#alpha jack

This was only your fifth week at PTMC but you were holding your own, switching between shifts as needed to bolster numbers or cover for absent co-workers with only a couple of days off in between to reset your clock. Jack had heard nary a complaint from you or the charge nurses you reported to. Currently you were offering a sucker to a little boy that was waiting on the results of an x-ray. If you noticed him watching you, you didn’t show it. But Jack was careful. He had a reputation as the surly alpha to keep after all. It worked. The Pitt ran better at night and he liked the version of himself he got to be here. All stripped down, focusing only on the job. Still, there was part of him that wondered what you saw when you looked at him. If you could see past the grumpy behavior and scars.

He signed off on a chart and watched you from the corner of his eye. He was fascinated by you to the point it was becoming a distraction. Your scent was all wrong, buried by the medical-grade suppressant lotion that left only a sterile undertone that reminded him of saline and latex. Hospital policy for alphas and omegas. Once in a while, a spike of something bled through, but never enough for him to read.

Jack wondered, not for the first time, if you had anyone at home. You were friendly with your coworkers but he’d never caught you sharing anything personal. He’d thought about asking you out once or twice, taking the chance, but the idea fizzled. Despite all his time as a doctor, he still wasn’t great at reading people and was even worse at saying what he wanted.

He was about to walk over, ask how you were getting along when Kevin walked back from his station at the check in desk. His arms were loaded with an enormous arrangement of crimson roses and lilies. He held the vase like it was going to bite him. “Delivery for one of the nurses,” he said and placed it on the counter.   

Jack glanced at the clock. Who the hell was delivering flowers at this hour? “It’s not even five.”

Kevin shrugged. “Don’t know what to tell you, Doc,” he said before heading back to his post.

“Someone’s looking for brownie points.” Lena eyed the flowers with a smile as she turned them looking for a card.

You stepped out from behind a curtain where you’d been checking on another patient and stopped dead when you saw the arrangement. For a second, you went motionless as if readying yourself for an attack. Jack’s stomach rolled. He’d seen that look before on the battlefield. A fear response in those that had learned the world was out to kill them.

Lena called your name. “They’re for you.”

You paled, looking slightly nauseated. “There must be a mistake.”

“Nope, card’s got your name on it,” she replied, holding out the tiny envelope with your name scrawled across it.

Jack watched you reach for the card, fingers trembling. Your scent spiked sudden and sharp. Not the comforting scent of an omega at peace, but the metallic, electric scent of distress. He straightened, not even pretending not to watch you anymore. A few steps brought him closer, gave him a better feel of the aroma. You were terrified and it only got worse when you read the card. You turned away, shouldering past curious staff.

“What the hell was that?” Jack muttered.

Lena shook her head. “No idea. I’ve never seen her lose her composure like that.”

He grunted in agreement, staring at the door you’d disappeared through and considered following. Didn’t. If you wanted company, you’d ask for it. At least he hoped so. The last thing he wanted was to be That Alpha, muscling into business that wasn’t his. But, still…

You returned a few minutes later, pulling his attention from the MS4 he was talking with. You were composed and your scent was muted but your face was too blank. You walked over to the flowers and slammed them into the trash bin, shoving the card deep after. Then you marched straight to the security guard who was watching you with wide eyes, pulling out your phone to show him something with quick, angry movements. Jack watched torn between concern and intrigue. He’d watched you defuse angry drunks and calm crying children with the same measured confidence. This, the way your whole body was coiled tight, was new and he didn’t like it.

Fred, the grizzled, barrel-chested security guard frowned at whatever you showed him on your phone. He nodded and led you into the security office. Five minutes passed, Jack working while keeping one eye on the office, waiting for you to emerge. The hollow in his gut felt a little bigger with every minute you didn’t come out. When you finally did, your mouth was pressed into a thin line. Fred taped a sheet to window of the office, before patting you on the shoulder and heading toward the waiting room with another sheet of paper.

Jack’s gazed trailed you as you walked over to say something to Lena and disappeared down a side hall. He moved over to see the addition to the security office. A white flyer with two pictures of the same man, one with a beard and one without. Under the photos in all caps: IF SIGHTED CONTACT SECURITY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT. DO NOT APPROACH ALONE.

Jack lingered, biting the inside of his cheek. It was none of his business. He told himself that three times, but his feet didn’t believe him. He circled over to the trash can, fishing out the card that had accompanied the flowers. One line scrawled in slanting print. You will always be mine.

Jack’s hand crushed the card without meaning to. He forced his fingers open, dropping the ruined paper back into the bin. His jaw ached from clenching. He turned to find Lena already watching him, mouth drawn in concern. “When she gets back, tell her I’m looking for her.”

