The Omega Objection

by G. L. Carriger

  Ha, thought Tank, reminds me of a few Doms I know.

  Tank knew who would be home when he got there. Alec, because he kept daylight hours at his lab. Marvin, because he was on first shift with Coast Guard. Colin, because his classes started in the afternoon. Max and Bryan, because they worked in mysterious ways.

  The enforcers were off on a Heavy Lifting gig, some sort of all-night selkie splash-and-shuffle. Lovejoy would have already left for his early morning bakery duties, feeding the Castro.

  Tank parked his motorcycle and was entirely unsurprised to find Bryan on patrol in the pre-dawn light.

  The Beta, who made for a massive dirty-cream-colored blob, came ghosting through the yard to greet him. When an SUV pulled up behind Tank’s bike and disgorged strangers, Bryan immediately howled a warning.

  The Beta approached the SUV cautiously, hackles up and teeth bared, until he stood next to Tank, ready to protect and defend.

  Max slammed out of the apartment above the garage and came running down the steps. He might be human, but he knew his mate’s howl. Bryan so rarely made a fuss about anything, it startled Max into injudicious motion. He was all angles and imminent disastrous stumble. His hoodie was half zipped, his sweats hung low and baggy off lean hips, and he was wearing those fuzzy socks, the kind with the rubber bits on the bottom.

  Max looked the very opposite of a fearsome Magistar. A wet roll of toilet paper was more threatening and more dignified. Nevertheless, he joined them, quivering and glaring, hand on his mate’s fluffy wolf head.

  Tank explained. “They’ve come to make introductions. These are the trappers we were told about.”

  Bryan continued to rumble a warning. His eyes did not move off the female Alpha on their turf.

  Moments later, alerted by the noise or by some Alpha instinct, Alec came gliding through the trees from the direction of the main house. He wore his work clothes – a button-up shirt and dark jeans. He did wear his lab coat at home sometimes, without anything else – it had snaps so it was easy to get out of and more dignified than a bathrobe. Marvin liked the look a lot too. Tank thought it was silly. Fortunately, Alec wasn’t in that particular state of dress at the moment. With his glasses on and his hair sticking up, he looked like nothing so much as a geeky graduate student, with a head full of philosophy and dead poets. He was, as a result, very easy to underestimate.

  Alec certainly didn’t look like an Alpha. Slighter of frame than most, almost delicate when compared to the other Alphas. But he always thought like one. He’d left Colin and Marvin, the pack’s weakest members, at the house where they were safest.

  Tank missed the presence of their enforcers. Not that he didn’t have complete faith in Alec’s abilities. He’d never met an Alpha with stronger VOICE. And Alec could fight. He didn’t enjoy it, but he was good at it.

  Tank said to him, “Alpha. These are the two spooks who’ve been sniffing about our territory. They’re tracking something or someone. Haven’t told me what, exactly. Their grace period is up so I brought them to meet you, as protocol dictates.”

  Alec nodded. “So, introduce me.”

  Tank showed his neck briefly. “They’ve not told me their names, Alpha. I am afraid they must introduce themselves.”

  Alec’s eyes narrowed – a breach in protocol, plus an insult to Tank. Not to mention the fact that they all knew the trappers were over their two days grace. Trickle had told them when the SBI first arrived in San Andreas territory.

  Alec turned to face the interlopers. He didn’t indicate that he was sniffing them, but he was. His unhurried gaze traced their faces, bodies, and muscles – the big Norseman and the other Alpha werewolf.

  Then he waited.

  Finally the berserker, clearly tired of wolf posturing, said, “I’m Special Agent Faste. This is Special Agent Lenis.”

  “Alec Frederiksen, Alpha.” Alec gestured to Bryan, still in wolf form. “Bryan Frederiksen, my Beta.”

  Agent Lenis started at that. Clearly, she’d jumped to the usual conclusion, that a wolf as big as Bryan, out on patrol and as obviously powerful, was an enforcer.

  Alec continued as if he hadn’t noticed, although Tank knew him to be secretly pleased. Alec liked putting people off balance. “You know Tank.”

