Page 25 of Knot All Is Ruined: Part 1

I couldn’t argue with that. I’d seen it on the other Omegas who’d either grown up in Asturg or had been there longer. They’d hardened, callused themselves to the reality of their situation so it wouldn’t hurt so bad. Truthfully, I thought I’d been one of those people, only the way I’d just reacted to Toma made it clear that wasn’t the case.

“Where are you from, Danella?” Bethany asked after a moment. “I suppose I should ask, more specifically, where you were born. I’m not sure how it works in other countries or if you’ve been shuffled around to more than one in your lifetime.”

While they seemed to be far more informed here than in the North, I still got the sense they didn’t know much about places outside of Asturg. “I was born in Oscad, near the capital city. My parents were influential people since our ancestors were part of the government before the terrorist attack. I lived with my parents until I was seventeen, then I was removed from their home to live in a Care Center. It’s a facility they have to keep us Omegas safe and ensure we are educated in the right manner. I lived there without any contact with the outside world until I was drugged and loaded on a bus with about ten other girls to be driven off to Asturg.”

Bethany pulled the stethoscope out of her ears, slowly looping the item around her neck. “Why would they need to drug you to send you here?”

“I have no idea, but the Omegas they chose to send to Asturg were typically the troublemakers. Or those they couldn’t send to Shearia because of their looks, intelligence, or personality,” I explained. “Normally, we were given a warning that we were being sent off, except there was never a choice in the matter. They said go, and we went.”

Contemplating everything I told her, she sat on the edge of my bed searching my face. “Danella, you are an amazing woman to have lived so few years and gone through so much. I can’t tell you that things will be better now that you’re here, but I can promise they will teach you how to fight. No one with the heart of a warrior like you is overlooked just because of your designation. Let me help you get better, so you can learn to never be a victim again.”

God, her words sounded like a dream. How could I trust that what she was saying was true? Why the fuck would they want to teach me to fight when I was found in the clutches of the enemy? Then, on the other hand, how could I refuse such an offer? To never be a victim and have the ability to protect myself? Fuck, I wanted that more than anything. The real question was…could I trust Bethany to be telling me the truth?

As if sensing my apprehension, Bethany reached into her pocket and pulled out a small key showing it to me. “Promise me you will cooperate as you heal, and I will see that you’re never cuffed to this bed again. That should be a good starting point toward proving I’m a woman of my word.”

I couldn’t help but grin at her. Bethany was quickly growing on me and I didn’t like many people—especially women. Yet here she was willing to put her actions where her mouth was to prove herself.

“I have two requests,” I countered.

Bethany smirked and nodded her head for me to go on.

“No men touch me without my permission. I don’t care if I’m dying or unconscious, they can keep their fucking paws off me. I’ve had enough people feel like my body was their god-given right to touch, and that’s not happening anymore.” I stated.

“Alright, I can work with that. We have enough women on staff so I don’t see this as an issue. What the second?” she inquired.

Sitting up a little straighter and jutting my chin, I held her gaze intently. “I want to be put on suppressants.”

Even though I hated the arrangement with Lucian, it had kept me alive, and that was something I wanted to continue doing. While I didn’t know what the Southern view on breed might be, I wasn't going to be one of their livestock.

“Deal, we like to have all new Omegas on them for the first few months while they acclimate. The last thing we want is a new Omega such as yourself dealing with many changes and then getting thrown into heat. I will warn you though, if you get assigned to an Elite Unit and go on a mission you won’t be getting the bi-weekly shots. An Omega’s self-preservation often keeps them from going into heat in high-stress situations, although I can’t make any promises,” Bethany warned.

The suppressant being a shot was new, but the fact that it would only have to be given twice a month instead of a daily pill was totally fine with me. “Thank you for being honest with me.”

“Danella, one thing I will never do is lie to you. Of course, I can’t speak for others, but you won’t get anything but full honesty from me,” she assured me as she unlocked the cuff from my wrist. “Now I’m going to lie you back down so you can get some rest. When you wake up next, we’ll get some food into you.”

As if her words seemed to trigger something in me, I let out a yawn so wide it made my jaw crack. Now that my wrist was free, I curled up on my side trying to get comfortable and fell asleep instantly.

Chapter fourteen

The guys and I had been switching off who was staying at the hospital while Dani—sorry, Danella—slept. I’d been around more just because we made sure she was put with Bethany making it easier to get away with shit. Now that she was awake, it was clear to me that things weren’t going to go as smoothly as we thought. Knowing Beth wouldn’t let anything happen to her, I left the hospital and pulled out my phone to call Sorin. Now that we were back in the central city we could use all our technology. The closer we got to the Northern border, it was like returning to the dark ages.

“She awake?” Sorin asked when he picked up.

“You could say that,” I muttered. “That woman might be an Omega by designation, but she’s got the attitude of an Alpha.”

Sorin actually chuckled, which shocked the hell out of me. “Come back to the barracks. I got a rather interesting call today from an old friend.”

“Seeing as I got kicked out of the room by Beth, I don’t foresee being allowed back in anytime soon,” I shared with a sigh. “Give me five minutes and I’ll be there.”

Not feeling the need to say anything more, Sorin hung up, which was far more typical than a man who chuckled. I sent a text to Beth letting her know I had to head back to the barracks and to text me if she needed anything. Then I spotted a private driving one of the military hum-vees and waved him down.

“Yes, Sergeant, what can I do for you?” the private asked when he stopped in front of me.

“I need to get to Alpha Blue barracks,” I informed him as I hopped in.

The private nodded and took off, not even questioning my orders. Such was the luxury of not only being a ranking officer but the fact that people knew I was part of the most respected Elite Alpha Unit in our military. Sorin, being the President’s son, was part of it, but we earned the titles on our own. It was an honor to serve and protect our country, and if it just happened to be alongside the men I respected and called family, all the better.

It didn’t take long to get from the Med Center to our building that houses the apartment we shared as a unit. Unlike the lower-ranking soldiers, we had our own space with a common room in the middle and three rooms that broke off from there. I shared a room with Cristofor, Victor, and Petru, while Sorin got a room to himself as our leader as well as being ranked as a Major. We’d been together for ten years and moved as a well-oiled machine with the most successful mission rate out of all the Elite Units.