Chapter 2

It had been a month since Jason had been able to lay eyes on the white wolf. Within the past month he had continuously gone back to False Cape State Park to try and find it again. He knew this was borderlining obsessive, but he just couldn't stop thinking about it. He was dreaming about those blue eyes, they were haunting him, almost teasing him. It was like on some level he knew those eyes, but he couldn't place them. He had never seen eyes that blue before, and yet he felt like he knew this wolf. That they had crossed paths somewhere. It sounded insane and that was the very reason why he didn't tell anyone on the team about it. He was keeping this hidden and close to his chest. He didn't need the guys to call him crazy or question if he was focused on operations. Jason just couldn't help but feel like there was a secret here and he needed to get to the bottom of it.

Jason made his way through the forest once again, being careful to not get shot. The forest was often used as a hunting ground for deer and other animals. Hunters would come with their rifles or on the occasion a bow if they were in the mood for a challenge. Jason had no idea if the wolf would come back to this area and if he did, if he would even be out right now. It was hunting season, so it wouldn't be the safest time for a white wolf to be in a dark forest. Not that wolves really knew when it was hunting season. Jason stood there and closed his eyes for a moment. He focused on his hearing to try and pick up any footprints or sounds that would lead him to believe a wolf was here. He could hear the birds, deer, people, but he expected all of that. He was trying to find sounds that wouldn't normally belong, anything that could possibly lead him to believe that a wolf was here. Jason got his answer a moment later, but not how he expected to be getting it. He heard the distinct sound of a yelp. He knew that sound, he knew it all too well from his children. It was the sound they used to make when they were hurt.

Jason was instantly opening his eyes and taking off at a run towards the sound. He didn't hear the wolf running away, which led him to believe the wolf was injured badly enough to be either unconscious or unable to run. Jason was really hoping a hunter hadn't gotten the wolf either on purpose or by mistake. After looking for this wolf for a month, this couldn't be how it ended. Jason arrived and was pleased to see that the wolf was alone, the hunter had clearly no idea he hit anything. What he wasn't happy about, the wolf was laying on it's right side with an arrow sticking out of its side. Jason was instantly going over to it and bending down. Admittedly not the smartest thing to do, but the wolf was bleeding quite a bit and his eyes weren't open. Jason figured it would be safe enough for him to look the wolf over. He didn't even know if he was alive. Jason placed his hand on the wolf's chest and he was relieved to feel it moving up and down, he was alive at least. At the contact though, the wolf didn't wake up. Jason knew they couldn't stay here, but he also couldn't exactly take the wolf to a vet either. Everything in him was screaming that this wasn't a typical wolf. He couldn't explain it, but he just knew. Going to a vet was out of the question. Jason let out a sigh before he reached down and carefully picked up the wolf into his arms.

"Please don't wake up." Jason said, as he stood.

He started to make the journey back to his truck. He was going to have to take the wolf back to his apartment. It was not ideal, but he really had nowhere else to go with him. He would get him back to his place, remove the arrow and patch him up. Hopefully before he woke up and decided that he made a decent snack. Jason made quick work of getting back to his truck. He went and placed the wolf into the passenger seat after a moment of debate on if he wanted the wolf to wake up beside him or behind him. Jason figured it would be safer if he woke up next to him. He was an omega, and Jason was an alpha so if nothing else he could control the wolf if he needed to. With the wolf securely in the seat, Jason got behind the wheel and headed off. Jason reached over the seat and grabbed an extra shirt he had and pressed it against the wound. The wolf was losing quite a bit of blood and he didn't want the wolf to die on him while they drove back to his house. Jason couldn't believe he had found the wolf. He honestly wasn't expecting it, figured the wolf was just passing through. Jason had a lot of questions and he was hoping to be able to get some answers finally. He just needed to keep this pup alive. Now that they were close enough Jason could see the wolf wasn't that old, he wasn't new, but he wasn't old enough to be on his own. As an omega he should have a pack somewhere, someone that would protect him and ensure he ate. Yes, omegas were the bottom of the pack and they were often bullied and abused, but the rest of them still protected their weakest wolf.

