38. Chapter 38
Ivy
I sipped my coffee slowly, feeling a rare peace in my chest as I sat on the small wooden porch and watched the morning sunlight through the trees.
For the first time in years, there was no tension in my back, though I still had the ingrained jumpiness of being constantly aware of who might walk into the room and criticize me for existing.
But day by day, that was getting better.
The silence surrounding the little cabin was more peaceful than anything I could imagine. I'd only been here a few days, yet it already felt as though I could breathe again.
The cabin belonged to Mara's grandmother, a kind older woman who'd asked almost no questions after Mara brought me here without warning. Instead, she'd simply shown me to the small guest room and told me there was soup on the stove if I got hungry. The simple kindness of it had nearly made me cry.
Everything about this place felt different. For the first time, no one forced me to cook or monitored what I ate. I heard no comments about my body or looks, or criticisms about how I didn’t measure up. I didn’t have to worry about deadlines for product ideas or being blamed for delays.
The absence of control was so unfamiliar that I kept catching myself waiting for it to return.
Every morning, I woke up expecting anxiety to crash into me the way it always had at home.
Instead, I found myself listening to the sounds of the forest and realizing that my heart wasn't racing anymore.
My thoughts finally slowed down, and not having to anticipate what might set someone off finally allowed me to have a decent night of sleep.
My nervous system was finally realizing the danger had passed. I hadn't realized how bad my life really was until I lost everything. The feeling was both wonderful and terrifying.
I had almost no money beyond the small amount of cash Mara gave me from the returned lab equipment.
I no longer had access to the family business, so my career was effectively over.
My name had likely been dragged through every social circle that mattered.
Logically, I should have been terrified.
I had no idea what would come next. But, instead of fear, I was starting to feel more excited.
For the first time in my life, my future belonged entirely to me.
A soft vibration against the table pulled me from my thoughts. I looked down and saw another text on my phone. Thankfully, Mara knew where my family was keeping it, so I was able to at least take that with me before I fled. I honestly didn't even have to unlock the phone to know who it was from.
Pack Vale had been trying to call and message me for the past few days. Each message seemed more frantic than the last.
Please let us explain!
We need to talk to you.
We know the truth now
Please tell us where you are.
I stared at the text notifications for several seconds before setting the phone face down on the table again.
I never would have imagined ignoring them before.
A few months ago, seeing their names would have sent my heart racing.
I would have read every word ten times, analyzing every sentence and searching desperately for hope.
Now, I mostly felt tired when they messaged me.
So I guess they finally realized Arabella wasn’t their match.
I figured it would happen eventually - I mean after bonding, they’d feel her emotions, and I wasn’t sure she had any.
And when her heat came, she’d perfume, and they would realize that her scent had absolutely nothing in common with mine, and that her perfume replica was a lie.
Maybe they already bonded her, and now realized the truth.
A small part of me still felt the loss of them deep inside, but a much larger, growing part of me was over it.
Their lack of belief in me, and the way they continuously chose Arabella - it wasn’t something I could heal from.
I was abandoned by them the time I needed them the most, and getting alpha barked by my potential mate was something that hurt down to my soul.
They wanted me to stay away? Fine. They’d get what they wanted.
I mean, I understood now that they'd been lied to and manipulated. I’m sure they might regret what happened.
But I guess it only mattered when it affected them, only once they realized they were living a lie.
When I needed them most, they didn't believe me. That wasn’t going to go away with simple apologies.
I picked up my coffee again and took another sip, watching sunlight slowly filter through the trees.
No one expected anything from a tree. It just grew, spreading out its branches and existing.
And now, no one was ever going to expect anything from me again.
I was going to live for myself, and myself alone.
The past few weeks taught me that I really hadn’t needed anyone.
Not my family, not even a pack. I could save myself - and that’s exactly what I planned on doing.
I didn't know what my future looked like, much less how I was going to support myself. I'd likely have to spend years rebuilding to get even a small resemblance to the life that had been stolen from me. But I was finally free.
My phone buzzed again. I didn't bother looking. But I did turn it to silent, and vow to block their numbers once I got inside. I leaned back in my chair and watched the forest while steam curled up from my mug. Whatever came next, I would survive it. Pack be damned.
To Be Continued in The Omega Switch, Part 2.