Page 59 of Met Your Mate

Thankfully, Kate doesn't say anything about my hearing, and just repeats her question as I grab my water bottle on the little table in front of us.

I hum, sipping on the water one of my mates told me to drink. "I didn't know we were leaving, but sure." I shrug.

"Your guys didn't tell you?" I shake my head and she huffs. "The OPS is sending both of our packs to safe houses in Virginia. I guess it's a small town on the ocean that will be calm and away from all the crazy."

That perks me up. "The ocean?"

"Yeah. The other omegas that were being kept in our building and at the academy are staying closer to OPS headquarters in West Virginia. I think Remy said Charleston."

"I'm going to come back to Remy in a second, but why are we being sent to safe houses?" I ask.

Kate draws her knees up to her chest and I can't help but frown at how small she looks. In the cells, my friend ranged from larger than life to a shell of herself. I hate that it makes me feel less alone to see her struggling like I am.

"Because, where are the omegas... the ones from the years before us? The academy has been open for four years... What did they do with the omegas that came before us?"

I'm silent, trying to control the rage that attempts to boil over. My water bottle cracks and my vision blurs and focuses a few times.

Then she's there. Kate grabs my left hand and squeezes it gently with a sniffle.

"The omegas in the warehouse with us were from our graduation class, if you can even call it that. There are three other groups of omegas out there, and until they're found, we're staying in Cape Charles. Or at least until all the trials are done. Which, who knows how long that will take you know?"

Kate shifts, aggravation making her uneasy. "I heard the headmaster sold Ken out. I seriously fucking hope his cooperation doesn't allow him to have a lesser sentence. Imagine what that bastard would do with his freedom again."

I truly don't know what to say. If it weren't for Ronan's friend Remy, none of us would have ever been found. Maybe we would have, but who knows how long it would have taken without Ronan going missing.

There are hundreds of omegas out there with nobody who gives a shit about their disappearance. Hell, the people who know these omegas disappeared, got freaking paid for it!

From what I've been told, it took an alpha not coming home to bring that school to the ground. I suppose Casey and Nick also had people looking for them, but they don't have the immediate connection my pack alpha has with his best friend.

I haven't met Casey's mom yet since everyone has deemed me “not ready”, which slightly annoys me, but begrudgingly agree with. From the squeals I heard outside the doors and loud sobbing from the mother of my beta, I know she wouldn't have been able to rest until he was found.

He's so damn lucky, and I hope someday I can meet the people who love him so much.

Elliott's family can go kick rocks for all I care. They didn't seem to give two shits that their son was essentially brainwashed and kidnapped, and clearly don't give a rat’s ass that he's out and okay. I've been told they aren't bad people, just super absent. That's bad enough in my book.

I don't know what to think about Ronan and Luke's family yet. I'm a little peeved considering all that Lucas has been through with their harsh expectations and obvious favoritism.

Plus, they aren't here and don't plan on coming to see their sons. Apparently, they trust Ronan to take care of everything.

"Freya," Kate says, tugging on my hand a little to gain my attention. "Has anyone talked to you about your heat?" I nod, my gut twisting uncomfortably again. She huffs out a breath and mutters, "Thank fuck."

Medically, I know what’s going on. On top of being thinner than a goddamn twig and needing all the water in the world, I'll most likely always be deaf in my right ear. I have a pretty bad concussion, so I need to watch for dizziness and continue to rest.

Then there's the matter of my heat. Doctor Allard said there's no way I can be put on suppressants again to keep my heat at bay. I have to let my body regulate itself, lest I continue to damage my system like the academy and Ken were doing.

I'm terrified. I've had nothing but lonely, excruciating heats and one that was dictated by monsters. My mates were fucking forced to bond with me on the cold hard ground with chains keeping me contained. I could have died had they not been there.

How am I supposed to have a normal fucking heat after all of that? And do I want to?

If I were in the guys' shoes, I wouldn't want to touch me again. I've caused nothing but issues, and not to mention, my heat trapped them with me. An omega that is so far from normal it's concerning.

"You okay?"

I look up at Kate and give her a small, pained smile. "I'm fine, Kate."

"Bitch, please. It was never believable in the cages, and sure as shit isn't now."

I laugh, my first true laugh that makes my head throb.

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