Chapter 1
Cole
“I don’t know, man, I’m fucking over it,” Xavier says, slamming back a shot of tequila. He lets a hiss out between his teeth as he sets the empty glass down on the bar top. I nod in agreement, pushing my dark hair out of my face. “I get it,” I add. The beer rolls down smooth as I pull on the neck. His sable hair is wavy, and his dark brown eyes are broody. He’s in a pissy mood, and I know exactly why. The women around here only want us because we are alphas. They want to be mated, but it’s physically impossible for us. Humans can’t even take us fully.
“We’re supposed to be leaving tomorrow to meet Lilith,” I warn him. Telling him to slow his roll without saying it. That will only push him over the edge. Our stepsister is finally going to grace us with her presence. Our dad has been married to Georgia, her mom, for a year, and we have yet to meet her. It’s the only reason I’m pacing myself with a beer instead of getting shit faced with Xavier. When I say our dad, he’s biologically my father, but not Xavier’s. His dad was a piece of shit. Thankfully, Dad took him in. He’s my best friend, and I’m grateful to have him as a brother by choice.
Xavier takes his inked hand and runs it over his hair. “I think the fuckers are mythical. I mean, I’ve never seen one or smelt one.” He ignores my warning, and I roll my eyes, shaking my head. He isn’t wrong. It does feel like that sometimes.“Shit. I can’t even say omega without whispering it like it’s a cuss word.” He lowers his voice, a grimace etching his mouth.
“It’s where we live,” I repeat the same bullshit dad spews to pacify us. Mitch doesn’t give two fucks. He married a human and thinks we are ridiculous for even seeking an omega.“That’s why I declared no more pussy. No fucking. Not until I find an omega.” He’s loud, arms flailing now. Obviously going off on a tangent in his mind instead of replying to me. I want to cover his mouth, but I don’t. My gray eyes dart over the room, and thankfully, with the music blaring and everyone in their own little world, they didn’t hear him and his loudmouth.
“Why did we move here anyway?” I don’t bother answering him this time. He knows the answer to that, too. Mitch wanted to be up Georgia’s ass before he proposed; we knew it was coming.
I crinkle my nose at that disgusting mental image I just assaulted myself with, then I suck down some more amber liquid to wash it away.
“They’re rare. You know that. Regardless of where we live. We never saw one, not even our own mom.” I close my eyes, wondering how we got here. The world’s fucked, and Omegas only seem like they exist in fairytales because of what the government has done to them. Treated them as breeding tools. Giving them no rights or medication to help them through heats or to suppress them if they don’t want them.
My mom was in the system, and I hate to say I resent my father a little for it. He used her, took me, and left. Omegas are in hiding. That’s what I tell myself anyway, I can’t stand the thought that they are all caged. Stuck in a shitty situation for simply being born an omega. I watch Xavier as he chases his thoughts away. His needs. Our needs. And I don’t mean it in a gross, we need a woman way. It’s primal, in our biological makeup, to mate with an omega. Not by force. I just, fuck... now my head’s swimming with fantasies that won’t come true.
A pang shoots across my chest at the very idea of something it can never have. Xavier slumps over. I throw cash onto the bar and let out a huff.“Come on. You whiny asshole.” I laugh sardonically, loop his arm around my neck, and stumble us out to our Uber. It’s Jerry, it usually is on Friday night. He sighs, and I know as I settle in after pushing Xavier into the backseat, I’m about to get lectured.
“Glad you’re sober enough for me to nag you this time.” I roll my eyes and sink into the seat. “You guys need to figure something out. This whole going out thing is fine until it isn’t. It’s becoming more and more frequent. You know it, I know it.” My eyes grow heavy as the heat fills the small space. Jerry’s deep voice is comforting. I know the notion is rude. He cares, and I shouldn’t be an ass, but it’s because he cares that I relax fully.
