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Max watches my face, scenting the turmoil brewing within me as my perfume sours. He reaches over and places a reassuring hand on my shoulder, offering silent support.
The delta slaps the side of Max’s truck. “Get the hell out of here, and whatever you do” —his eyes flicker to mine for a mere second— “keep her safe.”
“Do you think one of them hurt the omega we found yesterday?” Max questions, leaning back in his seat.
“Oh shit, man, that was you?” He shakes his head and glances over his shoulder at the crowd. “I don’t know, but I wouldn’t doubt it. There are only a handful of omegas living outside the sanctuary.” He turns back around, his words hushed. “Go on before they spot her.”
“One more question,” Max says, waiting for the delta to nod. “Have any other omegas been hurt?”
“Not that I’m aware of, and let’s keep it that way.” He leans back, glancing at the sky. “Snow is coming.” He takes a step back before he turns around and walks away.
Max silently rolls up the window, casting a nervous glance at me.
I get it. He doesn’t even need to say anything. To those alphas, I’m not a person, I’m not a woman, I’m not even entitled to rights of my own.
To them, I’m nothing more than a commodity.
CHAPTER 14
Seraphina
As the vehiclecomes to a stop in the institute’s parking lot, a wave of anxiety crashes over me, causing my stomach to churn with unease. The sight of the imposing brick building has always stirred an unsettling feeling within me. It’s a peculiar mix of emotions that I experience every time I come here—perhaps because Thea resides within these walls, or maybe it’s simply the eerie aura that the place exudes, like a forgotten relic of a bygone era.
Max skillfully maneuvers the car to the back of the building, steering down a small hill until we reach an employee parking area. Relief washes over me as I realize we won’t have to face the front entrance, the scrutinizing security guard, or the sympathetic receptionist. After the unfortunate incident during my last visit, I’m not eager to endure their pitying glances again. The mere thought of it sends shivers down my spine.
Max breaks the silence, his voice laced with understanding. “I want to emphasize that not all alphas are like that,” he says, focused on the task of parking the car in a space with his nameplate proudly facing the rear of the building. “But I dounderstand how harmful it can be to even utter or entertain such a thought.”
A partial smile tugs at my lips in response, though it’s more of a courtesy than a genuine expression of joy.
He unbuckles his seatbelt and then mine. “I also understand why you’ve chosen to live outside the sanctuary. In this institute, I’m the lone alpha—the sole doctor.”
“So you’re a doctor?” I tease, the playful banter providing a momentary distraction.
“More of a scientist,” he corrects with a nonchalant shrug. “I have a deep affinity for plants.”
“But not people?” I prod, wanting to lighten the mood.
Max responds with a meaningful look that speaks volumes. It’s clear that while he might not be overly fond of most people, his pack, and perhaps even me, holds a special place in his heart. That revelation warms me from the inside, creating a sense of belonging I hadn’t expected to find here.
“Thank you,” I say, expressing my gratitude as I reach for the door handle, “for understanding that I have to approach all alphas cautiously, as if any one of them might pose a threat.”
“You don’t owe anyone an explanation,” Max whispers, his eyes fixed on the imposing structure before us. His gaze seems to drift off into a world of his own, hinting that there’s more beneath the surface, something he isn’t quite ready to reveal. My fingers hover over the door handle, poised to exit, yet Max remains motionless. “My sister is an omega.”
The revelation catches me off guard, and I’m left wide-eyed with surprise. “You have a sister?”
“Grace,” Max replies, leaning forward with a peculiar smile playing on his lips. “You can see her room from here.”
“She’s here?” I push forward, scanning the row of windows on the top floor. Curtains hang in various states—some drawn open, some tightly closed, and others partially parted to revealfleeting glimpses of the rooms beyond. One curtain, though, is slightly ajar.
Max nods in confirmation, his finger pointing to a room at the far end of the building. “She has a suite in the corner. Right there.”
I squint at the room above, straining to determine whether the curtain is open or closed from our vantage point. A sinking feeling settles in my chest, because if Grace is here within these walls, it means she isn’t well. It means that some part of her is broken, and I can’t help but worry about her well-being.
“When Grace was sixteen,” Max begins, his voice carrying the weight of memories and regrets, “and I had just turned twenty, I recently met Devlin and the twins, and that night, we were trying to bond to see if we could truly become a pack. The twins were around Grace’s age.” He speaks with a poignant tone, his body still leaning over the steering wheel as his gaze remains on Grace’s suite. Though the truck’s cab is gradually cooling, the story he’s sharing holds us both in its grip.
“We lived close to here, in the estates north of Central City,” Max continues, his voice tinged with a hint of bitterness. The estates, an exclusive neighborhood where politicians and the wealthy reside, seemed worlds away from the lives most people could only dream of.
“You know,” Max says, looking over at me with a mixture of sadness and understanding, “Grace yearned for independence from the pack, and she truly deserved it.” His words resonate deeply with me, reminding me of my own struggles and aspirations. “I fought for her, against our parents, to let her get a job, even though she didn’t need it. Our family was well off, and she never had to work a day in her life, but she wanted to carve her own path, especially as an omega.”
