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A is for Assignment
When Skipper had looked through the file to see “Alpha” listed as the recruit’s secondary sex he nearly rejected the application. For years CENTRAAL had tried to place other alphas on the team before, alphas that were hard-set in the traditional views of A/B/O dynamics and since it never ended well they hadn’t sent an application his way for some time.
It became well known through CENTRAAL and other agencies that Skipper’s team rejected tradition and the man himself had proudly proclaimed on more than one occasion that he rejected Mother Nature. Alice had long since learned to toss any assignment requests that came their way for that very reason. Skipper wasn't going to let a stereotypical knothead into his territory and try to “correct” the team.
And yet it seemed that James Quinn had seemed to have shown some glimmer that he wasn't one to seek tradition if his assignment request had gotten through Alice.
Taking a chance, Skipper called Alice to let her know that he’d accept a new recruit on a probationary basis.
B is for Broken
It hadn't been easy for Rico to hear what the doctor was saying after he woke up in a hospital after his last memories had been of a warehouse. It was even harder to understand what it meant at first when he was told that the damage was permanent. However, he did understand what it meant when it was explained that due to damage his cycle would become irregular and sporadic, growing shorter with more and more time between them until they'd stop prematurely.
When the full weight of the implications hit him: that he'd be infertile by his mid-twenties, if not sooner, the doctor had to sedate him.
Then when he woke for a second time alone in a sterile white room, he mourned for the third time in his life. First they had taken him from his family, then they had taken away the family that he'd made, and now they had taken away any chance he had at ever making a family.
No one would ever want an omega who was so broken.
C is for Chance
“I still think you’re making a mistake, James,” Nigel commented as he watched his nephew pack.
“Any time I make my own decision you think I’m making a mistake. I can’t be the alpha they want me to be or the type of alpha you want me to be.”
“Transferring to CENTRAAL won’t make much of a difference. Their views and expectations of alphas aren't much different than what they are here.”
“But I still have to try Uncle Nigel. I’m not getting anywhere here and after what happened on that last mission…I don’t want to be some mindless tool. I didn’t just transfer to CENTRAAL anyway. I applied to be a part of Project: Habitat-”
“I know,” Nigel interrupted him and crossed the room to hand James the files he had requested. “Which doesn't make me feel any better. I'm not sure what you believe you're getting into, but Project: Habitat was built on the remains of another failed project that thought you could ignore the laws of nature.”
James opened the first file to see that the majority of the papers in it had been blacked out and contained less information than what he'd actually been given when he was contacted and informed that he'd been accepted to the Penguins for a probationary period. He looked up at his uncle and felt a rush of anger, “you actually pulled records for CENTRAAL?”
“It isn't right for you. This team isn't right. The commanding officer made a secondary transition: Omega to Alpha. Then there's a mated pair consisting of an omega and beta which is… odd to say the least.” Nigel did his best to keep his voice from giving away his feelings on the pairing given his traditional upbringing.
“Perhaps it’d be more beneficial to give me the chance to decide what I think is right for me.”
D is for Delay
Skipper silently cursed, he was well acquainted with the beginning tell-tale signs of heat and should have known better than to take Hans’ word that he wasn’t due for another month.
“If you help me through it, it’ll be three days tops. You can just call in that there was a minor delay from an unforeseen complication.” Hans was already panting. It felt like there was a fire under his skin threatening to consume him.
“We’ll still have to file a report and explain why we had a delay,” Skipper reminded the other man trying to ignore the own stirring heat within him as Hans’ true scent began to bleed through the scent blockers.
Hans growled in frustration as he ran a hand through his hair, finding it damp with sweat. He could handle his heat himself and had done so many times in the past, but it was far better with a partner. “The whole point of my job is to be able to think quickly and lie. We can figure it out later.”
“You know I won’t be able to,” Skipper paused, recollecting his thoughts, “I might not be able to get you through this as quickly as you’d like.”
“Skipper, I’ve spent my heats with omegas, alphas, and betas and believe me when I say that the knot doesn’t make the alpha. Sure, a knot is nice, but it’s not the end all be all. I want you to help me through so we can finish this mission as quickly as possible. It doesn’t change anything between us.”
E is for Expectations
It wasn’t until Marlene had met the guys that she realized how much the media, health class, and society in general had shaped her expectations of alphas and omegas. Hell, she was finding that even her perspective of her own status as a beta had been wrapped in some way. Honestly, it was now embarrassing to look back on how often prided herself on being beta and had believed herself to be a pinnacle of thought and logic, when perhaps above the hormone and instinct driven alphas and omegas.