If this wolf was an apex, like Jason suspected, then his pack should still be here in the area. They should have been close enough to get to the wolf after it was shot. Why was this wolf all alone? Whether it was an albino or a true white wolf, it still should have a pack out there somewhere, so where were they? Jason was going to be getting answers, no matter what. Once he arrived at his house he picked up the wolf and quickly brought him inside and up to his bed. He placed the wolf down after moving the covers back. Jason ran into his bathroom and grabbed his first aid kit and then went back into his bedroom. The first thing he needed to do was remove the arrow from his stomach. He had no idea where exactly it was inside of the wolf. Jason didn't know the anatomy of a wolf, but he knew dogs, so he was going to assume it was his ribs. If Cerberus was lying injured on his bed, the arrow would have hit his ribs and hopefully no organs. Jason picked up a lot of gauze and he wrapped it around the arrow against the wolf's fur. He then pressed on it hard while using his free hand to grab the arrow. He made sure he kept his eyes on the wolf as he started to pull the arrow out. He kept his eyes glued to the wolf, searching for any signs that the wolf was going to wake up. The wolf moved slightly, but his eyes remained closed as Jason pulled the arrow free from his body.

With the arrow no longer plugging the hole, more blood flowed freely from the wolf, staining the white fur red. Jason grabbed more gauze and started to put pressure on the wound. He would need to stitch it up to stop the blood flow and hopefully the wolf would heal properly. Jason was hoping it would be enough, there was only so far his medical training went. Jason made quick work of stitching the wound close and he was pleased to see that the bleeding had started to slow as he was stitching the wound closed. With that finally done, Jason stood back slightly and looked down at the mess. The wolf's fur was red all around the injury and down his stomach. There was a bloody arrow, gauze everywhere and his own hands were stained red.

The wolf was still out so Jason figured now would be the best time to get cleaned up. He picked up everything before he went into his bathroom and tossed the garbage out. He snapped the arrow in half and tossed that away as well. He returned the first aid kit to underneath his sink before he scrubbed his hands almost raw to get the blood off. With them clean Jason made his way back into his room. He pulled the chair at his desk and moved it over closer to the bed. He wanted to be close by for when the wolf eventually gained consciousness. Jason still had no idea what he was doing. If he was wrong and this wasn't an apex wolf, he could very well have a pissed off, scared and injured wild wolf on his hands. Being an alpha meant he was strong, but he was stuck in human form, that would give this little omega the advantage. Just as Jason sat down in the chair he heard a crunching sound coming from the bed. He looked up and watched in complete shock and amazement as the wolf in front of him slowly transformed into a human. Jason was right, this was an apex wolf. Not only just an apex, but a real white wolf. He had found a unicorn and he would finally have a face to put to the wolf.

Jason watched as each limb morphed from a furry leg to two arms with hands and two legs with feet. Jason got up and quickly covered the bottom half of the wolf as he continued to change. He knew the wolf would be naked and Jason didn't want the stranger waking up thinking something was going on. Jason's eyes were glued to the man's face as the snort began to morph into a human face. Within seconds Jason went from being shocked as he watched a wolf morphed into a human to being stunned at the human face he was currently looking down on. It couldn't be possible. This person wasn't an omega, this man was an alpha. He smelt it on him himself. He couldn't be an omega, that just wasn't possible and yet every scent coming off of him was omega. Jason took in the body and it was in that moment that he noticed the black bracelets that were always present on the man were gone. Jason slowly sat back down in the chair, keeping his eyes glued to his currently unconscious subordinate laying naked in his bed. Jason couldn't believe this. The white wolf was not only real and an apex, but it was none other than Clay Spenser.

They had been told that Clay was from the black pack, that he was an alpha. Jason never had a reason to question that. Yes, there were personality traits that didn't match up with a black wolf, but as far as he knew his mother could have been human. Alana was human and they had two kids together, the result were kids that were half-wolves and half-human, allowing their wolf traits to be reduced with the human DNA within them. As far as Jason was concerned, Clay could have easily been a half-breed. Now it made more sense, white wolves were highly intelligent and agile. They could be extremely protective of their family and were often more interested in spending time alone with their pack then out socially with others. They were more introverted and tended to be amazing judges of character. That matched Clay, from what very little that Jason knew of him. What he couldn't figure out was how Clay had made it this far. The military wasn't against omegas, but you had to work in an office. You weren't allowed to be in active duty. Omegas didn't have the physical strength that alphas, betas and deltas did. They tended to be very submissive and timid. Omegas didn't have the best time in life, most were bullied and abused, but they spent their lives searching for their mate. Someone that would protect them and take care of them. Someone that would give them children to care for. They went into heat every month and the scent always drove other wolves crazy, it's why they had to take that week off from work every month to prevent any of the other wolves around them from reacting to it. It was just a fact of life.

