Chapter 11
Chapter Eleven
Audrey
My body shook as we drove through the city. Despite being in Ledger’s lap, with Ares’s hand in mine, I couldn’t seem to get myself together.
At first, I wanted to flinch away from any touch, even though in my mind I knew they were my pack.
But my omega was having none of that. She wanted them to help us, to hold us close and reassure us we were safe, to take us through this heat.
If that wasn’t a sign that they were my scent-matches, my pack, then I didn’t know what was.
There was no other option but to accept that we were a pack and we couldn’t let our pasts define us. We needed to form a real pack bond, not one forged in trauma and proximity.
A bite.
My capture made me realize that I did want a permanent tie to them all.
“We’re not far,” Ares promised.
The cramps and heat flare ebbed down as the adrenaline faded. With my mind clear, I finally looked around to see that we were in a van of some kind.
“A data center?” I asked as my eyes locked on the monitors across from us.
“It’s a surveillance van,” Ledger explained. “They’ve been trying to get through this operation for a while.”
“Don’t worry,” Ares said. “They’re going to be sending agents in to clear that place. Jameson’s been working on this a long time and this was the exact thing he needed to take them down.”
“If he was already on the inside, I don’t understand why he had to wait to go in.”
“It takes years to gain their trust.”
My stomach turned at the thought. “Years of doing what, exactly?”
Ares grimaced. “I’m not exactly sure, and I don’t want to know right now. I can only be thankful because he brought you back to us.”
I didn’t like the sound of that, or the implications, but I couldn’t agree more. He’d saved me from a far worse fate, and hopefully, if he had any involvement with anything in there, it would soon be rectified.
The rest of the ride was quiet, but my stomach still turned with nerves as we pulled closer to ARC. As soon as the old building came into view, I swallowed hard as bile started to rise. I didn’t want to be back here, but I knew my men were on the other side of those gates.
Ansel and Kane were probably beside themselves. I wasn’t sure how Caspian and Rydell were reacting, either, but I was positive both were tearing apart that place to get to me.
Rydell, especially. If he got his hands on Malik, I had a feeling he’d tear him apart piece by piece until there was nothing left.
Honestly, that was a fitting outcome for a man as terrible as the twisted doctor.
We stopped at the gates, the guards checking the vehicle and everyone inside before letting us in. One put his hand up to his comm to announce our arrival.
“Chief, they’re on their way in.”
Instead of going to the front doors, the van pulled around the building, stopping at one of the outer buildings we never got a chance to explore. They always said these were for shorter-term stays, their stories not as tragic, I suppose.
That or they were already healing. It was supposed to be a transition from the ARC residence to society.
If only they actually cared enough to make use of it. Did anyone even live here? I’d never seen anyone coming and going the entire time I was at ARC.
And I spent a lot of time on the grounds working in the flowerbeds.
“They’re letting us use this house until your heat is over,” Ares said. “It was the best I could do. Once we get inside, we can order some nesting supplies and give you a proper heat, if that’s what you want.”
“Or they can sedate you through it,” Ledger offered. My eyes widened at the thought and I shook my head violently.
Hell no.
“I don’t want to be under any more drugs. I’ve had enough.”
“Do you want us all to help you?” Ares asked gently.
“Yes. And I want to talk about bites.”
Both men blanched in surprise.
“That is not what I expected you to say,” Ledger admitted. “Not after being back in that place.”
“Maybe if we had bites, you would’ve found me sooner,” I countered. “It was the first thing I thought of when I was inside, that I couldn’t feel you but wished I could. The small bond we did form was barely a remnant, and I’m sure you guys felt the same way.”
“If everybody wants that, I’m in,” Ares amended. “I’m not about to take that choice from anyone, especially Ansel.”
Ledger grinned at the mention of the omega.
“You’d be proud of our boy Ansel. The way he stepped up, fought through his own issues, and searched for you.
He was the one who found the switch to the room they kept you in.
He asked the right questions. He wasn’t out of his mind like the rest of us.
He was going to do anything he could to get you.
I knew he was strong, but this was incredible. ”
A smile drifted over my face. He was right, that did help. I was proud to know that Ansel fought through the panic, the worry, and made sure to get me help.
