Chapter 42 Jo #2
“I was thinkin’ about how the twins propositioned the omegas, and one of them asked if they’d be taught how to defend themselves. I think…I think I’d like to open an omegas-only gym and self-defense center.”
Brows shoot up all around in surprise.
Hayden recovers first. “Holy shit, that’s a great idea, Fireball.”
“And…” I look to Kole. “I was thinkin’ we could approach your brothers about a partnership—or at least a deal on the territory. I don’t want to encroach on their apartments, but I don’t think a gym is somethin’ to put in the basement of a buildin’. Not when it’s that many omegas.”
“We can certainly talk to them,” Kole nods. “It is an excellent idea, lyubov' moya.”
West presses a kiss to my hair. “You’re amazing.”
My cheeks flush at the praise, and Sam smiles at me. “You really are full of surprises. I would love to help you with that if you need anything.”
The door to Addie’s room opens, and Roland pokes his head out. “Sorry about that, guys. I just wanted to run something by them without any bias.”
“Which is?” I frown, walking back into the room.
“I’m not gonna go with the twins anymore,” Mabel says with finality. That’s when I realize she’s holding the baby. “I’m gonna stay with Addie and Roland, and help with the baby. I’ll work as a waitress at a diner or somethin’ as well, but I think…I think this will be good for me.”
“And,” Roland adds, “I think I may have some resources that can help Mabel find out the truth of her parentage. Before I erased myself from the world, I was an IT security consultant.”
Hayden tilts his head. “Am I missing something here?”
“That’s the legal way of sayin’ professional hacker.” I cross my arms, giving him a look. “Though, I’m not sure how much I trust your skill set. You did miss wipin’ your name from Addie’s birth certificate.”
“I know,” he gives his daughter an adoring look, “I couldn’t bring myself to. It was a security risk I was willing to take.”
Addie smiles at her dad before turning back to us, relief in her features. “I think Mabel and I have quite a bit in common. She needs a fresh start, and I need someone who…understands.”
“I’m gonna come visit all the time,” I tell them seriously. “You’re gonna be sick of me.”
This is a lot better than her working for the twins.
“Where will you live?” West asks suddenly. “The cabin in the woods isn’t big enough…”
“No, it’s not.” Roland shakes his head. “I have a realtor already—I started looking at houses when I went to stay on the compound with you. I’m just going to put in an offer on the best one.
We need…well, everything. The conversation started with me asking Mabel if she would stay with Addie while I ran a few errands, and when it came up that she’d be going with Illya and Luka…
well, it all sort of naturally fell into place. ”
It makes sense. They both need a friend, and I’m sure that Roland will need to continue working instead of living off the land.
How lucky that Mabel insisted on bringing her suitcase in the car.
There’s a knock on the door, and Roland frowns, going over to answer it. A female voice sounds from the hallway. “I hope we’re not intruding…”
Addie’s face lights up. “Helaena? What are you doing here?” Roland steps aside, letting in Helaena, Fuzzy, and Ozzy.
Oof. That’s a tight fit.
“I wanted to see you, darling girl,” Helaena smiles, setting a little teddy bear with a balloon attached on the windowsill. “How are you?”
The guys and I squeeze out of the room, leaving Addie, Roland, Fuzzy, Ozzy, and Helaena inside.
Now that I think of it, I never asked what Addie thinks of her dad being an omega. But knowing Addie, she wouldn’t care either way.
Mabel joins us in the hall, having passed the baby off to Helaena. “Oh, Addie, he is beautiful!” she coos before Mabel shuts the door behind us.
“I’ll go grab your bag,” Sam offers, “unless you want to go home first.”
“No.” Mabel shakes her head, “I’d rather just…make a clean break, ya know?”
“You got it.” Sam nods, disappearing down the hall.
I wrap my baby sister in a hug so tight I’m surprised her head doesn’t pop off. “I love you,” I whisper.
“Jojo,” Mabel sighs, “I love you too, but you know I’m gonna be, like…thirty minutes away, right? It’s not goodbye. Not really.”
Sam comes back with her suitcase, and she hugs me one last time before going back into the room. I catch Addie’s eyes and give her a little wave. She returns it, now holding her baby boy. As she looks down at him, I swear I see her mouth the name, “Vander.”
It would be fitting to name him after his father—the one who saved both their lives.
“You ready?” Sam asks, wrapping an arm around my waist.
I give him a sad smile. “Yeah, let’s go.”
We start to walk down the hall, and Hayden tangles his fingers with mine.
“Ah, come on. Don’t be sad, Fireball. We’ve got so much fun shit to do now that we aren’t on the run or in hiding.
We could, like…open up a bank account. Go to a library.
Overthrow the government. I’m open to anything, really. ”
“We could…go home and…practice,” Kole rumbles behind me, making goosebumps erupt across my arms.
“Mmm. That does sound fun,” West murmurs in my ear.
“You guys are gonna make it impossible for me to get anythin’ done, aren’t you?” I accuse. “How am I supposed to open my own business and change the world if I’m constantly gettin’ dicked down by my pack?”
We exit out the double doors of the hospital, entering the parking lot, and I take a deep breath, looking around. Across the street is a shopping center. Next door is a breakfast café. People are walking on the sidewalk.
It’s so mundane, but so, so significant.
We’re…free.
Sam, from the loneliness that held him captive.
West, from the pressures and expectations of his family.
Hayden, from a family that never properly loved him.
Kole, from a past he never wanted.
And me.
From the shame I had so long associated with being an omega, the weight of the pain of my childhood, and the four walls of any institution that would try to hold me.
Free.
A mixture of a shriek and a giggle leaves me when Kole tosses me over his shoulder.
“What were you thinking about?” West asks, walking behind Kole as he carries me to the car.
“Just how much things have changed over the last few months.” I grin at my beta as I reach down and squeeze Kole’s ass through his jeans. He growls playfully, tossing me into the backseat of the car.
“And that’s a…good thing, right?” Hayden asks, getting buckled next to me.
“The best thing, Darlin’.” Especially since tonight I’m gonna tell them we need to decide on a pack name because I’m only planning on changing my name once.
Josephine Harding is dead.
I had planned on being known as Jo Gallagher, but…I want to know what the guys think of comin’ up with a whole new name. One that describes our pack as a whole.
Something like…Ironheart.
Or Steele.
Bladestorm?
I’m not sure, I’m kind of on a fantasy kick right now.
Imagine how people would piss themselves at the mention of “Pack Skullcrusher”.
Really, the possibilities are endless.
West climbs in on my other side, while Kole gets into the passenger seat, and Sam drives. My fingers find the necklace Kole gave me not so long ago, lined with the letters “FAFO”—fuck around and find out.
It mirrors the night they rescued me from Thornfield perfectly.
It’s funny how much can change in such a short amount of time.
When I look at my pack though, sending as much love as I can through our bond, and feeling all of theirs in return, I know that it’s the one thing that never will.