Elliott
I’d like to say that, once I made up my mind to go through with my plan, I went full steam ahead with determination and courage.
But the truth was I was scared to death.
I kept going over everything, step by step, but as soon as I got to the part where I called in an anonymous report on myself and waited to be picked up, I went blank.
What was I going to do once they had me?
The only answer to that was to go with the flow, because I wasn’t in control after that point.
Once I got to Capital City, I would make sure ORCRO knew I was an omega x and therefore worth something to them alive.
Then, I would find a way to get enough information to have the FBI raid the place.
Before I knew it, it was Thursday—the last night I’d spend on the ranch.
I felt sick to my stomach thinking about it.
I texted Riku that I needed to meet him someplace alone to talk.
We decided on the goat pen. Jet and Emma, who was Riku’s babysitter for the day, sat yards away, talking, so as long as Riku and I kept our voices down, we could have a private conversation.
The loud bleating of the goats helped, too.
“I can’t believe I’m sitting in this stinky pen pretending to be interested in these goats,” Riku said.
“Sorry, but it was kind of hard to think of a place. Is everything set?”
“Yeah. I found out Dallas is staying behind tomorrow night. I’ll ask him to take me over there. I’ll say you felt better and went to sleep. He’s always had a thing for Ren, so I know he’ll do it since I’m Ren’s brother.”
I frowned. “Dallas has a thing for Ren?”
“Yeah. You never noticed?”
I shook my head. Or…maybe I had. Dallas always had very complimentary things to say about Ren, and—come to think of it—he sat beside Ren at the table whenever possible.
“I’ve been thinking a lot about my dad. I wonder what they did with him. Do you think they’re doing medical studies on him?”
“Who knows what those fucks are doing,” Riku said angrily. “I wish I could go with you. I’d find a weapon and take them all out.”
“I know you would,” I said quietly. Thinking about what I wanted to say next brought tears to my eyes, and I petted Steve, avoiding looking at Riku. “Listen. I feel really bad not saying goodbye to Keane. Could you tell him I’m sorry I couldn’t?”
Riku looked at me, his expression serious. “You can still back out, Elliott.”
I shook my head. “I have to do this. It’s my reason for being here. I know it.”
“Yeah, I’ll tell him. He’s going to be so pissed.”
“I know. Thanks for helping me, Riku.” I wiped the tears from my eyes with my hand, then belatedly looked toward Jet and Emma, hoping they hadn’t seen I was crying. They hadn’t.
“Are you going to tell Ben before you go?” Riku asked.
“No, because then he’ll have to lie to his alphas. I’ll wait until I get to wherever they take me and connect with him through a dream.”
“Can you do that even if he isn’t trying?”
I froze, scratching Steve’s head, and looked at Riku. “Oh, shit. What if I can’t?”
“It’s okay. I’m sure Ben will try every night after he finds out you’ve left.”
That was true. When we finished talking, Riku and I split up to do our chores.
I took care of the chickens, and when I finished, I went home.
Camp was barbecuing on the grill outside the house, but I didn’t feel like eating, so I told Jet I was home for the night and going to bed early. As he turned to leave, I stopped him.
“Um, I’ve been wanting to tell you something,” I said, taking a couple of steps toward him. I didn’t want him to suspect anything, but I also didn’t want to leave without saying this.
“What is it, Elliott?” he asked.
“Just…I wanted to thank you for being so respectful with me about my, um, issues.”
“You don’t have to thank me for that,” he said.
“Well, I want to. You’re different from the others.
So, thank you for always standing at a distance and for anticipating what might bother me.
It hasn’t gone unnoticed, and I really appreciate it.
” I looked him in the eyes. They were so dark a brown, they reminded me of the dark chocolates my fathers used to buy for holidays that were so creamy, they melted in my mouth.
That memory connected to Jet made me even more appreciative of him.
“You’re welcome,” Jet said. “I’m glad I don’t make you as uncomfortable as the others. I don’t want you to be scared of me.”
“Because of your younger brother?” I asked, curious.
“Partly, yes But also because I want you to like me. I’ll see you in the morning, Elliot.” He smiled at me.
“Okay. Goodnight.”
Standing at the door, I watched Jet walk away, wondering about what he’d said. Why did he want me to like him?
With a sigh, I went inside, happy to see the bathroom was free. I hurried to shower and get ready for bed.
It was early for bed, but I surprised myself by falling asleep almost as soon as my head hit the pillow. I woke up much later to darkness outside the window and the sounds of my friends settling down to sleep.
I could feel Keane beside me, sleeping, and, rolling over, moved closer to him until I could clearly see his face.
Without his glasses, he looked younger. His dark hair had fallen over his forehead.
He wore his navy pajamas rather than shorts and a t-shirt like me.
He liked to dress nicely, even in bed. I don’t think he would ever have worked on a ranch, given a choice.
Our lives had been written for us. But he did his best. I was really going to miss him.
I squeezed my eyes shut on the tears welling in them. If I started sniffling, someone would hear. I tried to think of something else, but the faces of my friends that I would soon leave floated behind my closed eyelids.
Was I doing the right thing? I’d meant what I said to Riku.
Lately, this plan felt less like something I might as well be the one to do, and more like something I was supposed to do.
I didn’t know of anything more important.
At any moment, the government could come back and take my friends, take Dawson.
I didn’t care about myself, but I didn’t want them hurt.
Even though I hated being an omega, I didn’t think any less of my friends for being one.
They were good people, and those of them who were mated loved their alphas and their children.
I just wasn’t made for that kind of thing.
Unbidden, Jet’s handsome face replaced my friends’ in my thoughts. I thought about how kind he was. One of the good alphas, like Angus, Colt, Carter, Bertram, and Maddox. All alphas weren’t horrible. I just would never be able to get close enough to one to develop a relationship with him.
Eventually, I fell asleep, hoping for the courage to do what I needed to do.