It always chilled Rayne to his very marrow when he entered the morgue.  As if death itself clung to the pristine white walls and floors. 

A mix of lavender cleaning solution and bleach wafted in the cold air as he glanced over omega anatomy charts pinned up on the walls, trying to ignore the icy claws that scraped down his back.  Beyond the glass wall that separated the medical forensic’s main office from the morgue itself, steele freezers lined the walls.  Rayne couldn’t imagine ever being trapped inside one, even after death.  Not with how closed in spaces unnerved him enough.

The office door cracked open and medical examiner Priscilla Goodwin slipped inside with an apologetic smile.  “Sorry to keep you waiting.   We just had to run a few last minute tests.  Your victim is Luka Alexander, a student at Omega Ridge University.  No missing persons’ reports have come in through the database for him yet either.”

“Poor guy had his whole life ahead of him.” Rayne found himself clenching his fists at his sides, at the sheer injustice of it all because if such a thing were happening to alphas, there would be widespread news coverage over it. More people would be up in arms over such a heinous death. But because it was just another omega dead on the streets, very few cared 

“Why would anyone hurt a young omega like this?  Who could be that cruel?”

“I don’t know, detective. It always breaks my heart when omegas like this come through these doors.”  Priscilla shook her head. “We located his parents and they live here in town, so my assistant should be able to give you their address before you leave here.”

Rayne nodded, allowing his rage to simmer but never diminish.  “Thanks.  I appreciate it.”

“There’s something else you should know.  I had to run a few extra tests to be certain.”  Priscilla Goodwin’s frown deepened, her lips twisting in a grimace.  “That omega was pregnant.  Not very far along.  Estimated about six weeks.”

“But he's so young.”  Rayne’s own omega father had him quite young as well, at only twenty-one years old, and it pained his heart to imagine Luka in his final moments, probably doing everything he could to hold on for the sake of his unborn baby. “That makes this a double homicide.  Whatever alpha did this to him will never see the light of day again.  I promise you that.”

“His scent glands were far too damaged to determine if he’d been marked an alpha that we could locate.  He had no scent of one on him, so we ruled it inconclusive for now,”  Priscilla explained. “There wasn’t any trace of recent alpha DNA or pheromones on him either, so he must not have been in contact with the father of his child recently.”

“Every omega and alpha has their DNA in our database. I know it’s unconventional, but could you test the DNA of the fetus? To see who the father is?” Rayne asked. “I know that wouldn’t prove him to be a killer, but it would be a step closer to uncovering the truth.”

“I considered that.”  Priscilla cast a glance back at the door, then settled her sympathetic gaze back on him.  “Higher ups claimed it was an invasion to alpha privacy of who they sleep with.  Some of your more zealous alphas consider it wrong to conduct such testing now as well, heaven forbid.  Without a court issued warrant, there’s nothing we can do.”

Rayne blinked, trying to digest all of that.  “Are you serious?  Because it invades alpha’s privacy?  There has never been any laws against paternity testing but all of a sudden this violates their rights?  And might I add, their right to what exactly? Not taking responsibility for their actions like always.”

“I didn’t understand it either, but our hands are tied here.  Even if we tested it in secret, it would be inadmissible evidence in court and if caught, I’d be fired on the spot. Likely never work a job in any medical-related field again.  I’m sorry, detective Calloway.  I really wish I could’ve been more helpful to you.”

“It’s not your fault.” Rayne exhaled a sigh. “Just makes things a lot more complicated. I’ll never understand how an alpha’s privacy matters more than an omega’s body autonomy. Such bullshit.”
It was the cruel reality of living in an alpha-dominated world.