Page 26

Chapter 26

Ava

It’s a few days later that I overhear them arguing.

In my whole time here, I’ve never heard a disagreement between any of the pack. They tease each other, and I know that they have strong personalities and need to talk things through sometimes, but they never fight.

Except for now.

I’m not sure I’d call it a proper fight, but it’s an argument for sure. I’m heading down the stairs and pause on the landing, not sure at first if I’ve heard correctly. Maybe someone was just watching television.

But then I hear more voices, and I know for sure it’s them. Garrett is snarling something, too low for me to hear the words. Dante replied, his tone terse.

My stomach twists into a knot of concern and I head for the sound. As I get closer, I can smell the agitation in their scent. They’re in the formal dining room, one I don’t think they’ve been in before, at least not that I’ve seen. We all eat more informally at the table in the kitchen with the big bay window overlooking the front yard.

When I open the door, I see that they’re really in the middle of it. I think Dante called them here to sit around the table in a more formal discussion, but that’s done for. Now Ethan is pacing again and Garrett’s up on his feet, hands in fists, and Dante’s up too. Only Caleb is still seated.

“What’s going on?”

They all go stiff and look over at me.

“Ava,” Dante says. He sounds tired. “We… have something we need to tell you.”

“Marcus is being a—” Garrett starts, but Caleb stomps on his foot.

“Marcus isn’t letting things go,” Dante explains, a growl lurking in his voice. “His rival company, Prodigy Corp, has just announced a new product.”

“A smart watch for Omegas,” Ethan says tensely.

I blink rapidly. “But… how?”

This can’t be a coincidence that he’s announcing the launch of the very same product that my Alphas have been working on all this time.

“He’s trying to undercut us,” Garrett says. “So that he ruins us. He wants to sabotage the company and release his product before ours.”

“Because you haven’t announced your product yet,” I say, remembering what Caleb and Dante have told me about their research and how careful they want to be to make sure the product is the best it can be. “So how is he able to launch a copycat?”

“People talk. He’s probably started digging stuff up on us starting the moment he left the shop so that he could find a way to attack us.”

My eyes sting. I know my hormones are making me more emotional, but I think this would move me to tears anyway. I’m so upset. “This is my fault. I’m so sorry.”

All four of them look at me with alarm in their eyes.

“If Marcus wasn’t trying to punish me, he never would have done this to you. He’s attacking you to get at me. I’m so sorry, this is on me.”

“No.” Dante walks over to me and hugs me tightly. “This isn’t on you at all. This is on him. And you’re our Omega, remember?”

“If he attacks one of us, he attacks all of us,” Ethan says. “That’s how it works. We’re here for you and we’re not going to back down.”

“But now your company could be in jeopardy.”

“You didn’t make him do this. And if Marcus wants a fight? We’ll give him one.”

“You’re worth it,” Caleb chimes in. “We won’t let an asshole push us around, or let anyone abuse an Omega. But especially not our Omega. Not a member of our pack.”

“He won’t get away with this,” Garrett adds. “Besides, he might not even be able to successfully release his product. He might be bluffing, or only be partway through the process and rushing it.”

“A product like ours, we’ve kept it top secret,” Ethan says, “but it’s the kind of product that’s been needed by the community for years. It’s not impossible that someone else would have a similar idea. He’s probably just modifying it into a watch to get at us.”

“And even if he does actually have a product to release,” Garrett continues, “we’ll just have to make sure our product is better. More successful. First released doesn’t equal best.”

I know that he’s right. I’ve seen it happen with products myself. One person rushes something out, and it’s incomplete. Or a product is released, and another company pays attention to the reviews, takes notes, and releases their own, better product based on that feedback and the other company’s missteps.

But despite their reassurances, I can’t adopt their confidence. I can’t help but worry what Marcus’s actions will do to the Alphas, and to their company. They worked so hard to build it from the ground up and to make it a success. To have Marcus do something that could tear it all down… and because of me…

It makes me feel like throwing up. I can’t let them be hurt because of me. I can’t.

I just wish I knew what to do to make it right.