Of course the shoe did fit on many occasions. It was exactly why when she had first met the team that she's been so confident in her assumptions of their secondary statuses.
Despite Skipper’s short stature the man had oozed alpha from the way he spoke and held himself. Not unlike Rico whose broad shoulders and muscles enhanced the aura of “dangerous” that surrounded him. Private was the exact opposite, still baby-faced and soft spoken. Then Kowalski clearly was a fellow beta, awkward but analytical.
It wasn’t until she not only got close enough to smell them the first time without scent blockers, but got to know them personally did she realize the mistake in her assumptions. And when she learned that Skipper hadn’t presented as alpha, she realized that the four would defy all her expectations. Really, they'd defy society's expectations.
F is for Faux Pas
“I can’t believe I didn’t see it before, although I think I suspected it,” Marlene couldn't help but grin when the mated pair across from her had confirmed what she'd been trying to figure out for weeks. Kowalski and Rico had always seemed particularly close, but she didn't think that they were a fully mated pair until recently.
“Well, it is highly unusual, although not entirely unheard of for a beta and omega to mate,” Kowalski responded, knowing that highly unusual was putting it lightly and that the relationship he had with Rico was one or two steps away from taboo for most people. Much like how many other scientists were trying to pinpoint the events that created the evolutionary need to have a secondary sex, Kowalski often found himself trying to pinpoint when the concept of traditional A/B/O roles dominated societal expectation without anyone noticing.
“What’s more surprising is how long you’ve been mated to not have any kids,” just as the words like her mouth, she realized that she must have said something wrong,“but I can understand that your line of work might make that a little difficult,” she quickly added, hoping to save face.
“It would be, but kids just aren’t in the cards for us,” Kowalski took Rico's hand and gave it a squeeze of reassurance. Just as he did every time the conversation came up once someone learned they were a mated pair (and didn't react in disgust). “No matter how many times we’ve tried to shuffle the deck.”
Marlene put the pieces together as word tried caught in brain and she felt her heart break even as her face heated with the embarrassment of her social faux pas.
“Oh. Guys, I’m so sorry.”
G is for Games
Private ignored the shocked looks on his team's faces when they heard the growl that tore through his throat and bled through his clenched teeth. He’d always hoped that Kidd had decided to stay hidden with his tail tucked between his legs after their last encounter. Or that Kidd would be met with a blockade from CENTRAAL the second he tried to look for Mr. Tux.
“Well, now, that’s no way to greet an old friend,” the other alpha drawled.
“We were never friends,” Private snapped and fought back another growl as Kidd’s gaze went to his team and lingered a moment as if trying to figure out what he was up against.
Kidd huffed a laugh and met Private’s glare once again, “and here I thought you liked the little games we’d played.”
H is for Home
Private sunk into the center of the couch, not caring that he'd left his luggage at the door. He always hated traveling, especially to see his Uncle Nigel, whose scent was always bitter and sharp, like something was burnt. It permeated everything and even after traveling Private swore he could still smell his uncle's resentment and disappointment.
For a moment he closed his eyes and tried to hold back the hurt that was threatening to spill out. Except he couldn't and he felt hot tears escape down his cheeks along with a flood of anger through his veins.
Almost instantly weight settled on the couch on either side of him while two hands squeezed his shoulders from behind. It was almost overwhelming: the crisp salty seas and early mornings, the damp, yet charged air of a thunderstorm, and the sweetness of chocolate sprinkled with cloves and cinnamon.
Yet, it was the smell of home.
I is for Instinct
“T rust me, Melissa, Elijah is in good hands. If I had kiddos myself, I don’t think I’d trust them with anyone else.” Marlene reassured her neighbor, Melissa Canard, over the phone as she watched Skipper and Rico set up a mini obstacle course for the boy after learning he was a fan of American Ninja Warrior. Melissa had been in an absolute panic when she took all six of her children to the park and found that one was missing.
“Are you sure that it’s no trouble? It would be nothing for me to come back and get him. Della! Play nice with Daisy and Howard! Sorry about that.”
“It’s fine and really don’t worry about it. You can stop by and pick up Elijah on your way back, it’s definitely no trouble at all.”
