“Yeah... And all four of them are staring at me at the moment, making this a very awkward conversation since I have no idea where this is going.”
“Right. Everything has been a bit weird since the weekend. I was surprised when I couldn’t find you at the Gala anymore. That was, until everyone started whispering about an Omega sneaking off with four Alphas and I saw the pictures from the article.” Julie sighs. “I guess it would be a good idea to put me on speakerphone? That makes this easier, hopefully.” Why?
But I’m too weary to even think it over too long. “Sure.” I motion for the others to come closer and when Cyra steps near again, I feel a flash of something go through me. I’m quick enough to catch it, but it definitely happened. “Everyone’s here now.”
“Good.” Julie takes a deep breath. “People have been asking a lot of questions about the five of you these last days. ‘Reporters’, detectives of varying trustworthiness, even the police. Asking if we know where you are, if we can give any clues as to where you could be. If you’re dangerous. If you could be a danger to Cyra. All sorts of shit. Whoops.” She makes an awkward sound and then I hear her move and a door closes. “No cursing where the kid could overhear it. Where was I?”
“People bothering you?” I offer.
“Yes. It’s been non-stop, as you can probably imagine. Upsetting everyone with their invasive and flat-out accusatory questions sometimes. They just want dirt, like always. Nothing new there. But then I get a surprise call from a basilisk shifter, an Alpha, telling me that I should come clean and admit my involvement in all of this.”
“What?” I stare at the phone, and then at the others, confused. “Your involvement? In what?”
“Well...” She makes an off-hand sound. “They were wrong about me being involved in this whole thing, but they did seem to have some info about me that’s harder to get.”
“Julie?” I don’t like feeling like people are threatening my family. “Spit it out.”
“This Alpha seemed to be under the impression that the Omega Association was involved with getting Cyra out of town and away from the press.”
“Omega Association?” Spence blinks, frowning. “What would they have to do with anything?”
Julie sucks her teeth. “That’s where I come in, or, his accusation of me being involved comes in. I’ve done some work for the Omega Association in the past, helped some people out when they need connections and things like that. Of course, this is not something I advertise and I’m pretty sure that Max and Liam had no idea.”
“No.” I shake my head, and Liam also shakes his head, looking decidedly annoyed. “No idea here.” How the hell did I miss that? That’s... Hell... How did I not know?
“And that was on purpose. Sorry. It was for the safety of everyone involved. You know how people can get when they know you’re involved with them, especially when they find an Omega who’s involved with getting things done for them.”
I’m getting less and less patient now, and it wasn’t like I had much to start with. “Why call now?”
“Because as far as I know, you’re a bunch of Alphas who have very little idea of how the world of Omegas works, and while you’ve been able to protect Cyra for the time being, you’re going to need help.”
Zack makes a dismissive sound. “We’re fine. How would we know that you’re not just trying to lure us out or whatever? That Cyra’s parents aren’t putting you up to this?”
Julie ignores his question. “Cyra?”
Cyra leans forward. “Yes?”
I see a flash of something flicker across the faces of the three other Alphas. So, I’m not the only one starting to get affected by Cyra. Liam looks at me questioningly, but I shrug. I have no idea what’s going on either. It seems we’re reacting to something, but it’s not her scent, at least not actively. No matter how much I try, I can’t get her Omega scent at all, but sometimes my cerberus acts like he can, which should be impossible.
Julie’s voice breaks through my thoughts. “Are you on file at the organisation?”
“No.” Cyra shakes her head. “I was... I was too scared. I didn’t want to get in trouble.”
“Not surprised, with parents like yours.” Julie thinks for a moment. “I’ll send Max the name and contact info of a doctor. Let the guy know the meds you need and he’ll get them for you, as soon as possible. No matter where you are. He’ll find a way to get them to you.”
Zack leans over. “How do we know that you’re not just trying to set us up?” He’s growling now, annoyed at being ignored. Poor guy, maybe he shouldn’t be asking such ridiculous questions?
“Because someone went through a lot of trouble to find things out about me that not many people know.” Julie’s voice is harsh now, angry, very angry. “If this info gets out into the world, about me being involved with the Omega Association, it could get me and my family into a lot of trouble. Even revealing myself to you guys is a risk.”
She takes a deep breath. “The Alpha who contacted me was probably the future Alpha that Cyra’s parents are talking about, right? A basilisk shifter is up there, way up there, when it comes to rarities. So, even though I’ve got no idea what type Cyra is, I can presume that any Alpha parent with a lot of pride, as her father seems to have, would accept a guy like that. Am I right?”
We all stare at Cyra, who nods, looking very unhappy. “Yes. It would be one of the few options they’d deem ‘good enough’.”
A basilisk, fucking hell. Basilisks are the kings of the creatures, dangerous, lethal, and at the top of the food chain... Every part of their body, from their skin to their breath to their gaze, it’s all deadly.
Julie speaks
