Chapter 34
Chapter Thirty-Four
Audrey
Moonlight filled the conservatory, bouncing off the colorful leaves of the flowers and the green vines.
This was my favorite time of day to be here.
It was also my last.
Each of us had been given an insane amount of money as an apology from the Omega Network, an attempt to avoid legal action. There was no telling if they’d be safe from that, but at least for us, we were ready to take it and move on.
I would advocate like hell for change, demand policies that required regular check-ins to facilities like ARC, mandatory surprise inspections, and tighter oversight to stop people like Malik from ever taking advantage again.
They’d opened it, put their name on it, and then let private pay keep it running, only to forget about it.
That had to stop.
As for my pack, we were leaving in the morning. It was too late to drive anywhere tonight. Caspian had already called his sister, and none of us had much to take with us. Just my violin, a few sketchbooks, and Ares’s things, which were boxed up and ready to be shipped wherever we ended up.
At this point, I didn’t care where that was, as long as I didn’t spend another night within these walls.
I’d more than earned my freedom. I’d fought for this moment, endured torment for it. It was time.
Eventually, the others passed out, but I couldn’t sleep. Maybe I just needed to say goodbye to this conservatory in my own way.
Larissa had followed me out here, along with one of the guards. They waited near the doorway while I pulled out my violin for the last time.
I wished I could talk to the groundskeeper once more. Val had given me the confidence to take my treatment seriously, even when this place didn’t. Those flower beds had been more therapeutic than most of the other “treatments” here, at least until Alice arrived.
I owed him a lot.
With a breath, I lifted the violin into place. The bow slid easily across the strings, notes filling the air as my body relaxed. I played a song that was my own. An intricate story woven from battle and victory. One that felt fitting for what we’d experienced within these walls.
As the melody filled the room, I felt the pack bond flare. The others had joined me. Apparently, they weren’t asleep after all.
No one interrupted until the last note faded and I opened my eyes.
Ansel stood in front of me with a small smile, the rest of them gathered around.
“Did you say your goodbyes?” Ares asked softly.
“Yes.” I packed away my violin and snapped the case closed.
“We’re getting out of here tonight,” Ledger said. “None of us can sleep. We’re ready.”
“Don’t we have paperwork or something?” I asked.
“Fuck paperwork,” Ansel muttered, making us laugh. We were all eager to leave now.
“Exactly,” Ares agreed. “Let’s get the fuck out of here.”
Ares reached for my case while Rydell helped me to my feet, tucking me against his side as we walked out. I expected them to lead me back toward our wing, but instead we walked to the front lobby.
Sanchez, Colt, Vance, Cooke, the chief, and Director Cross were all waiting by the doors.
The chief stepped forward first. Instead of something formal, he pulled me into a quick, but firm hug. It was fatherly and left my chest aching at the thought of never seeing him again.
“Thank you for giving me my life back,” he said.
“Ditto,” I teased, swiping away a tear.
“That was all you,” he countered. “Now you get to live a life that you decide. Congratulations, Audrey. I hope you find everything you’re looking for.”
“Thanks, Ch-David.”
He grinned, then moved on to the others, shaking hands with my pack. When he reached Ares, he pulled him into a hug as well.
“Good work, Aeron,” he said, giving my Alpha a knowing wink. “Hopefully, we’ll see you soon.”
“We’re definitely keeping in touch,” Colt promised, stepping forward to give me a hug as well. Cooke shook Rydell’s hand, and Vance clapped Ledger on the shoulder.
“Keep her close. Keep them safe,” Vance said.
“We will,” Ares promised.
That left Director Cross. The man who had to live with his actions, but who was at least trying to make things right.
“Audrey,” he said, meeting my eyes without hesitation. “I’m happy for you. If you ever need anything, don’t hesitate to reach out.”
“Thank you,” I said, nodding. It came out more formal than I meant, but I couldn’t help it. “I truly hope you take a step back and heal from this place. For your own sanity. We all know how delicate that can be.”
“That’s the plan,” he admitted. “I’m handing this place over to the Alliance for good. My time here is almost finished.”
“Good.”
He seemed surprised by my words, but I was already walking away, stepping through the doors and taking a deep breath of fresh air.
I’d been out here not long ago, but it felt different now.
Now, it felt like freedom.
We all loaded into one of the dark SUVs. Thankfully, there were enough seats for all seven of us. I wasn’t willing to split up quite yet.
Ares, of course, took the wheel. I climbed into the front seat and immediately turned on the radio. I didn’t even know what everyone liked, or even what I liked, but it didn’t matter. Anything was better than silence.
My thoughts were loud enough.
“Everyone ready?” Ares asked. “I’m driving until the sun comes up.”
“Get us out of here,” Ansel pleaded.
My alpha put the car in drive and drove up to the gates. We waited as the guard slid them open, giving him a salute as we passed through.
I held my breath until we were clear of them, as if I was terrified something was coming to stop us now.