  Tank nodded at the agents, as if they hadn’t been staring at each other across a crowded club all evening.

  “And this is Max, Beta-mate.” Alec didn’t say what Max was. No point in giving away information about the pack’s ace in the hole.

  Max’s fine sharp features looked particularly autocratic and cruel in the dawn light.

  Alec assessed the two SBI agents. He gave them a contemplative once-over so slow it bordered on insulting. “Will you eat with us or walk the perimeter with me?” He was really asking: Are you friends or emissaries? Will you build tethers in my territory or are you merely passing through?

  Because Alec was a smart man, and it was always better to be on the good side of cops, no matter what version they came packaged as, he tempted them further. “We have some venison, killed only a few days ago, plus homemade honey wine and local salmon.”

  The berserker looked both pleased and confused. “Fish?”

  “Wolves will eat fish.” Alec smiled. “But we have a cuter reason to keep our den well stocked with sea-life.”

  Agent Lenis seemed unhappy but interest-bound to take the peace offering. “We would gladly eat with you, Alpha.”

  Alec nodded at the capitulation. “Then we would gladly feed you, Alpha Lenis.” He said her wolf title, not her government one, emphasizing colleagues in species, not the power imbalance between officer and civilian. “Follow me, if you would?”

  Without having to be asked, Max and Bryan fell into step behind Alec. Max’s hand rested lightly on Bryan’s furry head. Contact between mage and familiar meant they could cast quintessence in an instant. Their Magistar clearly did not trust these visitors.

  The trappers followed next, leaving Tank to bring up the rear. It was fair and there was no dishonor. The rear position was normally for an enforcer, guarding the flank. Tank was being told by everyone there that he might have to fight, and he accepted it. He hoped if it came to it, he faced the bear rather than the other Alpha.

  Through the vast overgrown yard and up the hill, the massive house loomed over them rather suddenly. Their two visitors regarded it with disconcerted eyes.

  Alec opened the door and called out, “It’s me and I’ve brought guests.”

  Code for: It’s safe to come out but use caution.

  Marvin and Colin emerged from upstairs.

  The trappers looked even more confused.

  Tank’s smile went unseen. Everything about the San Andreas Pack would seem incongruous to them. Their Alpha, physically so slight and nerdy, especially compared to Tank. Their Beta not changing form to greet them, and nearly twice the size of most normal Betas. The fact that their Beta-mate was male and smelled of coolant and power and all things alien to pack. No mage should ever wish to live in the company of wolves. It would require weaker noses than theirs not to realize Max was a mage of some kind.

  And now this.

  Colin, ethereal and lovely with his strawberry blond hair and wounded green eyes. Marvin, lively and impossibly beautiful and smelling of the sea. Like two fragile fae princes from some ancient legend.

  Alec introduced them, pride in his voice. “Colin, our youngest pack member, and Marvin, Alpha-mate. These are SBI reps, Special Agent Faste and Special Agent Lenis.” For the benefit of Marvin and Max, whose sense of smell left much to be desired, he added, “Agent Lenis is a werewolf Alpha, government pack, I suspect. Agent Faste is a berserker, in case you hadn’t guessed from his size.”

  Marvin moved to Alec’s side. After a quick hug and a whispered reassurance from his mate, the merman was all bright smiles and warm, welcoming chatter. It was artifice, but Marvin was good at being charming, especially when nervous or under threat. In m
erfolk, charm was a survival trait. Luring sailors to their deaths using beauty and siren song wasn’t all mythology. Marvin had simply moved onto luring locals to barbecues using throw pillows and canapés. Everyone needs a hobby.

  Colin gave a shy smile and went instantly to the kitchen to get out food. If Alec had brought strangers inside the pack house they should be fed as a soon as possible, especially if one of them was a visiting werewolf. Etiquette demanded sustenance.

  Alec said, “Venison for our werewolf guest, please Colin. And to drink?” He quirked a brow at Lenis.

  She surprised them all with, “A beer if you’ve got it?”

  Colin answered, soft and calm, “Of course. Stout or something lighter, IPA perhaps?” To drink beer was unusual in a werewolf, but to drink IPA was unheard of. Colin explained the IPA shyly, “We have humans visit regularly.”