Clay had been with the team for five weeks now, which means he's been in heat and none of them had even noticed it. Jason didn't understand how that was possible, but he suspected it had something to do with those bracelets that Clay wore. Jason couldn't help but wonder how Clay didn't act like an omega. He was strong, tough, stubborn, he wasn't timid or submissive, he acted like a young alpha. How the hell was that possible? Jason thought finding the wolf would bring him answers, instead it had only brought him more questions. Jason now had no idea what he was going to do. Clay had managed to get in DEVGRU all on his own, but it would be a risk to his guys to have an omega on the team. Ray was mated so it wouldn't matter to him, but the rest of the guys would not be able to handle working with someone in heat. Even if Clay could keep it covered, eventually they would be able to smell it. It wasn't possible with them having to go on tour for Clay to disappear seven days out of the month. Jason was strong enough to ignore it, but Sonny was a horny beast. He had to avoid any omega in heat if he couldn't have sex with them. The smell was too intoxicating for him. Clay being on the team not only put himself at risk of being hurt by one of their own, but it put Sonny, Brock and Trent at risk of doing something they normally wouldn't. This whole situation was a mess and the only way to start to clean it up would be for Clay to wake up so they could talk. Jason let out a sigh as he sat back and pulled out his phone. He had no choice but to wait until Clay woke up and then they could talk this out.

XXX

Clay let out a soft groan as he started to come to. The first thing Clay noticed was the slight pain and burn to his side. The last thing Clay remembered was running through the woods and then this heat and pain hit his side before it all went black. Clay gave a groan as he moved his arm and it was in that moment he realised he wasn't on the forest floor. He was on something soft and warm. The familiar scent filled his nose and Clay could easily recognize it, Jason. Clay's eyes were instantly snapping open and he saw that he was in a bedroom, on his boss' bed naked. Clay sat up and looked around the room.

"It's ok." Jason said.

Clay's head snapped to Jason's direction and saw him sitting on a chair next to the bed. Clay couldn't help but wrap the blanket around his hips tighter as he shuffled back a bit. He had no idea what the hell was going on, or what Jason knew, but based on the look on his face he knew more than Clay wanted him to. Clay was instantly looking down at his wrists and saw that his bracelets weren't there.

"Calm down pup, I'm not going to hurt you." Jason said, gently.

"You wouldn't stand a chance." Clay said with a confident smirk before he continued. "You might want to explain why I'm naked in your bed. Seems like a sexual harrassment suit just waiting to happen."

"I didn't touch you and I didn't take your clothes off. You did that yourself before you thought it would be a good idea to go running through the woods during hunting season."

"Hunting season is next month." Clay said, confused.

"Maybe in California, but in Virginia Beach it's this month." Jason said, as he got up and went over to his dresser to grab Clay some boxers, sweatpants and a t-shirt to wear.

"Didn't know that." Clay said more to himself then Jason.

"Why have you been lying Clay?" Jason asked, as he tossed the clothes down onto the bed.

"You really have to ask?" Clay said with a bit of an attitude to his voice. "Turn around."

There was no way he was going to let Jason see him naked. Jason let out a huff before he turned around as he spoke with an edge to his voice. "Drop the attitude pup. You've been lying, you don't get to have an attitude with me."

"And you don't get to tell me what I can and can't do." Clay snapped back as he quickly got dressed.

Jason turned around, not even bothering to listen to Clay and allow him to get dressed without his eyes on him. He was pissed by Clay's attitude towards him. He wasn't acting like an omega, but that is what he was and he had to respect the hierarchy.

"You don't give me attitude, ever. I am the alpha and you are the..."

"The what?" Clay said, as he stood right in front of Jason's face. "I'm the what? Go ahead and say it. Tell me all about your biggoted views. Show me how you are exactly like every other piece of shit alpha in the world who thinks wolves like me are nothing but punching bag whores." Clay couldn't keep the growl from escaping or his eyes changing to his wolf ones.

