I explained to the group about Pleasant Adams and all his children, and how only the last one was an omega.
“It’s weird that the omega died after giving birth to the only omega he’d had. And the baby died, too. And he never had even one beta,” Solomon said.
“I kind of got the feeling that their deaths weren’t from natural causes, although there isn’t anything that states that,” David said quietly.
We all fell silent. A hot breeze ruffled our hair. I felt Riku sit down to my right.
Camp changed the subject. “My turn. Physically, betas are average while alphas are bulkier and omegas, leaner.”
“Are we talking dicks here?” Zeke asked.
We all laughed, and some of the tension ran out of the moment.
“Also, height and girth and personality,” Ren said.
“That’s right,” Camp said. “Betas are just average everything.”
“Physically,” Elliott spoke up. “But betas are very smart. Like Dr. Laura. Their brains are not average.”
“Let’s talk about what they can’t do, then,” Zeke suggested. “Or, better, what can omegas do that betas can’t? I mean, think about it. The betas seem to be the ones either trying to get rid of omegas or using them for profit. They’ve convinced everyone that omegas are a menace unless mated to alphas. Why? Is it so they can prey upon them for human trafficking?”
Abruptly, Elliott got up and walked toward the house. Keane got up and went after him.
“Why do you insist on talking about it when you know it upsets him?” Solomon asked Zeke. He turned to Riku. “And why did you make him tell his story? You’re such an asshole.”
“It’s been over five years. He can’t avoid talking about it forever. He knows stuff.”
“He says he doesn’t.”
Riku’s eyes flashed. “Then he’s lying.”
David cleared his throat and got to his feet. “I need to check on Ollie.”
“I’ll go with you. I have to use the bathroom,” I said. As I followed him into the house, I heard the others arguing. I was glad Trey was staying—I would ask him later what was said.
“They’re a volatile group,” I whispered as we went in the front door.
David grunted agreement.
Ollie was still asleep.
“Do you really have to go to the bathroom, or did you just want to get out of there?” David asked me.
“Both.”
“Meet me in the kitchen when you’re finished.” He turned that way.
I used the toilet, then went to the kitchen where David sat at the table with Laura, who was having a cup of tea while going through a pile of manilafolders. Eric stood at the stove cooking. He flashed a dimpled smile at me over his shoulder.
“You guys all getting to know each other?”
Smiling, I said, “Yeah. We just got a little hot out there.”
It didn’t escape my notice that Laura seemed to prefer to do her work in the main house, rather than in her little cabin.
Laura’s notebook was in front of her and she appeared to be making notes. David had gotten some water and had a glass for me, too.
“Thanks,” I said after I sat down and had a drink of it. Now that we weren’t with the group anymore, I was beginning to feel the absence of my alphas, but I pushed it down. I’d told Angus I’d be fine, so I would be.