Page 36 of Petals and Strings (Broken Melodies #1)

His gaze shifted to Caspian. “I’ve been told you’ve changed recently. Explain.”

“I lost my family in a shooting. Hell, I lost myself that day, too,” Caspian said, voice shaky but strong.

“I spent the last four years living in memories and dissociating from this reality. Audrey came and my alpha recognized her. He awakened again and it kept me out of my head enough to try and stay present. When I brought up my fear of losing those memories, she suggested writing them down. I’ve been doing them in an online blog and some notebooks when I have to.

Each one I write down, I feel a little lighter.

Like I can breathe again knowing they won’t just disappear. ”

He looked at me, a soft smile on his face that I easily returned.

“That’s a great technique. I’d have suggested something similar,” Ares said, his eyes flickering to mine and giving me a nod of approval. “We’ll continue with the journaling and discuss a plan moving forward now that you’re more yourself.”

Caspian let out a sigh. “Yeah. Okay. I think I’m ready for that.”

Ares nodded and his gaze shifted to Ledger. “Now, I recognize this last name.”

“I’m sure you do,” Ledger said with a hollow laugh. “My father’s name gets around, and so does mine by association. Though, seeing as he’s half the reason I’m here…”

He trailed off, Ares nodding as if he was aware. “So I hear. You’ve been marked as emotionally stable, your only medication is an antidepressant and anxiety medication. Correct?”

“Yup. They won’t let me off of them,” he agreed. “Though, Dr. Malik likes to shake it up every so often with higher doses.”

Again, that look passes Ares’ expression. Something that looks like determination. It’s there and gone so fast no one would notice if they weren’t studying him.

“Not anymore. We’ll work on that. Our goal here is getting you guys out of here. If you’re healing then that’s a step in the right direction,” he said before turning to me. “And, the infamous Audrey.”

I let the comment roll off of me, he didn’t seem malicious, just confused.

“I was taken at seventeen and put in a breeding ring. Ten years of hell before they labeled me as defective and were supposed to kill me. I was dumped in a ditch on the edge of death but managed to survive. I was returned home but I went into a delusional state, creating a past with a pack I never had. Once the meds cleared my head, I’ve been trying to work through things without being punished for it. ”

His jaw tightened more with every word. Heavy breaths and fury in his eyes were the first real sign of a reaction from him.

“I can promise you no one here will ever be sedated unless you truly show you’re harming yourself or someone here. I’m strong enough to handle what you throw at me,” he said firmly.

Then his gaze was on Ansel.

“I hear you don’t talk,” he said. “Fighting ring background?”

Ansel stared at him.

Ares stared back, not backing down, but also not being aggressive. Ansel’s leg pushed into mine, seeking out touch before he broke the silence.

“I do talk, but not to many people. Only since Audrey got here,” he admitted, voice quiet and raspy but Ares didn’t complain.

“And yes, I have a potent scent, apparently. It was used as bait in an alpha fighting ring. Shot up with drugs to strengthen my scent and send them into a rutting fight. They underestimated how bad the alphas wanted to reach me.”

Ares closed his eyes for a brief moment before opening them. “No one will touch you here. Including me.”

Ansel nodded. “My omega only lets them close now. And I won’t ever be with an alpha.”

Ares shook his head. “When they said you formed a beginning pack bond, I could barely believe it. I’m seeing they were right about that, at least, while everything else in this file is a mess.”

“No one really wanted to know our actual trauma or work toward us leaving,” Ledger said.

“Before her, I never expected to get out of these walls. My dad pays to keep me locked up. I want out now. All of us do. We’ll comply if you show us respect, but we won’t bend down for any masters. Not anymore.”

Ares stared at each of us, taking in his words.

“Then we’re on the same page. I’m not here to run a boot camp. I may come on strong by nature, I’m not one to mess around. But I’m here for you. We’ll get you out.”

“Will they let us go or will you lose your job trying?” Ledger asked. It was a fair question. We all knew the corruption ran rampant through these halls.

“I guess we’ll have to find out,” was all he gave us before standing and stretching.

“Get ready. You have breakfast and are wanted in the conservatory after. I’ve got some notes to make and therapy plans.

I’ll be taking over one of these empty rooms as mine and another as a therapy space.

We’ll be in close quarters, but maybe that’s for the best.”

It wasn’t until I climbed off my bed, walking past him, that it hit me.

Cinnamon, though with a toasted edge like it was baked in something delicious. A hint of something sweet and earthy spices.

This wasn’t just a therapist. He was my mate.

From the look on his face, he was coming to the same realization.