"Calm down." Jason growled in his alpha voice.

"That tone won't work on me. You don't get to control me. You don't get to manipulate me. You have zero power over me. I am my own alpha and I will never be submissive to anyone."

Jason let out a deep growl before he turned around and walked over to his window. He needed a minute to calm himself down, this wasn't helping the situation. Though, it was helping him to feel like there was more going on with Clay. No omega acts this way. Clay wasn't pretending either, he was pissed and he was strong. He would have easily gone toe to toe with him if he had to. There was no backing down in him and as annoying as that was, Jason also felt the warmth of pride spreading throughout his chest. Jason let out a sigh before he turned back around and half-sat against the window ledge as he spoke.

"I don't have a bigoted view of omegas. I don't think anyone deserves to be bullied, harassed, and abused just because of something that was decided before they were born. It's genetics and I don't think it's fair that they are treated differently. Just like I don't think it's fair that people who are gay are treated differently. You were born this way, you shouldn't have to have that held against you. I'm sorry if I came across as a dominating and judgmental alpha. That wasn't my intention. I didn't expect the sudden attitude from you."

"I'm sorry, I just have a sore spot that never seems to heal." Clay admitted softly, as he grabbed the t-shirt off the bed.

"I would imagine you've had a hard time. I've known some omegas that have had great lives. They were loved and protected by their pack and their mate. But I've also known omegas that have been nothing but abused their whole lives." Jason could see the briefest of pain going through Clay's eyes at that. Jason knew that Clay obviously was in the latter category. He decided to switch, as they weren't close enough for deep emotional pain. "How is your wound? Anything major feel hit?"

"Naw, it didn't hit anything but a couple of ribs. They'll be fine a week and won't keep me from doing my job."

"It's going to take longer than a week for broken ribs Clay."

"Maybe for you, but broken bones heal within seven to ten days for me. I heal very fast and I can speed it up by being in wolf form."

"We need to talk about that. I'm not judging here Clay and obviously you are not a traditional omega. You made that very clear with your accomplishments and that attitude of yours. But you are still an omega and with that comes heat, it's a miracle you haven't been found out by now."

"My bracelets mask the scent. I've been doing this since I was fourteen, I've mastered how to hide it. No one will ever find out. The military doctors don't even know what I am. Everyone believes I'm a black alpha. I didn't start it, they all just assumed when they found out I was Ash's kid, so I went with it. I can do this job, I've been doing this job for five weeks now and five years before that in Team Three. I went straight from boot camp to Buds, I am excellent at what I do. My survival depended on me not being an omega to the world. I can't be controlled by an alpha, I don't get affected by them. As for my heat, I have it under control. No one will know when it is. I've already had it since being on the team and not a single one of you knew otherwise."

"It's not just you that I'm worried about. Ray is mated, he only wants his mate. I have perfect control of my wolf and am no longer affected by the scent of an omega in heat. However, Sonny is a horn dog and can't resist an omega in heat. Trent and Brock are still on the young side and I don't know how well they would handle it. I'm not saying it would happen on purpose, none of them would ever intentionally hurt you, but if they smelt you in heat, they might not be able to resist. They would feel horrible if they hurt you, if they took advantage of you in that state."

"And I wouldn't want to put them in that position, but I'm telling you Jase they won't be. I have a system and it works. I've been in a room full of alphas at the peak of my heat for a conference and not a single one of them knew I was in heat. I was in heat when we were in Sudan a month ago laying down right next to Sonny in that hole for eight hours and he didn't notice a thing. I'm telling you I can do my job and I can do it without putting myself or the guys at risk. At least hold off on your judgement until there is a valid reason to be concerned."

Clay wasn't going to lose everything he had worked his ass off for. If Jason kicked him out of Bravo, it would be a miracle if another team picked him up and there was no guarantee that Jason wouldn't out him as an omega. If that happened, he would be kicked out of the navy for lying. Jason let out a small sigh as he looked at Clay. He could see how important this was to him and Jason could understand that fully. He had worked his ass off to get into DEVGRU, to defy the odds and manage to make it into the top Tier One team. It was a huge accomplishment and it wasn't one he wanted to have ripped away from him. Jason didn't want to rip that away from him over something he was born with. That wasn't fair to him and he wouldn't want someone doing that to one of his children had they been in Clay's position.