At the end of the day, it wasn’t just me that survived Malik, but my pack and the entire facility. Not one of us was unscathed, and the Alliance was going to have its work cut out for them.
Especially because I had a feeling the Network wasn’t going to let us all go easily.
Oh sure, they’d give their public statements: apologies that meant nothing as they tried to shift blame anywhere but themselves. It would be a huge show of turning a new leaf. Bullshit PR attempts that lacked any real remorse.
The Network was useless.
They might help some people, and sure, there were probably a few doctors in the system who were worth something, but I had yet to meet them.
If I had to guess, the Alliance would help me get through this heat, let me have my men in this house, and the moment I was back to myself, the Omega Network representatives would drag us in for questioning. They’d pretend they were doing some kind of investigation, then sweep it all under the rug.
No accountability.
There never was for big corporations, and at the end of the day, the Omega Network was a big corporation now.
As much as I hated it, they weren’t here for anyone’s gain but their own. If they truly were out to protect omegas, why wasn’t I protected? Or Ansel?
Why didn’t they find any of us in all the years we were broken in those facilities?
“Hey, where’s that head going?” Ares asked gently, his fingers running down my cheek to calm me and bring me back.
“I’m just nervous. There’s so much going on, and we’re about to face the heat. But it’s not like we have full freedom, Ares. You’re the only one.”
“Do you trust me?”
The question was said so calmly that it took me by surprise. I swallowed hard, but I didn’t have to think. I did trust him.
I nodded my head.
“Good. Because I’m going to get you guys out of here.
Every one of you. You’ve more than proven your sanity, that you’ve moved past this.
I’m fairly certain the bonds that form after this heat will only solidify that.
You’re going to be free of here. We just have to jump through some hoops first. Can you be patient? ”
“Is Malik coming back?” I countered.
He shook his head. “No. They’re hunting him down as we speak, and the moment they find him, I’ll make sure I’m the one who questions him.”
“Take Rydell,” Ledger snorted, “and the doctor won’t have legs to walk with.”
“That wouldn’t exactly prove our innocence,” I said with a sigh, though I hoped Malik got a healthy dose of karma one way or another.
“I have quite a few people to deliver karma to,” Ledger said under his breath. “What’s one more?”
“None of that. She’s right. They won’t let you out of here if they think you’re a threat.
Keep your heads about you. Let’s get through the heat, and then we do everything we can to get you discharged.
For now, I’m going to use every resource I have to bring in everything our omega could possibly need.
They should be creating a base nest, and then the rest is up to us. ”
“When is it going to kick in fully?” Ledger asked. “You seem more coherent now.”
“I’m not sure. I’ve never really had one.
They injected me with those things, but I never fully went into heat, I think the flares were thanks to the adrenaline.
So far, I’ve not had a full heat. That’s half the reason they tossed me aside after so many years and the reason for all these bite marks. ”
“It’s probably just going to be stunted. Your body is adjusting to it now that you have a pack. This one could be short, it could be long, it could be intense. Either way, we’ll be there for every step of the way if you truly want it.”
“I do.”
The car was still moving when people burst out of the front door of the building. Rydell led the charge, and I was climbing over Ledger, flinging open the door before they’d even hit the brakes.
Rydell caught me midair, crushing me to him. Our breaths mingled, his scent wrapping tightly around me as my biggest alpha nearly squeezed the life out of me. Dark plum, ink, violet, and leather. It was as strong as the alpha who held me, but so damn familiar it made my chest ache.
I was truly back with my pack.
“You came back to me,” he said. “I wanted to run after you so fucking bad.”
“You couldn’t,” I told him, pulling away from the hug long enough to put my hands on his cheeks, staring into those beautiful, dark green eyes of his. “God, it’s so fucking good to see you.”
He rested his forehead against mine, trying to calm his racing heart. I could hear it while he held me close, along with his heavy breathing.
“Audrey.” My name on Ansel’s lips sounded like heaven.
Rydell somehow let go of me, proving he was more in control than they’d given him credit for all these years, and then I was in Ansel’s arms.
My sweet omega held me close, breathing me in the same way I was doing to him.
“You stayed so strong for me, baby,” I said, kissing him on the forehead, then the cheeks, until he was laughing softly through his tears. My own were flowing down my cheeks, but I didn’t care.