43. Red
Chapter forty-three
Red
Turns out, Callisto’s damn good at his job. Once the contract’s signed, the other pieces of my life fall into place quickly—except for my missing alpha and the painful headaches. Callisto puts a ton of pressure on the Center, saying they’re stopping me from accessing my paid employment and the moment they mention my “mental health concerns” he fires back with a tirade on captivity disorders complete with examples of survivors who’ve thrived after leaving the official systems.
And just in case they still wanted to cross him, my lawyer signs me up with a world-famous independent therapist. While both Samantha and Dr Woods keep their professional masks in place, I can feel their frustration mounting every time we meet. Not bad people—just ones who are out of their depth with an omega like me.
The icing on the cake comes when Rickon gets officially approved as my pack alpha. With one catch: we have to live at Callisto’s house because he has a nest.
Fuck the nest.
The uptight staff disagree with me. I also sign an agreement that says if I don’t show up for my independent therapy, I’ll have to come back to live here at the Center.
It’s past time I bust out of here for good. Director Yun wants to start table reads on Omega’s Race ; I need to learn to ride a horse, not to mention my lines; and I’m not going to find my final alpha while stuck in this giant cage.
And it’s like a cosmic clock ticks away in my head, because even without looking at a calendar I know my heat’s close and I sure as shit ain’t doing another one of those here in the Center.
Whatever it takes to get Dr Woods to release me, I’ll sign up for. I’ve told her enough bullshit that she’s not even sure what to believe. I wrote an apology letter to Samantha for threatening her and her family during my last heat. Tick enough boxes in my sweet Daisy character and they’ll let me go. Callisto’s made sure of it.
The doctor in question pulls off her glasses and rests a knuckle on the bridge of her nose. “What makes you think the next heat will be different, Red?”
I smile prettily—that’s a real thing, I’ve discovered. An omega’s smile goes a long way around here. “Well, we’ve discussed and roleplayed so many things, but I think the main difference is that I’ll have my alpha with me. I’m sure I told you that Rickon went into rut during our first meeting. I didn’t feel scared or overpowered at all. I guess pheromones play a bigger role than I knew. His scent calms me so much.”
And it will all mean nothing when the heat fever grips me, but she doesn’t need confirmation on that.
I fold my hands neatly in my lap, playing at demure. “I was scared when I came here. I hadn’t had any positive sexual experiences.” Tone it down, Red. Too far in one direction and the scales tilt out of my favor. “But I know there’ll still be challenges.”
I look down and fiddle with my skirt. “Like you said, I gotta admit my vulnerability when I’m in heat, but I always feel safe with Rickon.”
Even when fucking him in the Omega Center visitor room. Especially then. That’s the hardest grin to swallow down when I really want to gloat.
“Oh, one more thing,” I say, brightening. “I want to get in touch with Rose, the omega who escaped the fight rings. I think she and I went through some similar things, so she might have some good tips for me.” One topic I don’t have to fake. I really do want to see how Rose is doing.
Dr Woods beams. “That’s a lovely idea. I’ll get her number for you.”
“Thanks.”
The doc taps her pen against her notepaper. “And what can you do when you feel the darkness rising during your heat?”
I hum for a moment as I think, and then count the options off on my fingers. “Deep breathing. Ask for some music. Cold shower.”
“Cool, not cold.”
“Cool shower,” I agree hastily. “Stay in well-lit spaces and take sedatives if needed.” Like hell I’ll use the needle they’re supplying, but they do have some nifty suppressants that should give me a few hours of relief. Apparently it’s designed to help omegas get home if they go into heat out in public.
Dr Woods smiles and nods. “And you can always call us for help. In fact, your alpha has been instructed to do so at the first sign of distress.”
I clench my teeth and smile thinly. As if I’ll be calling their dumb asses to come put out my fire. I’ll figure something out, like I always have. I hold her gaze, putting on my best puppy dog eyes.
“Oh, stop it,” she chides, flapping one hand loosely through the air. “Yes, you’ve worked really hard. I’ll sign off on your release.”
The tension inside me snaps loose like a mousetrap wire. I leap up and hug her thin shoulders. Dr Woods pats my arm. “Don’t thank me. Thank yourself. You’ve worked really hard to face your fears”
“Sure. I’m amazing.” Maybe I should get a degree in psychology, because all this is easier to work out than I thought.
Dr Woods grins. “I suppose you want to call your alpha?”
I roll my eyes, more silly than serious. “Um, no, why would I want to call my alpha? Are you fucking kidding? Of course I want to call him.”
Dr Woods laughs with me, and I dig out my new Omega Center-issued phone and dial Rickon.
His silky sweet voice slides right down the connection. “Hey, Biscuit, how’d it go?”
“Um.” I flash a glance at the doctor, who’s trying to look like she’s not listening in but failing miserably. “I gotta stay here another month.” I drop one lid in a slow wink, and she snorts.
“Oh, really?” Rickon’s voice falls. “Well, what’s one more month when we have the rest of our lives together? You can still travel for work, right?”
Shit, he’s so sweet now I feel bad for teasing him. I turn away from Dr Woods and grip the phone with both hands. “Just kidding! The doc’s signing me off.”
Rickon shrieks down the line and his excitement gets my energy firing. Even Ozzie chirps in the background as I tap out a happy dance to bleed off the buzzing sensation inside. “But hey, this is going to be hard work. That script has a lot of lines for me to learn.”