"Alright, alright, I won't tell anyone. But I have questions." Jason said, as he pushed off the ledge and headed out of the room as he continued. "I'm assuming you drink."

"Of course, it takes a lot to get drunk." Clay commented as he followed Jason out of the room.

Jason spoke as they headed down to the kitchen to grab a beer. "You don't smell like a normal omega."

"I've been told. I think it's the apex aspect of my DNA. Not exactly like I can ask someone."

"Guess not." Jason said, as he handed Clay a beer before he leaned against the counter.

Clay sat down on one of the stools at the island as he spoke. "I don't know what kind of answers I can give you. I don't really have many myself."

"Have you always known you were an apex wolf?" Jason started.

"I found out when I changed for the first time when I was fourteen. I didn't know anything about it or what it was even called until I came back to the States when I was eighteen and read about it in a book."

"Came back? Where were you?"

Jason thought that Clay was raised by Ash here in the States, so where would he have been?

"No one obvously knows I'm an apex or literally the last white wolf in the world. I'm sure you can imagine that won't end well for me. I'll either be hunted down like a dog or the military will want to turn me into some weapon that they could try and breed. I don't really fancy either option. It needs to stay a secret, from everyone." Clay said instead of answering, something that was not lost on Jason. Clay's past was obviously a painful and very personal topic.

"Obviously keeping your lineage a secret is a top priority. I'm not about to let you get captured by hunters or forced into a life as a military science experiment. So you can just change whenever you want?"

"Yup. The only downside is the naked part. Kinda just have to hope no one finds your clothes and takes them on you." Clay said with a small shrug and smirk.

"I bet that would be an issue. You don't wear your bracelets when you change, why?"

"They don't fit all that well when I'm changing. My bones all break to be reformed into the proper wolf shape. I don't want to risk the bracelets getting destroyed. I only have so many of them."

"How many do you have?"

"Four. I'll have to go back to the forest and pick up my stuff from it. They give off a strong alpha scent and it masks my own."

"Where did you get them?" Jason had never heard of bracelets like this before and he was very interested in learning more about them. Specifically how they give off the scent of an alpha.

"Out of the country before I came back to the States. I can order more should I need them, but I prefer to keep mine in good condition. Very expensive."

When Clay had first learned of them when he was sixteen, he worked his ass off to save every single cent he earned working small jobs around the different villages within Africa to have enough to purchase two of them. Normally you could wear just one, but Clay found with wearing two, it masked his scent when he was in heat.

"How expensive is very expensive?"

"Five grand a piece and I do mean a piece. It's ten grand for the pair."

"Ten grand? You've spent twenty grand on four bracelets?" Jason said, completely flabbergasted. Why the hell would a bracelet cost that much? It was insane. All it did was give off an alpha scent, it wasn't like it changed your DNA makeup to an alpha.

"I spent ten grand before I came back to the States and then another ten grand when I almost lost them. I figured it was worth the money to have peace of mind with having a backup set. I could get away with wearing only one, but wearing two allows me to completely mask my scent, even when I'm in heat. I never take them off, except to shift. If someone asks why I always wear them, I just tell people they were a gift from my mother before she died."

"God your mother, she was killed nineteen years ago. You would have been five." Jason said, as his mind just clicked into that.

"I don't talk about that." Clay said, before he finished his beer. "Look, I appreciate you helping me out back there. I won't go back into the woods until hunting season is over. And I obviously appreciate you keeping all of this quiet. I really should head out though. I gotta grab my stuff before someone potentially takes it."

Clay stood up as Jason spoke. "I'll give ya a ride."

"That's not necessary. I can call a car, I just need to borrow your phone."

"I don't mind driving you." It was an hour drive, charging a car for that was crazy. He could easily drive him back.

"It's fine, I have an account."

"Ya, but without your bracelets people will be able to tell you are an omega. You're safer with me." Jason countered.

"My driver is human and I don't need to be kept safe." Clay said, slightly annoyed at Jason's words. He knew he could just get into Jason's car, but he wasn't really good at handouts, even if it was a drive.

"I didn't mean it like that. I just don't want you to have to deal with other wolves when you don't have your bracelets. Most wolves are real assholes."

"I'm well aware. Can I borrow your phone, please?"