“Everything okay?”

The truth was bitter on his tongue. “I don’t know.”

Lena’s gaze softened. “I’ll let her know.

You reappeared sooner than Jack had expected, truth be told. He’d had time to run a trauma, instructing a resident through stitching a chest tube when you were suddenly there beside him. “You wanted to see me?”

He double-checked with his juniors before stripping the gown and gloves and steering you out into the hall and to a quiet corner. “What’s going on, sweetheart? Is everything okay?” The endearment slipped but he found himself unwilling to take it back.

You wrapped your arms around yourself and took a deep breath. “I should probably tell you anyway. Robby, too.”

Jack nodded, slow. “Okay. I’ll have him come in a bit early and we can all talk, alright?”

You watched him for a long moment, searching for something. He just looked back giving you the same steady gaze he used for scared rookies and dying patients. You gave him a nod. “Thanks, Jack.”

Robby arrived a half hour early, hair still damp from his shower, and the three of you hid away in the staff lounge, shutting the door behind you so you wouldn’t be disturbed. You sat at the table clutching the cup of coffee Jack had poured for you before getting his own. Across from you, Robby sat on the couch, elbows propped on his knees and hands folded under his chin as he waited for Jack to tell him what warranted the early summons.

Jack started with what he knew: the flowers, the card, the flyer taped to the window of the security office. When he finished, Robby turned to you, dark eyes gentle but insistent. “Want to fill us in on what’s going on?”

You nodded, but your throat worked twice before words came out. “His name is Grant Spalding. Met him when I was an undergrad. At first, he swept me off my feet. He had some very questionable ideas of what it meant to be an alpha. Of how I should behave as an omega. I stayed too long and when I tried to leave…” You trailed off with a shrug as if that said everything when it actually said nothing at all.

Anger coiled in Jack’s chest, hot and electric, but he kept his face blank. Hopefully, the suppressant would keep his scent in check. The last thing he wanted was for you to be scared of him.

“Go on,” Robby encouraged.

Your hands twisted together in your lap. “He didn’t take it well. Got physical. Took it too far and he had to rush me to the ER. He thought I’d be too afraid to say anything. He was wrong.”

“Where was this?” Jack asked.

“Seattle. I pressed charges, got a restraining order. His family’s loaded and influential. He lawyered up and they put pressure on the DA claiming I was unstable, that everything had been consensual and just got a little out of hand.” You clenched your jaw. “He was sentenced to less than a year.”

Jack’s knuckles were white around the coffee mug. “You moved here to get away from him.” It was a statement, not a question.

“Yeah.” She didn’t look up. “It worked for a while but he found me anyway.”

Robby exhaled, slow and sharp. “Where are you living?”

Your answer was so soft Jack almost missed it. “One bedroom apartment a fifteen minute bus ride from here.”

Robby shot Jack a look over your head. “Roommates?” he asked.

You swallowed and shook your head.

“Oh, sweetheart,” Jack said, voice warm but sharp. “That won’t do at all.”

You lifted your head, eyebrows climbing. “Excuse me?”

“You can’t be alone,” he continued. “Not if this guy is as bad as you say.”

Robby nodded, the decision made before you could even open your mouth to protest. “When you’re not at work, you’re with one of us until this guy is taken care of, one way or another.”

You looked between the two of them with wide eyes and shook your head. “I can’t ask you to do that. My scent—your homes will reek of it for weeks after I’m gone.”

Jack snorted. “You aren’t asking, and I can think of a hell of a lot worse things for our home to smell like than you.”

There was a beat. Your lips parted then you blinked, confused. “Our? You two live together?”

Robby smirked. “Yeah. It made sense to us. Opposite shifts. We’re hardly ever home at the same time. Which also means someone will always be home when you are. Handy.”

Your skepticism was obvious but your shoulders eased as some of the tension unwound. You glanced between them again. “Are you sure?”

“Absolutely,” Robby said.

“We wouldn’t offer if we weren’t,” Jack added. He finished his coffee and washed out his mug before looking over his shoulder. “I’ll take you home after shift. We’ll grab your things.”

You stood and gripped the back of your chair after you pushed it in. “Are—are you sure this won’t make things awkward?”

Jack shrugged. “I’ve seen Robby in his underwear. Nothing more awkward than that.”

Robby gave you a crooked smile. “Besides, Pitt policy says workplace safety is a shared responsibility,” he said parroting the last HR video you’d all had to watch.

That seemed to chase away the last of your wariness. “Thank you both. You have no idea how much this means to me. I’m so embarrassed about all this.”

