In a future where the United States is slowly rebuilding itself, Omega Travis Danten is a big city cop sent to a seemingly desolate city on the edge of the Waste. This desert is full of undesirables, and it’s only a matter of time before they wreak havoc. But, Omegas are always assigned Alphas, and his new partner’s job is to protect him.<br><br>But SdAI Alpha Virgil is not at all amused with the partner who chose him. Travis is willful and naive to the dangers a homicide detective faces here, and it makes Virgil’s job that much harder. And Travis, of course, is human and develops feelings, feelings that go beyond the rules about Omega/Alpha partnerships.<br><br>Travis and Virgil have to find common ground, find a killer, and find space for each other in their own hearts, even if one is artificial.

Artificial Heart

It gave him time to collect himself, too, and he was grateful. Seeing that was…He floundered when the image flashed through his mind. He doubted he would ever forget this, no matter how long he lived.


No doubt catching the oppressive scent of Travis’ distress, Virgil reeled him closer, and squeezed the nape of his neck a fraction tighter. Travis pulled the newly familiar scent of his alpha deep into his lungs, doing his best to drown out the smell of blood that saturated the bone-dry desert air. Minutes crawled by in a sea of alpha-induced grounding before Travis noted the sounds of the techs as they chattered about measurements and sample containers behind him.


Another minute to wallow in Virgil’s calm presence, then Travis subtly nodded and his partner released him at once. “Better?” Virgil murmured.


“Yeah.” He cleared his throat and looked up at Virgil. “Thanks.”


Chapter 13