Absolute Devotion (An Omega’s Preference #3)

21. Montgomery

twenty-one

MONTGOMERY

I’m pissed that this never came up in any of the evidence I pulled from the academy. Nala didn’t want to be found but that didn’t mean I couldn’t keep an eye on her. Unfortunately, Redland Academy was locked down tight when it came to information. Other than her name, there was nothing I could gather. And the existence of those Saturday night ‘games’ wasn’t something that came up on my radar.

I blame my partner at the time, the one who was supposed to be helping in that investigation and is now sitting behind bars for tampering with evidence. It makes sense now why I never figured out all that shit but it doesn’t make me feel any better that Nala returned to that horrific place when I could have saved her.

“You didn’t know,” comes a small voice. Delicate fingers run across my jaw as I glance down at our Omega, wide green eyes meeting mine. “No one did. I was too scared to say anything, too scared that they would come find me. In a really weird fucking way, Michael saved me. I still fucking hate that Alpha for trying to sell me away but even with my own little place and everything set up, he took me away from the nightmares for a little while. My parents haven't even reached out after graduation to see what happened. Michael was all that I had. I hate it but it's true.”

“And then you whacked him with a pan to protect your baby nephews.”

Nala snorts as the image that flits through my head, the one where Zahria and Xylo explained the entire incident including our fierce little Omega warrior protecting her own. Michael’s dead, Kieran having protected all of them in that room. In hindsight, Michael was a fucking idiot to barge into an Omega’s nest with his newborn sons. Any Omega would have been in fighting mode to protect what was most precious to them.

“Yeah, I did that. Montgomery, Alpha , you were the first one to give me a taste of what normalcy would be like. You were warm and kind and you fed me hot chocolate and marshmallows. Before you, only Joel had cared enough. I stayed to myself mostly but I couldn’t trust the happiness when I was with you. I wanted to but…”

I cut her off with a kiss, slowly devouring her lips until I’ve had my fill. “Princess, I will never fault you for leaving. I blame myself for not knowing, for not getting to you sooner but it’s not your fault that any of this happened.”

She scrunches up her nose, tucking her head into my chest. “Those cages paid for school, Alpha. I didn’t know what it was at first. It was harmless dancing and entertaining but it became so much more and then I couldn’t get out. Sometimes, I can still see them when I close my eyes. Reaching through the bars, yelling for me, wanting from me. I didn’t know about the patches for most of it. Even when I did start wearing it, the few times I took it off was the reason Michael found me.”

Her body shudders in my hold as a tear escapes. I brush it from her cheek, holding our precious Omega as those memories replay in her head. “What do you need from us, Nala? How can we help?” She doesn’t answer me, her lids falling shut as her fists clench in her lap. God, I wish I had known how much she had been struggling. “We’ll take it slow, Nala. You just tell us when we’re doing too much or not enough.”

Her face scrunches up again, Zahria easing the situation. “How about a signal when it’s too much? Something we can see when you need us to step back?” Her eyes shoot open and focus on her other Alpha as Zahria waves a hand at Xylo. He disappears from the nest with a heavy grunt and reappears with a small black-beaded bracelet. “Xylo and Bear found this at a little shop. The beads are supposed to promote calm and soothing effects but it would also be a way for us to know something’s wrong if you pick at it.”

She sticks her arm out and Zahria slides it onto her wrist, Nala fiddling with the beads for several seconds. “Thank you. This means a lot.”

“I’m just thankful that we know more about you, Nala. Why don’t we get some sleep and revisit all of this in the morning?” Zahria offers, widening a spot for Nala in the middle of her nest. Our Omega slips from my arms and in the middle of the brothers as I take up a side behind Bear. He twists around to gaze at me, searching for any discomfort but there isn’t any.

I thought Nala’s heat might be awkward or the lingering memories of knotting Bear would follow me, but it feels natural. “If you’re about to apologize, don’t. I’m more than okay with what happened and our Omega asked for a redo. I count that as a win in my book.” Bear is still about to say something so I smash my lips to his, hoping he finally gets the message. His moan alerts our other mates, Nala’s sweet scent filling the room.

When I pull away to look at her, she’s glaring at the both of us. “I thought we were sleeping.”

Her scent betrays her expression and I can’t help the laugh that falls from my lips. Biology classes and seminars at the police academy taught us that Omegas wanted nothing more than to mate with their Alphas. That procreation was their first and sometimes only priority. With Nala, I can’t see that ever happening. She’s too vibrant and complex to find herself only wanting one singular thing.

Beneath the lingering fear and uncertainty, there’s a woman who wants to thrive and take on the world, one step at a time. I’m more than happy to be along for that journey, just so long as we catch these last Alphas roaming around our sacred space.

“Yeah princess, we’re sleeping. Night, Nala.”