Robby’s smile fell and he stepped into your space, making you look up to meet his eye. “You did everything right. You reported, told people. Hell, you even moved. He’s the one that should be ashamed. Not you.”

You hesitated before nodding in agreement, lip trembling.

“You’re doing this as much for us as we are for you,” Jack cut in, desperate to keep you from tearing up. “We’d be worried sick about you otherwise.”

You cleared your throat. “Okay. Let’s give it a shot.”

The screen lit up in bright colors.

IT'S A MATCH.

Michael stared at his phone like it had personally betrayed him.

"Oh, no," he said out loud, sitting up straight and grabbing the device with both hands as if shaking it would change the mishap of his own finger. "No, no no-"

Unfortunately, the little message icon was already blinking. As if his matched partner had been lying in wait for this exact moment. For Michael to mess up. To be just a little careless.

Jack: Hey there.

Jack: gotta say, wasn't expecting anyone with that good a face to swipe right on a 3am gym selfie.

Michael read it four times before he let himself respond, his heart doing something embarrassing in his chest at the compliment. That good a face? The other didn't mean that. It was just a phrase to get into Michael's pants. One that worked a little too well.

Michael: I apologize for giving you a wrong impression, but this was an accident.

Jack: brutal 💀

Jack: give a guy a fighting chance at least

Jack: so what happened, wrong swipe or wrong guy?

This time Michael was staring at the screen to find out the best course of action. He could lie, he could say whatever and it would surely be fine and yet-

Bluntness was probably the fastest way out of this entire thing without losing every single bit of his composure, honor or face.

Michael: Neither honestly. I saw your bio. You're a mechanic?

There was a pause. It was long enough for Michael's heart to jump out of his chest. Long enough to make himself believe that he'd killed the conversation which would be more than understandable.

Jack: …you swiped right to talk shop

Michael: I swiped right by accident. Now I'm talking to you about your job.

Jack: alright fine, handsome

“Mom’s not gonna like that.” Fiona said, drinking her juice box diligently as she watched Sasha push the step stool to the fridge. She stood on it and opened the door, except the stool was in the way. Sasha huffed and climbed down to pull it away. Then she opened the fridge wide and pushed the stool in front of it.

“I just wanna make Mommy some cereal. He hasn’t eaten yet.” She reached for the milk and yanked it out as best as she could.

Fiona jumped forward, but it was too late, her twin had dropped the milk. It broke open across the floor, spilling an almost full jug.

-----

Rhys had been getting Tim dressed when he heard a crash, followed by the scared screams of his daughters. He came running out, Tim in tow, to step in milk. He gasped. “What!? What happened!?”

Sasha sobbed, face red, snot leaking from her nose. “I JUST- I JUST WANTED-” The rest was unintelligible. Fiona came onto the scene with a broom. She began to push the milk away from Rhys, bending the bristles.

Tim babbled in Rhys’ arms. He quickly set Tim in his high chair and called to the girls. “Fiona, not a broom, get towels. Sasha, it’s okay, please help your sister!”

Sasha continued to cry, standing on the step ladder, the fridge door wide open. Rhys went with Fiona to the hall closet and handed her a towel. He grabbed several for himself and together, the two of them sopped up the milk. Sasha was sitting on the top step now, no longer screaming as she cried.

Only when the milk was cleaned and the towels, along with soaked blankets and stuffed animals he hadn’t been able to pick up the night before were in the washing machine, was the omega finally able to crouch in front of Sasha and give her a hug. He scooped her into his arms and sat on the stool himself. “Why didn’t you ask for help, Sasha?”

She took a deep, loud, shaking breath. “I… I… I wanted to-” but she began to cry again.

Rhys held her close, rocking her gently. “Fiona, do you know why she was getting the milk on her own?”

Fiona nodded as she poured some cheerios in front of Tim. “She wanted to make you cereal.”

Rhys ducked his head to kiss Sasha’s forehead. “Is that what you were doing? You were trying to make food for me? That’s very sweet, thank you.”

Sasha rubbed her eyes. “But I didn’t!”

Rhys rocked her again. “No, the milk was a little too heavy for you, wasn’t it?” Sasha nodded. “You know what, though?” Rhys continued.

“Hmm?”

“It makes me really happy that you were doing something nice for me. You saw that I hadn’t eaten yet today and you were trying to help, that makes me feel very loved. Thank you.”

Sasha nodded, her cries mellowing out.

Rhys looked at Fiona tending to Tim. “And thank you, Fi, for helping, that makes me feel happy, too. I feel very loved to have you two as my children.”

“What about Tim?” Sasha asked, rubbing her eyes.

“Hmm, what did Tim do to help me today?”

