Page 100

“It raises the question of whether the riot fifteen years ago was more organized than we thought,” Archer responds. “Why so many of those people thought stealing an omega to own them was anywhere near a rational thought.”

My blood runs cold and my fingertips start buzzing. The fresh blood splattered on the floor reminds me of my parents.

“Hey, you good?” Madden asks me, his hand firm against my shoulder.

His touch makes me notice my hands are trembling. “Fine,” I say, swallowing hard. “Let’s get this process going so we can get out of here.”

CHAPTER 29

Luna

This apartment still feels unfamiliar. It doesn’t feel like home.

I don’t think a space like this will ever feel like home, no matter how much time I’ve spent in it.

It’s been a week since I was dropped off at the omega center by the police and six nights since I was given this apartment.

So technically, I’ve spent more time in this place than I did at the Ward pack house. But their home felt infinitely more like home than this place does.

It’s kind of funny, when I think about it. All I wanted when the pack first found me was my own place with my own things.

Well, here I am. And I hate it.

Maybe it’s because back then, I wanted to be free of alphas. Free of my status as an omega and the servitude I thought went along with it. And even though there are no alphas in this space right now, I know this place isn’t free.

The only reason why I’m being given a luxury apartment to stay in temporarily is because I’m an omega. There is a payment involved in the form of my time, my body, and well, me.

It isn’t as bad as I was led to believe—I won’t be chained downto a bed, forced to always be naked, presenting for every alpha that wanted me—but there is subservience in my position.

The Director said I’ll have a choice in who I choose, but I’m still being forced to meet other options even though I know the choice I want to make. I’m still not free from the desires of unknown alphas.

My doorbell rings, making me freeze in my seat on the sofa. My legs are stiff when I slowly and a bit cautiously make my way to the door.

That sofa is so much harder than the sofa in Kane’s study.

Of course, I’m grateful for the things I have here: the warm food, the private space, the roof over my head. But I can’t help but draw comparisons. It’s like my mind drifts to my guys whenever it has the opportunity to.

I peek through the peephole of the door, and my heart skips a beat.

I was expecting the director’s assistant, or maybe another omega who works at the center. Those have been the only visitors I’ve had recently and I’ve been grateful the Director has kept his word that this area and space will be as safe as he can make it.

But it’s not.

I wrench open the door to see Charlotte’s bright smile, her apple pie scent swirling around me.

“Surprise!” She says, stepping aside.

I blink quickly, feeling the burn of tears behind my eyes.

Standing there are my guys. All four of them.

I notice the dark circles under their eyes and how everyone but Chase hasn’t shaved in a while. There’s a sort of heaviness that surrounds all of them like a cloud that wasn’t there before.

Some of that heaviness lifts when they catch sight of me.

Despite that, there’s still a wave of uncertainty that keeps my feet rooted to the floor underneath me. There’s doubt of their feelings towards me, after everything that’s happened.

There are certainly other omegas they can choose from. Omegas that would be far easier to court. Omegas that wouldn’t require a lengthy selection process. Omegas without a dirty past like mine.