Page 2 of Who We Were

I doubt this place is meant to resemble the academy, but it does in a lot of ways.

Don't get me wrong, it's gotten a lot better these past few months as some of the omegas who were rescued at the same time as me have begun to help out around here and give their opinions. Shit, some of them even work for the rehab facility now.

It's just the constant watchful eyes, expectations of normalcy, and the overwhelming obviousness thatthisisn't normal. Then there's the fact that us omegas were separated from the betas and alphas almost immediately that first day. I don't think any of us really wanted to be around them anyway, but it's been a year and the only interaction with the other designations are the people running the place.

I shudder, my hand trembling as I tuck my hairbrush into my green duffle bag.

Eyes like leaves blowing in the breeze. With each shift of the branches, new depth reveals itself in dark shadows and piercing sunlight.

"Amaya?"

Jolting, I blink away the memory and zip my bag with a little more force than necessary.

"Yeah?" I reply quietly, turning to see the poor omega stuck keeping an eye on me for the foreseeable future.

She's beautiful. Caramel brown hair that brushes her collarbone and brown eyes that see a little too much for my liking. I'd love to dislike her and her fairy-like pointy nose, but Kate is literally the best. Funny, a little crazy, and ridiculously adept at reading a room.

"He's just pulling up. You ready?"

She might make it hard for me to dislike her, but I can sure as shit hate the news that comes out of her mouth sometimes.

Kind of like when I first met her in therapy a few weeks ago. Blindsided by the tiny ass print at the bottom of my rehab graduation letter, I didn't realize I would be getting a check-in support person until I already had one.

"You must be Amaya. Can I call you Amy?"she had asked with a hand outstretched.

I admit that was the most I have reacted toanythinginyears. Five years, actually.

"Fuck no,Dora,"I retorted and refused to shake her dainty ass hand.

Kate grinned wider than my therapist's shocked eyes. What followed was a rough forty-five-minutes going over all the reasons I need Kate's help in the outside world.

"Ready," I reply to her earlier question with a sigh.

Hiking my belongings over my shoulder, I give my dorm room a final glance. I've found many faults in this program, but my room wasn't one. I was allowed to make this space my own and damn if I didn't fill it with all the cozy green and gold things I could find in the OPS offerings.

My eyes linger on a dull gold quilt that reminded me of...No, I shouldn't.

"You can take it, Amy."

Huffing, I turn away from the nest I filled with colored memories of my childhood and scowl at Kate. "This swiper won't be swiping."

I toss my long brown hair in her face on my way into the hallway, but Kate just laughs and mutters something to herself.

We pass other omegas who give me small smiles, but I don't have anyone to say goodbye to. Friends weren't allowed at the academy, and I didn't have the mental capacity to make any here. I made my rehabilitation experience all about moving through the motions. My therapists and all the staff members really tried. Everyone was great. I wasn't. Hence the check-in omega strutting the hallway beside me.

Kate was the omega of our grade that disappeared the first damn day of classes. Tortured for years and forced to bond her alphas, Kate survived hell. We all did, but hers was different. Everyone had different experiences, which was made known during the many guest speakers we had.

A nudge on my arm jolts me from my trip down memory lane. "You're really in your head today. Wanna talk about anything?"

I snort slightly and side eye her. "Let's see. I'm about to step outside and join society for the first time in five years. Not only am I completely out of my depth, but I have to be released into the care of a man who never fucking wanted me. Oh, and my only friend is forced to hang out with me."

Kate raises a brow and grabs my hand before I can push the door open that will release me into the real world.

"Amaya," Kate says softly, a tone she only uses when she's being serious. "This is a lot. And it's going tokeepbeing a lot. Probably forever."

"Gee, thanks." I roll my eyes.

"Shut up," she scolds. "What we went through was so many layers of fucked up. We won’t ever be able to peel all those away and soothe those hurts. All we can do is be kind to ourselves."

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