I jump again as the red light over the doorway flashes, announcing the sliding of the door. The woman that walks inside, her footsteps slow and cautious, feels familiar.
She draws herself up, coming to a stop a few feet away. The smile on her face doesn’t look real. “Hello, Kennedy.”
“Hello.” My eyes dart to the male who enters next.
He’s analpha, and the realization makes me shrink back. He stares at me with pale, ice-blue eyes, a thick, neatly trimmed beard and greying blond hair slicked back with a little too much gel.
He smells like… money. And plenty of it. From the heavy-looking silver antique watch on his wrist to the tips of his shiny black perfectly laced shoes and the waxy sheen of his skin.
He reminds me a little too much of Charles Rivers, and I shiver, wrapping my arms around myself.
This is nothing.Oscar’s voice echoes in my ear.You can do this.
Slowly, I force myself to straighten, offering him a small nod of greeting as he silently assesses me. “Hi.”
“Do you remember me?” The beta shifts forward, drawing my attention. Even as more people enter the room. Lots of them, wearing thick, padded suits as they spread out. Enclosing me in a circle.
My chest tightens as I’m surrounded. I try to concentrate. “I… no. I’m sorry. Although you feel familiar.”
She nods. Her eyes flicker to the alpha, and away. “My name is Joanne. I’m your caseworker.”
I remember now. Remember our phone conversation, when I asked to be collected. But by the time she came, I was already gone. “That’s right. I’m sorry we didn’t get to meet properly before.”
“Because you were feral.” The words don’t come from her.
The alpha waves a hand, smiling. But it doesn’t reach his eyes. “My apologies, Kennedy. You’re probably wondering who I am. My name is Thomas Parker. I’m the chair of the board here. We’ve been overseeing your care very closely since you came to us, working with your pack.”
I force the sceptical look from my face. “I appreciate it.”
He dips his head in acknowledgment. “This is… unexpected, to say the least. We’ve never had a feral change back to a… shall we say,normalstate.”
His eyes drag over me, making my skin crawl. “Of course, that begs the question of what we do with you now. There are lots of questions to answer, of course.”
As if I’m an experiment. “I told Dr. Abrams that I’d be happy to help with any data he needs.”
Parker tilts his head. “Of course. Abrams is an excellent doctor. But as the board, we have a greater responsibility. To everyone here. To the people outside these doors who deserve to feel safe. And of course, to you. You are our ward, after all. Legally, we have the final say over your wellbeing. You agreed to that when you joined us. And as chair, I bear the responsibility of making decisions on your behalf.”
My throat threatens to close. “My circumstances have changed. Surely that no longer applies.”
“And yet.” Parker spreads out his hands, looking mildly apologetic and yet… threatening. His eyes meet mine. “There is no legal precedent for your situation.”
Beside him, Joanne shifts. As if she’s uncomfortable.
My fingers twist and pull at Max’s hoodie, faint tendrils of his scent reaching me that I breathe in, trying to calm the panic that threatens to drown me at his words.
They’re going to try and keep me here. I can see it in his face. There’s no kindness. No compassion. Only an icy need for control.
Of me.
“Now, then.” I flinch away as Parker steps forward. One blond eyebrow flicks up. “You’re rather… jumpy.”
My eyes slip to Joanne. She makes a note on her clipboard. And Parker – he folds his arms. “I’m going to ask you some questions, Kennedy.”
I watch him warily. “Just questions?”
“Yes. They may seem strange. But every bit of information could be relevant, so please be honest.”
My head bobs. Parker studies me.