Just as we passed through I rolled down my window and leaned out for one last glance at Ash Recovery Center, the place that broke me a little more but somehow helped piece me back together at the same time.
The future was finally here. I just wished I knew how long it would take for me to stop looking over my shoulder.
Ares pulled into the gas station the moment we found one. He handed Ledger his wallet, pulling out a card for the pump, first.
“I’ll get gas. You guys grab snacks and drinks for everyone. It’s not a road trip without a gas station stop, right?”
“I wouldn’t know,” Ansel snorted, but grinned anyway. He was letting go of everything and I had no choice but to do the same.
It was like we were shedding the blanket of doom that had hung over us for so long.
We all piled out, Ares staying near the pump while the rest of us hurried inside.
Rydell stuck close to me, making it a bit easier to live in the moment.
“Who knew choosing candy could be so overwhelming,” I muttered, glancing around. I could barely remember the last time I’d had something sweet like this. Hell, I didn’t recognize half the brands at this point.
“Choices are hard, huh?” said a woman as she walked up next to me. She was an omega, her smile warm and open.
I smiled back. “I have no idea what to pick. It’s… a little overwhelming.”
She chuckled. “Want to know my trick? I grab something sweet, something fruity, something salty, and something savory. Covers all the bases. You’ll crave all of them eventually.”
She winked and walked off. That woman would likely forget me by morning, but she was the first person to talk to me who wasn’t paid to. She treated me like any other omega, and she had no idea what that meant to me.
Smiling, I followed her advice, picking four snacks and grabbing an armful of drinks.
“I grabbed quite a few,” I said when I returned. “Hopefully, someone likes something in this mix.”
“Same,” Ansel said, showing off his own collection that was twice as big as mine.
“Perfect. Let’s pay,” Ledger said with his own arms packed full. Not one of us bothered to hold back. Even Rydell had his own selection.
We piled everything on the counter, making the clerk’s eyes widen. He didn’t comment, just bagged everything up… five full bags worth.
Ares had finished fueling up when we got back out. Ledger handed out the bags, and I climbed into the back with Ansel while Rydell took the front seat this time.
Ansel and I snuggled together under a blanket Caspian tossed over to us.
“What about Lilly, Sara, and Paul?” I asked.
“Paul’s on standby,” Kane said. “He’ll meet us wherever we end up.”
“Same for Sara and Lilly. I’ll fly down for them if I have to.”
“So… where are we going?” I asked, half-expecting the answer to be ‘anywhere but here.’
“The chief offered me a position,” Ares said as he turned around to face us all.
“Did you accept?” Kane asked, just as surprised.
Ansel frowned. “Why was this a secret?”
“Not yet. And, it wasn’t exactly a secret. Things have just been crazy,” Ares said with a sigh. “Then it was something I just couldn’t let go. But, I will accept if this is the right path for us.”
Ares reached for a duffel bag, pulled out a folder, and handing it to Rydell.
“Oregon?” I asked, raising a brow. “That’s… random.”
“It’s a quiet assignment. One most agents wouldn’t want but might be perfect for us,” Ares explained.
“There’s an omega-only homestead out there.
We’d be there to preserve and protect them when alphas come sniffing around.
I’m sure if they’re escaping shitty situations that plenty will pop up to keep us busy. ”
He gave us the full rundown. The more he spoke, the more I liked the sound of it.
“I’d love to be involved,” Caspian said. “The more I think it over, the more I want to join the Alliance.”
“Same,” Ledger added. “But I have a few things to wrap up quietly. I’m giving everything I know to the feds. I don’t want my father knowing where I’m going.”
Ares nodded. “It’s a small town. Nature everywhere. They have a Christmas market and festivals for every season. The perfect place to raise a family.”
“Lilly will love it,” I said, smiling at Caspian.
“She will,” he agreed. “Sara, too. I’ll use part of the settlement to set her up. She deserves peace.”
“I’ll help where you need me,” Rydell said. “But I’m opening a tattoo shop. That’s still the plan.”
“Wait, what tattoo shop?” Ares asked.
“We’ll tell you everything once you accept the job,” I teased.
“I was hoping you’d say that,” Ares grinned. “Because… I already bought a house out there. Just in case it was a deal I couldn’t pass up.”
My eyes widened. “You what? Tell us everything.”
“One second.” He dialed a number and put it on speaker.
“Aeron,” a deep voice answered. “I hope this means that you’ve considered our offer.”
“I have. Under one condition,” Ares said. “I’m bringing two new trainees with me.”
“The chief already filled me in and we arranged everything. It’s done. We’ll see you soon,” he said easily. “Take a month off first. Settle in. You all earned it.”
Ares laughed after he ended the call. “Did you hear that? A month off.”
“The chief’s still looking out for us,” I said softly.
“I knew I liked that man,” Ledger muttered. “A month sounds long, but it’ll fly by.”
“So,” I prompted. “Tell me about this pack house.”