"Ya." Jason said, as he pulled his cell phone out and slid it over to Clay.

He wasn't happy about Clay not being comfortable being in his truck with him. He had shown Clay that he wouldn't hurt him, he could have easily hurt him when he was injured and unconscious. After five weeks of being on the same team together, Jason figured there would have been some level of comfort between them. At least an understanding that the team would be there for him. That they would have his back. After Clay made the call he stood up and handed Jason his phone back.

"Thanks, for everything."

"You know, you really have to get better at accepting that you have people in your corner now." Jason said, as he walked Clay to his front door.

"Sure, people who don't know who I truly am."

"I know who you truly are, and I'm not running away."

Clay spoke as he opened the door. He was more than ready to get away from Jason and these conversations. He just wanted to get his things, go home, and try to relax.

"No just said you are awaiting judgement on ending my career. That's very accepting of you."

"Hold up, I never said I was going to end your career." Jason said, as he held his hand up.

"No, just that if my being on the team causes issues for the others that you'll pick them, kicking me off. And you know that if the mighty Jason Hayes tosses you aside no one will touch me with a hundred foot pole. My career will be over."

"Clay." Jason started, but Clay cut him off as he moved to step outside.

"Don't worry I get it. It's much easier to get rid of the worthless omega than to expect that your men to actually have control over their own impulses. Like I said, I get it. I mean nothing."

"I never said that." Jason was instantly saying and failing to keep the slight hurt from his tone.

Clay looked over and saw his ride pulling up. Clay turned his attention back to Jason as he spoke. "Ya you did, you just don't want to admit it to yourself yet. See ya tomorrow Boss."

Jason had no choice, but to watch as Clay headed off for the car. He wished he could have kept talking with Clay. He wished Clay had been more open with him. Mostly though, he wished he could have told Clay that he was wrong. He didn't care that he was an omega. He wasn't holding that against him. He never said he would pick one of the guys over him. He should have no problem picking his guys over Clay, but something changed in him when he saw Clay laying in his bed. So many things made so much more sense to him now. Why Clay was so closed off and distant from them. He's the last of his kind, of his pack. He didn't have anyone and it seemed like he didn't have much of a happy childhood. Adults that had a good childhood have no problems talking about it. It's only those that have traumatic childhoods that avoid talking about it as much as possible. Clay had a lot of pain and his walls were thicker than Jason thought. He would have to give Clay some time to calm down, he could talk to him tomorrow and hopefully straighten this whole thing out.

XXX

Clay got into the car and told the driver where he wanted to go. One of the reasons why he liked this driver was not only because he was human, but he didn't like conversations. Clay could just relax and not have to deal with small talk with a stranger. He wasn't really good at that part, he spent too much time alone and avoiding people growing up that things like normal social interaction didn't always come easy for him. He was upset about what Jason had said, but he was also upset with himself. He had gotten caught and that pissed him off. He was always careful, he had no idea that hunting season over here would be different from California. He should have checked, he got sloppy and now Jason Hayes knows his secret, his ultimate secret.

What made it worse, was having to admit to himself that the reason he didn't want to take Jason up on his offer for a ride was because being around Jason was affecting him. His scent that was currently surrounding him from his clothes was intoxicating. He had never been affected like this before from anyone's scent, much less an alpha's. He had to keep his distance from Jason, he wasn't going to let anyone have power over him. He didn't need anyone. He didn't need a pack. All he needed was himself and his bracelets. Once he got home he would take these clothes off, shower, and then Jason's scent would finally be gone and Clay would be able to go back to focusing on what mattered, his career. Something that was now going to be harder. He was already having to prove to the guys that he belonged on Bravo with his age. Now he was going to have to prove to Jason that he belonged there despite him being an omega. Clay knew there was no way that Jason wasn't going to be judging his every move and decision. He couldn't give Jason a reason to toss him out of the team. He couldn't afford to screw up, now more than ever his entire life was on the line. He would prove that he wasn't weak, that he was an asset to the team. He was going to prove to everyone that he belonged in DEVGRU, that he belonged on Bravo. Maybe then Jason would stop thinking of him as just another omega. Maybe then Jason would start to respect him. What scared Clay though was how badly he wanted Jason's respect and his approval. He didn't need it from anybody, so why the hell was his body craving it from him?