The warmth of the morning sun filters through the bedroom window as I find myself alone in the nest. It’s been a long fucking time since I had my own family and I guess Nala’s heat took more out of me than I thought. Laughter peels from the living room as I change, ready to attack this investigation head on and get it over with so that we can start our own version of forever. Nala is curled up in the corner of the couch with a mug and a bag of colorful marshmallows in her lap. Zahria is not so subtly trying to steal a few and failing as Nala guards them.

I find Bear and Xylo huddled around the kitchen counter, muttering around bags of groceries, the chaos unfolding in my home comfortable. It really does feel like family. I focus on our Omega for a few more moments, her soft breathing and little squeals of happiness a testament to the trust she’s slowly beginning to place in us. That isn’t something I’ll take for granted. Not after everything she’s endured.

Joining the brothers in the kitchen, I unconsciously move toward Bear’s side, the Zeta leaning into my touch on his shoulder. Xylo tracks the movement, a smile creeping onto his lips. “We grabbed a few things from the grocery store since we’ll be pretty busy and a few more blankets for her nest. Kinda forgot that we’ll have to wash things every once and a while.” We all share a look at the laundry piled up in front of the washing machine from her heat. I’ve attacked some of it but I’m just glad that we bought enough to replenish her nest or we’d be rolling around on crunchy fabric.

Bear nods as he starts unpacking some of the fresh fruit and cheese to stock the fridge. I hadn’t planned on being in Emsboro any longer than this investigation would take but wherever Nala goes, I’ll be following right after. It seems that she’d want to stay here near her brother but that’s a question for later.

Xylo slides a folder to me across the counter. “The cages Nala described sound like the ones here. They are connected and I suspect that some of the other Omegas Nala had been with on those Saturdays became victims of POCA. Do you recognize any of these names?”

I frown at the list of names scratched down on a piece of paper. “How did you get this? That academy is locked down tight.”

“Our Omega woke up wanting chocolate in exchange for information. She said it’s not fair that she gets to have a happy ending when others are suffering and asked what she could do. Don’t worry, Alpha, I didn’t force anything but she wrote down all of her Omega classmates and anyone else she could remember. I recognize one of the names from a case last year and he's doing fine with her Alpha. Another one is deceased.”

I read through the names, picking out a few that have popped up in other cases. Redland Academy really could be a source, although that doesn’t explain Kieran’s involvement. I’m beginning to think that Michael—their abuser—really was just a loose cannon but that most of their prospects stemmed from places where parents wouldn’t miss them until it was too late. We’d already figured out that Omegas were being pulled from Omega centers and other places where Omegas are underreported. This realization just makes it worse.

Xylo’s jaw clenches, the faintest trace of anger flashing across his face before he can stifle it. “When I think about the shit she’s been through, it makes me want to tear through anyone who ever made her feel unsafe.” He picks up one of the orange juice cartons, squeezing it a little too tightly. “None of that shit should have ever happened.”

Bear places a calming hand on his brother’s shoulder, a silent reminder that we are here now, that this is a fresh start for all of us. “Let’s focus on her, yeah? She’ll feel it if we bring that anger around her.”

As if on cue, Zahria slips into the kitchen, her eyes heavy-lidded but sharp, carrying that air of fierce protectiveness that defines her. “I tried to convince her but our Omega is adamant about returning to work. Ren said he’ll swing by to pick her up. She’s fully protected at that school and I know how wary we are to have her out of our sight but this is just one of those little things we need to be okay with.”

Xylo beats me to the question. “It’s dangerous out there! Those lingering agents could be gunning for her. Why did you agree to that?”

Zahria searches through the bags to find bagels. Her eyes light up when they turn out to be blueberry. Good to know . “I didn’t agree to anything, Xylo. What I did agree to was to listen to her. She wants to be that strong woman she used to be before everything happened. She wants to use her degree and show everyone that she’s more than just an Omega with a strong scent.”

Bear glances toward the living room and then back at Zahria. “Why does she feel like she has to prove anything to anyone? Ria…”

I finally understand what Zahria is alluding to. “She’s trying to prove to herself that she’s more than just an Omega with a scent. She’s not truly doing this for anyone else. There’s security around that building and Ren and several other staff are there if something should happen. She has our number and we’ll only be a few streets away. No, Bear, you cannot go sit outside the school. You’ll get reported for scaring kids.” I choke on a laugh just as Nala peeks her head over the couch.

Her gaze narrows at me before a wide smile splits her lips. “I’m going to work,” she muses as she climbs over the couch with an empty mug and a half-eaten bag of marshmallows. “I’m not in heat and I’ll just distract all of you with nothing to do here. I’m annoying when I’m bored.”

And suddenly, I want to experience every last moment with Nala. I’m curious to know how annoying she is when she has nothing to do.