Chapter 2: Finding the Omega

David sat at his oak desk. His finger tapping rapidly on its surface: his head resting on his knuckles. He stared intently at the wood patterns that had been cut into the furniture.

He was beyond agitated. It had been almost a month and no sign of the Omega.

The security footage had been tampered with and the room had been booked under a fake name. It had become a challenge to track down the perpetrator.

Leaning back in his chair: David's gaze fell outside the window of his office. The full view of the financial district surrounded by their looming buildings.

Down below the busy everyday lives of the people went on. Everyone from the rich heresies to the scum of the underworld were hard at work carving their own living.

The Alpha grit his teeth.

The mark was still present on his skin when he had woken up that morning.

He glared at his reflection: hoping it would have all disappeared by then.

It was a reminder, everyday, that someone out there had gotten the better of him.

He let out a sharp sigh.

A light tap came from the door to his office.

Noah, David's assistant, entered the room.

Electronic tablet in hand he cleared his throat.

"Pardon my intrusion sir but we may have been able to track down the owner of the hotel room."

He extended his hand, handing the tablet over.

David snatched it from his hands.

"As you can see sir these are live surveillance footage from Brookfield place outdoor shopping center.

Grasping the device with two hands David studied the video.

It wasn't a very clear picture but it was enough.

Reaching for his phone he pulled up a still image of the person in question from the charity party.

He leaned closer: studying the video.

"How certain are you this is the person?" He questioned his secretary.

Noah stood straight.

"There is an eighty five percent match on this person."

David's eyes never left the screen.

The still from the charity event had shown a person entering the hotel with another party guest. Their appearance was strange. Wearing a white sweatshirt: the hood covering their face, and torn jeans.

The mystery person looked as if they had been escorted to the room and didn't come out. Around that time the cameras had been jammed and ceased to work the rest of the evening.

David looked back at the live feed.

The individual was small in size, roughly the same as the hotel guest. Wore a similar style in pants but this time wore an oversized shirt with a cap on.

David chuckled.

"If I didn't know better I would say this person looks to be male?" He glanced at Noah.

"Correct sir. He handed a couple of papers to David. Again the Alpha snatched them from his assistants hands.

He read the paper carefully.

"Leo Meadows... aged 24....Male....secondary gender....beta".

"Noah you have the wrong person. This lowlife is a beta. He tossed the papers onto his desk.

Noah kept his composure.

"Correct again sir, however we believe he is involved with your....*ahem...predicament, surly it wouldn't do any harm to apprehend him. He may know where your missing person is".

David pondered for a moment. His eyes went from the tablet screen back to the scenery outside.

After a long moment David turned to Noah.

"Find out where this beta lives".

Noah nodded and left the office.

David picked the tablet up once again and turned the screen off.

---

Brookfield shopping center was bustling. The shops made their dales, the laughter of friends meeting up at a Cafe for drinks as well as the occasional rowdy antics of college students ending their morning classes.

Leo stood in front of a store window. The mannequins were adorned with the latest fashion. The store front seemed to sparkle in his eyes.

He may not have looked like it, but his dream was to become a store designer for the clothing. He grinned, hands on his hips as he admired the attention to detail. From the way the fabric colors matched the mood of the season down to the smallest accessories that draped the display models. His mind raced with possibilities.

His imagination coming to a hault as he clutched his stomach.

"Damn, this is the second time today. Maybe third?" He muttered to himself.

Having been ill the last couple days he had concluded that the partying he had done over the weekend had taken a toll on him. He and his friend Max, chugging drinks at the bar while drunkenly eating their food.

He had that funny feeling again.

Searching around he fled towards the nearest restroom.

Running straight for the stall he was cutting it close. He vomited. Hurling what felt like his guts up. He gripped the toilet as if it were there to save his life.

"If I live through this I promise; no more partying". He looked up. Only to vomit once again.

Leo slumped against the wall outside the restroom. Not only his stomach but now a migrane creeping in. He massaged his forehead with his fingers.

"Hold yourself together Leo, you gotta make it to that sale. How else will you eat this week?"

He spoke as if he were hyping himself up. Leo had come for one reason only. The annual food sale was happening. All items half off for only a short amount of time that very day.

He was one to pinch his pennies to save a buck.

Taking some more deep breaths he was on the move again.

Coming up to the store it was as he feared. A line had already sprung up and was wrapping itself down and around the walk ways.

He felt the sting of failure.

He knew with his body acting like this there was no way he would have been able to hold a spot in the line.

He let out an excruciating sigh.

"Convince store food it is." He stated: heading back to the entrance of the shopping center. He figured if he wasn't able to get the food deals there was no reason for him to be there.

He rubbed his forehead again. The nauseating feeling lingered.

He pulled out his phone from his pocket.

Pulling up the banking app he glowered.

"On top of all this that bastard STILL hasn't transferred the money to me."

He shoved the device back in his pocket.

He covered his mouth with his hand.

"It wasn't this bad the other day. Maybe I should go home and sleep it off."

Shoving his hands in his hoodie pockets he trudged down the street.

Twenty minutes and three pit stops later, Leo made it to the neighborhood.

Having passed nice homes and decorated pathways that turned to cinderblocks and smog. The neighborhood wasn't ideal but it was home.

