“Ava – little bird – I didn’t mean to scare you.”
She shakes her head. “It’s fine, Nik. I just… I’m so sorry. I’m sorry that happened to you. And Nash…,” Her words trail off with a waver, and her eyes glisten as she watches me.
That’s what hurts the most, some days. Watching my son, so like the mother he’ll never know. Em would’ve been a fantastic mom. But here we are, without Em, and Nash is trapped in the place that I intended to be Emery’s freedom. Unable to leave, to play with other kids. He’s never evenseenanother kid. And Ava, sat in front of me with tears glistening in those fractured hazel eyes. If nothing changes and she stays with us, this place will become her prison, too.
Fuck the Omega Compound. Fuck them and their barbaric laws. And fuck them for ruining so many of our lives.
The unfairness of it all sours my stomach, and I push my chair back.
“Excuse me,” I say quietly.
Ava starts, half rising from Bastien’s lap, but I wave her off with a forced smile. “I’m okay, little bird. Just need to check on something.”
Her nod seems equally forced, but my anger is rising, and I need to let it out somewhere that Ava and Nash can’t see.
I flee the kitchen like the hounds of hell are at my heels.
ChapterThirty-Five
Lucien
Ava stares after Nikolai, her face crestfallen.
“I didn’t mean to upset him,” she says, her shoulders slumped.
“You didn’t, brat.” My voice is firm. “Nik wouldn’t have shared his story unless he wanted you to know.”
Ava nods, her face still dejected, before she turns to Max. He springs to attention.
“What is it? Is something wrong?” he asks, worried.
“No, nothing like that. I… would you be able to scan me?Them, I mean? So I can see them?” She places an awkward hand on her stomach.
We all pause, and Max’s eyes soften. “Of course I can. Whenever you want me to.”
“Now?” Ava clears her throat. “I feel… well, I don’t want to change my mind.”
He smiles at her. “I have an ultrasound set up in my office. Come with me and we’ll take a look.”
She glances around at all of us uncertainly, and I wonder what’s running through her mind. Slowly, she nods, and slides from Bastien’s lap to follow him. Silence echoes in their wake as they leave the kitchen, until Bastien blows out a breath.
“She’s okay,” he breathes, staring at the door.
I nod. “She’s okay.”
It’s enough, for now.
ChapterThirty-Six
Ava
My knees shake as I follow Max out of the house and down to the offices. He takes it slowly, and I seize the opportunity to tip up my face to the sun.
I don’t even know what month it is.
“September,” Max tells me when I ask him. We head into the space where he removed my tracking device. Embarrassment stains his cheeks as he darts around, scooping papers off chairs and trying to tidy the mess.
I smile at his flustered movements. “Organized chaos?” I ask.
