Right. School.
I was supposed to start a new year in a few days — a building full of Alphas and Betas, loud hallways, too bright lights, teachers who expected us to act older than we were.
Kasey wouldn’t be there. Omegas never were. His mama taught him at home, said it was safer that way.
“Because we’re different,” I said gently.
“No, we aren't.” He huffed, crossing his arms like that settled it.
I sighed. I hated this part, hated the rules, hated the way they made him feel small. “I’m Alpha Kase. Omegas aren’t allowed in the same schools as us. It’s just…how things are. Blood type decides where we go.”
He frowned at me; confusion softened his whole face. “But Mama says blood is all the same. We all bled, Evy. So, what makes us so different?”
And there was a question I could never answer. Because I didn’t know either. Because none of them felt fair. Because Kasey was the smartest, kindest kid I knew, and the world still insisted on putting him in a box that he didn’t choose.
I swallowed hard and squeezed his shoulder. “I don’t think it should make us different,” I said quietly. “But the grown-ups decided it does.”
Kasey’s mouth pulled into a tiny pout, and he leaned into my side like he always did when something didn’t make sense. And not for the first time, I wished that I could fix the whole world for him.
“You know the laws; there’s nothing we can do.”
“You could learn like Mama teaches me.” He gave me a bright smile on the idea.
“I wish I could, bud.” I’ve tried that before. Many times, over the years. While my mom would let me do so, Father refused the idea right away.
Alphas can’t learn to be a part of the world if they hide from it.It took all the effort I could to keep from rolling my eyes at the words my father said way too many times.
“Come on,” I grabbed his hand, tugging him back towards where camp was set up. “Let's go see if the food is ready. I’m starving.”
If I knew what the next few hours were going to bring me, I would never let go of his small hand.
If only….
Chapter 1
Kasey
The brush scraped harshly against the floor; the stiff bristles biting into the dried, rusty stains that clung to the tiles. My arms ached, but I kept scrubbing, because stopping wasn’t an option. Not when the room still smelled sharp and metallic. Not when the walls still echoed with what had happened before they dragged me in.
I didn’t know the Omega who’d been here last. I just cleaned it. Like I had done a few times before.
Cleaning blood and vomiting was second nature, often it was my own. It wasn’t any easier to clean than some other Omega who didn’t want to follow the ever-changing rules of this place.
Okay, maybe the rules didn’t change, but it sure felt like they did. It was impossible to be theperfect Omegawith the expectations that were required.
The bucket beside me sloshed when I dipped the brush again; the water was already cloudy and pinkish. I tried not to look at it too long. Tried not to think about how Mama always said I was too soft for things like this. Too gentle. Too easily scared.
She’d been right.
I swallowed and scrubbed harder.
My knees hurt from the cold floor. My fingers were pruned and raw. My throat felt tight like I’d swallowed a stone. But I kept going because the handler who brought me here said I was to finish before the next bell rang.
I didn’t know what would happen if I didn’t finish, and I didn’t want to find out.
My back still stung with each movement from last month’s punishment.
A tremor ran through me, quick and sharp, and I forced myself to breathe slowly. It didn’t exactly help, even though a soft voice filtered through my mind.
