Chapter 3 A Necessary Step
A Necessary Step
Sandra
The bathroom’s cleaner than any bar restroom I’ve seen. No mystery puddles or rank beer smell, just a hint of air freshener and that marshmallow scent that clings to Jethro. It’s small, one toilet, and a sink tucked off to the side.
Having a full stomach feels like a luxury. The burger and fries hit the spot. My feet still scream, my neck pulses, but not being hungry anymore is a win.
After twisting the lock, I lean back against the door. They probably won’t come in, but the barrier helps. I should panic, surrounded by Alphas in a bar. Instead, there’s a strange calm within.
The mirror shows the wreck I’ve become. My hair sticks out in messy clumps, and dirt and tear tracks cut through the grime on my face. One eye stares back brown, the other hazel, both swollen and tired. Red bite marks streak raw across my neck, angry and unhealed.
I pull out Jethro’s phone and put in the Safe Haven hotline. The ringtone blares, then drops into soft hold music.
“Omega Safe Haven, this is Monica. How can I help you?”
My voice wavers. “Monica? It’s Sandra.”
A sharp breath cuts through the line. “Sandra? Oh my god, Sandra! Are you okay? We’ve been worried. Jared said they took you when we reviewed the footage. We’ve had the cops looking for you, but they’ve been no help. Where are you?”
I press a hand to my chest, trying to breathe. “I got away. I’m in Willowside. I stole a car... I don’t know what to do.”
“You’re safe? Away from them?” Her voice drops.
I nod, even though she can’t see it. “Yeah. For now. But something weird happened. I think I found my scent-matched Alphas.”
Silence stretches long across the line. “What? Sandra, are you sure? After what you’ve been through...”
“I know. But they smell right. All of them. There are three Alphas and...” Pausing, I hesitate. Monica’s a gossip, and two Omegas in one pack isn’t exactly normal.
“And?”
“I don’t know. I just... I feel safe here.” A shaky breath slips out. “There’s something else. The Alphas who took me... they marked me. My body’s rejecting it.”
My fingers drift over the hot, swollen skin on my neck.
“Oh, Sandra. Honey... Do you want me to send someone? A car could be there in a couple of hours. We’ll get you to the Haven, put you in a secure room. A doctor can run a rape kit and take mold impressions.”
Saying yes makes sense, but something holds me back. Some part of me isn’t ready to walk away from this yet.
“Sandra?”
I let out a harsh breath. “Fuck, Monica, I don’t know what to do.”
She exhales on the other end. “I get it. If I found my Alphas, I wouldn’t want to leave either. But you still need that kit. You need proof. If they’re arrested and you want charges filed. You should...”
My voice lowers. “What?”
“Do you think there’s a chance you’re pregnant? You were gone for two weeks. Did you go into heat?”
My hand lands on my stomach without thinking. “I didn’t, but that means nothing. They didn’t use protection. And the IUD isn’t perfect.”
“Shit, Sandra... Okay. If I don’t send a car, then get to a hospital or a doctor. ASAP. Get the kit done. Molds too. It’s not just about charges. It’s your health.”
The image of cold tools and fluorescent lights knots my gut. But she’s right.
“Once it’s done, call me. We’ll send someone to take your report. You don’t have to come back right away.”
Breathing into the phone, I try to keep steady.
“Sandra, do you feel safe with them? Really safe?”
The reflection still shows the fear, but behind it, something shifts. A bit of hope.
“I think so. It’s crazy, but they don’t feel dangerous. They feel... right.”
“I know scent-matches,” Monica murmurs, voice gentler now. “If they’re yours, there’s no talking you back to Pueblo, is there?”
“I don’t know.” Truth sits heavy in my chest. Part of me wants to run. The rest thinks maybe I’m done running.
“I know the evidence is important, but I can’t go back. Sergio’s guys could find me. I don’t want to risk more Alphas. Might be safer if a doctor comes here.”
“Okay. That makes sense. Hang on.” Keys click in the background. “We’ve got a doc in Willowside. Dr. Ramirez. She’s on-call for emergencies. I’ll have her come to you. She’s discreet.”
Relief crashes into me. “Thank you. I don’t want the Haven to worry. I know this isn’t normal.”
“Where are you?”
Fingers tighten around the phone. “I’m at the Lucky Road Bar.”
Monica breathes out a short laugh. “Unconventional is one word for it. But we’ll figure it out. Be careful, Sandra. Trust your gut. And call me after you talk to the doctor, okay?”
“I will. Thanks, Monica. For everything.”
“You’re family, Sandra. We take care of our own. Try to stay safe.”
I lick my lips. “I will.”
We hang up, and the silence of the bathroom rushes back in.
