Lǎo bǎn:

Jake stands at the front door of the dorms to greet us. His overtly large frame towers over the car and, in addition to the falling sun, casts a long shadow across my window. Arms crossed as always, his profuse brow remains tight as I exit the vehicle. It truly is a pity he slashed off all of his dark hair—it added to the wildness of his character.

Jake bows as usual and only allows the shock at seeing our guest to flash across his face for but a moment before putting a polite smile on his lips. He is overtly professional, hence why I selected him to be my Civil Chief, my second-in-command, and deal with most of the business. I can’t even muster up a semi-formal expression, but of course I would never need to do that.

Vanessa’s wide eyes wash over our compound once she steps out to stand behind me. Her mouth hangs open slightly, a breath slowly releasing from her chest—naïveté reflected in her reaction. The softness of her features glisten in the setting sun, and her eyes slightly narrow against the brightness.

“The Alphan Society is still in the dark about this camp,” the driver—what was his name again—oh, Johnny, begins speaking once we are all out of the car. “They have been looking in all the wrong places. They expect us to have little to no money and be living in the slums of the city.” He had remained quiet most of the ride, but now that he has a chance to boast about the compound, he has an endless number of words.

I hold back my smirk and harden my jaw as Vanessa looks up at me with her large doe eyes. I only nod at Johnny to continue as we walk closer to Jake. Though I hate the constant babbling, it’s better Vanessa learns more about the area before she is thrust in. It also gives her a sense of ease, her shoulders relaxing as she slightly swings her arms.

“No, Lǎo bǎn refuses to live like that. This place is state of the art, with a training facility and a building strictly for our business purposes. Technology is just a hand’s reach away, though we keep a very good eye on everything since the Alphas have learned how to hack computers in today’s day and age.”

Johnny points to the main structure to the far right of the compound before waving over to the smaller one next door. “The trainees have dorms where they each get their own room. We even have a small hospital on the other side of the grounds. It’s only one floor, but it’s come in handy.”

It only takes one short look from me for Johnny to zip up in an instant. His nasally voice continues to grate on my ears, even after he has closed his no-good mouth. Vanessa will learn soon enough all she needs to get around the compound; there is no reason for me to be subjected to the lesson myself. It doesn’t matter that I had given him the initial go-ahead. He doesn’t need to rattle off every little minute detail. It’s annoying.

There is a tightness building in my lungs, clenching and unclenching. As it constricts, there is a serrated blade that slides into my heart, a heavy pinch as the air from my body is ripped from my grasp. The urge; I need to syphon more energy. As the thought flashes through the dark recesses of my mind, the blade is yanked from my chest and shreds every piece of my worthless heart.

Jake seems to notice this—of course he does. Over the last fifteen years, he has learned all of my cues. Especially the ones when I am about to rip someone’s throat out for talking. Like I want to do with—what was his name again?

“My name is Jake Peltier. I am the Civil Chief here. I’ll show you to your dorm room.” He steps up to Vanessa, giving her his bright, wide, and polite grin. With his large, tan hand outstretched, the girl gently takes it and nods.

Her cheeks are rosy, the embarrassment of being put on the spot poking through her façade. With a tight swallow that bounces in her delicate throat, her jaw shifts, and she pushes her shoulders back. Her hand grips Jake’s tighter. She releases a self-satisfied smile as she looks directly into my Civil Chief’s eye.

“It is so wonderful to finally meet you, Civil Chief.”

Once relinquishing the contact, Vanessa bows low to Jake. It appears to not only surprise him, but even my own brow seems to flick with shock. So she does know the etiquette of my camp. Interesting.

“You must be exhausted after all you’ve went through.” Jake looks Vanessa up and down. Her clothes—a pair of tattered jeans and a ragged t-shirt—are caked in filth. The stench had been almost too much for me to handle in the car.

Why am I even doing this?

