Page 30 of One Flew Over the Omega's Nest: Part One
He shrugs. "My official diagnosis is pyromania. The lighter, along with whatever drugs they pump into me, help me with 'impulse control issues'." He does finger quotes around the last part. "I mean, I still want to light shit up. But…it's manageable now."
"Why?" The question is out of my mouth before I can stop it, and I mentally curse myself.
Great idea, Jo. Ask the pyromaniacwhyhe sets fires.
Hayden barks a laugh. "Alright, going straight to it. I'll show you mine if you show me yours. I'll tell you why if you tell me what omega you're looking for."
I bite my lip, peering into one of the empty rooms. Looks like we've entered the old dorms. The bed is ratty, a simple metal frame with the mattress torn to bits.
There really can't be any harm in telling him about Mabel. There are no cameras here, and if he tries to sell me out…well, we're all crazy here. Who's going to believe him?
There's something about him though, something that pushes me to trust him with the information. I'm usually pretty good at reading people, and I don't think he'd sell me out.
"Deal," I finally say, and he grins.
"There's something in my head, Fireball." He sighs as he looks up at the ceiling. "Noise. Words. And itchiness that I can't scratch. But that moment? Where the fucking thing finally catches fire and the flamesdance right in front of your face? It…it makes everything quiet, and it's…fucking euphoric."
Huh. I don't know what I was expecting him to say, but it wasn't that. And since he shared his with me so easily, I take a deep breath and tell him about my sister.
"My sister," I say quietly, then swallow roughly. "Mabel. She's my twin. Fraternal. She…" I haven't spoken about what happened to Mabel since we found out where she went. "When we were eighteen, Daddy sold her off to a pack. He wouldn't tell me who he sold her to, just that I would never see her again." I let out a shuddering sigh, shaking my head. "Mabel, she…she's not like me. I'm wild and unpredictable. Hard. Mabel is soft and sweet, and everything an omega should be. So when I finally tracked her down…" my voice chokes, and my eyes snap shut.
"Hey, Fireball." His hand grabs my arm, but oddly, I don't have the urge to rip it off. "It's okay." I open my eyes and look into Hayden's sparkling hazel gaze. "Really. You don't have to talk about it—"
I fervently shake my head. "No, we made a deal. Plus, it might...I don't know, it might help. When I finally caught up with her, two years later, I found out that she was the omega that murdered her entire pack on the east coast. They changed her name, never showed a picture, but my sources…they say it’s her."
To my surprise, Hayden grins. "Oh, so murder runs in the family, does it?"
A bitter laugh leaves me. "That's the thing. Mabel couldn't hurt a fly. I don't know what happened, but I know with absolute certainty that Mabel didnotkill those alphas. And even if she did, I'd still be right here lookin' for her. I checked the Cathedral for her yesterday—"
Hayden releases an audible shiver. “Fucking hate that place. Never been admitted, but my dad made sure they showed me what it was likemy first day so I didn’t go causing trouble.” I frown, noting the way he said the “dad”. He shakes his head. “Sorry. Continue.”
His antics have me suppressing a grin, but I roll my eyes and continue. “She wasn’t in the Cathedral, so now I’m tryin’ to figure out where else she could be. I’m not gonna stop until I find her, Hayden. I can’t.”
Something strange settles over his features as he looks me over, and I find myself shifting awkwardly under his gaze. "What?"
He shakes his head like he's trying to clear it. "Nothing, Fireball. Just thinking that Mabel's one lucky person to have someone like you in her corner. I don't have any siblings, but if I went missing…I don't think I'd have anyone that would look for me. Certainly not my parents."
I don't know why I say it. I don't know how he's gotten under my skin in such a short amount of time, but he has. So I shrug. "I would."
He gives me a sad smile. "Jo."
"What?" I shrug again like it's no big deal. "Iwould. Hell, I might miss you tryin’ to irritate me all the time."
He chuckles, shaking his head. "You really are something else."
Before I can answer, he ducks into a room, and starts rifling through the cabinets.
“What are you up to?” I ask, planting my hand on my hip and standing in the doorway.
“Looking for shit to start a fire.” He gives me a feral grin, and shrugs when I shake my head. “What? I said the urge is manageable, not gone. One time I found a bottle of rubbing alcohol, some steel wool, and a nine volt battery. That one actually got me hard.”
A laugh bursts out of me, and I find myself wanting to see the world through this alpha’s eyes for just a little while.
He gives up shortly after, meeting me back in the hallway before we keep going.
But then, I hear footsteps coming our way and my heart leaps into my throat.
Shit.
