Tainted.
I’d lived an entire lifetime since he held me by that creek and promised to take me far away from my mom’s wrath. We just weren’t fast enough.
My therapist gently told me time and again that I may never know why they found me that day.
Especially now that my mother was dead. I’d called once, too curious to let it go, and they told me she died in a trailer fire.
The pity in their voices was genuine, but I wasn’t sad. In fact, I was relieved.
She didn’t deserve to live a long happy life and that awful trailer was better off as ash.
My only regret was that she died before facing the consequences of what she did to me.
Every scar, every bruise, every twisted thought she planted in my head, all rested on her shoulders.
She should have been charged when I was still a minor and spent major time in jail, but that fucked-up town made sure she never had to.
Maybe that was part of the reason I still dealt with all of these nightmares and thoughts.
I never got the closure I deserved and I never would.
Maybe it was time to accept that.
Chapter
Eight
Aries
My muscles ached as my foot struck the punching bag over and over again. I quickly landed a flurry of hits against it, using my hands, legs, and feet to strike out, raining every bit of fury I had in my body upon the punching bag.
This was my favorite form of release since casual sex was off the table. I took out the last lingering remnants of my nightmare.
Sweat had my matching red workout set sticking to my skin, outlining every curve along my body, showcasing the well-honed muscles that I’d worked hard for. I’d have to shower sooner rather than later, it wasn’t exactly appropriate to meet clients while sweating like you just dunked in a pool.
I took my clients seriously and wanted them to be comfortable here. I’d heard so many horror stories from all the omegas and betas that have come through here. This world was fucked up in ways that most of us could never fathom, and if they gave me half a chance, I’d never allow any of them to feel helpless again.
No one was going to save us, so we had to save ourselves.
My friends and I did it when we made our escape, and I made sure that if I was ever put in a position like that again, then I would survive.
My name echoed out in the mostly-empty gym. It was one of those quiet times of day when not many people came in.
But god it was a welcome distraction.
When I heard Lexi’s voice again, I reached out to stop the punching bag from swinging back at me before I made my way to the front desk. It was Lexi, which meant she wasn’t here to work out.
I didn’t expect to find her standing there with two strangers. They were standing close enough they were touching, one was a female omega with wide, terrified eyes. The other was a male beta who looked ready to bolt. They both stood slightly hunched in as if that would make them smaller.
I knew that stance, and I loathed the people that caused it.
“Hey there,” I greeted in a soft voice, giving them a gentle smile.
I relaxed my muscles and softened my features, making myself appear almost normal for once. It was a well-practiced mask, one meant to put others at ease and hide away the anger that still burned through me any time I saw the pain that would linger on for years.
Because nine times out of ten the ones who caused it faced no consequences. At least we’d made sure that Gideon faced his.
“I wanted to introduce you to Cassie and Leon. They’re new to town and from a similar background to ours,” Lexi said pointedly.
