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“Hello? We’re from the Gilded Sands Pack. Do you know who we are? Are you able to speak?” I ask, projecting my voice. If they’re suffering and uncomfortable from not getting what they need during this drug-induced heat cycle, then they most likely won’t be coherent. An alpha helps keep an omega grounded through it all.
“Kinsey?” A soft feminine voice swirls in my ears, bouncing off the concrete walls. “It’s Missy. Do you remember me?”
I open and close my mouth, sliding past Desmond to take the lead. It’s as if my feet disconnect from my brain, my instincts dragging me forward to one of Madame Samara’s omegas from the Knotty Girls Club. I never thought I would see her again. If she’s here, that means the place might be gone.
“Who else is there?” I ask, stopping at the bottom of the stairs, the dark room full of shadows and figures that I can only partially see from above.
Several whimpers and cries snatch my attention, igniting a wave of empathy inside me, watering my eyes. I know what this is like. I’ve been in this position, forced to experience a heat without being able to either take care of myself or have my alphas take care of me.
“I don’t know. We’re all separated. Caged. I haven’t seen the omegas from Madame Samara’s in weeks. He separated us.” Missy’s voice grows louder, her ability to remain in control admirably. “I’m the only one who wasn’t injected with a hormone shot. I bribed the guard. I know my way around assholes. I couldn’t do the same for the others. A whole group was just brought in a couple of days ago.”
“Is it okay if I turn on my light? I need to see. I don’t want to startle anyone.” I remain in my spot with Desmond lingering behind me, staying utterly silent and letting me control the situation.
“Yeah, we’ve been kept in the dark. It might help them bring back their senses enough to get them to listen.” Missy sniffles, her sadness over being mistreated prevalent. “No one has said a word. Just crying and complaining.”
I nearly lose the contents of my stomach, just the thought sickening me. Disgusting alphas. This vile pack.
“I’ll find the light switch.” Desmond shifts past me, meandering along the wall, using the glow of his phone to light the way.
I timidly stepped forward, my legs heavy with my trepidation over what I’ll discover. I know it’s bad. But how bad? I guess I’m going to find out. Balling my hands into fists, I steal myself, expecting the worst thing imaginable.
I shuffle my way to Missy, getting a better view in the dim light nearby. She sits in the corner of the cage, wearing what looks like a costume from the Knotty Girls Club.
When our eyes meet, I rush forward and kneel on the cold concrete floor. I rattle the lock on her cage, my emotions getting the best of me. Tears leak from my eyes, the flood of warmth streaking my cheeks.
“We need a key,” I call, trying to break the lock as if I could ever be strong enough. I don’t care, though. I still have to try.
Light floods the room, shadowing my vision. The soft cries turn silent as the omegas gain awareness that something is different through the desperation currently consuming them.
“I have them.” Desmond shows off a key ring he must’ve found while looking for the lights. There would be one down here for whoever was taking care of these omegas.
Messing with the lock, Desmond finds the right key and pulls the cage open, shifting back. He looks around and finds some cabinets with supplies, including a stack of towels. He jogs back to us and hands me the towel, letting me help Missy from the cage. I adjust the towel over her shoulders, giving her a once-over to make sure she isn’t injured.
“Will you get Jude to help us? We need to get them out of here. I think it’s the only way it’s going to help.” I keep a foot of space between Missy and me, not touching her just in case she doesn’t feel comfortable. I know I wouldn’t want anyone to either until I was somewhere I felt safe. I’m sure it could be like that for a lot of the omegas. “Why don’t you go up with Desmond? They’re arranging transportation upstairs.”
Missy shakes her head. “I’ll stay and help. I’m only hungry and tired. I need to stay distracted. I’m just so happy you came. I thought my life was over.”
“I understand that. I have felt that many times in my life. It’s why we’re changing things. We’re going to stop shit like this from happening to omegas. It’s time the cruelty ends.” I listen as Desmond and Jude tread down the stairs, heading in our direction.
Surprising me, Missy throws her arms around me, hugging me close. I give in to her need for affection and hug her back, only pulling away when she does.
Neither of us talks as we make our way to the wall of cages filled with omegas. I straighten my shoulders, trying my best to stay calm for their sake.
“I’m here to get you out and somewhere safe. I know you’re scared, but we’ll get through this.” I shift on my feet and meet Desmond’s gaze. “Together.”
From the rubble, we’ll rebuild. We’ll unlearn things that others tried to instill in us. We will finally find the peace we need to thrive.
I can’t wait.
Chapter twenty-five
Wilder
New Order
Isitatthehead of a long table, the camera pointing in my direction. To my right, Holly sits with her back straight and her chin high. She doesn’t glance down at all as the alphas from other territories look in her direction. Beckett stands behind her, holding onto her chair. Against the wall is the rest of his immediate pack, acting as a support system. I still can’t get over it. She looks far too much like an adult. I don’t want to believe it. I know she is one, but it still doesn’t get easier passing on such a great responsibility of caring for her to someone else. They haven’t made it official because Holly wants to know what it’s like to be alone and in charge of making her own decisions, but I know it won’t be long until they agree to an official bond.
Arsenio, Desmond, and Enzo stand behind me, taking their positions as equal leaders of the Gilded Sands territory. Kinsey perches on the floor beside me, resting her head on my thigh, her closeness really testing my ability to focus. She’s coming down from her heat, and there’s no way we were going to let her even a foot away from us. She didn’t want me to handle this alone, though. She wanted my brothers to be beside me, and I’m glad for it. I feel more powerful with them. Even more so with Kinsey, stroking her hand up and down my shin, the sensation tightening my balls. She’s going to be in so much trouble when this announcement is over.