“Okay, bye Marlene and tell the boys I appreciate their help.”
“I will. Talk to you later.” Marlene hung up just in time to see Skipper proclaim Elijah the next American Ninja Warrior, sweeping the boy up and putting him on his shoulders for a victory lap. She hadn’t been surprised when Skipper took a shine to Melissa’s youngest. She had noticed that the leader of the group had a softer side and couldn’t help but wonder if despite the alpha status there weren’t some omega instincts left.
Or maybe she needed to reevaluate what an alpha was or should be.
J is for Judgement
“I believe you're the ones who came to CENTRAAL for help,” Skipper glared up at Classified who had shot down every idea and plan they had brought forward.
“We may have, but if you think I'm going sit back and take orders from an omega who forgot his place you are sorely mistaken,” Classified snapped in return.
Skipper growled low in his throat at the comment and felt his team tense behind him prepared to fight. “and if you think your judgment means shit to me just remember that I'm more of an alpha than you'll ever be.”
K is for Kill
There was a certain belief that alpha’s had an easier time killing if they had to and Private for the life of him wondered where that came from. At his core he loathed taking a life, even in self-defense, even during his brief stint as Mr. Tux the blood that stained his hands kept him awake every night.
It truly was no surprise that everyone assumed he was an omega when he flinched at the mere suggestion of taking the more violent option. In some small way he was guilty of using that along with Rico's presence to further convince others that he wasn't an alpha. A way to avoid being criticized for not being what society expected of him. Yet, he knew Rico took no offense, if anything he understood why Private had buried his past and status. Everyone assumed that Rico was an alpha after all, almost as if there could be no other explanation for his inclination for violence and destruction.
Private wondered if people would be more scandalized by an alpha that loathed the thought of having to kill or an omega that took a degree of pleasure in it.
L is for Loss
Kowalski felt his mate’s pain and distress before he smelled it and he didn’t need to look at a calendar to know why. It was like clockwork, the same day, every year, Rico would close himself off from everyone and mourn. Although Rico had never explained what happened in full detail, Kowalski had pieced most of it together over the years and it hurt to know that there was little to nothing he could do to ease his mate’s suffering.
What he could do was get up like he did every year on that day and make his way to the studio where Rico had built himself a nest whenever he needed space. Without any argument or prompting Kowalski settled into the nest, it was only time Rico allowed him in the space. Within seconds Rico had curled up around him and buried his face in Kowalski’s neck.
He wasn’t sure how long they had laid there and was startled when Rico whispered, “Ten years. They would’ve been ten.”
M is for Mistake
“So CloClo, you know how my heat is coming up?” Julien attempted to be as nonchalant about what he was working towards asking.
“Please don't ask me to track her down for that,” Clover shuddered at the thought, still scarred from when Crimson had been around for one of Julien's heats.
“Sky Spirits, no!” Julien sat up in his throne in horror at the thought. “I actually learned my lesson on that one. Crimson might be crazy hot, but she's a little more crazy than hot than I'd like.”
“Still my sister and still gross, but I'm glad you learned not to welcome just any alpha into the kingdom.” Clover knew she was toeing a line with her phrasing, but years as Julien's bodyguard had made her feel protective of the omega and equally frustrated at his seeming determination to unseat himself from the throne.
“In my defense, I thought she'd be cool like you,” Julien replied lamely knowing full well that he had only just started to develop feelings for Clover at the time. “Anyway, with my heat coming up and thinking about past mishaps, I was wondering if perhaps you would be willing to help me through it?”
“Your majesty!” Clover's face had turned red enough to rival her hair. “That would be highly inappropriate.”
Julien tried to ignore the ache in his chest and pushed forward, keeping his tone light and teasing “Wouldn't you consider yourself my alpha at this point?”
“Not like that, I'm your bodyguard, it’s my job to protect you. Not,” Clover floundered for a moment, “ that . Besides, I'm also your friend. Heats can lead to messy feelings and I don't want to lose your friendship.”
“Calm down, CloClo. I was only asking because you’re the only one I’d trust to share my heat with,” Julien cut in before Clover could spiral, ignoring his breaking heart. “You're right that it probably would be a mistake.”
N is for Never
Now that she was regularly invited over whenever the team had down time she'd been able to get to know all of them better, except for Skipper, who still held his cards close to his chest. In fact, she may have been a bit too eager when she had arrived to find that it would just be her and Skipper for part of the evening.
