FENN DRAX
I open my eyes again. I don’t know what time it is, but at least I’m no longer intubated… Thank Fate for that.
I owe the healing of the bullet wounds they filled me with to my strong regenerative abilities. From what I know, my organs were pretty badly shredded by them, but somehow, I made it through.
And yet I’m still lying in this damn hospital laboratory… thick metal restraints still hold my arms and legs, at least eight of them altogether.
What woke me this time were loud voices and the sound of running feet in the hallway.
A group of people enters the room.
All of them have big clips on their noses. Three of them look like some kind of security personnel, while the other two are serious men in suits.
Dr. Lomax walks beside them as well. His face is as red as his nose clip, and he’s visibly pissed off.
"We’ll be seeing each other in court, I’m sure of it," Dr. Lomax says to a short omega man dressed in an immaculate suit.
"I highly doubt that," the man replies before approaching me.
"Good afternoon. My name is Rhett Godrick. I am an attorney who represents Mr. Blue Lowen. We’ve come to you with a proposal that may interest you."
"I’m listening," I say, blinking in mild shock.
Whatever Blue Lowen has to offer will be infinitely better than what awaits me under Lomax. My heart starts pounding because I can feel that something important is happening.
"In the contract you originally signed with Mr. Blue Lowen, there was a clause that may interest you.
It stated that if you chose to terminate your agreement with Welrun, or if that agreement were terminated early for any reason, your contract with Mr. Blue Lowen could be reinstated and continued under its original terms."
"Really? Well, that’s perfect, because as Dr. Lomax informed me, Welrun terminated my contract the moment I escaped," I say this, feeling a powerful shiver running through my entire body, adding a note of satisfaction to my tone as my eyes dart toward Lomax.
"Exactly. At this moment, a narrow window has opened for you.
Within five days of that event, you may sign the original contract and restore it to full effect.
This would require fulfilling the remainder of your obligations to Mr. Lowen, meaning remaining available to him for the next six months.
After that, just as the original contract provided, you would be eligible for release, with the understanding that you would continue wearing an ankle monitor. "
I fell silent for a moment, feeling stupid because I turned my back on them earlier and ran off to something supposedly better.
After I was removed from Beta Activation, Blue offered me a place in his Alpha Activation program. The offer didn’t include two million dollars, but Blue was willing to arrange a lifetime stipend for me after the program ended, even if I would have had to wear an ankle monitor for many years.
Yet, I short-sightedly left because the Welrun contract was far more tempting. But not everything that glitters is gold.
"Would I have to stay locked up in a laboratory?"
The lawyer smiles mysteriously.
"I think you’ll be pleased with the arrangement. Mr. Lowen would expect occasional blood samples and a few other tests, but nothing particularly demanding."
I swallow.
With every word, his proposal sounds better and better. Incredible. The last days went by in the darkness; has the wind in my sails suddenly changed direction?
But how? I was heading into a bottomless vortex! I’m still afraid to believe it.
"Would I still be allowed to work? I already have something in mind, a job near Rainbow Spring…"
"I believe that can be worked out with the prosecutor, so that the limits of your ankle monitor allow you to maintain employment."
Too good to be true.
I squeeze my eyes shut, and Marlow’s face appears before me, along with his words:
I choose you.
Could those words suddenly become reality?
"Then I agree," I say at first in a whisper, my gaze fixed on the lawyer’s face.
Then something unlocks inside me.
Fuck, this is it.
I take a breath, grab hold of this gust of opportunity, and speak much more firmly.
"Of course I agree! I’ll sign the renewed contract."
Dr. Lomax grinds his teeth.
He clearly never expected things to turn out this way and for Blue Lowen’s lawyers to become involved.
But one question remains.
How the hell did Blue find out about any of this in the first place?
"Do you feel well enough to leave this place with us?"
"Yes, I feel absolutely well enough, one hundred percent well enough. And even if I didn’t, I’d crawl the hell out of here," I emphasize.
A moment later, Wilhelm enters the room and, with a grim expression, unlocks the metal restraints on my wrists and ankles.
I can’t stop a malicious grin from spreading across my face; I feel a fair amount of satisfaction that it’s him who has to set me free.
"You really wriggled your way out of this one, you son of a bitch," he mutters under his breath.
