Page 37 of Claimed

“I was thinking we could start with Cody, that wolf shifter we met at the diner.”

“He seemed pretty open. Hopefully, even if he doesn’t know anything, he’ll know who we should talk to,” I say, agreeing with his idea.

We work on a plan to go talk to him tomorrow, and when we’re done, I’ll go in search of my mate. It feels like it’s been too long since I’ve touched her human body, and I’m starting to have withdrawals.

I spend the rest of the day practically glued to her side. Even if she is in her wolf form, I want to keep her close. She soothes the part of me that's raging to find the assholes who hurt her and rip them to shreds.

If it wasn’t for Gage’s nose being stuck in those books, she probably would have spent some of the day in her human form. I check the time and realize it’s already after eleven.

“Gage,” I say in a whine. “Are you ready to stop for the night yet?”

He doesn’t answer, and I lift my head from the couch to where he’s seated in the armchair, his face buried in a book, literally inches from the page.

“Earth to Gage?” I say a little louder. When that gets no response, I shout his name. “Gage!” His wide eyes lift to meet mine in surprise. “Didn’t you hear me?” I ask him in slight concern.

He licks his lips and swallows before glancing back down at the book. “I-I think I found it.”

“Found what?” Maddox says, sitting up and leaning his elbows on his knees.

“I figured out what Cherry is.”

The rest of us sit up now, looking at him in confusion. “What do you mean?” Hunter asks. “She’s a wolf shifter, we already know that.”

“Yes, that’s true, but she’s also something else.”

“What?” Maddox asks as we eagerly await whatever it is that has him looking so stunned. Worry starts to grow through me as his eyes move to Cherry, looking nervous.

“What is she?” I prod when he just stares at her.

“She’s an omega.”

Chapter 14

Cherry

Omega? I’ve heard that word before, in one of the stories Gage read to us. I try to remember what I heard about them and realize everyone has turned to look at me. Sitting up, I shrink into the back of the couch from the weight of their intense gazes.

“She can’t be,” Hunter says slowly, his brows pinched in confusion. “She’s a wolf shifter.”

“She can be both,” Gage says, calmer now as he continues to stare at me.

“But…” Chase starts before frowning and turning to look at Gage. “But don’t omegas have mind control power?”

“That’s right,” Hunter nods as if remembering. “They can control a small group of supernaturals. Their control signified by a burst of…. light.” He turns to me, his eyes widening. “There was a burst of light when we confirmed our bonds with her,” he says in shock.

Chase glares at Gage as he asks, “Are you trying to tell us Cherry has been controlling us all this time?”

I feel my heartbeat speed up in worry. I definitely don’t think I have any sort of mind control powers. But how could I argue it?

“Hold on,” Maddox says, holding out his palms toward Gage and Chase. “We’re getting ahead of ourselves here. First of all, I refuse to believe Cherry has been controlling us.” He gives me a smile and lowers his hand to run along my back. “Second of all, besides the burst of light, do you have any other proof to support your claim?” he asks, his question aimed at Gage.

Gage nods, almost excitedly, as he flips back a few pages in his book and sticks his finger in. “The information we’ve been taught on the history of supernaturals is very different from this book. And based on the age of the text, and the information it’s providing, I’m inclined to believe it.”

“What does it say?” Chase asks impatiently.

Gage nods as he focuses on the book. “Listen to this: The Moon Goddess, Alaya, in her heartbroken rage, ripped a tear open between realms, turning her former lover, Magnus, into the first wolf shifter and accidentally allowing the energy from her realm into the human one, giving humans unique powers and abilities and creating the first supernatural beings.

“It was believed by many that omegas were created by humans, to help control the supernaturals with their mind control powers. When, in fact, they were created by the Goddess of Love, Talia, in an attempt to fix what Alaya had done.