Chapter 3

Jason made his way into their cage room that morning. He was here a little bit earlier today so he could speak with Trent without anyone else overhearing their conversation. He wasn't going to tell him about Clay, he didn't want to put his guys into the position of having to keep this level of a secret. Jason wasn't stupid though, he knew the guys would figure it out eventually. Something would happen or something would be said and the secret would be out. Jason was going to do everything he could to make sure that moment didn't happen anytime soon. Clay was right, if people knew he was an apex, a white wolf apex, his life would be over one way or another. He had to be protected, if nothing else because he was the last white wolf in the world. With him being an omega, he could have children and bring the pack back. That needed to be protected and sacred. Jason just needed Clay to understand that as well, which he would be doing later on today.

Jason saw Trent in his cage going through his medical supplies. Trent looked up when he heard the door and gave Jason a small smile.

"You're here early Boss."

"Ya, Mickey had some questions for a school project and I was hoping to talk with you about it. I didn't really have all of the answers he needed." Jason easily said, as he leaned against the metal table they had in the room.

"I'm always happy to help the pup. I'm assuming it's science."

This wouldn't have been the first time that Jason had needed some help with his kids' homework.

"Sort of. He had to pick a pack to do a report on them, he thought it would be cool to pick the white wolf pack. I don't know much about them, other than the last white wolf was killed nineteen years ago. I told him the basics about the white and black wolf packs being close and they became enemies after the romance between the two packs that lead to the grey pack being created. I just didn't know if you knew more about the genetics of them or any traits they had."

"White wolves are actually very interesting. They are highly intelligent and agile. In terms of war, the black wolves were the ones on the front lines and the white wolves were the masterminds to it all. They could plan twenty steps ahead. They were great for politics. They were bookworms and they tended to avoid social situations outside of their pack. They used to only be up in the arctic, but they slowly started to migrate down when they were being hunted. Genetically though, that is where it got interesting." Trent said with some excitement to his voice.

"Why?"

Jason knew all of those traits already and he was far more interested in genetics, because Clay didn't fit with a typical omega.

"In the beginning there were enough wolves for them to be able to properly mate and breed without the bloodline getting too close. As they were hunted though, the Alpha started to demand that they breed more and he wanted the bloodline as pure as possible. They were no longer allowed to be with anyone but a white wolf. Second cousins were breeding with each other, aunts and nephews, half-siblings. That first generation afterwards didn't really have any problems so they continued to do it. Over the next century though problems came up. The bloodlines were too pure. Fathers and daughters were producing children. Siblings were breeding, those children that were born, their father could have technically been their uncle who was their grandfather. The bloodline got completely destroyed, but they were still white wolves, so the Alpha was happy. Genetically though everything got screwed up. Omegas were born without reproductive organs. Betas, deltas and even some alphas were born with an omega scent. There were even omegas with alpha traits and the opposite. Alphas were being born with omega traits. They were still strong, they couldn't be controlled, but they smelt just like an omega, they could even have children. The hierarchy was completely destroyed because they couldn't tell who was who when they were born. They couldn't trust the scent of the pup to properly place them into a category. They had to wait to see their personality and how they reacted to the alpha."

"So it is possible that an omega could have alpha traits and the other way around?" That was interesting to Jason. That would explain why Clay was so different. If he had alpha traits as an omega then all they would have to do is make sure Clay was safe during his heat and there wouldn't be an issue. The same could be said if he was an alpha, they just had to get used to his heat and there wouldn't be an issue at all.

"For a white wolf, completely. The other packs don't work that way. The white pack was the only ones to have incest, at least incest that strongly."

"Would there be a way to know if someone is an alpha or an omega then?"

"Back then, no. In today's society you could do a blood test and it would be able to show you what they were born as. It's very easy to do. You would have been through it, all of us would have been. When you enlist they take your blood, one of the tests they run is your hierarchy blood typing. It dictates what you are qualified for and it stays in your medical file so if any promotions come up they can use your standing as something for or against you."

