Annie Nicholas - Omegas In Love

Tyler understood Sugar’s desire to stay human. He’d never been given a choice. Some mongrel had made it for him years ago, just after he’d graduated from high school. Since then he’d been struggling to find normal, and almost had it until this afternoon.

“Wait in the van,” he told the boys. “We may still need your help.” Before bending under the blockade, he braced his ribs. Who knew what would happen next. Best to keep as many Vasi around as possible.

An officer intercepted him.

Tyler raised his hands, then pointed to the house. “I live here.” He was dead on his feet. All these strangers streaming in and out of his home meant he probably wouldn’t get to sit down.

“He lives here.” Robert’s declaration carried over the low din of noise and confirmed what he’d just said. His packmate, champion of Vasi omegas, waved him over.

The young officer removed a notepad from his pocket and wrote down Tyler’s name. He instructed him to stay out of the house and remain with the others until they made their statements.

Counting heads, Tyler noticed someone vital missing. He limped toward Eric and Robert.

The whites showed in Eric’s eyes; he panted as if he couldn’t catch his breath, and a sheen of sweat covered his skin. “The bastards took Spice.”

Tyler’s aching ribs turned into a cage of ice. Deep down inside, he knew her absence meant something bad.

Fuck.

“Where’s Katrina?” Eric barked the question.

Tyler winced at his rough tone. “Gone. We were attacked on the street in Chinatown. An Asian pack took her.”

Only then did his alpha really look at him. “Stay quiet, don’t tell the cops. Not yet. We need to get out of here ASAP and start the search.” Eric ran a hand over his face, then glanced at their newest pack member, Esther. “Stay with Daedalus until nightfall. Make sure he doesn’t go vigilante until we’ve more information.”

She nodded. “I know how to take care of vampires.” Esther used to be a slayer. She batted for the monster’s side now that she was one.

“Gather the pack, Robert. I’ll need them once I know where to attack.”

“Got it.”

Taking a deep breath, Eric glanced at Tyler. “We’ll get them back.”

Two females of their pack had been taken and another hurt, all from their inner circle of friends. “How bad is Sugar?”

“Bad. Sam will call with details as soon as he knows something.” Eric gave Esther an impatient look. “We need to go.”

She waved to an older officer, tears suddenly streaming from her eyes. “Can we make our statements now? He’s hurt.” She pointed to Tyler. “We’d like to take him to the hospital and also check on our–” Sobbing loud, she cried into her hands, her shoulders shaking from the effort.

Robert gathered her into his arms.

“Let me get the paperwork and I’ll process you myself.” The compassionate policeman left.

Esther glanced at them, determination replacing her tears. Her ability to change faces always unnerved Tyler. He needed an honest woman…but Katrina kept secrets, didn’t she? Their relationship was founded on lies.

The ex-slayer left Robert’s arms and approached Tyler. “Don’t bring up Chinatown. Tell them you were in the basement when the other pack broke in. You ran out after them and were attacked. It’ll explain why you weren’t in the house, and get us out of here faster.” Esther wore a hard shell on the exterior, but Tyler suspected it was an act, just like the crying. Only Robert knew the real Esther, his mate.

They gave their individual statements as strangers entered and exited their home. Tyler’s heart drummed the whole time. He wove his lies like his pack wanted. It amazed him that the human’s hearing couldn’t catch the sound of his anxiety.

At last, they were cleared to leave the premises, but not the city. The police would call them once the house was processed.

Esther stayed, waiting for the vampire to wake, and Robert left to gather the pack.

Climbing into the van, Eric settled on the floor of the vehicle.

“This is Tony, and the driver’s Aaron.” Tyler sat across from the younger shifter, trying not to grimace from the discomfort in front of his alpha. They’d both been omegas of different packs once, but Eric had found an inner strength that still eluded Tyler. Their compasses didn’t point in the same direction anymore.

“I know who they are.”

“Really?” Tony stared at Eric with something close to worship.

The alpha gave a weak smile. “Sure, I may not know everyone in the pack personally, Tony, but I know everybody’s name.”

Aaron started the van. “Where to?”

“Just drive around the block while we compare notes and figure out our next move.”

The vehicle lurched forward and Tyler swallowed the pain. He healed at shifter speed. An hour ago, he couldn’t have sat like this on his own.

“We were attacked by an Asian pack as well.” Eric glared at the floor. “Can’t be a coincidence. What happened in Chinatown?”

“They confronted us on the street. They treated one of the males like an alpha. He kicked my ass and took Katrina.” He omitted the stranger’s declaration about being Katrina’s mate. The truth was branded to Tyler’s heart and stung too much. Admitting it meant he believed the asshole. Once he found Katrina, then maybe the pain could be soothed.

“The alpha attacked you, but not me? Then it can’t be a territory thing. Do you think this is Katrina’s old pack? The one she ran from?”

“I know it is. She knew him. He must be her old alpha.” The abusive one, the ass had used her like an object, passing her around to other males. How could they be mates?

Eric bowed his head, staring at the floor. “Why are they here? Why take Spice?”

“Katrina’s never told me much about her past. I know she’s from Northern China and raised in a pack. They turned her into a shifter at sixteen. With her being submissive and female, I assume the rest was bad.” He leaned his head against the wall. Maybe he knew more than he thought?

“Do you think they’re trying to get a foothold in America by taking control of Chicago?” Eric asked.

“A foothold? They already have one.” Tony said.

That was right! The stranger had said something similar. How Chinatown had never belonged to the Vasi.

Tony leaned forward, a frown creasing his forehead. “Chinatown’s always been divided between old-country and new. The old world packs have ties throughout this country.”

This information gave Tyler a seed of hope. “Then we need to go back to Chinatown and question people. Someone’s got to know where they’re hiding.”

Tony shook his head. “It won’t work. They won’t talk to you.”

“What the fuck? What do you expect me to do? Sit here and let him hurt her?” Tyler never shouted. He was the jokester, the one people turned to for a laugh or a good time. “I want that bastard dead.” His beast rose close to the surface, the change a millisecond under his skin. “I–I want to mash his face into the ground. Pound the living crap out–”

The air squeezed out of his bruised lungs as Eric pinned him to the van’s wall. Stars flashed in his eyes as if the paparazzi were in the vehicle.

His alpha’s eyes glowed amber, his beast responding to Tyler’s. “Shut. Up.” Eric breathed heavy, their faces too close for comfort.

Tyler’s beast retreated at lightning speed, and cowered. Unlike his animal half, he didn’t have that option. He had to stay and face their pissed-off, half-crazed alpha.

“We.” Eric knocked Tyler against the wall again for emphasis. “Are in no shape to be in public.” After a long, shaky exhale, Eric released his hold on Tyler’s neck and eased away. He cleared his throat and rested his arms on bent knees. “Robert will lead the search until we can get our shit together.” He hung his head, letting his chin rest on his chest. “Tony, who will the people in Chinatown feel comfortable talking to?”