The three looked at Tim. The red haired one-year-old shoved cheerios in his mouth.

“He’s cute?” Fiona asked.

“Yeah!” Sasha giggled.

Rhys laughed. “Yes, Tim was very helpful to me by being cute.” Rhys kissed Sasha. “Feeling better?”

Sasha nodded.

“Good, cause we need to clean ourselves off and then go to the store.” As Rhys got Sasha and Fiona into a bath, he left them to shower off himself. He’d need a carpet cleaner for the areas around the kitchen, and they’d need a new broom, and milk. He didn’t even want to think about how much renting one would cost him. He sighed heavily as he got dressed. Fiona and Sasha were just getting out of the tub. Tim was still in his high chair, getting frustrated that he had no cheerios left.

Rhys scooped him up and blew a raspberry on his neck. “Are you girls getting dressed?”

“YEAH!” Fiona called.

-----

With a carpet cleaner in the trunk of his van, they had stopped at the grocery store and gotten what they needed. He was about to close the side door when he gasped, staring at the pale child with black hair on a booster seat next to Tim. Sasha and Fiona tried to move in their seat to see. Rhys frowned. “Sweetie, you need to buckle up! I almost started driving, that would have been really dangerous!”

The girl smiled sheepishly. “Right… I’m sorry!”

“Nothing to be sorry about, just remember you are very important, which means keeping you safe is very important.” He reached around her with the seat belt and strapped her in. “There! Alright, time to head home.” He slid into the driver’s seat and set off. “What should we have for lunch?”

“What do you want, Angel?” Sasha asked.

Fiona frowned.

“Grilled cheese?”

“We had grilled cheese yesterday,” Fiona said.

“Oh…”

Rhys frowned. “We can have grilled cheese again, that’s okay. Do you like tomatoes, Angel? I was thinking we could add some things to our grilled cheese to make it different than yesterday.”

“Yeah! I love tomatoes!”

“And turkey?”

“Yeah!”

“Perfect. We can eat in the backyard, it’s a nice day out.”

“I never get to eat outside!” Angel gasped.

“You’re going to love it!” Sasha gushed.

“It’s kinda cool,” Fiona said.

Sasha beamed.

Tim cooed and grabbed at his toes.

-----

All three girls helped unload the car, though, Rhys made sure he carried the milk. He cautioned them not to go near the kitchen just yet. He set Tim in his swing, setting a few toys there for him.

“Alright, we’re going to go through the front to the back.” He led the girls to the back, to the small jungle gym he’d saved up for. “I need you three to stay out here while I finish cleaning up the milk.”

“Okay!”

“Milk?” Angel asked. “I didn’t see any.”

“Sasha spilled it  all  over the floor and it got into the carpet and now Mom has to deep clean it.”

“I didn’t mean to!”

Rhys brought them out drinks in different colors, along with a bowl full of fruits and veggies. Then he got to work. It didn’t take long for him to shampoo the carpet, which was a relief. He set to work making lunch. He wondered how long Angel was going to stay, he should call her parents to find out. As he went to place a name to her parental figure, he realized he didn’t know. Rhys stopped, mid-spread of butter on bread.

He blinked out the window to the backyard. He didn’t know how to get a hold of Angel’s parents. He’d never met them before… Well, he’d just have to ask her… He frowned, his brain forcing his thoughts to what he’d been missing all day. He did not remember the girls talking about a friend named Angel and he did not remember picking her up… In fact, he did not remember when she had joined them at all.

Panic exploded inside of him. He did not know how Angel had gotten into his car either! He did not know who this Angel was, but more importantly, he had accidentally taken her from her parents. He had kidnapped her!

Setting the bread and knife down, he covered his mouth as Tim began to fuss, getting hungry. He swore and automatically went through the motions, getting his food ready. His mind ran a mile a minute, trying to think back to when he remembered when Angel wasn’t in the car with him. He needed to talk to her and get her to give him the number for her parents. If not, he was going to have to call the police. A sudden sob caught in his throat. He was going to lose his children for sure this time.

His hands shook as he placed the cut pieces of cheese out for Tim, tears blurring his eyes. His whole body ached with fear, but he tried to catch his breath. Tim began to fuss and cry, sensing and smelling the terrified pheromones Rhys could not help releasing. He had to hold and rock Tim while feeding him. By the time the grilled cheese sandwiches were done, he had managed to stop crying, but he knew the girls would all be able to tell something was wrong. He felt dizzy, but his stomach was too knotted to do anything about it.

He was going to lose everything. His children, the house, his job that let him work from home. All it would take is one report about an omega stealing a child and everything would be over. He would be labeled unstable and unfit. It was all too easy for an omega to lose their kid, and now he was going to lose his because of his carelessness.