"Wait, what? So everyone on the teams would have that test done?"

That shocked Jason because Clay said the military didn't know he was an omega. If they took his blood to hierarchy test it, then they would know he was an omega and he wouldn't be allowed in the field. Unless he wasn't actually an omega and he was an alpha with omega traits. That seemed a lot more logical to Jason just based on how Clay was. He needed to get that file.

"Everyone that signs up for the military gets tested. It's how they know who they can accept Green Team applications for."

"I didn't know they did that type of testing on people." Jason was going to be looking that up now. "It sounds like the white pack muddied the water pretty badly."

"They did. What started as a way to try and protect the pack and increase the numbers, only made them weaker. The hunters and the black wolves were able to take out some of their strongest alphas because they were hindered by omega traits."

"And there aren't any other white wolves?"

"The female wolf that died nineteen years ago never gave birth. She was never admitted to a hospital for prenatal care, there was no record of giving birth, no child birth certificate. She never had any children, no siblings, no family. She was the last one. Unfortunately."

"It's a sad end. Thanks man for the info, Mickey will be really happy with it."

"No problem." Trent said with an easy smile back.

"I'm gonna check in with Blackburn and see if we might be going somewhere today."

"Getting antsy there Boss?" Trent teased. None of them liked to sit around for very long, they preferred to be working and being active.

"You know me." Jason commented as he headed out. He needed to get his hands on Clay's medical file to see what his blood hierarchy type is. He had a feeling he was going to discover that Clay was actually an alpha with some omega traits. It was the only logical explanation on how Clay couldn't be controlled by an alpha. Once he had that answer he would then speak with Clay about the new intel and how he felt about Clay being here.

XXX

Everyone filed into their war room just after nine that morning. Clay was nervous about seeing Jason. He hadn't seen him when he came in this morning and he had no idea how Jason was going to act around him after learning what he did. Clay couldn't control how Jason was, but he could control how he was. He was going to prove to Jason that he was an asset and not a weak link within the team. Clay sat down in his normal spot and he saw Jason sitting across from him. Clay kept his eyes forward on Blackburn to see what this operation was going to be.

Commander Blackburn was a former DEVGRU operator. He used to run with Alpha before he switched to working in a command role. He was highly respected and an alpha himself within the brown pack. Bravo had become his family, his pack, and he would always go above and beyond to protect each and every single one of them.

"Good morning Gentlemen, today you are going to Lebanon to strictly gather intel on a potential threat." Blackburn started.

"Intel gathering, seriously? Why isn't a Seal Team doing this?" Sonny complained. They weren't the sit quiet and gather intel type of team. They were the ones you sent in after the intel was collected.

"The Op is around Baalbek." Davis stated. Lisa Davis was one of the few humans that interacted with an all wolf team. Her and their CIA Liaison Mandy Ellis. They were the only two humans within Bravo, including those within their support team. Even though they were human, all of the guys considered them sisters, a valuable member of their pack and they would easily lay down their lives to protect them.

"And that would be why. It's close to the war along the Syrian border. Not a place you just send in anyone. That area is lighting up with kidnappings, rapes, murders and bombings." Clay easily said.

"They Arabic over there?" Sonny asked.

"Yup." Clay answered with a nod.

"Which is why Bravo will be going in over the other teams. You have both Ray and Clay that speak Arabic, making it easier for you to gather intel." Davis said.

"The target is an underground lab that has been generating a reputation for their experiments on wolf shifters. There are a lot of rumors going around about whether they have in fact discovered a way to turn a wolf shifter into an apex wolf. Rumors about them having successfully captured a grey apex wolf have been surfacing over the past year. From what intel we have been able to gather, they are looking for another apex wolf to breed to build an army. Their goal is to create an army of highly intelligent apex wolves that they can control and send out to eliminate the biggest threats against them." Mandy explained.

