Page 34 of Ours Later

If I’m in jail, I can’t help Nina. And make no mistake, she’s ours. My skin crawls with the injustice of this, and I wish I was the kind of alpha who could kill without qualms.

Unfortunately, I’m a barely restrained academic professor.

“I can’t answer that,” Dr. Kind chuckles, glancing at Vivian who shrugs with a smile.

“What facility is she going to?” I rumble, ripping my eyes from the beautiful girl who in a day has made me feel more alive than I have in years.

“Here’s my card,” Dr. Kind says, handing me an embossed white and gold business card.

Weeping Willow Institute

Frowning, I stare at the card. It doesn’t look like any mental health institution that I’ve ever seen. Thankfully, there is an address as well, so I decide to let Nina go for now.

Not for long, though.

“Thank you,” I tell him, looking over at my son who appears ready to tear Nina away from Dr. Kind’s orderly. Shaking my head at him, I ignore the glare he gives me as I turn to Vivian. “I’m sorry, I guess you do know best. I hope Nina is better soon.”

Grinning triumphantly, they walk out of my home together, but I’m already pulling my phone out to call my lawyer. It may be after hours, but Kendra Marks is a very well paid pitbull.

“I’m on it, Ethan, I promise,” I tell him, shutting the door behind Vivian and her goons. Swallowing hard, I watch from the window as I hit the call button.

My son crowds next to me, watching as a black SUV pulls to a stop in front of our house.

“This feels wrong,” he mutters. “I know we don’t have a legal leg to stand on, but I don’t like this.”

“Me either. So I’m going to find our legal leg. We’re going to get her the hell out of there. I promise,” I tell him as the phone picks up.

“Hello, Kendra? I believe my ex-step-daughter was just kidnapped by her mother,” I say in greeting.

I always get what I want, even if I have to take a step back to get it.

Princess, I’m coming for you. I promise.

Nine

Vivian

I’m following the SUV in front of me as we drive to Weeping Willow Institute. While the doctors there do have some actual patients that are ill, many of them are people who snub their nose at their families and society.

It’s a hospital to reprogram wayward family members, mostly omegas. Truth be told, my daughter took so long to come into her designation, I didn’t think she’d be anything but a beta. Then, when she did begin showing signs that she was an omega, I pushed forward my plans to get her institutionalized.

She’s too valuable as an omega to allow her to do whatever she wants with her life. I would much rather stick her in this place that promises a money back guarantee and the promise that she’ll walk out the perfect daughter. It’s all I’ve ever wanted her to be, and while I was married to Cooper, he’d railroad my every intention by insisting that she deserved some kindness.

While he may be a father to a son, he has no idea what it’s like to parent a daughter who is as headstrong as Nina is. I know what my daughter needs, and it certainly wasn’t hopping on herstepfather’s dick.

“Agh!” I yell as I drive.

I know he tried to be a decent husband to me while we were married, but there were so many things he wanted his way. As soon as I could throw him over and divorce him for someone who’d allow me to do whatever I wanted, I did.

Nina isn’t quite as valuable to me now, but it’s possible that no longer being a virgin will make her popular with some of the older male packs. It could be worth looking into.

My mind wanders to how frustrated I am that my daughter ran from me, and I decide I’m going to sign the papers to commit her immediately. I had planned to coo over her, brag some more about how clueless she is about the world, but I’m getting too angry. I want to be perceived as the doting, worried mother who only wants the best for her daughter, and not a controlling psychopath.

I’ll leave her here as long as it takes. Weeping Willow Institute and other hospitals of its kind are talked about in whispers among the rich at brunches and parties. My friends were the ones who put the idea into my head, and when she became even more unruly, I decided to book her into the Thresher Institute in Georgia.

Unfortunately for her, the Thresher Institute is going to look like a spa day compared to this one. The brochure stated they take a very hard stand on unschooling those who do not follow their designations. Omegas are meant to be sweet and generous, always ensuring they follow the rules provided by their elders.

I even heard they partner with an organization called ROWS, and that they use their content to reprogram omegas. I can’t wait to come back to a new and improved daughter.