Page 10 of My Monster's Keeper
“They want to eat me!” I shout again, since everyone keeps missing that very important detail. “Wait a minute. What is an omega?”
Hartley rolls his eyes. “Di gave the order, they won’t now. Just give it a bit of time. You’ll be surprised at how well you’ll like this job. It’s got better perks.”
I glare at him. Damn Earth traitor. “What is an omega?” I shout, causing an echo that silences everything else.
Diablo crouches so his head is now about level with my head. “A thousand years ago, the last omega, the strongest and most wise of us, died.”
I raise an unimpressed brow. “I don’t want to hear your history lesson.”
Diablo glowers, and I have to say it’s effectively terrifying.
“In all the worlds, there are beings created as alphas, betas, or omegas. They are set apart. They are something more. The exceptional among us. Think of it as the top of humanity and imagine they were all superhumans. That’s what I’m talking about.”
I sniff. “Uh-huh.”
“Alphas are stronger, dominant, dangerous, and full of volatile rage that is tempered by an omega’s innate balance. They become your warriors, soldiers, fighters. They can’t help themselves, and, eventually, that blood lust drives them mad. But omegas are instinctive, a compass, a reason that anchors them to sanity. They are balance, soft to the sharp, love to the rage. They are breeders, providers, and the centre of an alpha pack.”
“A yin to their yang,” Hartley offers.
I cast a glare in his direction and take in the new position Puppy has moved to. My stomach flips to find that yellow eye on me again.
“So, there are lots of alphas, then, in your worlds?”
“Yes, there are a lot. But there are also a lot of bad beings who want to make sure omegas never come back. Because a pack in balance is a force of ultimate power. And if a pack finds a queen, then they can rule. An omega queen is a once in a thousand year event.”
“I see. So, what are betas?”
“Betas are different again. They are a balm to both omegas and alphas. They can temper the emotions and impulses of an alpha pack and their omega.”
“Pack?”
“A group of alphas or betas with an omega is called a pack.”
I rub my temples. “This is ridiculous. Fine, say I believe you. Why are you here looking for them?”
“Because we have discovered, too late, sadly, that this place, your Earth, has omegas hidden in its population. Where no other realm has found one in a thousand years, you have an untapped resource.”
“Oh, for fuck’s sake. You’ve come here to hunt omegas for your people? Like abduct them? Whore them out? I won’t do it!”
“It’s not like that. We’re protecting them-”
“Said every invading force ever.”
Diablo snorts, and clouds of smoke curl out of his nostrils. “They are already being hunted here, right now, in this city. Whether you like it or not, Becky Dawson. Are you not a cop? Are you not sworn to protect your citizens? Your omegas are dying…someone needs to step up and save them.”
I stare at him, lost for words because if he’s right, then this is bigger, much bigger, than a drug bust or a DUI, and I am obligated to help. Further, I can already feel the need to protect them rising within me.
I should help.
They called me omega. I almost tell the big red demon, but, at the last second, I hold it back.
“What do I get out of it?”
“Other than saving people?” Diablo stands up and snaps his fingers at Hartley.
“Do that again, and I will make sure you eat dog food for a week,” Hartley growls.
“You said she’d want glory. Moral responsibility were your exact words. You said she had a code.”