"I don't have to tell you how dangerous it would be for someone to breed two apex wolves. If they could control them, they could eliminate full villages within a day. In addition, you all know how rare an apex wolf is. There are four known in the world and those four deserve to be protected. They don't deserve to be trapped in a cage or forced to breed. If this wolf is there, we owe it to them to help." Blackburn said, as he looked at each of his men. They all knew how sacred an apex wolf was, they deserved a better life than being forced to breed. "We're wheels up in twenty. By the time we land Davis and Mandy will have a starting point for you." Blackburn finished.

"What if we do get confirmation that there is an apex within the lab?" Ray asked, before they had the chance to leave.

"The Upper Brass are very much interested in rescuing an apex. If there is one on premise and we can confirm, we will be green lit to retrieve them. Officially it will become a rescue and return. Unofficially, it will be a rescue and release. I am not about to bring an apex wolf back here only for the military to take them away for their own gain. If we get confirmation that there is an apex wolf within the lab, then you will rescue them and we will make sure they get someplace safe. As far as Command will be concerned, the wolf got away and we will deal with any fall out." Blackburn answered.

"Alright, everyone gear up and bring anything you think you might need. We don't know how long we will be there or what we could come across. Trent, make sure you got extra supplies in case this does turn into a rescue op. I want to be prepared for either outcome." Jason said, as he stood up.

The guys gave a nod and they all headed out to grab their gear. Clay was really hoping that Jason wasn't going to try and be overprotective with him. Yes, he was an apex, but that didn't mean he was about to get captured. No one but Jason knew what he was and it wasn't something that anyone could tell based on scent or blood. As long as Clay didn't shift, no one would ever know. Clay made himself busy by grabbing all of his gear that he would need before he headed out. He didn't want to give Jason the chance to speak with him, too afraid that he would be asked to stay back or to stay in HAVOC to be protected. It was a fight Clay wasn't in the mood to have. He woke up this morning in heat, something he would be keeping to himself. He just wasn't in the mood to be pushed aside or treated like he was made of glass. He could do his job and he was going to prove it on this operation.

XXX

Jason waited until everyone on the plane was settled in somewhere. They weren't tired with it being in the morning so the guys were off playing poker, while Brock was playing catch with Cerb. Jason noticed that Clay was off by himself again with a book in his hands sitting against the side of the plane. He couldn't help, but notice how thick the book was. It never ceases to amaze Jason just how much Clay loved to read. The pup was never without a book nearby and they seemed to be getting thicker each time. Jason went and sat down across from Clay and leaned forward so they would be close enough to speak quietly without the threat of one of the other wolves on the plane overhearing them. This wasn't a conversation that Jason wanted to be out there. Clay placed his bookmark into his book before he set it down. He had been waiting for this conversation, but he was hoping it would have been later. They had a long flight to Lebanon and he was not looking forward to doing it pissed off or annoyed.

"I feel like I didn't express my thoughts properly yesterday and I wanted the chance to clear the air with you before this op Clay." Jason started.

"You sounded pretty clear yesterday." Clay said, keeping his voice void of any emotions.

"Apparently not, because you have taken it the wrong way. I never said that I would be picking the guys over you. I never said I would be kicking you out Clay. I acknowledge though, that I didn't say I wouldn't be. I forgot that you haven't been with us long enough to understand and know how I am. The guys don't need me to tell them everything, they are able to understand what I don't say. You haven't been with us long enough to know any of us on that level."

"Then what did you mean? Because it seems pretty hard to believe you meant anything else."

"When I said that I would need to hold off on judgement, I didn't mean that your days were numbered. I expect all of my guys to have complete control over their impulses. We rescue humans and wolves all the time and there is no guarantee that the wolf we rescue isn't in heat. I expect that all of my guys are able to control themselves in any situation that is presented to them. My concern was them saying something or doing something that would offend you or harm you. It has nothing to do with you being a distraction to them or a temptation. It has nothing to do with you being in heat Clay. I don't want them to make you feel uncomfortable. They won't care that you go into heat, that isn't going to bother them and they would never hold that against you. Sonny likes to joke around and sometimes that can be taken offensive if you don't know him that well. I should have explained it better to you yesterday."

