Chapter 41
41
Hazel
Returning to the hotel after my visit with Logan, I wanted nothing more than to curl up with my pack and turn on a familiar movie so I could take a nap. Relaxing sounded like just what I needed.
Instead, Rhett opened the door and I was greeted not only by the sight of the rest of our pack, but Bowen and Silas as well. They were gathered around the coffee table, deep in a conversation that halted as soon as we swung the door open.
My pack was on their feet and rushing toward Rhett and me before we had the door closed.
Kellan reached me first, sweeping me up in his arms in a crushing hug and slamming his mouth over mine.
I lost myself in his kiss, forgetting about how I’d felt like I was leaving a piece of my heart with Logan, and the tight set of Rhett’s jaw as we drove in near silence back to the hotel.
Crew cleared his throat, and Kellan reluctantly released me for my next alpha to grab me. But Crew stopped short of kissing me, and out of the corner of my eye, I spotted Jude hugging Rhett.
Hands clutching my hips, Crew pressed his forehead to mine. “How is Logan?”
“Seems to be doing well,” I replied, thankful Crew had asked about my friend. “He’s put on some weight, which is great. He seems a lot more settled, too.”
“That’s wonderful, little one,” Crew murmured, finally giving me a soft kiss. “And how is my omega?”
“Better now that I’m with the rest of my pack,” I confessed, arms winding around his neck.
With a sweetly soft growl, he buried his face against my neck, scent marking me as he lifted me off my feet. I wrapped my legs around his waist, grinning like a lovesick fool as he carried me to the couch. He sat down, arranging me on his lap so he could cradle me against his chest.
My pack had barely settled when the door opened again and Oakley strode in. He looked from Rhett to me before speaking. “Everything go okay?”
I nodded as Jude pulled my feet into his lap and started tugging off my shoes. “Thanks again for going with us. It was good to know we had backup.”
“Any time, sweetheart,” Oakley assured me as he dropped into an armchair.
Kellan growled, the sound ominous.
Oakley only rolled his eyes. “Relax, bro. You know I’m not hitting on your omega. Hell, we’re the least likely ones to hit on her.”
I tilted my head, not sure if I should be insulted or not.
“Oak,” Crew snapped, clearly reading my mood.
Oakley looked surprisingly ruffled by the reproach. “Sorry. Not that you aren’t gorgeous?—”
Another growl from Kellan. I reached out and touched his leg. Tension coiled his muscles into stone.
“Not making it better,” Bowen said with a smirk.
Oak grimaced. “I just mean, my pack doesn’t do omegas.”
My expression must’ve shown I still didn’t get it because suddenly Oakley looked panicked.
I almost laughed because it was hilarious to see this mountain of a man unnerved. He came across like a block of ice or marble. Something hard and impenetrable. Unflappable.
But right now, he was sweating bullets because he’d accidentally insulted me twice.
“Still not helping, mate,” Rhett warned, leaning forward from where he sat on the other side of Jude.
“What my ineloquent pack mate is trying to say,” Silas stepped in, “is that our pack has decided not to take an omega. It’s nothing against you particularly, Hazel. Additionally we’d never want to dishonor Pack Dutton by insinuating you are anything less than spectacular.”
I smiled, but was hung up on that confession he’d tossed out like it was no big deal. “Why don’t you want an omega? I thought that’s what all alphas wanted.”
“Not us,” Oakley grumbled.
Bowen took a deep breath. “We’ve each had a bad experience with omegas in the past. While we know omegas are crucial to society, we’ve made the conscious decision not to pursue one.”
“Technically we were cleared for emergency omega placement when we worked with the FBI, but it’s not something our pack would entertain long term,” Silas added.
“Oh,” was all I could say.
Oakley muttered something under his breath before leaning forward and bracing his forearms on his thick thighs. “If all omegas were as sweet and kind as you are, we might change our minds. But some omegas are flat out manipulative and deceitful.”
“And you each met one of those omegas?” I pressed, my heart aching for them.
I couldn’t say I was surprised. I’d seen how cruel some of the girls were to Calla when she came out. Betas hated her because, of course, the Pack Dutton princess was an omega. But it was the other omegas we’d grown up with who were the worst.
It was pretty well known that omegas clashed. Something about pheromones or wanting the best pack, which usually meant the wealthiest ones who could keep them pampered and spoiled. And I’d watched them constantly sabotage Calla—and each other—in a quest to make themself out to be the best omega our age.
