Chapter 59
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Harlow
On the wall is a giant mural of his mother. I spent days digging through the storage boxes in the Den, trying to find the perfect photos. The artist also painted our daughter in Hana’s arms. Thane stands beside them, his arm draped over his mother’s shoulder.
The background of the mural is the Omega refuge, which was built in Hana’s honor.
In each window, there’s a symbol for every pendant from the bracelets our mothers shared.
It took me ages to convince Elaine to hand over her bracelet.
Zara asked for Sophia’s and brought it with her when she visited last week.
Each one of their challenges is displayed.
It shows how much things have changed and how much still needs to be overcome.
Thane lets me go, making a whimpering noise I’ve never heard from him before. Rhen moves closer to him, and he instantly grabs Scarlett.
“That’s your Nana,” he whispers to her, kissing her cheek. “You all did this?” he asks, looking at our mates, but they point to me.
His lip quivers as he turns back to look at the painting. I wrap my arms around his waist, feeling his body tremble as he fights a war with his emotions.
“Your mother would be so proud of what you have done. I certainly am,” I tell him. He nods, looking down at me.
“I never would have done it if it weren’t for you, though.
It would have always been an idea, not an accomplishment,” he tells me.
I nod, already knowing that. Thane started the plans for this place when I was locked in the basement.
He started building the refuge while he still hated me.
He had no intention of killing me or putting me into rotation, no matter what he threatened.
He couldn’t stand me, but he wasn’t going to let me go either.
Despite knowing that, it doesn’t make this place any less meaningful.
“Thank you,” he whispers, turning and wrapping his arm around my waist to tug me closer. He kisses my forehead as Rhen, Leon, and Raidon come over.
“So, does this mean I’m not getting spanked now?” Leon asks, and we all laugh.
* * *
ANOTHER MONTH LATER
We are being run off our feet. Thane is trying to hire extra staff to run the refuge, but with so many Omegas arriving in the city every day, we now have to look into alternative housing.
We have a few exchange homes set up, with trusted female Alphas and Betas, and nearly every hotel is booked out.
The council has also added extra security throughout the city.
Once word got out, our Omega population tripled within two months.
Thane was supposed to go to the state council next month, but he’s been fast-tracked to the Supernatural Parliament instead.
Two other cities have also changed their laws, becoming safe havens for Omegas.
Even places that haven’t changed their laws yet are starting to shut down the facilities.
“Ready?” Zara asks. I put away my tablet and climb out of the car with her.
We’ve just come from our parents’ gravesites. Thane is having their bodies exhumed and moved to the city. Last week he showed Zara and me their headstones. Mom and Dad no longer have to hide anymore, and they will soon be laid to rest under their true identities.
Zara stops, and I turn my attention to the huge building.
I hate this place, hate it with a passion, but I need to do this.
We scoured through every inch of this place for the last three days, keeping any evidence of the crimes committed within this facility for Thane to take to the Supernatural Parliament.
Curtis was sneaky. He even had a black book filled with officials that helped cover his family’s crimes.
Thane is talking to the project manager with Jake. My and Zara’s other mates stayed back at the hotel, playing daddy daycare with all the kids so Zara and I can do this.
Looking up at the facility, I am relieved it is being demolished. Zara grabs my hand, and I look down at them clasped together. Hers is shaking slightly, and I rub my thumb across it. Our mother’s bracelet glistens in the sun on her wrist next to Hana’s on mine.
After shutting down Tal’s club and emptying their apartment, we found out Bree took Mom’s bracelet from the crash.
It was hidden inside the secret compartment of a jewelry box.
After going through Bree’s stuff, we learned how truly unhinged she was.
Bree had intentionally set our car on fire after the accident and got Mrs. Yates to help cover it up.
Since Mrs. Yates falsely reported her car stolen, we were able to get her charged with conspiracy and accessory-after-the-fact.
Turns out she is in love with Mr. Black and was willing to do anything to help Bree.
She was also the one who covered up my and Zara’s identities at the facility, but not out of guilt.
She was worried Zara or I would take our mother’s place.
Her obsession with Mr. Black is shocking, and it all came out when she was arrested.
Thane and Jake come over to us. They hand us hardhats and safety glasses before leading us away from the site.
We move back to the cars, which is a safe distance from the machinery about to tear this place apart.
We can’t erase the past, but we can erase the place that caused so much trauma for so many people. Today, that is what we do.
“Ready?” a voice says over the radio in Jake’s hand. Jake looks at Zara and me, and we both nod.
“Knock her down,” he calls back as Thane’s arms wrap around my shoulders, his lips pressing to my cheek.
“3 … 2 … 1” he whispers as the huge digger brings its bucket down on the roof, caving it in. I lean back against him. It only takes an hour or two before the place is reduced to rubble.
“No one will ever set foot in that place again,” Zara whispers.
“Or any place like it by the time I’m done tearing apart the Supernatural Parliament,” Thane assures her, and Zara smiles.
I nudge Thane and he looks down at me. “I wanna go home,” I tell him, and he nods.
“Come on, then. I don’t particularly want to watch the cleanup,” he tells me, and I agree. My feet and lower back are aching, yet I needed to do this. So did Zara. It is like we are finally burying the past and letting it go all in one.