"He hasn’t wriggled out of anything yet," Dr. Lomax hisses. "We’ll see each other in court! We have big plans for you, Drax. You’ve cost this company a lot of money, and we intend to squeeze every possible bit of research potential out of you!"
I don’t answer. I don’t say a word. That freak doesn’t deserve my attention.
Despite a slight dizziness, I get to my feet, pushing the blanket off myself and discovering that I’m naked. Everyone stares at my body and, of course, at my dick. Their eyes go wide.
"Where are my clothes?" I ask once they’ve had their fill of looking.
One of the nurses hands them to me from a bin sitting off to the side.
To my delight, I discover that my phone is still in my pocket…
a serious oversight on their part. But there's still a major problem.
My clothes are stained with my own dried blood.
Right. I got shot. I stare helplessly at the dark brown stains for a moment before the nurse, wearing a look of open sympathy, or perhaps pity, hands me a pair of plain hospital pants and a hospital gown with an opening down the back. Ugh… well, it'll have to do.
I get dressed, and we head out into the hallway.
Attorney Godrick walks beside me while the security guards and the other man follow behind us.
I wait until we’re out of earshot of Lomax and Wilhelm.
"If they try to challenge this situation, I’ve got some very juicy material that might help stop them before they even file anything in court. I recorded a conversation between Dr. Lomax and a man named Flanegin."
"Flanegin? Are you sure?"
"I heard that name during the conversation. That man stole Blue Lowen’s research results, and they became the foundation of Welrun’s Alpha Activation program."
The attorney’s face breaks into a wide smile.
"Bingo. That could settle this case and a few others as well. Mr. Lowen will be very grateful if you provide him with that recording. Flanegin used to be the director of IT at his company and planted a listening device in Mr. Lowen’s electronic glasses.
As you can imagine, getting to the bottom of this matter is almost personal for him. "
"I’m glad if I can help. I’ll happily hand over the evidence, but first I have a question. Who contacted you about me? I was unconscious the entire time, recovering from the gunshot wounds."
"Mr. Lowen’s brother-in-law, Mr. Marlow Nolan. He requested intervention."
Oh, wow. I feel my throat tighten abruptly.
So Marlow didn’t give up. My perfect auburn ball of fur!
He fought to be with me, to give us a chance. Wow, he really did choose me!
I quickly turn my face away so the attorney won’t notice my eyes growing damp.
"Where is he now? Can I see him?"
"Mr. Nolan is currently in Rainbow Spring. From what he told us, he’s in the process of purchasing a property there."
"Wow… seriously?"
"Yes."
"So, wait. How long exactly have I been unconscious?"
"As far as I know, about three and a half days."
"Oh…" I mutter, finally understanding why I’m so hungry. I’ve been fed through IVs the whole time.
We leave the facility.
Two alphas watch me with rather unfriendly expressions, but they don’t stop us from passing through the gate.
However, as we pass one of them, I notice a very fresh hickey on his neck. Well… did I just push them toward some unexpected on-duty entertainment?
When we reach the parking lot, I remember that I left the Santoro family’s vehicle in a parking lot in Franklin. I hesitate for a moment, unsure what to do, but my need to see Marlow is overwhelming.
But I also should find out what happens to me now that my contract with Blue Lowen has been reinstated.
"Where am I supposed to go now? I won’t lie, I’d really like to see Mr. Marlow Nolan—"
The attorney smiles slightly.
"My instructions are to deliver you directly to Mr. Nolan. Mr. Lowen will contact you within the next few days to work out the remaining details."
I stare at him in shock for a moment.
Just like that? This easily?
We approach a large limousine and climb inside.
"It would be nice if Blue Lowen got his claws into Welrun," I mutter. "They’re planning to open a facility here where they’ll study mutants and perform experiments on them. From what one of the employees mentioned, they’ve already brought several people here.
One of them was supposedly rescued from some abusive situation where his parents kept him isolated from the world.
Nobody could communicate with him, and because a police officer knew Lomax, he sent him here. "
"I’ll pass that information along to Mr. Lowen, and we’ll see what can be done if they’re holding people here illegally. But that may be a more complicated situation than yours, where we actually had a contractual loophole to work with, so I can’t promise anything."
"Sure. I’m just mentioning it so you’ll keep in mind that more is happening at Welrun than what’s visible on the surface."
"That’s hardly news," the attorney says with a dry smile.
Silence falls.
