A few hours later, some of the omegas in the van whined and whimpered, distressed by Mark's presence. Reaching out to touch Mark's neck, Sean asked aloud. "Why isn't he waking up?" A woman in an orange color, lightly answered. "It's the tranquilizer. It's designed for Omegas and Deltas. Not for Alphas or Betas. We have a higher resistances and recover a bit faster than they do. Because we breed. So, the tranquilizer is pretty powerful when used on them." A woman in a pink color huffed, mumbling out. "I hope he stayed knocked out for the whole trip." Sean lightly stroked the back of Mark's neck, when a man in a green collar asked a little confused. "Are you sure that he's an Alpha?" Sean nodded, but the man leaned closer to Mark to sniff the air. The other Omegas inhaled sharply and held their breath. If the guy wasn't careful, Mark's scent could send him into a Heat. After a minute, the guy shook his head, telling Sean seriously. "That's not an Alpha scent."

The other omegas broke into light chatter, before a woman asked hopefully. "So, we're in the clear? Is he a Delta? A Beta?" Sean sniffed Mark again. Discreetly enjoying the musky scent, when he shrugged out. "How can you tell?" The man smirked back at him, answering truthfully. "Just a really good nose. My family comes from a long line of trackers. His scent is... not strong enough to be an Alpha. In fact..." The man slid off the bench to get closer to Mark. Sean suppressed the urge to growl, when the man sniffed Mark's neck before finally telling them. "The scent isn't natural. It's a... It's a scent blocker." A woman in a pink collar blurted out through a chuckle. "Now that's just silly! Why would an Alpha wear a scent blocker?" The man shrugged, answering honestly. "Alphas that don't want to be found out. Alphas that don't want to trigger Heats. Alphas that aren't happy with their scent. Could be anything. You'd have to ask him."

Sean's hand stilled on Mark's neck. The realization hit him hard. Was Mark wearing it to avoid pairing himself with the Southern Pack Leader's daughter? Mark had seemed so unhappy in his room before the gathering in the park. Had he done it without his parents knowing? Biting his lower lip, he felt a tiny spark of hope. Had he ever smelled Mark's true scent? Was there still a chance for him? The man in the green collar, scooted away from Mark, announcing cautiously. "If he's using a scent blocker with a fake scent... it will only last a few hours. We're not out of this yet." The van bounced on the road, causing the Omegas to wince as it jostled Mark. They really didn't want him to wake up. Sitting back against the doors, Sean bravely pulled Mark's head into his lap. The omegas in the van eyed him like he was crazy, but he didn't care. Falling victim to Mark wasn't his concern. Mark shifted in his sleep; his arms semi-wrapped around Sean's waist as he buried his head close to his hips.

From a man in a pink collar, he warned Sean cautiously. "Careful. You let Alpha's get that... familiar with you and they'll start to think you belong to them." Sean ignored the warning, running his fingers through Mark's hair when he replied casually. "Maybe in your pack. But Mark isn't like that... and even if he is... I don't think I'd mind." A woman in a green collar smiled at him, coolly announcing. "He was protecting you when he got mistaken, wasn't he?" Blushing, Sean mumbled out coyly. "Why do you say that?" The woman looked him over, then answered with a smile. "Cause you're not afraid of him. For an Omega that hasn't had their Heat... to be so calm around an Alpha. You like him. Or are related to him. And judging by the look... you like him." Sean avoided her eyes. Another woman in a pink collar, sarcastically chimed in. "Doesn't matter if he does. The Alphas choose their mates. Not the other way around."

The green collared woman scowled back at the other woman, bitterly snarling back. "Did I say anything that gave you that impression? We know how they pick. Mind your own business, bitch!" The two started to growl at each other before a green collared man quickly moved between them and snapped out. "Stop it! We're all scared and on edge. Fighting and insulting each other won't help!" The woman with the pink collar straightened up, sneering back. "Whatever. Get fucked by some low-class Alpha! The Apex Alpha will choose ME anyway." The green collared man groaned loudly and rolled his eyes. The noise rose in the van as they began to argue, until Mark growled out groggily. "Will you shut up." Everyone fell dead silent, and Sean tensed. Slowly Mark rose onto all fours, grumbling aloud a bit disoriented. "Ugh, my head is killing me... and you're bitching like a bunch of cats." Sitting back on his legs, Mark asked as he rubbed his eyes. "Where am I? What happened?"

When none of the Omegas answered, he looked at them and they gasped before shrinking into the farthest corners. Finding his courage, Sean informed him casually. "You're in the van headed toward the castle. They... They mistook you for an Omega, Mark." Mark blinked, then jerked his head to look at him as he snapped out. "They what?!" The Omegas whimpered at his tone, but Sean merely shrugged and asked him curiously. "Ya. They couldn't smell your Alpha scent, because you put on scent blocker. Why would you do that?" Mark clenched his jaw, replying sternly. "Doesn't matter now. Damn it. My father is going to kill me..." Reaching up to itch his neck, Mark felt the collar and growled. The Omegas trembled, watching him with wide eyes. When he grabbed the collar, a Omega yelped out. "No! Don't do that!" It was too late. Gripping the collar with both hands, Mark snarled, and his muscles flexed as he worked to pry the collar off his neck.