“Private went with Roy and Bing to some Lunacorn malarkey,” Skipper explained as he set up the chess board. “And the lovebirds are out celebrating their anniversary.”
“What anniversary are they celebrating?” Marlene asked and hoped that she wouldn't somehow accidentally put her foot in her mouth yet again.
“They’ve been mated for 7 years now,” Skipper replied then ran a hand down his face. “Makes me feel old. Feels like it was just yesterday that Kowalski was a fresh recruit and we'd just found Rico in that warehouse rather than 12 years ago.”
“Wow, I thought they'd been together a lot longer.”
“Oh, they have been,” Skipper made his first move, sliding a pawn forward. “Officially in a relationship for 10 years, but I honestly think there was something a little before that.”
Marlene made her move and was silently thankful that Skipper had set up the beginner board. Hopefully he'd decide to take it easy on her as well. “I couldn't imagine having a serious relationship that young or getting mated that young though.”
“I can understand that sometimes it just feels right,” Skipper’s expression softened in something fond.
“So would you have considered taking the bite at their age?”
Skipper paused and Marlene wasn't sure if he was thinking about his next move or his answer. “Honestly, I would have in a heartbeat, but then again I would have been young and not known better.”
“And now? Would you consider it?”
“Never.”
O is for Over
“Congrats, CloClo. I'm happy for you, even though I think I could count this as an act of treason.” Julien teased even though it felt like the world was ending. He would argue in a way that his world was in fact ending.
“Believe me it feels like treason, your Majesty. We've been through so much together after all, but Sage….”Clover trailed off a faint blush coloring her cheeks.
“Makes you happy?”
“Yes,” Clover answered immediately. The time she'd been away from Sage after training with him for several months had been brutal. She loved Julien and his kingdom but it wasn't the same as being by Sage’s side. “He’s my omega, Julien.”
“And you're his alpha,” Julien felt his throat tighten and shoved down the jealousy that bubbled up. He knew that it was over and all that mattered was that Clover would be happy.
P is for Plan
As much as they hated to acknowledge it, having an omega on the team as well as working with other omegas in the field or under their protection, it was necessary to have a plan in place for heats. And as required by CENTRAAL they had to have signatures from all parties involved in file not just at their base but in the main CENTRAAL database for Project: Habitat. It was also required that they review the plan annually or whenever someone needed to be added.
No one could ever look each other in the eye during these meetings.
Q is for Quiet
Skipper basked in the quiet that followed a newly satisfied heat. For a brief moment, with Hans sprawled under him, he could believe that it meant something.
R is for Reflection
A deep frown found its way onto Skipper’s face as he observed his reflection stepping out of the shower. If anyone else glanced at him they wouldn’t see anything out of the ordinary other than that he had put on a little weight over vacation. But Skipper could see that the extra weight he gained had settled on his hips and thighs and combined with his short stature, it gave his body just the slightest hint of curves. More omega than alpha which made his stomach churn. He grabbed his towel and wrapped it around his waist, not wanting to dwell on it for too long. He had fought to become an alpha and broke every limitation and expectation placed on him in the process. As he left the bathroom he made a mental note to put in a few more hours of training.
S is for Scent
Despite his beta status, Kowalski had a keen sense of smell, so keen in fact that he could detect more scents than most alphas or omegas. He mostly considered it a curse and could clearly recall the first time that had he considered it a gift instead. Back when they had raided an abandoned building in Chile it was what they had been hoping would find a key player in an organization they were trying to take down. Upon entering the place, the smell of scent-blocking chemicals and sterilizers had been nearly overwhelming and with there was no sign of any human presence, they were about to consider the mission a bust. Then Kowalski noticed it, a faint scent, very faint. It was bitter like cocoa powder and held a distinctly sour note that reminded Kowalski of vinegar. It wasn’t the alpha they were looking for, but it wasn’t some beta either. Omega his mind had supplied and he had followed the scent, which had ultimately led them to find Rico.
T is for Try
Private had never had any inclination towards his own secondary sex. His past few attempts at relationships had always been with betas and omegas.
Yet, he couldn't shake the memories of how Archie had practically glided through the art as he jumped from rooftop top to rooftop. It was beautiful, like seeing a classical Greek statue come to life.
He hadn't had much with betas and omegas so maybe it was time to try something different.
