I nod, “Like I was going to stick around and be forced to be with that sack of shit,” I shake my head. “I was actually in the process of running away when I found out. Ryan tried to stop me, his fathers making it some sick game of chasing me, egging him on. What Ryan didn’t know about, was the knife I kept in my mattress. The same knife I used to stab him in the throat. The same knife I use for killing, even now. He was the first of many lives I’ve taken.”
Jude’s eyes are shining with tears and I hate that I’ve made him upset. “Did you get away in time?” I know what he’s asking. Did I get away before Ryan could take what he thought he had a right to?
With a watery smile, my heart wanting to crack as I shake my head, “I wish,” I laugh, trying not to sob. This was the past, I was over it. At least, I should be over it. “I won’t ever be the person who sits around and lets things happen to her again. I’m Briar now. The girl I used to be, Ava, is dead.”
Can you ever really get over being raped? You can move on, you can grow stronger but it will always be there.
Before I know it, Willow is on her feet and is pulling me to mine. She wraps her arms around me and like a fucking dam, I break open.
I don’t sob, I don’t scream, but I do cry, my face buried into her shoulder as she lets me take strength from her.
“Thank you for telling us,” Willow says, kissing the side of my head. “No one will ever hurt you again, I hope you know that.”
“I do,” I nod against her shoulder.
It’s true. I know I can handle myself, and have for a long time. However, it's nice to have the deep understanding that Willow, Jude, and Atlas will never let anything bad happen to me. I can lean on them for support.
When I pull away, Atlas gently tugs me into his arms. He picks me up and I wrap my arms around him, burying my face into his neck.
“I love you, my Little Rose.” His voice sounds choked, making me cry a little harder.
“I love you, Mountain Man.”
He laughs, his whole body shaking.
We head up to my room and he lays me down on my bed. Without any words, they all get undressed, then Jude helps me get out of my clothes before they crawl into bed with me.
We cuddle as a pack, everyone wrapped up in one another's embrace.
It feels like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders, like I can finally breathe for the first time.
Chapter
Fifteen
JUDE
“I’m sick. Let me die,”I groan, curling up in a ball as tears slide down my cheeks. My stomach clenches, forcing slick out of my ass as I shudder.
“You’re in heat,” Willow says. “Don’t be dramatic, Sweetheart. Let me call Atlas and Briar. They’ll want to be here for you.”
“They’re working, Willow. Don’t bother them. Ugh. I’m supposed to be at work in a few hours.”
“You’re scent matched to the boss, and he’d be really pissed off if you went to work like this,” she coos, grabbing her phone. “Take a nice, deep breath for me. That’s so good. Another. Such a good little omega for me. Atlas?”
“Don’t… call him,” I huff out. Ugh, why does she have to make so much sense?
“Jude is going into heat, and he’s a cute, grumpy little omega,” Willow says.
Turning in bed, I pin her down, baring my teeth.
“You know what to do when you’re grumpy, baby.”
Eat out my alpha. Got it.
Prowling down her body, I tear off her panties and begin to devour her pussy like it’s my favorite dessert. Her sweet scent is addicting as I eat her out, and Willow whimpers as she tries to talk on the phone.
“Jude?” Atlas’ voice comes in clear over the line, and I realize she put him on speaker.
