The Accidental Assassin’s Mate (Omegas of the Shifter Mafia #7)

Chapter One

Sutton

“Home sweet home.” Tyrus pushed open the door to reveal a bedroom with a large bed, a loveseat and an ensuite.

Thank the gods. Sharing a bathroom with others made me bristly.

Other people’s dirt was not my dirt.

“Thanks.” I set both my leather duffles on the bed.

“I’ll leave you to get settled then.” Tyruss turned to walk away, but I clapped him on the back, not wanting to be left alone.

I never wanted to be alone.

Ever.

“Is there work to do? I’m assuming there is since you dragged me from my den.” I chuckled, and the other bear joined me.

“You don’t want to rest or take a minute to unpack? I know you had a long journey.”

I shook my head and trailed after him, shutting the door behind me. “Haven’t unpacked in years. I have to keep busy.”

Tyrus whirled on me. “Still bad, brother?”

Shrugging one shoulder, I nodded. “Some days are worse than others but we live to fight another day.”

“We, um, we have someone here the omegas talk to. Sometimes the alphas go to him too. He’s in house if you need to unload that shit.”

“I’ll think about it. What’s on the agenda?”

“Let’s give you a tour first.”

We walked through the place. Hammer and Pop-Tart were nowhere to be seen, but a toddler boy came from the kitchen area and plastered himself against Tyrus’ legs. He picked up the tyke and cuddled him to his chest.

“Sutton, this is my son. J. T., this is Sutton. He’s a bear too. He’s going to be working here now. Can you say hello?”

Instead of saying anything, the cub waved and smiled and then put his face back in his papa’s chest as his cheeks grew red.

“Bashful cub,” I said, tickling J.T.’s feet. “You’re a papa now, Tyrus. Never thought I’d see the day.”

Sprinting steps came closer, and a wide-eyed omega rounded the corner. “One second. I swear to you, it was only one second.”

Tyrus chuckled and welcomed the omega into his arms. “It’s okay. He was running to his papa.” He handed over the boy to his other father. “Be good for your daddy.”

“I was making him a bowl of yogurt and honey and then bam…” The omega’s loving gaze made me instantly jealous of the bear. “He’s about to shift. I can feel it.”

Tyrus nodded. “Yeah. He is. A little soon, but he’s a strong one. Sutton, this is my mate, Sloan. Sloan, this is Sutton, a new team member.”

“Nice to meet you. Are you ready for your snack?” he asked the little one. Tyrus slapped his mate’s bottom as he walked away.

Damn it. I wished I had an omega. I’d yearned for one for years until giving up on the idea.

Perhaps, it wasn’t in the cards for me. At least, that was how I soothed myself.

“Let’s get to work,” Tyrus said, and we walked toward what he called the warehouse. He explained to me that it used to be a big office where there were no walls or beds or anything. Just desks and workstations for the team.

Clearly, things had changed.

“Hammer briefed me,” I said. “But not for this.”

We walked into the dormitory and living spaces part of the compound. There were bunk beds and cribs and cots everywhere. Despite the number of people, everything was neat and tidy. I even spotted some toddlers putting away books and toys under the guidance of an omega.

“Everything is in its place,” I commented.

“It is. We work hard to keep order. Otherwise this place would be chaos, and goddess knows they’ve had enough chaos and uncertainty in their life. Pop-Tart runs the schedules and meal duties–even the classes and most of the inventory.”

“Damn, y’all call him Pop-Tart too?” I laughed.

“Y’all, huh? Forgot you were from the South for a minute.”

“The accent comes and goes. I’ve been far away from home for a long time, but get me talking about something good to eat, and it comes in full force. That and a cute omega.”

Tyrus laughed. “There are supplies to unload. Let’s go.”

We spent the afternoon being directed by Pop-Tart on where to put things. He’d come in with a load of supplies and food for everyone here. They took good care of these omegas. Someone should.

If anyone had seen hell in this life, it was them.

Doing inventory and helping Tyrus and the team out here at the warehouse was fine. It passed the time.

When Hammer called, I dropped everything.

He’d saved my ass back in the day and it was the least I could do.

I busied myself getting to know some of the omegas I would be teaching the next day. A lot of them were eager to learn computer skills and I’d taught classes at my clan, mostly to high school kids, but the method still applied here.

Damn, Hammer had really done it. He was making a difference in this world and in the lives of these omegas. I should’ve come sooner.

I took a break to go outside. The lion and the hyena were coming from the opposite direction. I assumed they were running or checking perimeters.

“You want on the schedule for perimeter checks?” Pop-Tart asked, sidling up to me.

“Yeah. Anything to keep busy.”

He nodded. “Sure thing.”

I stepped forward, noticing something in the tree line. “Is someone else running?” I asked, turning to the lion and the hyena who were now on two legs again.

“No. Just us. Why?”

“I saw movement. There.” I pointed to the trees but there was nothing.

“Probably just a deer or something.”

I cocked my head, taking in the scents all around me. There were so many that it was hard to decipher one from another. That was no deer. Huh. “Maybe so.”