omegas in a real forced heat wouldn’t come until the final stage. If you’re willing, you can be the first human trial.”