Shuffling in my grippy socks along the hall after using the restroom, I turn my head to see a girl with shorn blonde and pink tufts of hair fighting two orderlies as they carry her.
“Stop!” she screams with gritted teeth. There’s a muzzle over her face, muffling her words.
“Miss Nina, this is going to be harder if you don’t stop,” Dr. Kind says, following them. I don’t typically see him, because Dr. Brunes said he handles the “dangerous” patients.
This girl is a child for all intents and purposes. She looks younger than mine at least.
“Olivia,” a nurse says, getting my attention. “Are you ready for your afternoon walk?”
Taking a deep breath, I force myself to look away from the little omega who is fighting so hard. There’s something not completely right with this place.
Nodding to the nurse, I walk with her outside in the afternoon sun. The walk isn’t far, just to the tree to sit on the chair left for patients. Maybe one day I’ll rejoin the land of the living, but today is not that day.
Three years later
“Mama, are you sure that you want to go back to work?” Cerenity asks.
Smiling gently, I reach out to rub her growing baby belly. My baby is having a baby with her pack. While they’re not perfect, my Cerenity is able to keep them in line. All it takes is a frying pan and smile, and they drop to their knees.
I’m so happy for her.
“I need to do something,” I sigh. “I’m trying to step back into society. I can’t just live here forever.”
“Yes you can,” Jasper says, setting toast and eggs in front of Cerenity and I. “She’ll eat if you do, Mama Quinn.”
My lips twitch as I pick up the fork. They all insist on calling me different forms of “mom”, and I have to admit that it’s adorable. I will gladly accept it.
“I know that, but I’m starting to get restless,” I admit, beginning to eat. True to Jasper’s words, Cerenity follows suit. She's seventeen weeks pregnant, but eating breakfast is something she usually needs company to enjoy.
She’s created so many little rituals to be able to manage the messiness of life. Constantly moving did that.
I did that.
“Behan Communications may be what I need,” I explain, shrugging. “If I hate it, I’ll quit. It’s that simple.”
“Okay,” Cerenity says, nodding as she nibbles on her toast. “Be careful driving today, Minnesotans are frustratingly nice.”
Giggling, I agree because she’s right. I’ve been practicing my driving since I haven’t done any in years, and I think I’ll be fine today.
All I know about the company is that the owners are best friends and they manufacture computers. They also have an entire section of their company that is in charge of charity and philanthropy. That’s where I’ll be working. After so many years of running, I want to help people.
Finishing my breakfast, I give Cerenity a hug as I get ready to leave.
“Be good for your mama, Amelia,” I murmur, rubbing her stomach gently. My lips split in a huge grin as I feel a little kick. “I will never get tired of feeling that.”
“She never moves for me,” Augustine pouts, leaning against the wall. “To be fair, it all freaks me out.”
“Cerenity will be perfectly fine,” I chuckle.
I leave out the fact that I gave birth secretly in a little hospital in the suburbs during a storm so I wouldn’t be found. It was really scary and the electricity kept shutting off. I stayed in one place as long as possible before I had to move again.
I am so grateful to be the only voice in my head now. My daughter and her pack killed my alphas so that I can stand here today sane and happy. I still have my bad days where I get lost in the past and everything they did to me, but they’re not as often anymore.
I have a hard time going to the Omega’s Haven group chats because the stories told remind me of my kidnappers. It’s sad that this continues to happen to omegas. Instead, I teach crochet and knitting circles at the Haven.
It settles my soul, and I can create something that the shelter will be able to use. Now, all the weighted blankets used at the shelter are created by outreach or people who are currently staying there. I love a full circle moment.
“I’ll see you all later,” I say, grabbing my purse. I already completed the necessary paperwork with Human Resources. I was told I just need to report to work to be directed to my supervisor.
