we need to figure out where you were being held so we can get your brothers out of there. If it were me, and I was an evil prick who had so many omegas on my hands, I'd be planning to transport them." Leaning back, he searched my eyes with concern. "Tomorrow is Monday. You think they'll try to take them to the auction you were scheduled to be in? I don't want to alarm you, but we need to be proactive."
"I don't think so, Luci." Matt answered for me, thankfully, since I was too dumbstruck to respond. "With such a large group of omegas, they would want a special auction with enough bidders to compete. They might get rich, but they take major risks. Even asking the organizer if they can bring all those extra omegas at the last minute would be enough to spook them, I'd think. Granted, I don't know much about the auction circuit. But I've heard they set them up far in advance with everything planned to a tee. The humans don't approve of trafficking any more than we do. And the Supreme Council would fry their balls if they got caught."
Trying not to cry, I bit my lip and clung to Matt's arm. "I just wish my psychic or intuitive brothers were here. Or I knew how to reach them from so far away. I tried when I woke up, but… Nothing. It was like the channel was out of tune."
Thankfully, Eli lightened the moment with a change of subject. "If you've never watched TV, how do you know about channels?"
"Duh. The people in the movies watch TV sometimes."
"You're funny, Thirteen. I hope you know you're my new best friend." Eli's cheerful smile faltered. "I'm sorry, I hate calling you by a number. You need a name. How come you never picked one?"
I was confused. "People can choose what to call themselves? Huh. I guess it never occurred to me. How would I even decide? How do people normally get their names?"
Eli's head tilted to the side. "Usually, their parents or whoever is taking care of them as a baby. As for picking one, think about your favorite books or movies, maybe even an author."
I could answer without hesitation. "My favorite author is Charles Dickens. Can I have his?"
Lucian’s lip curled up on the left in a half grin, half smirk. "You can have anyone's name you want. Why not take his? He’s dead. It's not like he's using it anymore."
Nodding in agreement, Eli had a question of his own. "Would you use both names? Or will you take Lucian's name after you’re mated?"
I stared around the table with a befuddled expression. "Wouldn't it be confusing if we both got called Lucian?" When everyone gaped in shock, I couldn't help laughing. "I’m joking, people. Even sheltered kids like me get to have a sense of humor. As to the name, even I know better than to call myself Dickens. The nickname writes itself, no thank you. Charles is good, though. Charlie for short, maybe? Definitely not Chuck. Sounds like a pervert to me. I like the sound of Charlie Smith."
Eli bounced in his seat, happily clapping his hands. "I love it. You totally look like a Charlie. And for you to take Lucian's name, because how cool is it that you match?" He must have noted the confused expression on my face because he pulled the collar of his shirt aside to show me a pale pink scar on his chest. "Neither one of you have the mark of a sire's claim. Now you can claim each other and share a last name. Ooh! You totally should. After Lucian bites you, you should bite him back. Leave your tooth mark over his heart, show everyone who he belongs to now."
"Or maybe not." I laughed uncomfortably, still not completely sure what the X represented.
Taking my hand, Lucian quietly explained, holding his vest open to show me his own bare chest. "When a baby is born, their sire extends a claw and marks them with an X, claiming them as their child. No one but orphans and unwanted pups are left unmarked. Or stolen ones, if that's what happened in your case. We won't know until we investigate further."
I didn't need to know because it didn't matter. At least, not right now. At this moment, the only thing holding any importance was hugging my mate and letting him know I would always want him. Marking him