"So, you don't care?" Clay asked, trying to get his mind to catch up. He thought this was going to be a completely different conversation.

"You being an omega doesn't bother me Clay. It didn't bother me yesterday either. I was shocked that it was you, that was unexpected and I didn't handle it well. It wasn't that I was upset that you were an omega, or an apex, I was worried about what it would all mean for you. I obviously don't have to tell you how dangerous being the only white wolf is. But I also don't have to tell you how amazing and special you are. I would love to put you in a bubble so you can grow old and have children, but I also know that you don't want that life. You picked this life because it's the life you want to live and I respect that. I think you and I need to come to an understanding, one that we can both live with. Before that though, there is something I need to tell you."

"What?" Clay wasn't really liking the sound of this conversation now. He thought it was going good, but now it seemed like it was going to be going downhill.

"I had asked Trent about the white wolf pack. I didn't tell him anything about you, said it was for Mickey's school report. He told me how the white pack started to breed within the family when their numbers were dwindling. The close bloodline made the pups mixed up genetically. Omegas were born with alpha traits, betas and deltas were born with omega traits. There were also some alphas that were born smelling like an omega and even had omega reproductive organs."

"So then I'm an omega with alpha traits. It would make sense why I was able to eventually resist the pull of an alpha." Clay said. That made sense to him now. He was never really sure why he was able to resist an alpha. It took a very long time and a lot of hard work, but eventually he was able to stand up to an alpha and not have to do everything he was told.

"Trent mentioned that when you enlist during the physical they take your blood."

"Right, to make sure you don't have any diseases."

"Apparently, they also run a blood hierarchy type test. Based on your genetic makeup doctors can see if you were born an alpha, beta, delta or omega. Your type goes into your medical file and can be used later should you wish to switch divisions or are up for a promotion. Everyone who goes into Buds and Green Team is checked as part of the screening process. Before the briefing I pulled your medical file, as your superior I have access to everyone's medical file and I can review it anytime I wish. I checked your type Clay, you weren't born an omega with alpha traits. You were born an alpha with omega traits."

Instantly Clay was hit with a whole new level of shock. Jason could have told him he was born with three heads that had to be removed after he was born, with the photos to prove it, and it would have been less shocking. His whole life he believed, he was led to believe, that he was an omega. A worthless, weak, omega that didn't belong to any pack. Now Jason was telling him he was actually an alpha. Clay didn't know how to handle that, how to handle this. Sure, it answered some of his questions. It made a lot more sense why he was eventually able to not be controlled by an alpha and their tone of voice. At the same time though, he still smelt like an omega, he was still in heat. That wouldn't change anything. Other wolves would always see him as some worthless omega.

"It doesn't change anything." Clay softly admitted.

"Sunshine, I can't even imagine what growing up for you was like. And I know that the pain you have from it doesn't just magically go away. Just like how you were made to feel about yourself doesn't magically go away. It takes time to heal from it and to have people in your life that will be there to help guide you along the way. Whether you are an omega or an alpha, whether you go through heat or can carry children, none of that changes every single accomplishment you have made in your life. As much as we all like to razz you, you are very gifted at this job. At twenty-four you have managed to secure a spot on the top Tier One Team. Wolves your age don't even get accepted into Green Team, much less get placed on a team. You belong here Sunshine. I am not abandoning you. We are not abandoning you."

The instant hurt that flooded through Clay's eyes only confirmed what Jason suspected. Clay had been abandoned by whatever pack he did have in his life, probably at a very young age. He kept his walls up so strongly because he was terrified of being abandoned again. Of getting close to someone only for them to walk away from him. Whatever problems might come up, Jason knew that Clay would always have Bravo there to support him. It would take Clay some time to realise it, to embrace his new pack, but Jason also knew that him and the guys would stop at nothing to earn Clay's trust.