Sean jumped as he watched the collar spark and let out sharp zapping sounds. Yet, Mark didn't stop. Suddenly the collar snapped apart and the blinking light turned red and blinked faster. Dropping the collar, Mark cracked his neck and bitterly muttered aloud. "Nobody collars an Alpha." The omega that had tried to warn him, swallowed hard, before informing him. "You shouldn't have done that." Mark huffed sarcastically, asking flatly. "Why? They going to open up the doors and realize their mistake?" The omega shook his head, answering breathlessly. "No... but we don't have the strength to break it and our primal nature... reacts to displays of strength." Mark raised an eyebrow, asking completely perplexed. "What? That wasn't..." Mark didn't finish, when a woman wearing a purple collar gasped and muttered aloud. "Oh, no..." All eyes darted from her to Mark with a look of horror. Sean got to his feet, a mix of feelings swirling inside him.

The woman was going into her Heat. They could all smell it. Yet, Mark just stared at them all with a blank neutral look. He almost looked more concerned that they were scared of HIM. The woman dropped to all fours, moaning as her face flushed. The omegas pulled their legs away from her, clearing a path to her for Mark to get her and not them. Mark stared at her confused for a minute, then blushed when he said nervously. "Oh... Um... Sorry." Sean turned to look at Mark with confusion. Any Alpha or Beta would have caught her scent and been on her in a matter of seconds. Yet, Mark was just... sitting there. Something was wrong. Even the other Omegas looked at him with strange looks now. The brave green collared Omega moved closer to Mark, sniffing him hesitantly, before asking him anxiously. "I don't understand... I can faintly smell your alpha scent... but you aren't... What's wrong with you?" Mark's eyes flashed bright wolfish yellow, and he let out a vicious snarl that made the omega trip over himself to run away.

Mark backed himself up against the doors like he expected a fight to break out. Triggering the Omegas to whine and yelp with fear. Sean could only stand beside him, trying to process what was going on. The purple collared Omega started toward Mark, even as he snarled at her. Resulting in the other Omegas trying to pull her back away from him. The poor girl was driven by lust and a desire to present herself to an Alpha... but Mark wasn't having it. His deep growls filled the van and put everyone on edge. Curiosity got the better of Sean as he kneeled in front of Mark and extended out his wrist to him. Mark glared at him, until Sean boldly asked him. "What does my scent smell like, Mark?" Mark stopped growling with a sudden terrified look. His eyes looked over his wrist for a long time, before he looked away from them all. Lowering his arm, Sean inhaled slowly as it suddenly made sense to him. Mark had no sense of smell.

His words outside his house echoed in Sean's mind. He had wished that he could tell if he was his. From behind him, an Omega blurted out. "Are you kidding me? An Alpha that can't smell?" Mark started growling again while avoiding their looks. Allowing another Omega to say to the others. "Now that's just... depressing. If he can't smell, then he can't scent out his mate. He's a damaged Alpha..." Mark got to his feet, lunging for the omega when he angrily snarled out. "SAY THAT AGAIN, OMEGA! I'LL SHOW YOU DAMAGED!" Mark raised his hand to punch him, but Sean quickly grabbed his arm and pleaded out loudly. "MARK, DON'T!" Mark shoved Sean off his arm, grabbing the Omega by his collar and yanking him up off his seat as raised his arm again. The Omegas yelped and scrambled away. Leaving the Omega to twist helplessly in Mark's grip with sharp distressed yelps.

Quickly getting back up to his feet, Sean slipped under Mark's arm and put his hands on his chest, fearlessly rushing out. "Mark! Listen to me!" Mark's yellow wolf eyes stared straight through him like a predator on a hunt, but Sean stroked his rumbling chest, calmly telling him. "Mark, let him go. Hurting him won't prove anything... If you wanna hurt someone... Hurt me! I'm your packmate! You'll get in less trouble! Hit me!" Mark's fist lowered and his other hand released the Omega's collar, allowing him to flee with the others. Sean didn't move. He didn't even flinch when Mark grabbed him by the collar to pull him closer. Staring him down, Mark's voice went into full deep dark Alpha mode when he growled out. "You'd get hurt for them?!" Shaking his head, Sean retorted honestly. "Not them. You." Mark's aggression faltered and Sean admitted with a small smile. "If you hurt them. The guards will do worse to you. They aren't in your pack... I am. If you hurt me. They'll just think I did something to piss my packmate off. I'd rather not see you get hurt."

Mark's grip on his collar loosened and Sean stepped up against him to whisper for only him to hear. "Mark... It doesn't matter to me that you can't smell. What matters is if you can protect me. I'm scared, Mark... Please... Protect me?" Mark dropped his hand from his collar, his yellow eyes fading back to his soft brown ones as he struggled to take a calming breath. Unable to stop himself, he hugged Mark tightly. Mark's hands rested on Sean's hips; his face buried against his neck when he told him in a shaken whisper. "Do you realize what I could have done to you just now?" Sean smiled against his chest, listening to Mark's pounding heart, when he answered honestly. "I told you how I feel... You may not feel the same but... that doesn't change how I feel about you. Or what I'm willing to do for you." Mark's hand moved off his hip and started to slide up his back, until the van stopped. Tensing, Mark told Sean uneasily. "I think we're here."  To Be continued...