Page 15 of Omega Scarred

...something is up, for sure.

And it's not going to be fucking good.

I watch as Rafe takes a step towards Fallon, his eyes narrowed and jaw clenched tight. It's like watching a lion stalk a rival alpha. I know that look; it's the same look he had when we first met and he took down a group of ACB agents single-handedly.

Like he's ready to kill.

"Is this about you, Fallon?" Rafe asks, his voice low and dangerous.

"Are you letting your personal feelings get in the way of our mission?"

"What personal feelings?" Fallon scoffs. "I don't give a damn about Jade Winslow. I don't give a fuck aboutanyone, and you know that--well, anyone except you two--"

"Bullshit," Rafe says. "We're alphas, Fallon. We can smell her on you. You talked to her?"

Fallon steps back, his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "No, man, it's not like that. I just think we need to be prepared for any eventuality."

Rafe shakes his head, his eyes flicking over to me for a split second before returning to Fallon. "I don't think that's it. I think something's going on and you're not telling me."

Fallon's expression turns defensive. "What are you talking about? There's nothing going on."

"Really?" Rafe says. "Then what the hell happened to your lip?"

Fallon reaches up to brush at the bloody mark on his lower lip--what any ordinary person might mistake for a split lip, but what I can tell is definitely a bite mark. I try to stay quiet, but I can't control the way my eyebrows shoot up, watching them face off from the corner.

"Got in a scrap in the mess hall," Fallon mutters. "You know how it goes."

"Stop lying to me," Rafe says. "Someone's teeth did that, and all three of us know it. Right, Hawk?"

I raise my hands. "I ain't a part of this."

Rafe turns his attention back to Fallon. "Who was it?"

Fallon hesitates for a moment, but then lets out a deep sigh. "It doesn't matter. I'm not bringing that into the mission."

Rafe takes another step closer to Fallon, and I can see the tension between them rising. "It's already related to the mission if it's Jade. Did you fucking touch her?"

Fallon's fists clench at his sides. "I said it doesn't matter. We need to focus on the mission, not some omega--"

That's the last straw for Rafe. In a blur of movement, he's lunging towards Fallon, his fist connecting with Fallon's jaw so hard that I can hear the impact from where I'm standing. Fallon stumbles backwards, but he recovers quickly, launching himself at Rafe in a fight that's been brewing for years.

I try to step forward, ready to break them up, but I heave a sigh when I realize they're not going to hurt each other. Maybe it'll be good to just...swing a few punches.

I slump back to my seat.

These two.

I should have seen it coming. The tension had been building for weeks, ever since Jade had entered the picture. But I never expected it to escalate this quickly. Watching Rafe and Fallon exchange punches, I feel torn. They're my friends, my brothers-in-arms, and I hate to see them at each other's throats. But at the same time, I'm relieved that they're getting it out of their systems. Maybe this is what they need to finally move past their differences.

As the fight continues, I can see the exhaustion in both of their faces. They're evenly matched, neither one gaining the upper hand for long. Finally, they both collapse to the ground, panting heavily. For a moment, there's silence as they catch their breath, Rafe staggering to stand up first. He spits out a mouthful of blood then swipes at his lips, shaking his head.

"I can smell her on you, Fallon. You can't hide it from me."

Fallon scowls. "So what if I talked to her? It doesn't change the fact that she's not going to get involved."

Rafe points a finger at him--accusingly, and maybe to chastise him. "Look, asshole. Don't fucking talk to her again, and don't youdaretouch her. Jade is mine. And she's gonna be my mate."

Those words hang in the air like a death sentence. He hasn't said it out loud--but I know we've all been thinking it.