Rayne couldn’t help but think of that poor omega all alone that night when his killer attacked him so ruthlessly.  It pained his heart to imagine it happening again to another innocent omega just trying to survive.  He’d joined the force in hopes of making a difference in their world, in making it a safer place for omegas like himself. But honestly, he started to wonder if that would ever be possible.

Sugar maple trees lined the road Rayne traveled down, passing cozy little houses with children running carefree through piles of leaves and hollering at the tops of their little lungs for only Gods knows what.  To imagine their victim growing up in such a residential area made him wonder even more how he ended up down in alpha-gang territory.  

Telling the victim’s family of their tragic loss would be the hardest part.  

It was possible his family didn’t even know about the pregnancy yet, considering he wasn’t very far along.  Rayne remembered his own college days quite fondly, how he used to talk on the phone with his father every night to tell him all about the new friends he’d made and what classes were his favorite.  Had he ever found himself in their victim’s shoes back then, his father would have been the first person he reached out to.

Gods, bless his soul.  

The Alexander residence slowly crept into view, and Rayne pulled off onto their gravel driveway.  A couple sat out on their porch, their heads turning toward Rayne seated in his cruiser.  Probably wondering why he was there. Perhaps they suspected something had happened, or perhaps it would come as a complete shock to hear about their precious son’s death.  

With a sharp inhale, Rayne braced himself as he propped open his door and stepped out.  “Evening, folks.”

The man rose to his feet first, arms crossed over his chest.  “What’s this about, detective?  Don’t you tell me the neighbors are complaining about our dog’s barking again.  I swear, we’ve done everything we can to keep her quiet at night but she gets upset when she hears the raccoons rummaging through our trash.  Honestly, you ought to get rid of those pesky vermin, if you ask me.  Is that why you’re here, officer?”

“No, sir.  I’m afraid not.” Rayne clasped his hands in front of him, head bowed.  “I’m deeply sorry to inform you of your son, Luka’s death.”

The silence was deafening. Only the wind roared in Rayne’s ears as the news settled, and the wife let out the most heartbreaking wail he’d ever heard. There were no words of comfort he could offer the grieving parents. 

Rayne had to tell them how he died next, and that left a lump in his throat that was painful to swallow down. But he had a duty to inform them. He couldn’t sugarcoat what happened or mislead them. 

“Was it an accident at his college?” The father spoke up first, his ruddy face twisted in painful grief. “We haven’t received any calls from them. Luka was just here visiting us this weekend.”

“He was attacked down in Rivervalley.” Rayne grimaced, knowing they’d recognize such a sketchy area as a well-known spot for alpha violence and overrun by their gangs. It was somewhere most omegas knew to avoid at all costs. “I won’t sugarcoat things for you, folks because you deserve to know the truth. Your son was brutally murdered, scent glands damaged beyond anything I’ve ever seen. But I promise you I’m going to do everything I can to catch the son of a bitch who did this to him.” 

That old made the guy’s poor mother sob harder, her husband wrapping a comforting arm around her as he faced Rayne with tears stinging his own eyes. “It was an alpha who killed him, wasn’t it?”

“I suspect so, sir.” A strong gust of wind rustled up the trees around him and crisp autumn leaves pivoted all around him. “I hate to ask this. But do you know of any alphas who’d do this to your son?”

“No, of course not.” His father shook his head. “Luka is a good kid. He rarely ever gave any alphas a second glance because he cares about his studies more. He wants to be an omega advocate lawyer. That’s what he’s going to college for.”

“I’m so sorry.” Rayne knew his words couldn’t offer any comfort to the grieving parents.  “I have a feeling you might not have known, but Luka was pregnant.  Only about six weeks along.”

By the shocked looks on both their faces, Rayne’s suspicions were only verified that his parents hadn’t known.  Perhaps he was planning on telling them soon.  Perhaps he feared how they’d react to the news without having a mate by his side.  It wasn’t uncommon for pregnant omegas to drop out of college either, unable to handle the stress of it all and continue their studies. Just thinking back to his sleepless one-nighters, he couldn’t imagine carrying a baby through all that. He would’ve been beyond exhausted.

“I know this will also be difficult to hear, but you’ll receive a call later to make arrangements for your son.”

No parent ever wanted to make burial arrangements for their precious child.  It was hard enough on Rayne when he had to bury his father.  He couldn’t imagine ever having to do that for a child of his own.  Not without wanting to make the world burn.  Not without abandoning the ideal of justice and taking revenge instead.