Am I too bored? No, there is something odd about this girl. She is different from the others. Although she’s an Alpha, she lives on the streets and protects Omegas. It’s almost pathetic. Her Magik is so weak that she shouldn’t even be considered an Alpha. Beta is more like it. Though it’s no shock why that damned council chose her as a scapegoat.

I know everyone in the Alphan Society. Did they really expect me not to know about a fledgling recruit, especially one so adamant about joining the government, being hired on as a spy? As far as the reports on her go, they gave her this reckless mission simply because she is a nobody with almost no magic. The Alphan Society, those cruel monsters, don’t care if she lives or dies. It’s ridiculous. At least I don’t slaughter my own men because of their inability to wield their energy. They can always learn, as she will. I need to know why they sent her here, what they hope to gain from having such a weak woman hiding within my army.

Vanessa shrugs nonchalantly as she keeps her eyes on Jake. There is a glisten in her gaze that I have witnessed all too well. Hexa looks at me the same way.

It’s not a surprise; Jake brings a lot of attention to himself. Not only for his uniquely framed physique, but also for the aura he exudes. One of the Anishinaabe people, Jake resembles many of his ancestors, with his thick facial structure and his coarse skin.

With only a quick glance at me, Jake sweeps low in a bow and escorts Vanessa from my sight. Her absence leaves a tightness in my arms, a slight pinch along my flesh. This is an unusual feeling. Even the strain my body undertakes due to the lack of energy does not cause this…discomfort. How odd.

Shaking off the sensation, I head in the other direction, toward my office. Novices and mentors wander around the grounds, either deep in conversation or swinging around long knives, training. Their eyes turn down once they see me, and they each bow softly at varying degrees. By now news must already be spreading. I can see it in their probing eyes before they look away. More than likely from the driver who took me into the city. It’s useless to try and think of his name; I’ve forgotten already.

This is not a schoolyard. It is a training compound to prepare my rangers and warriors for battle. This gossiping about and questioning my authority will not stand.

I am in charge here, and anyone who is not willing to follow my lead and my decisions does not belong here. I will bring into this camp whomever I see fit. Jake was accepted mainly because he has been with me before any of the others, but as an Alpha he still gets some wary glances. Maybe I should make an example out of those who are defiant. Show the others what happens when you question me.

Vanessa is weak, but her purity gives me an opportunity to corrupt her. She may be on the Alphas’ side, but that will not last for long. Not while she is here and sees who the Omegas truly are. How would the council react if I were to turn their little spy? To make her mine.

I will give her a taste of true power and watch it destroy her.

Good girls are always the sweetest to watch crumble.

I continue to walk toward my office while I allow the pride in my chest to warm my body. There is still an ache there, deep within. I will have to draw in energy soon.

***

The knock that comes later at my door is strong and precise. It’s not difficult to know who it is. Jake is the only one brave enough to come to my office short of an emergency.

Maybe I give him too much slack.

“Come in.” The grumble I release is harsher than how I feel, but that’s how I want it. My plan will not work if I let anyone get too close, even Jake. I’ve learned from my past mistakes.

“Lǎo bǎn.” Jake barrels through the door and bows his head just enough to be deemed respectable before shutting the door.

There is a twinge in the back of my neck, a drained tension in my shoulders, reminding me, yet again, I should stock up on energy before it starts to affect my movements. Hexa and the other Elites have returned recently with more Betas. I’ll need to take one later.

I have to handle Jake first.

He is taller than me, my six-foot-two stature nothing compared to his six-foot-five height. My body has always been slender, but Jake’s own is built like a wall, muscles constricting against his tight, pale dress shirt. If we were both Betas he would win in a fist fight, but luckily my Omega powers are stronger than his Alpha abilities.

Not to mention Jake would never turn against me. He has been by my side, pledged to me, for years. Since we were young and naïve. I can still see his scrawny body and long, dark, coarse hair. Jake still wears the spearhead wrapped with turquoise painted wire around his neck. The last gift his parents gave him before they were murdered.

We bonded over our similar orphan status, and he has clung to my side ever since. No matter what I do, he never stands in my way.