Leo came up to his apartment complex. The sirens of police vehicles rang in the distance. The sounds of kids playing in the piles of old tires down the street.

The arguing of a couple, a floor above him, disturbing the other residents.

Climbing the staircase he made it to the fourth floor. Tired: he inserted his key unlocking his humble abode.

He locked the apartment door behind him as he entered. Throwing his keys on the counter he sauntered to his couch and flopped on top of it.

His symptoms hadn't subsided.

His phone vibrated.

Checking the lock screen a text popped up from his friend Max.

"Drinks later with the guys, you in?"

Just the mention of drinking made his stomach churn.

He quickly texted back, turning down the invitation.

Setting his phone on silent he tossed it onto the coffee table.

The one room apartment felt somewhat suffocating today.

Leo closed his eyes, leaning his head on the back of the couch. His arms outstretched to the sides.

He turned his body and laid himself on the cushions.

"Maybe just a short nap".

His tiredness over took him: Leo crashed.

The next thing he knew he opened his eyes to a dark room. Looking towards the window it was already past sunset.

The streetlights had already turned on.

He groaned.

Not only had he wasted his day sleeping: he wasn't feeling any better than before.

He hoisted himself off the couch and drug his body to the small bathroom.

He pulled his shirt off and tossed it into a basket on the floor.

He looked at himself. His hair was disheveled: some cuts and scars on his stomach and back of his arms.

He replaced his shirt with a clean black one.

He steadied himself at the sink. His body swayed slightly.

"Maybe I'm getting the flu or somthing".

A knocking sound came from the apartment door.

Leo had become alert. He quietly reached for a nearby bat he had by the front door. The neighborhood was already a sketchy place: Leo knew of too many delinquents that wandered the streets at night.

He gripped the wood bat in his hand as he stood on his toes checking out the peephole.

"The hell?"

He shifted back down to the flats of his feet. Unlocking only one of the latches he kept the chain lock hooked.

He opened the door slightly.

"Can I help you?" His tone was one of concern and agitation.

Standing at his door was one of the most well dressed individuals he had ever laid eyes on. From the trim of the suit down to the Rolex watch he had around his wrist. His eyes were cold and hard. Not a hint of kindness was showing.

"Leo Meadows?"

His voice stern.

"That would be me". Leo acknowledged.

The man took his hands and straightened his clothes out.

"I need a word with you if you don't mind."

Leo gave a disdained look.

"Little late to be making housecalls isn't it?"

The man didn't budge.

Leo started to feel a slight dizzy spell coming on.

"Seriously dude, leave now or I'm calling the cops."

The man's patience had worn thin.

He took his shoe, shoving it between the door and doorframe so Leo couldn't shut it.

He grabbed thr door and gave it a good shove.

Nearly knocking Leo back he broke the chain on the door and entered the apartment.

To his right and left were what looked like bodyguards. Black fitted suits with black glasses shrowding their faces.

Leo held the bat back as if he were going to swing.

"Get out of my apartment!" His eyes shifting between the three individuals that now stood in his living room.

"I haven't the time for this nonsense". The man grabbed after the bat. Tearing it away from Leo's hands and throwing it to the side of the the room.

"Now then. Leo Meadows, I have a few questions in regards to a charity even that was held at one of my hotels: say about three weeks ago."

Leo couldn't concentrate. Between the questions that bombarded him and his declining health he just wanted to be left alone.

"Look man, if I owe you any money-"

"Money?" The gentleman interrupted. A look of irritation clouding his face.

"You don't have a clue who I am do you?"

Leo shrugged. Still on alert.

The man clicked his tongue.

"I am David Blackthorn of blackthorn industries and YOU Leo Meadows are to tell me the name of the female you brought to my party."

Leo stood baffled. He hadn't a clue what the man was sputtering on about.

"Look, I think you have the wrong guy." He put up his hands defensively.

"You're saying I'm lying?" David glowered.

Leo gulped.

"No, of course I'm not!" He gave a nervous laugh.

"I'm in so much trouble. He knows!" Leo clutched at his shirt.

His heart beat faster. His anxiety draining him.

Here stood the most powerful man in the country. Leo saw his life flash before his eyes. He wasn't sure whether to fight, grovel or run. All seemed like good options.

"Look! Sir! Before you say anything I just need you to know that I was at the event to meet with a potential patron and-"

"What are you going on about?"

David interrupted his rambling.

"I don't have time to waste on your stupid games!" His temper was getting the better of him.

He reached out and grabbed Leo by his shirt.

"I don't know what's going on in your little world but I want you to tell me where the Omega, that you brought to the party, went to." David leaned close to Leo's face.

Now Leo was the one confused.

"What are YOU talking about?" He let the words slip from his mouth.

There was that feeling again.

His stomach started to churn.

"I'm talking about that Omega whore who did this!" David grabbed the collar of his suit and pulled down. Revealing the mark on his shoulder.

Lao stared at it. He didn't know of any female Omega or what the mark was even about.

His uneasy stomach tightened.

"Sir...I think....please put me down...." Leo's face turned slightly pale.

David wasn't listening.

"I will only ask one more time. Where....is....."

Blegh!

Leo spewed his vomit down the front of David's clothes.

The Alpha's reaction: he dropped Leo.