Page 145 of Fight

Aisling and Wren have done an incredible job pulling together this safe place for omegas, with the non-shelter areas of the building serving as outreach for the community. The omegas who come to group, but aren’t staying at the shelter say goodbye as they leave, and my mom squeezes my hand before she walks over to talk to someone.

Every day gets a little easier, though it was a fight to get Dr. Brunes to release Mama from care. There’s something really fucked about that facility, and we had to get a judge to order her release.

Now, Mama lives in a cute little cottage behind our house, not wanting to live alone, but too skittish of alphas to live in the main house.

My lips twitch as I think about how sweet Tommy and Jasper are to my mama, especially when I know how good they are at disposing of people who are a danger to us. My mother doesn’t know any of that, but agrees they are good to me.

“Every week looks like it gets easier,” Wren says softly, startling me out of my thoughts.

Looking up, I see Wren and Aisling are in front of me, eyes sparkling because they surprised me.

“It is,” I agree with a nod as I stand. “I love this group, and everything appears to be coming together well.”

“It is, even though sometimes it means taking one for the team,” Aisling grumbles. “Hollis is setting up dates for me through her dating service, so we can see how we can make it work for women at the shelter interested in dating safely.”

The idea of any of these women finding a date at a bar makes me shudder. No thanks. There’s few other options, though, and I’m glad Hollis is going to be able to help.

“It can’t be that bad,” I tease her.

“I have no desire to get packed up,” Aisling says with a sigh. “I’ll go on the dates, go through the process, and then report back. Hopefully to pastries and wine.”

Grinning, I nod. “I can get behind that,” I agree. Flynn has joined our gab sessions, and I adore him. He still doesn’t enjoy people, deciding he would rather fuel The Omega’s Haven weekly groups than attend them, so he sends food with Wren.

My phone buzzes, and I check it to find it’s from Auggie.

Auggie: Hey, Sweetheart. Letting you know I’m here for whenever you’re ready to leave.

I’m a passenger princess when it suits me, and he drives me to The Omega’s Haven whenever I come down here. It’s not in the best area, unfortunately, since it needs to be close to the bus system, but the building itself is beautiful.

Mama also feels safer when Augustine drives us. She adores him, despite his designation. Little by little, she’s coming out of her shell, and told me earlier this week she wanted to start looking at jobs.

Not because she needs to work, but because it’ll keep her busy.

“Augustine is here,” I tell Wren with a smile. “He’s out front.”

“Good,” Wren says. “He can keep Everest company while they wait.”

While there is a private security company that monitors the cameras for The Omega’s Haven, Aisling and Wren don’t want men with weapons on the premises. There hasn’t been an issue since they opened officially five months ago, and the security company has been working well for them.

“Everything has been going so well,” Aisling muses as she looks around at the omegas who are mingling and chatting with each other. “Yet, every time I think that, a little voice tells me there’s so much more we should be doing. Particularly, getting some mental health support for those who want it.”

It’s been hard to find a therapist that understands trauma, but we’ve found a good interim person who has been working with Mama on video sessions. Aisling is on the hunt to employ a therapist for the Haven, and I think also to help her. She hasn’t been able to connect with anyone.

Also, after seeing how fucked up the system can become in the mental health program at Weeping Willow Institue, I think I’m leary of putting so much power in someone’s hands.

I would love to see a therapist, but my trust is shredded after what I saw.

“You just need to take it one step at a time,” I remind her. “The Omega’s Haven is going to take time to build. It’s only been seven or eight months since the charity event at my club, and now there’s a safe place for omegas. This is incredible.”

“I know,” Aisling says with a nod. “I just remember what it was like when I was homeless, and we’re just one location, you know? It’s hard knowing it’s going to take time. I’m talking with some people who heard about The Omega’s Haven. They live in New York City, and want to do what we are there as well.”

“One step at a time, this is all making a difference,” Wren says gently.

Saying goodbye, we hug each other, and I catch Mama’s eye.

“The time always seems to go by so quickly while we’re here,” she says with a small smile as she comes up to me.

“That’s a good thing, Miss Quinn,” Aisling says. “It was mentioned to me that Joanna wants to start a knitting circle. Some of the omegas said they’d love to join, but they don’t know how to knit.”

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