I stare at my reflection a moment longer, then take a deep breath and unlock the door.
Jethro’s phone feels heavy in my hand. I need to return it.
And then... I have no idea. But for the first time in weeks, something stirs in me that isn’t fear.
A sliver of hope, fragile but real, grows in my chest.
I step out of the bathroom.
The bar looks the same. The food smell has mostly faded. Jethro, Ross, and Oli sit at the same table, their quiet conversation halting when they see me. All three look up, concern etched into their faces. Jethro rises, his height casting a long shadow in the dim light.
He meets my gaze and steps forward.
I hold out the phone. My fingers brush his when he takes it, the brief contact sparking a tremble in my spine.
“I talked to Monica. At the Safe Haven.”
Ross leans in, elbows on the table, eyes sharp.
“And?”
I draw in a breath. “She’s calling a doctor. Dr. Ramirez. She’s on call and part of the network. She’s going to come here.”
Caleb pushes his glasses up, skepticism flickering in his eyes. “Here? Why here?”
The words land heavy. “Because I need a rape kit. And molds taken of the bite marks. For evidence. I didn’t want to go to the hospital. Not yet. The closest one’s over an hour away.”
Silence settles over the group. Jethro’s jaw ticks. Ross releases a low growl. Even Caleb looks thrown.
Oli gives a small nod, his eyes soft. “Dr. Ramirez is good. I know her. She’s discreet and solid. You’ll be in good hands.”
“Monica said she’s with the Safe Haven Network of trusted providers.”
“She is,” Oli confirms. “She’s helped others here who’ve needed the same kind of care.”
My gaze shifts to Jethro. “So, she’ll come here? Is that okay?”
He hesitates, thinking. “We could take you to her clinic. It’s not far from here. It might be more professional, more comfortable for that kind of thing.”
He glances toward Oli. “Give her a call. See if she’s okay with the change.”
Oli’s already reaching for his phone.
Caleb watches me, cautious. “Did you tell them about us?”
I shake my head. “Not exactly. Just that I found my scent-matched Alphas. I didn’t say anything about you already having an Omega.”
Jethro nods. “Probably smart. We don’t need rumors. Not until we figure things out.”
He turns to the others. “Caleb, Ross, go with Oli in your car. I’ll drive her in my truck.”
They both nod. Oli lifts his phone to his ear and walks toward the back.
“She just answered. I’ll be right back.”
Ross stands and stretches. “Ready when you are, Jethro.”
Caleb adjusts his glasses again and gives a small nod. No words, but the tension in his shoulders has lessened.
Jethro turns to me. “You okay to go?”
My legs feel unsteady, but I nod. “Yeah. I’m sorry you have to do this, that any of this has happened.”
He places a steady hand on my arm. The touch is light but grounding. “We’ll take care of you, Sandra. I promise.”
His voice and the look in his eyes chip away at the weight I’ve been carrying. I inhale slowly and straighten up.
We step outside. The night air hits my face, cool and sharp.
Ross and Caleb head for a sleek black car.
Jethro walks me to a beat-up truck. It’s not flashy, but it’s solid.
Like him. He opens the passenger door, waiting while I climb in.
The seat’s worn but comfortable. He gets behind the wheel, and the engine rumbles to life.
As he pulls out of the parking lot, I turn toward him.
“Thank you, Jethro. For all of this.” The words feel small and inadequate, but I mean them.
He shifts in his seat, hands tightening on the steering wheel.
“Sandra, even if we weren’t scent-matched, we’d still help.
It’s the right thing to do.” He glances over.
“Omegas shouldn’t have to live in fear. Being sold off like that?
It’s wrong. I’m sorry your father did that to you. He had no right.”
The weight of his words lands hard. I hadn’t realized how much I needed to hear someone say that. A lump rises in my throat, and I nod, unable to speak.
The drive lasts only ten minutes, though each second drags beneath the weight of my nerves. We pull up in front of a single-story brick building with a glowing sign that reads Willowside Family Clinic. Warm light spills through the front windows.
Jethro parks the truck and looks at me.
“Do you want us to come in? Or wait out here?” His tone softens. “Either way, I can keep an eye out and make sure no one tries to enter the building.”
The offer warms me in a way I didn’t expect. I haven’t had anyone look out for me in so long.
“Could you all come in? Please?”
He doesn’t hesitate. “Of course.” He pulls out his phone and taps out a message.
A soft chime sounds as he shifts the truck into park. We step out together. The cold air slaps me in the face. I wrap my arms around myself.
Jethro rounds the front of the truck and places a warm, steadying hand on the middle of my back.
The others approach. Ross offers a small smile. Caleb gives a nod. Oli walks beside me, his hand joining Jethro’s on my back as Ross opens the door and lets us go in first.