Clay cleared his throat before he spoke. "You said there would be rules?

Clay needed to try and get his emotions back under control. What Jason was saying sounded great, but Clay knew all too well how words were meaningless. He had seen it plenty of times, broken promises from an alpha. Clay learnt a very long time ago to not trust the words from an alpha.

"Not rules, just an understanding between us. There might be times when I have to move you to a safer position in the field. If I do that, I need you to understand that it has nothing to do with your omega traits. You are the last white wolf and that is something that is sacred. I want you to be able to have as many little white pups as you want. You deserve it and the world deserves to have white wolves back in it. Some of the most notorious and influential people in history have been white wolves. Ensuring the future of your pack is something that is sacred and it should be protected."

"I don't need protection." Clay didn't want protection. He could take care of himself, he had proved that a very long time ago.

"And I completely understand your point of view. I wouldn't be happy either, but I need you to understand where I am coming from. If I do move you to a safer place, it's not a reflection of your skills or your traits. It has everything to do with you being the last of your pack. However, I will only make that call should I feel like I have no other choice. If you can live with that, then I don't think there will be any problems in the future."

Jason needed to get Clay to understand that this wasn't about any of his omega traits and it had everything to do with him being the last white wolf. That needed to be protected, but at the same time Jason had to allow Clay the chance to grow and learn. He was a young alpha, one that didn't even know he was an alpha. Clay had a lot he needed to learn and Jason was more than willing to teach him. He just needed Clay to understand that he wasn't holding anything against him, but looking to protect the future.

Clay wasn't happy about this. He didn't want anyone's protection, but at the same time he wasn't in the position to argue either. Jason had the power right now, it wasn't like Clay could argue against it or go to the Upper Brass about being denied his freedom. Jason knew his secret and there was nothing he could do about it. He was powerless against Jason and Clay hated it.

"Fine." Clay simply said, doing everything he could to keep his voice neutral.

Jason gave a nod. He didn't expect for Clay to be happy, but he was agreeing none the less and Jason appreciated it. Jason patted Clay's knee as he stood. "I know you like to read, but maybe you should think about joining the guys for some poker. Get to know them, let them get to know you. Wolves are pack animals Sunshine, your pack is right there."

Clay just gave a small nod and Jason knew he wouldn't be joining them. It was going to take a lot of work to build any form of trust up with Clay. It would be worth the work, but it was going to be a rough road to get there. Jason made his way over to the guys to join in on the poker game. A quick look over at Clay had him back to reading. Jason had a feeling that reading was a way to help Clay relax and relieve some stress.

"He ever gonna let us get to know anything about him?" Sonny asked, slightly annoyed that it had been five weeks with Clay on the team and so far they didn't know anything they didn't know in the first week.

"Give him time Sonny. He had a rough childhood." Jason said in Clay's defense.

"He say something about it to you?" Ray asked, no longer interested in his cards.

"No, I've asked, but he won't talk about it. There's this pain that flashes through his eyes before he shuts down."

"Based on his lack of social interaction with us, it's most likely that he grew up isolated and outside of a pack." Trent commented.

"That's my assumption as well. I don't know much, Clay mentioned he enlisted at eighteen when he came back to the States. He wouldn't tell me anything else, not even where he grew up. It's gonna take some time, but we'll get him there." Jason said with pure confidence.

The guys weren't too happy with the pace of everything, but Jason knew they weren't about to give up either. They would earn Clay's trust and eventually he would start to come around and see that they were there for him.

XXX

It had been three days since the team arrived in Baalbek, Lebanon. Over the past three days Clay had been doing his best to ignore his heat. It was reaching its peak and it was making it harder and harder to keep it hidden from everyone. His heat was always getting stronger, it was starting to even hurt. His whole body felt like there was an inferno under his skin and it was only getting hotter. The burn was increasing and he had never felt like this before. Clay had no idea if maybe it was getting worse with him being in close proximity with all of the guys, with Jason being so close. Jason's scent was having an affect on him. After three days of gathering intel they had enough intel for the Upper Brass to order a search and rescue operation on the laboratory to try and retrieve the apex grey wolf. They didn't have solid intel that there was a wolf within the lab, but they didn't have anything that cemented that the wolf wasn't there. The Upper Brass wanted to act with caution this time around and secure the potential asset instead of leaving without confirmation.