Did I love that my guys spoiled me? Absolutely. But I would’ve picked them even if they were dirt poor.
“Yes,” Silas confirmed grimly. “We’ve each had individual run-ins with omegas who weren’t the kindest. My mother was an omega, and when my father had an affair with her, she was devastated when he didn’t leave his pack for her.”
I couldn’t imagine finding one of my guys only to learn they already had an omega and I was the sidepiece. Then again, my pack wasn’t like that. There was no questioning their loyalty. I could leave them alone in a room full of thirsty omegas and I knew they wouldn’t even look twice at anyone but me.
“That must’ve been hard,” I told Silas.
“No, what was hard was the number of alphas she brought in to try and replicate the connection she’d felt with my father,” he corrected. His pale green eyes went hard and his focus wavered, like a memory had swept in and pulled him away. “Most of them weren’t kind to me or to her. They used her, and me… I was just in the way. A needy kid who just wanted his mother to give him an ounce of the love she showed them.”
I pulled away from Crew and crossed the carpet to bend and hug Silas. He wasn’t part of my pack, but I was an omega and he was upset, which made me upset. None of my pack reacted, but I could feel a little twinge of jealousy in our bond.
Smiling to myself, I pulled back and went back to the couch. I barely made it a foot before Kellan snagged my wrist and pulled me into a graceless heap on his lap.
He nipped my earlobe. “Stop being so nice, sugar. I don’t like it.”
I rolled my eyes and caught the soft look Silas gave me.
“Thank you, Hazel,” he said quietly.
“Anytime,” I answered.
“Not anytime,” Kellan retorted. He jabbed a finger at Silas. “Get your own omega.”
“We just covered that isn’t happening,” Oakley drawled, shaking his head.
Jude snickered. “More like an omega wouldn’t choose them .”
“I think we’re off track,” Oak grunted, his lips puckered like he’d sucked on a lemon. “Long story short, our pack doesn’t want an omega, but that doesn’t mean we don’t care about what happens to them. So, what happened today?”
“I talked to Logan and he seems happy with where he is. He said there’s some territorial issues with the other omegas, but nothing he can’t handle. And any place would be an improvement over the APA.”
Kellan kissed the side of my head as Crew’s hand latched around my ankle, like they both needed to touch me to remind themselves that I was here and safe.
“I spoke with Thane,” Rhett began. “He asked for our help.”
“What kind of help?” Crew questioned.
Rhett took a deep breath. “I was wrong about my brother and his pack. He explained more of what they’ve been working on.”
“Which is?” Oak’s tone was full of suspicion.
“They’ve been working behind the scenes to help omegas, but they want to do more.” Rhett frowned, looking deeply troubled. “His pack leader, Kyland, is obviously close to his father and, to be proactive, is learning as much as he can about upcoming laws. Jensen works closely with the male omega houses to do what he can to ensure they aren’t being railroaded by false promises.”
“And you think we can trust them, man?” Bowen didn’t look convinced.
“Yes,” Rhett emphasized. “I know it doesn’t make sense, especially since I have made it known that no member of my family was to be trusted, but this is the Thane I knew growing up. The alpha who wanted to help people.”
Crew cleared his throat. “How exactly is he proposing to do that?”
“Through the Omega Sanctuary your mother started.”
Crew’s spine stiffened. “So they want access to our program?”
“Could be a trap,” Oakley muttered. “They could be angling for more info on the Sanctuary in order to bring it down.”
“I don’t think so,” Rhett said, shaking his head.
Oak arched a brow. “You don’t think so? Or you don’t want to think so?”
I held up a hand. “I trust Rhett, and I trust Thane. Jensen, too. If you’re not sure, talk to them.”
“What makes you think we can trust them?” Kellan asked, no censure in his tone, just genuine curiosity.
“Because Thane’s pack is making headway with Infinity Solutions,” Rhett answered. “Because he cared enough to tell me to protect Hazel and be careful since she’s the one who could disrupt all their plans.”
There was a slight pause, and then everyone was asking questions.
“What the hell does that mean?”
“The fuck are you talking about?”
“We should leave now .”
My head swam as I watched each man grow more and more agitated. “Guys, stop!” My voice lifted over theirs, and—miraculously—they listened.
“We stick to the plan,” I said firmly. “We stay for the gala and leave after. I know you’ve all been intentionally vague, but what exactly is the plan for the Sanctuary other than giving omegas a safe place to land?”
“We didn’t want to involve you, baby,” Crew started.