U is for Understand
No one quite understood how Julien’s heat had triggered Rico to go into heat despite the fact that he hadn't had one in months. Marlene had suggested the idea of true mates, but Skipper had been quick to shut that suggestion down knowing how much push back Kowalski and Rico faced from being a beta/omega pair.
Honestly, there was no reason to try to understand it and he wasn't just prescribed to that thinking because understanding the why would mean having to understand why the pair were dealing with the unexpected heat at Julien's place.
V is for Victory
Skipper groaned as his phone chirped in quick succession at some ungodly hour and then proceeded to ring.
He rolled over and answered with a gruffed “This better be important.”
“Sorry Skipsy, I know it’s early even for you, but I couldn't wait for you to read the newspaper,” Hans responded, clearly functioning in a different time zone.
“What could be that import–” Skipper lost his voice as he opened the text from Hans and saw the headlines.
DADT A DIRECT VIOLATION OF HUMAN RIGHTS
DADT REPEALED
LGBTQ FREE TO SERVE
“I figured it'd leave you speechless,” Hans teased, voice full of warmth and affection.
Skipper found his voice again but it sounded so soft and uncertain to his ears. “Is this real?”
“Yes, it is. I know CENTRAAL never had a problem with it or at least recognized what a fuck-up it would be to start removing agents based on their gender and sexual preferences, but I figured this was a victory for everyone.”
Skipper felt overwhelmed for a moment. He had been fortunate to catch CENTRAAL’s attention so early in his career. And just as fortunate that those pulling the strings disagreed with Don't Ask Don't Tell with such animosity that they did everything to protect any asset that fell into that category even if it meant practically redacting someone’s existence.
“It is, it really is,” Skipper found himself agreeing even though there was still a long way to go. It was just one battle, one in a war that seemed to never end.
W is for Worship
To say Julien experienced a bit of culture shock coming to America would be an understatement. Hearing stories about omegas being treated like they were objects or property to be owned rather than people had been upsetting, but to see it and be on the receiving end of such treatment had nearly crushed him. Here, even with the fortune of being royalty, he was sometimes treated as a second class citizen.
In his kingdom women and omegas were figures of power and strength. Beings to be worshiped rather than toyed with.
X is for X-Ray
Kowalski already had been anxious and eager to be allowed at Rico's side, but when the attending physician led him to an empty private room it grew to full distress. He blamed Skipper for chomping at the bit for a real mission that didn't involve escorting royalty after their detours through Madagascar and then Tanzania. That meant back to evil geniuses that thought it was smart to set their lairs to self-destruct. He and Skipper had been lucky and got away only a little battered and bruised while Private and Rico had gotten hit by some large shrapnel. It never got easier whenever he had to stand back while others on his team were swiftly rushed away for their injuries and it still nearly gutted him when it was Rico.
“It’s standard procedure that we conduct an interview with the mate whenever an omega has sustained significant injuries of this degree,” the doctor explained. “However, it’s now required that a law enforcement officer is part of that interview process as well. Your cooperation will be greatly appreciated.”
“Of course,” Kowalski answered and looked over at the officer who seemed uninterested in introducing himself.
“I’ll try to make this as quick as possible so you can see your mate,” the doctor offered and opened the file that he had been carrying. “You said that it wasn't possible for your mate to be pregnant, correct?”.
“Yes,” Kowalski answered, his stomach twisting as the pieces started to fall in place. Even though he'd seen Rico clutching at his lower abdomen blood running through his fingers he'd been too focused on the jagged metal sticking out of Rico's thigh. His mind had started calculating if the angle was anywhere near the femoral artery.
“Could you elaborate on that?” The officer asked, pulling Kowalski from his thoughts.
Memories of long nights curled around Rico in grief flashed through his mind as he spoke, “We had tried in the past, but were told that he had fertility issues and even if we did manage to conceive then he wouldn't be likely to carry to full term. It’s well documented in his file.”
“I did read that,” the doctor nodded, his professional demeanor never slipping, “but I wanted to ask because it was noted that he still had heats. Do you recall when he had his last heat?”
That was a good question and it took Kowalski a minute to figure out the last time Rico had gone through one. They had been increasingly sporadic the last few years with gaps as long as 4 to 6 months between them. “It was unexpected about four months ago, I believe. His heat before that had been 6 or 7 months prior.
The officer finished writing and looked up Kowalski again, “so you had no reason to suspect that your mate could be pregnant?”
