Chapter Sixty-Nine
Robin
After Lana’s visit, I manage to occupy myself for a bit, showering and changing into pajamas, and taking my time blow-drying my hair. Once I’m ready for bed, I know I’m too awake to sleep, so I just lay on the bed and switch on my trusty old TV set.
I flip channels until I find a movie.
A romance, of course.
It doesn’t look like one I’ve seen before.
Getting comfortable, I turn up the sound and start watching.
My thoughts drift as I watch the characters on the screen, strangers with colliding lives who are obviously perfect for each other. An Alpha and an Omega, of course, because that’s the classic pairing.
The Alpha is direct and confident. He says what he thinks and he’s always right.
I can’t help but think of Falcon. He has confident energy, for sure, but he also has trouble with his words, sometimes. He had to touch me to centre himself so he could focus and get those words out.
He’s not a typical Alpha, but I think that’s a good thing.
The Omega is sweet and emotional. She follows her feelings, at all times.
I barely know how I feel about anything. All I know is Falcon makes me feel safe without even trying. Yet the thought of following my heart is too terrifying to think about.
I know I’d be safe with him, but thinking about leaving the academy makes me doubt myself.
I don’t know what it’s like out there in the real world.
It can’t be the same as it seems in movies.
Not when people like Ivan Hamilton exist.
It’s not all people living their lives, falling in love and having kids and being happy.
There are men out there who hurt women.
There are people who hurt kids.
I came so close to becoming a kid sold for profit.
If I was an Omega, I’d be dead by now, like my mother.
Being a Beta saved me, and Colleen helped make sure Ivan didn’t find another use for me.
But none of that means I’ll be safe if I leave the academy to start my life over.
My mother had a life before she was stolen to be sold.
She was robbed of that to become Ivan’s slave.
Maybe if she hadn’t been, she never would have met my father, and I never would have been born, but if I had one wish, I’d still save her from that terrible fate.
I can’t leave Goldcrest until I know how to protect myself.
No matter how much I want to say yes to Falcon.