“Don’t worry, Biscuit. I’ve got all that covered. Just pack your bags. When can you leave?”
I cover the phone and turn back to Dr Woods. “When can I go?”
Her shoulders fall with a soft sigh. “Tomorrow.”
A giggle bursts out of me as I repeat the word to Rickon, and he yells again in excitement. Then a thought lights up in my brain. Tomorrow I’ll be playing cards with the omegas after lunch.
I chew on my lip. Could I pull this off? “Rickon, remember that clause in my contract, the one I asked Director Yun for?”
“Oh yeah. What about it?”
I chuckle darkly down the line. “I’m gonna need to cash it in.”
Leaving also means saying goodbye to my omega friends. Bittersweet excitement flickers in my belly as I slide into my seat at the round table. Their cheery greetings wash over me, soothing my headache simply because they’re happy. O-18 and O-20 are inseparable these days. Whoever matches with them will surely get double or nothing. I cover my grin.
“How are we, ladies?” I tilt my head to acknowledge the silent O-20. “And gentleman?”
The silent omega smiles back shyly, long lashes fluttering madly and it’s not even put-on. Cute. They’re all on their own journeys of finding scent matches and families. I’ve been so absorbed in mine I haven’t been paying close attention, but it’s wonderful to see them relaxed and healthy.
O-9 wraps her arm around my shoulders and squeezes. “Why’s it so hard to see you these days?”
I shrug. “Well, my alphas are coming to get me, so I have to be prepared.”
They exchange wary looks, and I grind my teeth to hold back a laugh. Oh, the things they don’t know. I grab the deck of Uno cards and start shuffling. “You know, this reminds me of some dark days. I’m glad we’re free of those.”
Some of the omegas exchange pained glances. Sweet O-18 rests her hand on mine. “We had no idea what you were going through, Red. Could you not say anything?”
I spear her with a hard look. “And you know now because?”
She sucks in her bottom lip and her hand quivers. “The OCB agents have been back doing more interviews before the trials. We heard about all the things that happened at the hospital, I mean, trafficking hub. About the haze and all.” Her nails dig in between my knuckles as she tenses up. “We didn’t know, Red.”
“Hand,” I murmur through gritted teeth, and she gasps and yanks away. I massage away the divots in my skin in silence while they watch me. So, they finally learned about the hell I endured at the House of Bitches. Was it all for nothing that I kept my silence for years?
One thing’s for sure. There’s no fucking privacy.
Soon the cases will go to trial and if the OCB gets their way, the whole world’s going to hear about the omega who got juiced for her haze for ten years. Fuck. They keep asking me for my statement, but I can’t bring myself to relive everything that happened and see it shared with the world.
I paste on a smile. I don’t want to waste my farewell with regrets like this. “It’s okay. I didn’t want you to know. That wasn’t a good place for any of us, but we’re all moving onward and upward now, right?” I deal the cards so we can play. “I don’t want your pity. I just want you all to be happy, hear me? Besides, having you as friends made it bearable.”
O-9 hugs me into her side, radiating love. The rest lean across the table to offer me small touches, their smiles slowly reappearing as the tension breaks.
The Red Hawk never quit on a tough gig. This show of love is enough for me. “When you all find your packs, you make them spoil you like queens.” I catch their gazes one by one. “Hear me?”
“Why does this sound like a goodbye?” O-9 asks, her gaze narrowing. She’s a wily one, this dark-haired sweetheart.
I shrug and smile. “My alphas could come get me any day. I need to be ready, and I won’t look back for you stinky bitches when I go.”
The game starts amid their feigned outrage. I chuckle under my breath. Each omega here has been through hell, but we’re all getting fresh starts now. I glance at O-18 under my lashes. Some of us have a few scars to carry forward, but we’ll make it.
We’re deep in our fifth game, O-20 loaded up on his third Draw Four, when a commotion breaks out near the doors.
O-9 twists to see. “Who’s here?”
Nervous tremors crawl down my skin, and I flush hot and cold. Slowly, I spin in my seat to look as three men walk across the room, escorted by Omega Center staff. My alpha, Rickon; my lawyer, Callisto; and my film director, Valencio Yun, march toward us. And damn, they look fine.
Rickon sashays across the floor, barely hiding his grin, dolled up in a corset, platform boots, and killer purple eyeliner. Callisto catches me looking and winks. He looks smooth as butter, too, in a fitted gray suit.
O-9 whistles in appreciation as they approach. “Now there’s a party,” she murmurs under her breath.
As if he knows every fantasy I‘ve ever had, Rickon goes down on one knee and kisses my hand. “Are you ready to go, my omega?”
My panties soak through in a heated instant and the omegas all swivel my way, jaws hanging open.
“We’re waiting to start filming,” Director Yun adds, a cherry on top of Rickon’s proclamation.
Electric thrills run through me as I stand. “Looks like my alphas came to get me,” I announce, not letting go of Rickon’s hand as he stands. I blow kisses toward the others as I say, “Good luck to you all.”
Okay, so technically only one of them is my alpha, but I’m not about to let tiny details ruin my graduation ceremony. The amazed looks on the omegas’ faces are every bit as delicious as I imagined.
Taking Rickon’s cue, Callisto offers his arm to me, and I slip my hand into the crook of his elbow. Pretty sure my feet float across the floor as they lead me away. True to my word, I don’t look back. Not even once.
Freedom, at last.