The phrasing didn’t sit right with Kowalski and he knew what they weren’t telling him in that instant. He wanted to be furious at the implication that he had known or Rico had known of something that they hadn’t dared hope for in what seemed like a lifetime now. “When we were trying, Rico would bench himself the second he even thought that something might have changed and I’d follow his lead. So, no, if he had suspected something he wouldn’t have gone out in the field and I wouldn’t have made him.
“We normally try to run a pregnancy test before we take any abdominal X-Rays,” the doctor began to explain, “but given the concern of internal bleeding and locating the shrapnel for removal we went ahead with the x-ray and found something unusual.”
Kowalski swallowed, feeling his eyes growing wet. He’d already done the math and knew what the answer was even as impossible as it seemed. “Unusual?”
“I will preface this with that given your mate's history, pregnancy would have been unlikely. However, fertility struggles are not the same as being infertile.” The doctor pulled out a dark x-ray sheet from the file, attached to the light board on the wall, and turned it on before he continued to speak. “What we initially believed to be the beginning of a hemorrhage brought about by internal injuries was actually a miscarriage,” the doctor explained, voice calm and level. “Given that a fetus typically begins to develop bones at 16 weeks we estimated that your mate was roughly–”
“Four months pregnant,” Kowalski breathed as he stared at the only image that they’d ever have of their child: something too delicate to be surrounded by twisted metal. He closed his eyes, committing the image to memory and wanted nothing more in that moment than to see Rico and hold him so they could at least break and mourn together.
Y is for You
“Rico, wait,” Kowalski managed to gasp out after reluctantly breaking away from Rico. A worrisome thought had entered his mind and he couldn’t shake it as he looked down at the whining omega beneath him. They had fooled around a little before, but this was Rico’s first heat with him since they had gotten together.
“Please, Wal’ski. Want you, need you.” Rico begged, green-blue eyes were glassy with need as he bucked his hips up to get any friction that he could.
“Are you sure about this? I’m only a beta, which means I won’t be able to-” Kowalski couldn’t finish the sentence, a sinking feeling settling in the pit of his stomach. He almost didn't want to hear the answer, he was scared of what it might be. There was a reason that omega/beta pairing were practically unheard of, only an alpha would ever be able to satisfy an omega.
Rico gently placed his hand on Kowalski's cheek,some of the heat haze lifting from his mind at the other man’s distress, and kissed him softly trying to convey that it wasn’t a knot that would satisfy him. When they parted he answered with a quiet, “as long as it’s you.”
Kowalski felt his heart melt and he knew he couldn’t deny Rico. He leaned down and kissed him deeply, feeling Rico's body arch into his touch once more.
Z is for Zone
Even though Skipper wasn't always a fan of Julien's shenanigans (or Julien in general) he had to admit that the royal pain in the ass had created something incredible on their block.
Of course it probably helped that their block was an unusual mix of individuals to begin with, a fact that became more apparent as he surveyed how packed The Groove was in that moment. Its usual retro disco-esque flair had been transformed into bold rainbows of various prides. It was an eyesore, in all honesty, yet Skipper couldn't have enjoyed the sight more.
He caught a glimpse of Bada and Burt acting as security by the door. Normally, it would have been Bing instead of Burt, but Private was busy chatting with him and Roy.
Across from the bar he spotted Rico and Pinky taking turns scribbling furiously in a notebook on the table between them clearly discussing some sort of design plans.
Then seated nearby was Kowalski and Roger, clearly locked in a heated debate over something and if Skipper was a betting man he'd put money down that it was something involving music.
Marlene had been trying to make her way to him, but had been swept up in a conversation with Shelley. He'd learned a long time ago, as had Rico, that making eye contact with Shelley would result in an inescapable conversation.
“First one is on the house,” Julien set down an alarmingly pink drink in front of him.
“This better not taste like cotton candy,” Skipper eyed the dubious drink.
“Please, I have better taste than that,” Julien rolled his eyes as he grabbed a bottle of Curaçao and pineapple juice. “That's raspberry vodka and strawberry lemonade.”
“I suppose that doesn't sound terrible,” Skipper took the drink, but hesitated in taking a sip as he watched Julien pass the Curaçao to Maurice who was manning the other side of the bar. “You know, you should be proud of what you made here.”
“I am,” Julien grinned. “The Sky Spirits told me that I needed to create a safe zone for all the alphas, betas, and omegas that didn't fit the mold.”