I stare out the window at the forest, which reminds me of the green creature, aka the member of the Santoro family. I promise myself that I have to thank him, because without his help I wouldn’t have been able to get to Franklin on time. But for now, I can’t focus on anything except my goal.
My head is filled with a single prospect: seeing Marlow. My heart is pounding. My palms are sweating.
"Do you happen to have any gum?" I ask one of the men.
Most of them shake their heads, but the second lawyer pulls a tube of mint candies from his pocket.
"Help yourself," he says with a grin.
Every minute we spend driving makes my heart race even faster.
"Take it easy," says the attorney, who, as an omega, can hear it. "Or you’re going to give yourself a heart attack."
"I love him," I blurt out, even though I know how cringeworthy it sounds, sitting in a car with four other guys… I turn so red that the lighter part of my face is probably matching the lower purple half.
"Good for you that he obviously feels something too, considering he set this entire thing in motion to get you out of Welrun’s grasp."
I don’t answer because I feel like squealing with happiness, like a little kid who’s just been promised the world.
At last, we arrive in the town of Rainbow Spring.
The landscape gives way to gentler, greener hills covered with fields, dotted with scattered houses.
As we drive through the town center, I suddenly spot a grocery store sign through the window and practically shout, "Wait! I need to stop here and buy something!"
The attorney raises an eyebrow but signals the driver to pull over.
"Uh… any chance I could borrow some money?" I mumble, embarrassed. "I need to buy… um… paté. Something really high-end."
Every guy in the limousine turns to stare at me. Complete silence falls over the car. They all have their mouths hanging open, like I’ve just said something completely unhinged.
"It’s important," I add quickly, as if that somehow makes it sound better.
"Okay, take my card," Godrick says, finally snapping out of it.
Five minutes later, I climb back into the limousine carrying a neatly wrapped, wonderfully fragrant package.
"They had paté made with black truffles and aged cognac," I explain, trying to sound normal, but they’re still looking at me like I’ve lost my mind.
I decide not to offer any further explanation. After all, I can’t exactly say out loud that it’s for a cat shifter, who I hope will soon be my official boyfriend. Or husband! Dear Fate, I love the sound of this…
The car starts moving again and soon turns onto a narrow side road before beginning the climb uphill. The attorney glances at his phone and says,
"I have the address here… The house Marlow bought is called Cherry Hill."
"What?"
"Yes. We’re almost there. The property comes with a cherry orchard. The previous owner moved to France after finding his fated mate and wanted a quick sale, so the price was quite good. At least that’s what Mr. Nolan told us."
Oh, fuck… unbelievable!
I feel dizzy, like I can’t wake up from a dream, and I don’t want to.
Everything inside me is trembling.
The road is lined on both sides with cherry trees stretching away in long rows…
A flash of memory from my childhood surfaces: me walking with my dad beneath trees covered in blossoms. These trees aren’t covered in flowers, but instead with red fruit gleaming in the sunlight even from this distance…
Soon, another memory emerges.
My dad making cherry preserves. I lean over the table, and he hands me a spoonful of the sweet delicacy…
I fight to keep tears from my eyes.
This is the first time the memory has surfaced without being triggered by physical pain, but on its own, and that makes it sweeter, yes, more wistful, but also more precious.
Did my Marlow choose a house like this with my family’s cherry orchard in mind?
The limousine pulls up in front of a white house standing on top of the hill. It’s not as small as the one Marlow and I talk about, it’s a respectable size and could probably even hold a large family, wow.
And then…
It’s as if the air itself sparkles with magic glitter.
Between two white columns, a slender figure with long auburn hair appears.
The limousine hasn’t even come to a complete stop before I launch myself out of the door like a stone from a slingshot, barely touching the ground.
I sprint toward him along the path of colorful gravel winding between bright flower beds.
But one step before the stairs leading up to the house, I stop abruptly.
I can’t hold back any longer.
A shaky breath tears out of my chest, as I see tears running down Marlow’s pale cheeks, and something in me breaks.
I drop to my knees, the paté bag slipping from my hands. I’m staring at him with wide eyes as if I were looking at the sun itself.
But he’s the one who has to take the final step, and he does.
Marlow runs down the stairs and throws himself into my arms with such momentum that we almost tumble to the ground.
I catch him, lifting and spinning him in my arms.
This moment is everything.
Everything.