  Tank wondered if that was why she’d asked. To check and see if they were this welcoming to the greater local community, or only when government spooks came to call.

  “Stout’s fine,” said the Alpha, no hint as to whether this pleased her or not.

  Alec turned to his mate. “And if you might spare some of your salmon, my love?”

  Marvin inclined his pretty head. “With pleasure. Smoked, pickled, salted, poached, or raw, Agent Faste?”

  The berserker’s mouth dropped open. “You’re a merman!”

  “Yes, and as such, I have excellent taste in salmon. And most of it I caught myself.”

  “Raw, please,” said the big man, ears pink under Marvin’s amused regard.

  Alec hid a smile. “And some honey wine, Agent? Or we have mead.”

  Faste’s eyes were eager. “The wine, please.”

  Colin bustled about collecting what was needed. Usually it was Lovejoy in the kitchen, he considered it his domain, but when strangers were around Colin was always given something constructive to do. He didn’t like making small talk and he wanted to be busy (then he did not have to socialize and he felt useful). Everyone in the pack understood that.

  Max and Bryan went and sat in the den. Max in one of the solo armchairs, Bryan curled against his feet – still not feeling it was safe enough for human form.

  Alec made a motion for the rest to join them.

  Reluctantly, the trappers sat together on one of the settees. Marvin had recently arranged a series of teal sequined throw pillows around the seating area, the sight of which appeared to give Alpha Lenis heartburn.

  Alec took the big couch opposite. Marvin snuggled in next to him.

  Tank remained standing in the background, as an enforcer would.

  Colin put a tray of artfully arranged venison, salmon, and cheesy crackers on the coffee table, and passed around small plates and cocktail forks. Then he returned to the kitchen for drinks. Unlike with humans, shifters always served meat before booze – blood was thicker than alcohol.

  Alec said, “What brings you to my territory, special agents?”

  “We’re hunting someone.” Agent Faste took the glass of wine with a nod. Colin blushed to be noticed.

  “I figured you would be. Are they dangerous?” Alec drew all attention back to himself.

  The trappers exchanged a look. It was a fair question. Alec was really asking if there was a werewolf loner or worse in his territory. Something that his pack might have to handle. Or if it was some other shifter risk, whether the pack might be called in as backup. By law, werewolf packs could be conscripted as short-term militia for shifter crises because they formed the most stable fighting units in any given area. It could be worse – in other countries packs were conscripted for long-term military service.

  “He’s not a threat to you or yours, Alpha. Although what’s after him might be.” Agent Lenis grimaced over her beer and then reached hurriedly for a piece of venison.

  Agent Faste continued the explanation. “His name’s Isaac and your big grunt there works with him.”

  “What did he do?” Alec’s eyes flickered briefly to Tank.

  I’ll hear about it later, thought Tank, although most of him was now just more worried about Isaac. What trouble is coming for my lovely man?

  “Nothing illegal,” said Agent Faste.

  Which made Tank profoundly relieved. At least Isaac wasn’t in trouble with that side of the law.

  Agent Lenis, oddly, seemed to leap to Isaac’s defense. “Unless you count the crime of being born.” She narrowed her eyes at Alec, Alpha to Alpha. “You never met him?”

  “No.”

  “You swear it?”

  “Are you questioning my integrity?” Alec bristled.

  Agent Lenis flinched. She was worried or she wouldn’t have spoken so rashly. Tank could see it.

  Alec was too annoyed at being challenged by another Alpha in his own den to understand the reasons.

  Tank stepped in to smooth things over, as Bryan was still in wolf form and could not do his Beta duty. “Isaac has never met this pack. So far as I could tell, the man is terrified of werewolves.”

  Agent Lenis gave a funny, sarcastic laugh. “So you did interact with him at the club.”

  Tank explained to his confused pack mates. “Isaac is one of the bartenders at Saucebox where I’ve been bouncing.”

  Alec’s eyebrow lifted very subtly. The one you were set to bodyguard? Tank knew he was asking.

  Tank inclined his head. Yes, that one.

  They understood each other.

