Cerulean Feathers

Chapter 33

However, as he helped Tyler to his feet, the smell on the longhorn's clothes made Marcel remember why something felt missing.

"Wait, where's Jonathan?"

Tyler winced, and for a moment Marcel couldn't tell if it was out of guilt or pain as he leaned on Nogla's lanky frame.

"I...I don't-fuck,"

Ty let out a hiss as his leg tried to give out again, but he caught himself with Nogla and Marcel's help before continuing.

"I don't know. He-he went into Heat and then had a grenade thrown at him. I don't..."

The Alpha didn't finish before he collapsed again, defeat and anger practically floating off of him in waves.

However, none of them needed the boss to continue to follow his thoughts.

"Scotty, Nogla, get Tyler to Anthony and Brock. I'll look for Jonathan."

The Betas escorted Tyler off as quick as possible, leaving Marcel with several guns and a fading scent.

Alright,

Marcel huffed to himself, adding his gun to the neat pile for someone to come back and retrieve later.

For now, he had to find Jonathan.

Marcel took a deep breath of the salty air, ignoring the thousands of different Alpha scents that tainted the air.

Almonds.

Peanuts.

Salt.

Ash.

Blood.

Steel.

And his own, mud.

Then, he found it.

Melting vanilla and warm lavender.

His heart began to pump harder at the obviously Heated scent, his inner Alpha flaring with interest.

With a growl, Marcel shoved it down and began following the scent.

He needed to get Jonathan to safety.

***

Joe leaped back as the Alpha in front of him crumpled.

He pulled his rifle to his chest, ducking behind one of the cranes that lined the port.

He blinked, chest heaving as he tried to catch his breath.

He was facing the ocean, the crystal blue waves rippling and perfect against the rising sun.

Sapphire against ruby.

An explosion boomed from somewhere behind him, and he was pulled from his trance.

His eyes focused on the sinking, mangled bits of a boat in front of him.

"Squirrel!"

Joe turned to look at the Alpha that called his nickname, chocolate eyes settling on one of the other members of his group.

"I think I shot one of the Alphas that was near that jay, let's go get him!"

Joe blinked, then nodded.

"Where did he fall?"

"Where Ken threw that grenade, just over there."

Joe looked at where his partner was pointing, then nodded.

"Alright let's-"

Joe cut off when a bullet was lodged in the Alpha's skull.

"James!"

Joe still called out, even though he knew the older Alpha was already dead. With a growl, the young Alpha dropped into a crouch, dashing behind cover as he dared a peak where the rubble of a container was piled.

The Alpha had been downed there.

He could find the injured Omega and bring him back to Kite.

He had heard the rumors.

He had heard the price their buyer had offered for the blue jay.

He could leave Los Santos and pay for college with that kind of money.

With a gulp, Joe sent fire toward an elk-horn and a pigeon-wing before dashing toward and behind a container.

It hit him strongly, the smell of an Omega heat making his oryx horns itch.

What on earth is an Omega in Heat doing out here?

Joe shook off the haze that the scent was trying to trap him in, ignoring the growing scent of blood that was seeping into the air.

He had witnessed worse than the piles of bodies of his coworkers.

He hat seen his boss perform worse on the poor Omegas that were trapped in their clutches.

He had also seen the regret and pain that shone in his commander's eyes.

He needed to be strong.

Strong like Lui.

With a snarl, Joe followed the warm and inviting smell.

When he saw the crimson pooling out from under the rubble, he paused.

Aquamarine feathers scattered like bullet shells.

A garnet sea that reflected the fiery sky.

There was a scuffle from the other side of the vanilla and lavender.

A strong scent of mud hit Joe's senses.

The hair on his neck and arms pricked as he let out a low growl.

An ivory-horned deer clattered to a stop upon finding Joe and the bleeding rubble.

He saw the Alpha's gaze hover on a mess of limp inky hair that protruded slightly from the piles of shrapnel.

Joe didn't react when he saw the terror fill the Alpha's eyes.

He had learned long ago to not look at the Omega's faces.

It made it easier to do his job.

When the deer-horn looked back at Joe, his eyes narrowed and head lowered.

"Scram, or you'll end up like him."

Joe snarled, gripping his rifle tighter.

The deer-horn didn't respond, just let out a growl.

When the weaponless Alpha leaped, Joe fired.