Amber

Murphy's fingers drummed against his desk as he surveyed the Regent raid evidence. Photos of extraction equipment and medical records painted a nightmare - young Omegas marked as "special projects" or simply "terminated." The school's legitimate facade crumbled under the weight of offshore accounts and shell companies.

His hand traced a photo of a medical bed with restraints. Mrs. Sanders had taken her secrets to the grave, but these files would tell their story. Dawn broke over Seattle as Murphy vowed to rebuild what tonight had broken

His phone buzzed. Roots and Wings Shelter's contact lit up the screen.

"Murphy." His voice was gravel.

"Captain." Amber's warmth cut through his exhaustion. "We've got scared Omegas here asking about a student named Brandon. And before you as, no, I haven't told Benny - he's on doctors orders to rest."

"Smart call. Who's asking about Brandon?"

"Oliver and Silas - Brandon's roommates. They're pretty shaken up." Amber's voice caught. "Silas needed stitches on his nose, and Oliver has bruising across his cheek." Her warmth vanished, replaced by steel. "Your officers did that, Captain."

Murphy's jaw clenched. The photos on his desk blurred together as rage built in his chest.

"Those responsible have been fired."

"Fired?" Papers slammed. "These boys are terrified. The redhead flinches at every sound, and the blonde won't let anyone near him. They're convinced Brandon's dead somewhere because your team was so rough."

"I'll be there within the hour." Murphy grabbed his keys. "Think they'll talk to me?"

"If you leave the captain at the office." Her tone softened slightly. "And maybe bring those protein bars? The ones you swear aren't just cardboard with chocolate?"

"Thought you hated those."

"They're growing on me." A pause. "Like some other things I used to hate."

Murphy laughed to himself, grabbed his keys, phone pressed between ear and shoulder as he locked his office. "I'll grab some supplies on my way. Anything else?"

"Just..." Amber hesitated. "Be calm, okay? These Omegas are scared of uniforms right now."

"I'll come in plainclothes." He stepped into the elevator, loosening his tie. "And Amber?"

"Yeah?"

"You're doing good work there - taking care of them."

The line went quiet for a moment. "Thanks, Captain. Just doing my job."

"Murphy. Just Murphy." He hit the lobby button. "See you soon."

The morning shift officers gave Murphy a wide berth in the locker room, his Alpha pheromones still lingering from earlier. He traded his captain's uniform for a black tee, his worn leather jacket and faded jeans, tucking away his badge with practiced precision. In the mirror, bloodshot eyes and a scarred cheek stared back - a reminder that sometimes the worst monsters wore badges.

Roots & Wings Shelter

The Roots & Wings Omega Shelter hunched between a tire shop and used car lot, its graffitied brick walls promising sanctuary. Benny's touch was everywhere - overgrown trees and wild bushes claiming the property like a protective green fortress. A wooden sign hung above the entrance, weathered but proud. Below it, a stark warning: 'Alphas must register at front desk. Failure to comply may result in arrest.'

Murphy adjusted his nose filter before entering the shelter. Inside, the scent of home-cooked meals and fresh laundry barely masked the underlying Omega pheromones. Children's voices and bustling volunteers filled the space with life.

Amber looked up from the front desk, phone pressed to her ear. She absently tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear when she spotted him, catching herself mid-motion with a slight blush.

"I'm sorry, we're at capacity," she said to the caller, regret heavy in her voice. "Try St. Anthony's on 9th." After hanging up, she turned to Murphy with a smile that didn't quite reach her tired eyes.

"Captain Murphy."

"Just Murphy," he corrected, like always. Something in her expression softened at the familiar exchange.

"Like I said, Benny's at a big pack reunion," she said, switching to business despite the flutter in her chest. "I didn't call him - he needs rest, not stress about how full we are here. His pack's good for him, especially now with the baby coming." She hesitated, then added quietly, "It must be nice, having that kind of support."

Murphy nodded, missing the longing in her voice. "Good for Benny. He's got a good head on his shoulders."

Amber stood, pushing aside thoughts of what it might be like to have an Alpha of her own. "The Regent Omegas are in the basement." she said softly. "Each one of them is noticeably rattled, I don't know if any of them slept last night."

Murphy's brow furrowed with concern. "They're safe here," he assured her, his tone both authoritative and gentle.

Amber's tired smile flickered. "I know they are," she said wearily. "But convincing them is another matter."

The basement was packed with Omegas - sprawled across worn couches, huddled in puffy chairs, and curled up on colorful rugs. The dim lighting cast long shadows, making the space feel like a den of refugees rather than a shelter.

In the back corner, two Regent Academy students shared a blanket, looking nothing like their usual polished selves. The blonde's tight ponytail couldn't hide his swollen eyes or the purple bruise and stitches across his nose. Beside him, a redhead with scattered freckles pressed close, his wild curls framing a face marked by a bruise across the cheek - punishment for talking back to the wrong officer.