The guys made their way through the forest that surrounded the laboratory. They made sure they walked as quietly as possible, if the place was being run by wolves, they would be able to hear them coming. They were just about to cross out of the forest and into the clearing holding the building when small nozzles popped out of the ground and were spraying up at them, hitting them all on their face. Clay was instantly letting out a small scream as he brought his hands up to his face. It felt like he just got sprayed with acid. His face was burning. The guys were instantly going over to Clay. They had no idea what was going on with him. The water that hit them didn't cause them any pain, they didn't feel weird so it wasn't a drug. Jason was instantly bringing a rag from his pocket up to Clay's face and started to wipe the water from it. Trent was going over to Clay's side as the others took up a protecting position around them.

"What is it?" Jason asked.

"I don't know. Clay, what are you feeling?" Trent asked, as he took in the burns on Clay's face. They looked almost like a chemical burn, but the liquid that sprayed at them smelt like flowers. It made no sense.

"It burns, it feels like acid or something."

"Did we all get sprayed with the same thing?" Sonny asked.

"I don't smell anything different on the rag." Jason said.

"It shouldn't have this type of reaction to him. He has to be allergic to something in the liquid." Trent said, that was the only logical explanation.

"Oh, he's allergic alright." A Foreign male voice said in front of them.

The guys were instantly turning and pointing their weapons at the man, and the other man with him. Jason was instinctively moving so it put Clay right behind him, and out of their line of sight.

"What the hell did you do to him?" Sonny growled.

"That was only a small concentrated amount of wolfsbane. A natural plant that is only poisonous to certain wolves. It seems like today is our lucky day." The man said with a deadly smirk.

"It's not happening." Jason growled.

The others wouldn't understand why the plant affected Clay over them, but Jason did. It had to be poisonous to just apex wolves. They should have expected something like this. These men were looking to create an army of apex wolves, of course they would have a way of telling if one was around them or not. Jason had no idea that there was even something out there that could be harmful to Clay over them. The amount of intel that they didn't know about an apex was staggering and they really didn't have the time to play catch up. They needed to know everything they could to properly protect Clay and that wouldn't be possible if they didn't know everything about an apex. It wasn't like they could ask Clay, he grew up on his own and without being raised by an apex wolf. That was the main problem, there were so few apex wolves within the world that you couldn't just ask someone. There wasn't anything in the history books about weaknesses or differences outside of them being able to shift. They were behind the eight ball and Jason hated it.

"You don't get it wolf, you've already lost." The man said.

A sharp pain hit the side of Jason's neck and he was instantly moving his hand to it. He pulled out a dart from the side of his neck and a quick look told him everyone but Clay had been hit by a dart. Before he was even able to register to shoot, his body was dropping. Jason's vision was blurry as he watched the others hit the ground and fought to stay not only awake but moving their gun to take the men out before they got to Clay. Clay went and brought his gun up, but the man that had yet to speak pulled out a small black device and hit a button. That simple button had no effect on them, but Clay was instantly grabbing his head and screaming. Pain was flooding his head and Clay couldn't understand why. There was this high pitch sound and it was unbearable. His knees hit the ground and it was taking everything in him to not pass out.

The men walked closer to the group and the guys could all make out their smirks. They were enjoying this.

"Hello apex." The one man said before he turned up the device.

A gut wrenching scream filled the forest as blood started to leak out of Clay's ears before everything went black and Clay passed out. The guys tried to get to him, but one by one they each lost their fight with whatever drug that was flowing through their system. They had no idea what would await them when they woke up.