He swallowed hard as he brought the sandwiches out to the patio table, carrying Tim. “Girls, it’s lunchtime.”

They all ran to him, but stopped as they got close. Sasha’s nose scrunched and she rubbed it harshly as Angel looked on confused. Fiona frowned. “Mommy, why do you smell like that?”

Rhys tried his best to stay calm. “I’m just really concerned because Angel’s parents don’t know where she is. I bet your parents are very scared.”

“Oh…” Angel said quietly, climbing onto a chair. “It’s just my Dad…”

“Do you know his number?”

She nodded slowly.

“You’re not in trouble, sweetie,” Rhys said gently. “What is his number? I’ll call him so he can come and get you.”

She shrugged. “I don’t want to…”

Rhys blinked back a frustrated sob. “How come?”

“Because he’ll make me go back to my nanny and I don’t like her.”

Rhys paused. “Is… Were you with her today?”

Angel nodded.

“Is that when you got into my car?”

Another nod.

He sighed. “Have you told your Dad that you don’t like her?”

She shook her head.

“Why not?” Sasha asked.

Angel twisted her hands in her lap.

“You can tell us!” Fiona said around a mouthful of grilled cheese.

“She said that Dad wouldn’t listen to me because I’m just a kid.”

Gut twisting in anger, Rhys bit it back and smiled.

“That’s stupid,” Fiona grunted. “Mommy always listens to us!”

“Yeah, I bet your Dad will too!” Sasha added.

Angel looked at Rhys, who nodded. “That’s right. Do you think you can give me his number now?”

“Okay…”

-----

Jack was hysterical. He yelled at the hired nanny. “WHAT DO YOU MEAN SHE’S GONE!?”

The nanny cowered. “She… She was with me, but then wasn’t! Someone must have kidnapped her! I tried my best to find her, I really did!”

“If you had tried your best you would have seen something. So, what did you see? Who took my daughter?” The enraged alpha could honestly rip out her throat right now. His daughter was kidnapped and she hadn’t said anything until he had gotten back from his short trip to work. He’d only been gone four hours.

The alpha woman sputtered, sobbing into her hand. “I didn’t… I don’t…”

“You are useless.” He stalked away, dialing the number for his close friend, Wilhelm, who was a detective. “Wil. I need your help. Angel’s missing. It happened at eleven-thirty-eight at Shop ‘n Stock. The dumbass nanny didn’t tell me until now. Yeah, I’ll be pressing charges against her and whoever took my daughter.”

As he hung up and turned to yell at the nanny, a call came in. He glared at her as he looked at the unknown number. His heart began to race. It was probably the kidnappers. Or it was some rando. He answered it normally.

“Are you Angel’s dad?”

Jack’s heart went wild and he went feral. “Who are you? Where is she!?”

“I’m so sorry, I thought she was a friend of my girls!” An address was then given. “I’m so, so sorry!”

“You took her?” Jack was heading out the door and to his car.

“I didn’t mean to, I’m really sorry-” there was a sudden choked sob. “She was just suddenly there!”

“I don’t want to hear excuses!” Jack snapped. “I’m on my way.” He hung up and texted Wil the information. He didn’t care how many red lights he ran, or stop signs he ignored, his baby girl was in a strange place and probably terrified.

The house that matched the address was in a col-de-sac and looked very unopposing. He flew from the car and banged on the door.

He could hear voices from the other side of the door.

“Hang on, Angel, don’t open the door unless you know who it is, it’s unsafe.”

His ground his teeth. Who was this asshole to tell his daughter about safety when he had taken her?

“It’s dad!” he heard. The door opened and Angel appeared, grinning wide. “Dad!” She hugged his leg as a baby cried and screamed somewhere in the house. Behind her stood a man, tall, slender, and totally gorgeous if Jack wasn’t ready to murder him. The sour scent of fear assaulted his nose in a way only an omega could do. Good, this man should be scared.

In as calm a voice as he could, Jack spoke to her. “Get in the car, Angel.”

“I need my shoes.”

“I tried getting her to wear them, but-” one angry glare and the omega swallowed his words.

“Don’t be mean to him, Dad!” Angel whined.

“Get your shoes on, Angel.”

The omega opened the door wider and retreated into the house, scooping up the crying baby. Jack felt his inside twist tighter, how many of the other children here were taken from families.

“Dad!” Angel whined loudly. “Stop getting so mad, it smells gross! Rhys is nice! I really like him!”

“Enough, Angel, get your shoes on.”

When his daughter looked at the omega named Rhys, Jack wanted to scream.