Amber approached slowly, keeping her voice soft. "Silas... Oliver. This is Captain Murphy from the Omega Special Victims Unit.  He's here to help find Brandon."

The Omegas flinched, their eyes snapping up like startled deer. Murphy crouched before them, maintaining a safe distance. "I know you've had a rough night," he said, extending his hand palm-up. "But I need you to trust me. Brandon might be in danger."

After a silent exchange of glances, Oliver reached out. Murphy's grip was firm but gentle.

"Can you tell me what happened at Regent?" Murphy said softly. "About Brandon Day?"

Oliver's voice trembled. "We were in our nest when it happened. This deafening crash, then the lights went out and shouting, doors being smashed in and what sounded like gun shots." He glanced at Silas for strength. "We hid in the closet. The officers never found us, but the screams..." He shuddered. "I can't forget the screams."

Silas took over, his hands shaking. "Brandon was in the heat room when it happened. His special heat room."

Murphy's brow furrowed. "Special?"

"The nurses always mentioned it," Silas said. "Brandon never talked about it."

"When did you last see him?"

"With Nurse Tiffany and Mike from security about a week before. He should have been done with his heat..." Silas's eyes welled up. "They were supposed to bring him back."

Murphy's jaw tightened as he made notes, the implications clear - an Omega in heat, left vulnerable during chaos.

Murphy's gaze shifted between the Omegas as he absorbed their account of Regent Omega Academy's chaos. His duty to protect them weighed heavily as he made notes. "Is there anything else you remember that might help us find Brandon?" he asked softly.

Silas's brow furrowed as he considered the question. His blue eyes clouded with worry as he dredged up memories of his friend. "Brandon... he's been through a lot," Silas began hesitantly, his voice barely above a whisper. "He would wake up screaming, drenched in sweat. It was like he was trapped in his nightmares, reliving his past over and over again."

Oliver nodded, his green eyes reflecting the same concern. "We never pressed him for details, but his nightmares were frequent," he added, glancing at Silas for confirmation. "He'd wake up the entire dorm with his screams. It was... unsettling."

Silas interjected, "Yeah, and it wasn't just the nightmares. He would often wander the halls in the middle of the night, unable to sleep. Or sneak outside for a smoke. It was as if his mind refused to give him any peace, even when he was awake."

Murphy held his pen motionless, studying the haunted look in the Omegas' eyes. Their words painted a picture of someone bearing invisible scars. "Did Brandon ever mention specific details about his dreams?" he asked softly.

Silas shook his head, brushing aside his blonde hair. "No, he kept that private just like his past. But during the worst nightmares, he'd mumble things like 'stop', 'no more', 'I can't take it' and something about 'the chain.'" His voice cracked at the memory.

"Thank you for sharing this with me," Murphy said, his voice sincere. He closed his notebook and tucked it back into his pocket, then stood up slowly, careful not to startle the two Omegas. "I promise you, we will do everything in our power to find Brandon and make sure he's safe. And I'll make sure those responsible for this will be held accountable."

Murphy turned to Amber then, his gaze softening as he took in her worried expression. "I'll need to speak with the rest of the Omegas," he said softly, a subtle acknowledgment of the burden she carried as their caretaker.

Amber nodded, her eyes reflecting her gratitude for his unwavering commitment to their cause. "Of course, Captain," she replied, her voice steady despite the emotional toll of the conversation. "I'll make sure they're ready for you."

The other interviews yielded nothing new - just more stories of chaos and hiding. Amber waited by the stairs, hope fading when Murphy shook his head. "No fresh leads."

"I'm stationing officers here," Murphy said as they made their way back up stairs and he reached the door.

Amber stiffened. "We're not a prison!" Her voice a tight whisper.

"No, but I just raided an illegal pheromone facility. Someone powerful will be angry." Murphy's tone left no room for argument. "I won't risk your safety."

Amber chewed her lip, then nodded. "Just... don't make them feel trapped."

"It's safer here than a station full of aggressive Alphas," Murphy assured her. He caught her slight blush, the way she leaned toward him, but kept things professional. "Take care, Amber."

Outside, Murphy tried to piece it together: Brandon Day missing, Toft looking for the Omega, Mike taking the boy. And always the Golden Collar - that damn club that kept slipping through his fingers. Three years of investigating disappeared Omegas, of tracking illegal pheromone sales, all trails leading to those gilded doors. Now Regent's fancy finishing school turned out to be an elaborate facility creating a toxic pheromone from Omegas.

Murphy's jaw clenched. This time, he'd nail them all - Toft, the Golden Collar, everyone who saw Omegas as products to be sold.

to be continued....

Several chapters ahead on my Ko-fi / katrinacomics