14. Opal
Chapter fourteen
Opal
I never slept a wink.
How could I with Zayden by my side?
Now I watch his chest gently rise and fall, and just like that, the magic vanishes.
The guilt returns in full force, and I try to slip out from under the Omega’s arm, but he’s steadfast in keeping me by his side.
I don’t even know where I will go. I could go back to the basement.
I’m sure Reed would love that.
If I could just get Zayden’s strong arm off me, yet the more I struggle, the stronger he gets.
This Omega really does work out, and it looks like I’m beaten.
Zayden won’t let me leave his side again.
“Opal…” he mumbles, opening his eyes slightly.
They find me instantly. A lazy smile spreads across his face. “God, it’s good to wake up to your face again…”
I smile tightly.
Ditto.
But this can’t last.
I caved yesterday, but it won’t happen again.
Zayden is just too hard to resist. He's my personal brand of heroine.
His eyebrows crumple when they spot the discomfort on my face, and then he sits up. “What’s wrong?”
My eyes close, and I will the tears to remain in my ducts once again. “Zayden… I don’t belong here…”
The Omega blinks. Then he growls, gripping my chin gently as he turns me to face him. “I won’t hear it, Opal. You are mine . Don’t let Reed inside your head.”
A shuddery sigh escapes me. “It’s… not Reed…”
He blinks. “Then wh—oh…”
It doesn’t take him long to figure it out. A darkness settles over his eyes, and his grip around my chin becomes even more passionate.
“Opal, we will get him back. What he put you through… made you do…”
Almost do… But I don’t correct him.
I’m so freaking glad Oliver warned Gryphon on time. If he hadn’t, who knows what would have become of me.
They definitely would have killed me.
And this whole world would have fallen into utter chaos.
The warden would have won. He would have swooped in during all the chaos and taken his place as head of state.
And then things would have gone seriously downhill.
At first, he would have pretended to have the Beta population's best interests at heart.
But they would have soon learned that he'd lied to them like all the Alphas before Gryphon.
Alphas like his late daughter, Lily.
All they cared about was their own power and authority.
Screw the lesser designations.
“Opal…”
I meet his eyes. The hazelnut takes my breath away.
“He’s gone. You said he cut your strings.”
He did. But I still sense his ghost.
How it haunts me.
Zayden continues. “I don’t blame you. You know that, right? Please don’t feel you betrayed me.”
Oh, here they come. The tears.
Zayden thumbs them away, never taking his fingers off my chin. “You’re safe now. He won’t get to you again. In fact… I’m going to have one of the guys bite you. Soon. That way, you really are ours.”
I blink, stupefied. “You… can’t be serious?”
“But I am. I’d do it myself if I could, but you need an Alpha’s bite in order to become a part of the pack. The choice is yours. Magnus, Levi, even Reed if you so much desire…”
My lip wobbles. No.
I am not worthy.
“You don’t have to pick now. When the time is right…”
We shouldn’t rush. But I can’t help but feel the desperation.
A bond shouldn’t be rushed. But if it keeps the warden at bay, so be it.
“By the way… there are two people who want to see you. They were here yesterday, actually.”
My heart thumps. How could I forget?
Ella and Belle.
“When you’re ready, of course, Opal. No rush again.”
I nod, lying down beside him as I use his shoulder as a pillow, and that’s how we stay.
Still, I would very much like to see them.
They will understand. Hopefully.
We’re all Rogues, after all.
So, can I find a kindred spirit in each of them?
***
I decided to see them.
It's about time I explained myself.
So I enter the mall hand in hand with Zayden. He refuses to let me go anywhere without him now, and I ignore the stab of guilt as we head to the water fountain.
“You can back out if you want, Opal,” Zayden reassures.
But I hold my head high. “No. I need to see them. They deserve to know why I lied to them.”
Zayden’s breath hitches. “You didn’t lie to them, Opal. It was not your choice.”
Still, Belle and Ella should get to know the real me. Not the masquerade version of me.
That Opal is gone. I’m not even wearing heels or ‘lemon’ anymore.
Now I wear all black. Black leggings, black baggy top, black boots.
Zayden even lent me a black leather jacket. It suits me.
Soon, we come to a stop, and my heart races when I spy them.
Belle looks sweet as usual in a polka dot red summer dress and pumps. Ella wears a hoodie, and I just know that the front pocket has a knife.
They’re accompanied by their Omegas.
The spectacled Brody wears a sweater and corduroy pants, keeping a careful eye on Ella. Rian has Belle’s hand, and I spy him in his casual jeans and polo shirt.
Zayden wears a brown leather jacket today. He gave me his black one, and I'm grateful.
Because this black leather truly speaks to me.
I feel like I am showing these girls who I really am.
I still wear the sunglasses, though. They were the only thing that I wore that ever felt like me.
Belle’s eyes dart around the mall, and then they land on me.
She reaches across absentmindedly, tapping Ella’s shoulder. The little blonde turns around, and her own eyes widen when they find me.
Time ceases to move as I stare at my old friends.
Numbers twenty-two, twenty-three, and twenty-four have reunited at last.
I have a funny notion of us all getting revenge on the warden one day, but baby steps.
Zayden sighs. “Well, they’ve seen you. Let’s go.”
My throat closes up as we approach the group of familiar Omegas.
Will they hate me? Scream at me for lying to them?
Will Belle be angry that I tried to kill her Omega’s Alpha?
We come to a stop before them.
The boys offer us space as we all get re-acquainted. I take my sunglasses off so they can see me— the real one they were denied so long.
My gaze finds my feet. “Hey…”
Belle and Ella are silent. Neither of them moves for some time. But then I hear a whimper, and before I know it, I have a face full of long, black silky hair.
Belle wraps her arms around me and cries. Ella is a little more reluctant, but when Belle drags her closer, she caves at last, placing her own arms around me.
I’m too stunned to speak.
And here I was, thinking they would hate me.
But they don’t.
Now my own tears escape, and I wrap my arms around each of them.
Fuck friends. These girls are my sisters.
And I will never lie to them again.