“May I ask a question, Lǎo bǎn?” Jake steps into the center of the room, his arms linked behind his back, his thick tribal tattoo on his left shoulder peeking out under his shirt.

I knew this was coming. No way around it. My aura alone can send my soldiers and trainees running in the opposite direction, but not Jake. He wouldn’t fear me even if I tried to kill him.

“What.”

He takes a moment to breathe in. Maybe he’s processing how to word his next sentence, or just pausing for dramatic effect. Either way, it’s pissing me off. The irritation clogging up my chest is about to rip through my throat as Jake finally speaks.

“Why did you bring her into the fold?”

Ah, so he came right out and asked. I should expect nothing less from him.

“We can use the extra Magik.” The shrug I add for emphasis on my nonexistent emotions. It doesn’t matter to me what Jake or anyone thinks, or if they even believe my flippant explanation.

I can sense the distrust and suspicion within Jake, even without delving into his psyche. His aura is a shadow that grips to his body like a parasite. It only swirls and darkens as he narrows his eyes and folds his dense, burly arms.

“She is an Alpha. Who knows where her allegiances lie.”

“If I remember correctly, and I’m quite positive on this fact,” how will he react to this, I wonder, “you are an Alpha as well.”

Cue the instant eruption of anger and embarrassment. The red hue curls through Jake’s already darker undertone and brightens his complexion. The veins in his arms pulse and ripple up into his shoulders. Even his temples twitch with the strength of holding back his rage.

“That is not the point, Lǎo bǎn.” Jake’s voice is rough and growls through the office as his large body all but trembles with the effort to stay calm.

I should admire that of him. He has always been the level-headed one. The one who could stay cool under pressure, but it seems that, of late, it is becoming more difficult for him.

A lot has changed over the years, since we met. I am more surprised he has not left me yet. Or betrayed me.

But he is still my underling, and he should act like it.

“Am I not in charge here?” It’s easy to make my voice harsh and controlling when that is how I feel.

Jake may be my Civil Chief and my closest ally, but that does not mean he has a free pass.

He knows it too, as his jaw grinds his teeth into dust and his dense gaze only stares me down. He wouldn’t be stupid enough to speak back, right?

There is a part of me, deep within the recesses of my Magik, that stirs my wolf and the urge to attack. A small portion that wants Jake to argue. Wants to be given the excuse to retaliate. I have not tasted his Magik before, but I can only imagine how delicious it would be. How energizing and clarifying it would feel.

Come on, Jake, what are you going to do?

To my dismay, Jake backs down. His shoulders slump, and he averts his eyes to my dinged up, wooden desk.

“That you are, Lǎo bǎn. I apologize for my outburst.”

Oh, how it must pain him to say that. I kill the chuckle bubbling up into my chest. This is Jake, not some wannabe soldier. He is the closest thing I have to family.

“Thank you, Jake. I brought the girl in because she was an orphan, much like the world made of you. When I found her, she was stealing food for the Omega children on the street. The Alphan Society has abandoned her, and so I brought her here, to help in our cause.” Though I will not admit to him the actual reason. It is just the excuse that the world will know of.

Jake takes a moment to ponder this, his brow dipping even further.

Finally, his chest heaves, and he nods. “Okay. I have set her up with one of the free units on the first floor of the dorms. She will be away from the majority of trainees, for her own sake.”

That is a smart decision, as Omegas tend to be a bit rough with Alphas.

“Will you have Zach come in? I need an update from our little spy.”

Jake’s demeanor once again closes up and his shoulders tense, but he grunts and bows low. “Yes, Lǎo bǎn. I will be right back.”

Jake leaves me quickly, his back rippling with the tense muscles as he contains himself. The urge to call him back, to unload the burden of who Vanessa is, is almost too great. I tell Jake everything, but not this. No, this is mine. She is mine to deal with. I brought her here to corrupt her, and to have fun doing so. Nothing more.

Nothing at all.