  Agent Lenis’s eyes narrowed on Tank. Not missing the interaction, but not understanding it either. Pack was pack and she was not one of them. She pressed Tank. “And you didn’t notice anything odd about him?”

  Tank shrugged. “Lots of people don’t like werewolves.”

  Of course he’d noted tons of odd things about Isaac – no signature scent, all shifters attracted to him, so dominant and so afraid at the same time. But he wasn’t going to offer up any of that. After all, he didn’t know what they knew, and he’d no incentive to help them.

  “That’s not what I meant, and you know it.” The other Alpha’s voice was sharp. She knew Tank was hiding something.

  Alec twitched, ready to defend his pack. The room got tense.

  “Should I have noticed something odd?” Tank professed ignorance.

  “Are you really that thick?” The berserker seemed genuinely curious. He was taken in by Tank’s size and perceived slowness. Which, of course, he shouldn’t have been, since it happened to bear shifters all the time.

  Tank’s face went blank. “That a rhetorical question?”

  Alec understood what was happening.

  Play along. Just poor, big, dumb Tank.

  Max and Marvin both looked confused but they followed Alec’s lead and allowed Tank to be thought an idiot.

  Tank made his voice a little slow. “We were just work colleagues. Why on earth would I…?”

  A narrowing of Lenis’s eyes met that. “Why would you indeed?” The female Alpha looked disgusted.

  Alec interceded. Anything that smacked of bullying raised his hackles. “Tank’s only been at that job a few days. I don’t see what you think he knows.”

  Just like that, things went rather rapidly south.

  “We think he knows a great deal.”

  “We think he’s slept with our prey.”

  “We think he knows where our prey’s gone and we think that he believes he’s protecting him by not talking.”

  “Do you have any idea what will happen if we don’t get to him first?”

  Tank blinked, feeling their anger and frustration roll over him.

  Alec said, quietly, softly, “What? What will happen to him? Who else is after him?”

  “You’d better be careful, new little Alpha.” Agent Lenis curled her lip. “You might have a challenge on your hands.”

  Alec gave the woman a once-over. “From you?” Neutral tone, no contempt, just curiosity.

  “If I have to for the sake of na
tional security and the greater shifter community, yes.”

  “You think I’m not strong enough, that I can’t fight you off?” Alec raised his eyebrows.

  The bear shifter added. “Just look at you. You aren’t exactly a threat.”

  Max spoke then, cold and sharp, “He has other fucking assets.”

  “Some of them quite mouthy.” Alec micro-shook his head at his brother-in-law. Then he turned back to the trappers. “I’m stronger than I look.”

  “You’re insane. You’ve no idea what’s coming. You’ve a pack of misfits and a crown of ignorance.” Alpha Lenis looked worried as well as mad.

  “You could rectify part of that.”

  “How did you know we were in the area?” Agent Faste asked.

  Alec paused at the switch of topic. Then gave a small smile, “As Max so succinctly put it: I have other fucking assets.”

  Marvin spoke at that juncture, his eyes cold as the Pacific Ocean. “So, you come here to vaguely threaten us, and hint at something bad headed our direction. But you give us no particulars and you accuse us of hiding a man we’ve never met. Except Tank who worked with him a few times. Are we done now?”

  The two trappers looked at the merman, who crossed his arms over his chest and rolled his gorgeous turquoise eyes at them.

  “What, your so-called other assets can’t inform you of the particulars?” Smug did not look good on Agent Lenis.

  Her partner shook his head, sensing her patience was at its limit. The bear shifter stood, massive and looming in a way that was greater than even Tank could handle. “Fine, you won’t tell us anything. Therefore, I’m legally bound to inform you that Alpha Alec Frederiksen may have a challenger within the week.”

  Everyone started and glared at Alpha Lenis, who continued to look smug.

  Would the challenge really come from her? Tank wondered. Or was yet another Alpha heading into their territory?

  Six months with no trouble at all from the greater werewolf community and now it’s raining wolf shit?

  Tank’s mouth went dry. Thinking about Isaac: How Hayden had stalked him. How he was so ready to run. How shifters so desperately wanted to be near him.