“Am I still an omega?”
He looked puzzled. “Yeah.”
“Then consider me involved,” I reminded him. “Maybe now isn’t the time to talk about it, but the honeymoon period is going to wear off eventually?—”
“Not happening,” Kellan retorted.
I fixed him with a stare. “I’m going to need to find some way to spend my time that’s productive. I wanted to be a nurse, but that plan was shot to shit when I became an omega. But if Calla and Elizabeth are involved in the Sanctuary, then I want to be, too.”
“It’s definitely something we can discuss,” Crew spoke carefully. When I started to argue, he held up a hand. “I’m not saying no, baby girl. None of us are. And we don’t expect you to be a perfect little omega waiting on us hand and foot. We love that you’re independent.”
“Damn right,” Jude agreed with a nod.
“And there’s no doubt we’ll need more omegas like you to help us when everything is up and running. But the same way we discussed us leaving the FBI as a pack, we’ll discuss any other career or life choices together,” Crew finished. “Sound okay?”
I pressed my lips together. “Well, sure, when you make it sound all reasonable.”
He flashed me a wicked grin and a wink.
“How can the baby Anders pack help?” Silas wanted to know.
“By getting omegas out of bad spots on the East Coast and getting them to us,” Rhett replied.
“Whoa.” Bowen sat back, looking stunned. “That’s… they could be tried for treason just saying that.”
Rhett nodded. “Exactly. But the next set of reform waves are going to be worse. Even stricter rules and regulations while offering more incentives for giving up their children early for the government to raise and help find a pack.”
“Children don’t have a designation,” Jude pointed out.
“Infinity is working on a way to identify a specific genetic marker to identify them early,” Rhett replied.
Crew hissed out a breath. “It’s possible. I know Dutton Labs is working on something similar. Not as a way to take omegas away, but to use as a tool to help omegas and alphas start to identify emotions and changes that happen so fast when designations reveal. Part of the Sanctuary’s mission would be offering classes to help families learn how to help their children.”
“Which would be especially beneficial if the child came from beta parents who aren’t familiar with omega or alpha behaviors,” Silas reasoned.
“Exactly.” Crew leaned back on the couch, his thumb rubbing circles against the delicate bones of my ankle.
“It’s still illegal to move an omega across state lines without a lot of documentation,” Bowen pointed out.
“That’s why my mom has been having so many meetings with the governor. The plan is for California and a few other omega sympathetic states to enact laws preventing the extradition of omegas claiming asylum,” Crew stated.
Silas’s eyes went wide. “Seriously?”
Crew nodded. “We haven’t made that part public yet, but yeah. The governor is quietly working with the state legislature to get the laws passed.”
“That’ll piss off President Anders,” Oakley said with a smirk.
“It’ll piss off a lot of people, but it’s the right thing to do,” Rhett replied.
Jude turned to face him. “And where do your parents stand on all of this?”
Rhett grimaced. “Thane believes they want to do what’s right for omegas, but they’re playing the long game and waiting until my father is sitting in the Oval Office before pushing for any formal changes.”
Jude scoffed. “Of fucking course they are. God forbid they take a stand now when it matters.”
“I’m not defending them,” Rhett murmured, “but they did help us with Hazel. They petitioned the President on our pack’s behalf to help raise awareness about our omega’s kidnapping.”
“Only because it would’ve looked bad if the press found out they weren’t on board with their son’s missing mate. Do you think they would’ve helped any other pack?” Jude stared at Rhett. “Babe, I’m sorry, but your parents didn’t do it out of the goodness of their hearts.”
“I’m well aware,” Rhett bit off coolly. “I’m also not planning on waiting to see what they might do if they one day stumble into that office in the White House. My parents can’t be trusted, not fully.”
“Which leaves us with hoping some of the states are willing to support the Sanctuary’s proposal to shelter omegas,” Silas mused. “We’re rapidly running out of good options.”
Oakley rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s the only option unless we want our country systemically disassembled over designation rights.”
“Sounds like the lines are already being drawn,” Bowen pointed out. “This country is about to be ripped in two.”
“Which makes it all the more imperative that we work with Thane’s pack,” Rhett reasoned. “We’re only here until after the gala, so our best play is to observe everything we can before we return to California.”
Crew’s gaze slid to me. “You’re not going anywhere alone, baby girl.”
I cuddled back against Kellan’s hard chest. “You won’t get any arguments from me.” The last thing I wanted was more trouble.