Rhys nodded. “Listen to your dad.”

“But I don’t want to go!”

“Angel-” As Jack refrained from snapping at her, a door opened and two girls ran out.

“Mom! Fiona hit me!” she was crying.

“What? I told you girls to stay in your room so Angel can focus on getting her shoes on.”

“But Fiona hit me!”

“DID NOT!” the other girl, Fiona yelled over the crying baby.

Sighing heavily, Rhys lowered to a crouch. “Why did you hit your sister?”

“I didn’t!” Fiona yelled, starting to tear up.

“Fiona,” Rhys said quietly. “What happened?”

“She was throwing my stuffed animals that I told her not to, but she wouldn’t listen and she knocked over the snow globe and it broke!” Now Fiona was crying.

Rhys stiffened and Jack could smell the fear grow heavier in the room. “The snow globe broke? Did you two step in it?” The girls were crying loudly now. Rhys set the baby in his swing, which only made him cry louder. “Sit down, I need to check your feet.” As they cried, the two girls obeyed.

Angel went over to the baby, picking up a toy and setting it in the swing. “Angel,” Jack called to her. “Get your shoes on.”

His daughter glared at him. “NO! You’re going to be mad at Rhys and I want to help Tim!”

“Angel, your Dad wants you to go home, it’s time to go home now.” Rhys said, his phone’s flashlight pointed at the feet of the girls.

He watched Angel’s face grow red and her eyes well with tears.

Jack was quickly losing control of his anger. He did not know what sort of manipulation the omega had done to get Angel to want to stay. As the thought crossed his mind, he knew it didn’t sit right, the omega was not engaged in Angel, he was focused on the other children, and he kept telling her to listen to Jack. It didn’t matter. He was furious that this creep had kidnapped his daughter.

Rhys turned the flashlight off. “You guys look okay.” He pulled them into a hug, kissing each of their cheeks. “It’s okay, go play outside while Angel gets ready to go.”

Sniffling, the two nodded and headed outside.

“Wait for me!” Angel ran out with them.

“Angel, wait!” Rhys called at the same time Jack did.

The omega winced, cowering away from Jack. “I’m sorry.”

“You really think sorry is going to cut it?” Now that they were alone, he rounded on the omega, pointing a finger at him. The omega had raised his arm in defense. “You kidnapped my child! What kind of sick world-” The movement cut Jack’s anger off immediately. He blinked, automatically taking a step back. He stared, dumbfounded, the sour scent unbelievable worsening. He gritted his teeth and took several steps back, moving to the opposite side of the room. He glared at the man. “What the fuck is wrong with you?” He had meant the defensive position, but Rhys didn’t seem to catch on.

Rhys avoided eye contact, closing in on himself to look as nonthreatening as possible. “She was just in my car and I didn’t think… I just assumed she was the girls’ friends… I didn’t mean for it to happen! I did call as soon as I realized!” He eyed the baby, looking like he wanted to pick it up, but then he glanced at Jack.

It was an action that made Jack disgusted. The pure anger inside him caught in his throat. The omega thought Jack would lose control and hurt the kid. “Fuck!” he hissed. “Pick up the damn kid, I ain’t going to do anything.” When Rhys did not move, Jack swore again. How had the situation turned so suddenly? Why was he trying to soothe the man when that baby had probably been kidnapped too? And why wasn’t Angel listening to him? He found himself crouching, raising his arms. “I won’t move, okay?”

The omega made no bones about how untrustworthy he thought Jack was, nevertheless, he did pick up the baby, rocking it and popping a pacifier in his mouth. “I didn’t intentionally kidnap her. The day has been crazy and I just thought she was a friend of my girls. I did call you the moment I realized.” His voice was quiet now, removed from the situation.

Jack’s gut twisted tighter. He sighed and went to the kitchen.

“Don’t step-” Rhys called, but Jack had already stepped on the wet carpet. Rhys sighed. “Never mind.”

Quickly stepping off, he opened the door to the backyard and called out. “I need you to come inside, I need to talk with you.”

There was a knock on the door. He heard Rhys sigh heavily under his breath. “Now what?” He gasped and hesitated before opening the door. “Hello.”

There was a pause before Wil spoke. “I’m here because a kidnapping was reported?”

Jack watched Rhys’ body grow tight and then retreat into the house. Wilhelm stepped into the house, nodding to Jack. Angel finally met him at the door and they went in. “You’re just in time, detective,” Jack said. “I was going to ask Angel a few questions.”

Angel’s eyes grew wide. “But… But…” She looked at Rhys. Jack frowned, how had there been enough time for the two to form a bond?

