Chapter 23
Chapter Twenty-Three
Audrey
My stomach was still churning with nerves as I waited outside the therapist offices.
Vance and Cooke were both standing vigil in the doorway, a constant reassurance that I wouldn’t be facing this alone.
I appreciated their presence, especially after being taken, but it didn’t help calm my growing anxiety.
The door finally opened, and a woman stepped out.
She was tall and had more muscle tone than I could ever dream of.
They were showcased under her pencil skirt and short-sleeved blouse.
A dainty bow was tied at her throat, a soft contrast to the intensity she exuded.
She radiated more alpha energy than most alphas I knew.
“I’m ready for you, Audrey,” she offered. Her voice was husky, and if I wasn’t secure in myself, I might’ve worried about my men getting a little too close with her. Still, she was definitely the no-nonsense type, and I had a feeling she might be good for all of us.
She gestured for me to follow her, and I did, even as my heart beat wildly hard in my chest. As I stepped into the office, I glanced around, trying to control my breathing.
This was where I had met Theo. I don’t know how this was what shook me more than being captured, but I suddenly felt far too vulnerable.
She glanced back and noticed my hesitation right away.
“Is it something about the office?”
“The last counselor I had before Ares told me to get on my knees for him,” I said flatly, not bothering to hold back.
“What the fuck?” she snapped. “Why would nobody tell me this? No, absolutely not. We’re going somewhere else.”
She gathered her things and ushered me out of the office. “We are absolutely not triggering you. That’s going to be the opposite of our goal here.”
Vance and Cooke looked alarmed when she stormed out with me on her heels.
“Did nobody feel the need to tell me about her previous counselor? We were just going to gloss over the fact he tried to force himself on her?”
They both looked stunned, eyes wide.
“I think those two are on our side,” I said quietly. Every one of my guys had sung their praises, even Rydell, who didn’t seem to like much of anybody.
“We are,” Vance promised, but he was facing me now. “What happened here?”
“She was nearly assaulted by her previous counselor in this exact office,” Alice said sharply.
Anger flashed across their faces before Vance pressed his comm. “Chief, we’ve got to do something about these counseling offices. Apparently, nobody shared that the previous counselor was assaulting people. They’ve got this girl in here trying to do therapy in the same damn room.”
He paused, nodding in agreement before his eyes flicked to mine, offering a hint of reassurance.
“Chief isn’t happy about this. He wants you to head over to the conference room up front. They moved the data center to a better room anyway, so it’s clear now. I’ll get the furniture swapped out today.”
“Does that work for you?” Alice asked, turning to me.
“Much better than this,” I said. I hadn’t realized how much I didn’t want to be in that office until she pulled me out of it. I let out a shudder and followed her into the atrium.
This time walking through the building, I studied the changes. The usual gossiping nurses were nowhere to be found. There weren’t half-asleep patients stumbling around. In fact, every patient I saw looked alert and aware, something I’d never witnessed here.
The atrium seemed brighter now, as if they’d been keeping it dim and depressing before. The floors sparkled, and I spotted a few janitors and cleaning crew members walking around. It was a pity that it took something so vile to bring out what they should’ve been doing all along.
Alice didn’t speak again until she bustled into the conference room, placing her notebook on the table and waiting for me to sit before closing the door.
She paused, hand on the knob.
“Are you okay with me closing it? I assume this will be a private conversation you wouldn’t want others privy to?”
I glanced past her at the two guards still standing outside and nodded. “I’m fine with the door closed.”
Alice sat back down and gave me a professional smile. “Let’s start with the fact that I’ve read your file.”
“I’m sure that was an exciting read,” I cut in with a dry laugh.
“It was definitely enlightening,” she hedged, at least laughing with me. “It seems like it’s been a long time since anyone showed you true kindness.”
“It was,” I conceded. “Until my pack, at least.”
“It’s very interesting that you all found each other here and come from such similar situations?” she mused.
“I don’t know that I’d call our situations similar,” I said. “Maybe just the fact that we’ve all been through hell, but we’ve endured very different forms of trauma. Outside of my omega and I, not all of us were in captivity for years.”
She nodded. “That’s true. I shouldn’t oversimplify, especially with something that important.”
For what it was worth, she seemed genuine.
“I’m very glad you found each other,” she said softly. “Now, obviously things here have not been ideal. Do you want to talk about that?”
Once she opened the floor for me to talk about ARC and its problems, I couldn’t stop.
I explained everything from being found in the ditch, to being brought here, and everything that happened since.
It wasn’t a short story, but she stayed attentive through the whole thing, taking notes and nodding along.
She tried her best to keep a calm mask, but I caught the disgust and horror at a few of the finer details.
“Wow,” she said when I finally finished. “How about we get a drink and some snacks before we dive into all of that.”
I nodded, sinking into the chair. It felt good to finally let it all out. She poked her head out, asked my guards to grab a few things, then sat back down.
“Now, do you want to tell me about your latest abduction?”
“They caused a mass poisoning,” I admitted. “I still feel so bad about that. Everyone here suffered, and I know people keep telling me I wasn’t the one who poisoned anyone, that I didn’t choose to be abducted, and they’re right. It just doesn’t change anything. I still feel awful, though.”
