“I forgot about these,” he said, unzipping them, and I helped him spread them out.
When everyone was comfortable, Camp asked, “Did we tell you that we found out the alpha guy Laura interviewed is part of the SOS ops team? There are going to be five of them guarding us.”
“Are they all alphas?” David asked. “And how does that work?”
“They’re on rut suppressants. They hardly come around us anyway. They’re just here to protect us in case the government swoops in,” Keane said.
“They’rehot. One in particular,” Riku said.
“Don’t get any ideas,” Ren warned him.
“What can they even do if the government guys come?” I asked. “They can’t kill them.”
“I guess chase them off and give us a chance to run,” Camp said.
“This is all getting too weird.” I scooted down a little more in my blankets and rearranged my nest of pillows I’d made. Mybelly had doubled in size in the past week and my back hurt. I looked at Elliott for permission to bring up what we were talking about and was surprised when he spoke up.
“You guys, I have something to say.”
At his serious tone, everyone grew quiet.
Keane, who was positioned closest to Elliott, put his hand on Elliott’s arm. “What is it, El?”
“You guys all think I’m withholding something from you about the kidnapping. Well, you’re right.” He swallowed thickly. Rising up on my elbow and propping my head on my hand, I sent him an encouraging look.
“I’m pretty sure I was separated from you guys because of my omega dad. He was different. He had second-sight. He once got the whole family out of the house before a semi veered off the nearby highway and slammed into it. There were other things, but that’s the story I remember. He also used to lay his hands on me whenever I was sick. I would be fine hours later.”
Camp sat up and leaned his back against the couch. “Are you saying your birth dad had special powers, the kidnappers found out about them, and they thought you had them too?” He paused. “Doyou? You knew about Trey’s family last night.”
Solomon spoke up. “You’re also the one who took care of Keane a year ago when he was really sick. We all were afraid he was going to die, but then he was suddenly well again.”
“Yes, that’s what I’m saying. I heard them call my birth father anomega x.”
“If they took you because of that, why did they want us?” Zeke said? “We can’t do those things.”
“I think they kidnapped you guys to traffic you. I think they kidnapped my dad because they somehow knew about him, and because I was his kid, they wanted to know if I was like him. Only, they didn’t know how to tell. I acted like I didn’t knowwhat they were talking about. They got nasty about it.” He looked down. “But I don’t want to talk about that.”
Riku had been staring at Elliott throughout this. “Why didn’t you tell us all this before? I sure asked enough times.”
Ren put his hand on his brother’s shoulder, but Riku shrugged it off.
“I was afraid,” Elliott whispered.
“Of us?” Ren asked.
Elliott shook his head. “Of course not. I was afraid you’d be hurt somehow. I was afraid if I talked about it, they would find out somehow. I was rescued before they could figure out if I was the same as my dad.”
“How come you’re telling us now?” Zeke asked quietly.
Elliott’s gaze met mine.
Before I could say anything, Trey sat up. “Oh gods, because you’re the same, Ben! Aren’t you?”
Shrugging, I said, “I guess so?”
Everyone began talking at once.
“Shh! Keep it down. We don’t want anyone to hear!” Elliott said.