“Tell the truth, Angel, it’s okay.” The baby had calmed down now and the silence was blessed.

Angel nodded.

“Alright,” Wil said, looking between Rhys and Jack. “What happened today, Angel?”

She shrugged.

“Angel, you’re not in trouble, remember? Tell the truth, please.” Rhys said gently.

His daughter slumped. “I just… I just wanted to be with Rhys! He looked so nice! He held their hand when they crossed the road!”

Jack frowned, but Wil continued, crouching down to her level. “You saw Rhys with his kids?”

“Yes! They were so happy and I wanted to be happy.”

“What happened next?”

Angel looked at Jack, unsure. Jack crouched down next to Wil. “It’s okay sweetie, tell Wil.”

“I… I went over there and they said I needed a booster seat, so I went back and grabbed it.”

“Who said that?” Wil asked.

Rhys sighed and went to the back door. “Girls, get in here, please.”

Fiona and Sasha ran in. “Yeah, Mommy?”

“Did you tell Angel to get her booster seat earlier today?”

They suddenly looked nervous.

“Please answer my question.”

“Yeah,” Fiona said.

Sasha huffed.

“Why?”

“We knew you wouldn’t like it if she wasn’t safe-”

“- Cause she said she hated her nanny.”

“Thank you, girls, you can go back to playing.”

They looked at Angel. “What about her?”

Rhys smiled. “We need to talk to her a little bit more. After we’re done and if her Dad says it’s okay, then she can come out and play some more.”

They nodded and left.

Jack, meanwhile, looked at Angel. “You don’t like Ronda?”

Eyes on the ground, Angel shook her head.

“Why didn’t you tell me this, cupcake?”

Angel shrugged.

“Tell him what you told me,” Rhys said.

Once more, Jack was shocked by how open Angel had been with Rhys. He no longer felt anger towards the omega, but he still had frustration bubbling just under the surface.

Angel fidgeted even more and this time, Jack reached out and took her hands. “Angel, I want to hear what you have to say, please?”

That seemed to convince her. “She told me you wouldn’t listen cause I’m just a kid…”

He felt his anger begin to rise again. He glanced at Wil, who stood by, watching silently. He looked at his daughter. “Angel, I believe you. Can you tell me why you wanted to be with Rhys instead of Ronda?”

“Because she’s mean. She never lets me play outside or eat something other than peanut butter and jelly and she never holds my hand when crossing the street. She doesn’t like me talking or asking questions or playing too loud. Can I go play outside now?” 

Jack sighed. “Yeah, you can.”

She smiled and ran out, making sure to jump over the wet spot on the carpet.

-----

The alpha stood up, sighing heavily. “I’m going to ruin that woman’s career.” He glared out the back door at the playing children. “She doesn’t get to treat Angel like that.”

Rhys hugged Tim close, chancing a glance at Wilhelm. The stoic man met his gaze and then looked at the man. “You can deal with that later, even file a report about it, but later, we need to decide what is happening now, with-” he gestured to Rhys.

“Oh.” the man waved his hand. “It’s fine. I’m over it. No harm was done.”

Rhys grunted.

The alpha turned to him.

Fear tangled inside Rhys and he smiled quickly. “Just clearing my throat. Everything’s fine.” He moved his attention to Tim who had finally passed out. “I’m going to put Tim in his crib.” He left to his room where Tim’s bassinet was, setting him down carefully. Rhys sat on the bed, trying to calm his breath. Everything was crumbling to pieces all over again.

As he quietly moved down the hallway, he became dizzy and stumbled, falling into the alpha.

“Whoa, you okay?”

His stomach fell and he jumped away. “Sorry!”

The alpha watched him closely, his eyes a stage light burning over Rhys. “We should go.” He collected Angel, grabbing her things and ushering her out to the car without waiting to get her shoes on. Rhys and Wil followed him out so they could get her booster seat. As they left, Rhys felt very, very tired.

“Jack is not a bad man,” Wilhelm said.

Rhys blinked, startled.

Wilhelm went back into the house. “Jack gets aggressive, but he would never do you any harm.”

Rhys nodded vaguely.

Wilhelm continued. “I’m going to take the rest of the day off. I will get boxes and food.” His hard, blue eyes pierced into Rhys. “I get the feeling you have had nothing to eat today.”

-----

Rhys woke up the next morning drained of energy. A sadness made his heart a thousand times heavier. He swallowed and then smiled as Tim cooed next to him. “Guess we should get up, huh?”

By the time he’d fed Tim and had breakfast almost finished, the girls had woken up. They looked groggy. They had spent the night packing their room up after Rhys had thoroughly cleaned the spill.