“You don’t need me to repeat what you’ve already heard,” she said gently.
“You were put in an impossible situation, one that was meant to be a diversion. People like your captors don’t care about collateral damage.
But at the end of the day, no one suffered permanent damage.
Except for you. And not one person here blames you. ”
“I wish I knew why he was so obsessed with me,” I murmured. “I’m not special.”
She thought it over, her pen tapping at the table mindlessly. “It could be that you were an anomaly among omegas. Your body reacted differently to the medication, for one. For an alpha who craves control and submission, you were an omega who essentially defied what he expected.”
“That makes sense,” I said quietly. “I thought I was broken for so long. My omega was completely dormant for years until I was brought here.”
“Omegas are strong and resilient,” she said firmly.
“The important thing is that while you’ve been through hell and back, the future is completely up to you.
With the Alliance taking over and dedicating resources to the investigation, men like Malik and your captors will never touch you again. They’ll face real consequences.”
“If I ever get out of here,” I challenged. “Everyone says no one makes it out of ARC. I believe that now more than ever. The Omega Network is going to try and cover up as much as they can. What better way than to make sure we never get out.”
“That was likely true at one point,” she agreed.
“But not anymore. My goal is to form a treatment plan, one that means you do get out. You’ll have the resources and skills to survive outside these walls whether they like it or not.
As far as the chief is concerned, you’ll be compensated for everything they did to you. ”
A knock interrupted us before she could say more.
“Come in,” she called.
Vance and Cooke entered with a tray stacked high with snacks and drinks.
“Thank you,” I said as the larger of the two set it down in front of me.
Cooke smiled, almost surprised. I wasn’t sure why. One of my favorite people had the same dominant gene he did.
“Of course,” he said, nodding once before closing the door softly behind them.
“I just need to know a couple more things, then I promise I’ll stop tormenting you with questions.”
I chuckled softly and picked up a potato chip. “I think I can survive a few questions.”
“What’s your biggest fear about leaving ARC?” Of course, she started off strong.
I thought it over as I chewed on another chip. “Probably that I’ll be recognized. I was on the news all over the area when I was delusional.”
She nodded. “I can see that being intimidating. Are you planning to stay local?"
“I don’t know. We talked about the coast once. I’ve always wanted to see the ocean.”
“That sounds like that fear might not be an issue, then,” she pointed out. “You might’ve been on the news nationwide, but the story was far bigger here than it was across the country. Honestly, I knew nothing about you until I read your file.”
“Hopefully, that’ll be the case for everyone,” I said with a sigh.
“Is that your only fear?” she pressed gently.
“I sometimes worry I don’t know how to be an adult,” I admitted.
“I’m not starting from a normal upbringing.
I’m starting from a life that was under lock and key.
I was kept in a dark cell with concrete floors, no blankets, no books.
I never got the chance to learn basic life skills.
I don’t have a bank account. I don’t know if I even have documents that I’d need to start a life.
I don’t know how to budget or cook. My mother never let me learn those things and I wasn’t allowed to go out or make friends. ”
“That’s a damn shame, Audrey,” she said.
“But these are all things we can work on. I can arrange cooking classes, teach general skills, we can even bring in books so you can read about things that interest you during down times. I can’t express how disgusted I am at how this place was run.
The Omega Network can claim ignorance, but the truth is, they failed you. ”
“My heat that just ended yesterday was the first time I’ve ever had a nest,” I admitted. “Ansel and I decorated one in our wing today. It’s just strange. I’ve never been allowed to give in to those instincts. I’m not sure I even know how to be an omega anymore.”
“Were you able to have a nest at home before you left?” she asked gently.
I shook my head. “No. I came into my designation late, and my mom had weird hangups about it. She wanted me to be a submissive little doll, to do exactly what I was told, when I was told. I just assumed she was strict.”
“Believe me when I tell you this, Audrey,” she said firmly, leaning forward to make sure she had my attention.
“No one, and I mean no one, is ever allowed to tell you how to be an omega. You get to decide if you want to experience heats, or have children, or anything else. You were never allowed to be an adult with choices, but from here on out, you will. There will be restrictions at first, I won’t lie.
We have to convince the world that you’re stable and capable of surviving outside ARC.
That’s my job to worry about, though. I’ll make sure the Omega Network can’t interfere again.
They lost that right when they abused their power.
All you have to do is give me a chance. We’ll work on life skills, coping skills, and I’d like to meet with your entire pack from time to time, help with conflict resolution and finances.
The Omega Network failed you, but the Alliance won’t. ”
“So, what’s my first assignment?” I asked, popping the last chip into my mouth and brushing the crumbs from my hands.
“I’ll work on setting up the classes we talked about. You’ll work on forgiving yourself,” she said. “Focus on your pack, and yourself, for once. Let your omega be an omega, and remind yourself it’s okay to rely on others.”
“I’ll try,” I said as I stood to leave.
“Oh, and Audrey—”
“Yes?” I asked, turning back to face her.
“Just know that I’m on your side. I’m going to fight tooth and nail to make sure the ones responsible burn for this in every way possible. There’s nothing I hate more than monsters getting away with their crimes.”
She seemed to be speaking from experience, but it wasn’t my place to ask about her past. I just nodded, and for once, chose to trust someone.
“Thank you.”