“Morning,” he called to them.

Sasha said nothing, rubbing her eyes and sitting at the table. Fiona yawned and grabbed plates and forks. Rhys served them up.

“And one for you,” Fiona said.

Rhys smiled. “Right. What would I do without you?” He kissed Fiona on the head and then gave one to Sasha. He got halfway through when Tim began to fuss. And after he put Tim down for a nap, he began packing again. The girls shuffled to their rooms in their pajamas and began to slowly pack.

Rhys’ heart ached for them, but it could not be helped.

A knock on the door called all of them  to the front of the house. Rhys looked through the peephole and frowned. He opened it to see Jack and Angel standing there. “What-”

“ANGEL!” the girls screamed. They pulled her into a hug.

“What are you doing here?” Fiona asked.

“Dad wanted to apologize.”

Rhys looked at Jack. Jack smiled sheepishly.

“Let’s go play!” The three pushed past Rhys.

“Wait!” Rhys called, but they were already through the house.

“Whoa,” Angel said, slowing down. “Why do you have all these boxes?”

Sasha huffed. “We have to move so our dad can’t find us.”

“Girls!” Rhys snapped, his tone stopping them instantly.

“Sorry Mom!” They ran out into the backyard.

He swallowed, looking at Jack. He was holding a vase of flowers that had not been there moments before. He was frowning now, though. He looked at Rhys. “You know I hadn’t planned on sharing the incident with anyone? Not even the nanny will talk because it will lead to her discredit. You’re safe here.”

Rhys winced and sighed. “He… He has a way of always finding out…”

“Gotcha, well, in that case, you need help.” He smiled and handed Rhys the vase. “It’s a good thing I’m here.”

Rhys stammered. “What? No, it’s okay, really-”

“No it’s not. It’s my fault you have to move. I’m going to make this right. I’ll help get you packed and then you can stay at the beach house at no charge until you find a new place.”

“Beach house? I appreciate it, but-”

“Then let me help you. It won’t cost you anything.”

Rhys bit his lip, trying to ignore the fear that threatened to seep out, but he remembered what Wilhelm had said. He looked at Jack. Wilhelm had said he was a good man. He trusted Wilhelm’s judgement. He’d seen right through what was happening and had not rolled over when Rhys’ ex had demanded it. If he said Jack was a good man… 

“Okay.”

Jack grinned.

“What’s this?” Wilhelm asked as he walked up the drive. He was in his normal clothes.

Jack frowned. “What are you doing here?”

“Helpin’ out, what’s it look like?” He indicated his clothes.

“Wil’s been helping us out since the beginning.” Rhys opened the door wide to let both men in. “Jack is letting us stay at his beach house until we can find a new place.”

“Good.”

Jack made a quick call, hiring movers. Rhys’ eyes widened, but he bit back any words to discourage Jack. He didn’t want to dilute Jack’s kindness, especially if it was to make up for yesterday.

“I also ordered lunch.”

“What!? You didn’t have to do that!”

“It’s fine, I’m beyond rich. Let’s get cracking!”

Rhys hesitated as Jack jumped in and began to pack things and Wilhelm worked on the kitchen. Rhys went to the rest of the rooms and began to pack them quickly. When Tim woke up, Rhys took a break to feed him.

As he began to, however, Jack took Tim from him. “The food arrived twenty minutes ago. The girls have eaten and I got a slice. Go get some food and I’ll feed Tim.”

Rhys faltered. “It’s fine, I can-”

“No, it’s not fine, how much have you eaten today?” When Rhys paused a little too long, Jack nodded. “Go.” He sat down with Tim and began to feed him.

Rhys watched from the kitchen, taking a slice of pizza. Jack had Tim laughing as he ate, cooing and talking with the infant. As he took a second slice, he realized it had been months since he had been able to have two slices in one sitting. A sudden gratitude began to grow for Jack. They went back to packing, letting Tim roam freely.

He heard Jack laugh. “Well, hello, nice of you to roll in.” Rhys knew he was talking to Tim and felt a small smile dare to touch his lips. “Here, hold this for me.” Tim garbled at him happily.

The movers showed up an hour later with two of the largest trucks. They were able to fit almost everything in. The extra items went into Wil and Jack’s cars and all the kids went with Rhys’.

“Say goodbye, girls.”

“GOODBYE HOUSE!” Sasha called. The others echoed.

With directions to their new home, Rhys set off towards it. His stomach was in knots, but his heart dared to be hopeful. Jack had been extremely aggressive yesterday, but he’d backed off when Rhys had gotten spooked. And he’d helped in every way today.

“Mom!” Fiona called. “I have to pee!”