Page 30 of Omega Alliance

Dani catches the tremble of my fingers as I reach for the hem of my sweatshirt. "Turn around for a sec, guys. And give me that." She takes the phone from Kieran, then gestures for me to proceed. "It will only be for a minute," she promises.

I pull the shirt over my head and wait as Dani scans the wolf on my chest once more. "Is there anything under your bra?" she asks with one eyebrow raised.

"Not in the front,” I answer shyly. I know they’ve seen my bare breasts countless times on the OA feed, but it’s different being here in person. Seeing them as they see me. I especiallydon’t want them to notice how my nipples have pebbled, how my body is aroused.

Dani probably already knows all this. She’s standing so close now. She's also the one who created most of my art, and she, like the others, had access to watch me as I showered, seeing all my skin laid bare. Perhaps she’s asking in order to be polite, but it doesn't help me to feel any better about the situation.

"Could you turn around?" she asks, then gasps when I do. She runs her fingers over my raised flesh, the scars of punishments past. They are meant to serve as a reminder of what my insubordination brings.

“Oh, Sin,” she says, and her voice cracks. “I’m so, so sorry for all they did to you. That we stood back and let it happen for so long.”

“But you saved me.” I turn and take her hand in mine, lacing our fingers together like a zipper. “You’re the only ones who ever even tried.”

She shakes her head and a tear falls to her T-shirt. “We should have tried harder. We should have come sooner.”

“It’s okay,” I say, my constant refrain. “You’re here now.”

I let her fingers go, then brush my hand against her cheek.

Dani smiles, and my heart flips in my chest.

“Are you almost done? We need to find that tracker and go,” Kieran interrupts, spoiling the tender moment.

Dani sniffs, then lets out a slow breath. “Right, the tracker.” She twirls her finger at me. “Turn back around, Sin.”

I do as she asks, and almost as soon as I do, the phone emits a high-pitched beep.

"Bingo," she says, then explains, “Your tracker’s smack dab in the center of that giant mandala."

Ah, the mandala. It is by far my largest tattoo, and it's the last one I received before Dani took over for the first artist. Perhapsthey didn't fire her for being too friendly with me. Maybe it's because she knew something they would rather keep secret.

I shiver as Dani's fingertips glide over my back, tracing the intricate curves and spires of the design before pressing a firm thumb into my flesh.

"Ouch," I cry and jerk away.

"Those bastards put it right into your spine,” she hisses, and I can feel her anger vibrate through me. “Probably wedged it between the vertebrae. We can't remove it without hurting you."

"I don't mind getting hurt if it means staying safe," I offer stoically. I’m not afraid of physical pain. It’s something I know well enough by now.

"Yeah, but I mean hurting as in possibly killing, or at the very least crippling. Not even Jax could take care of this. We need a real doctor."

"But no doctor is going to agree to go against the Alliance," Kieran points out, his eyes still closed as he speaks.

"So we make do," Levi decides for all of us. "A moving target is harder to hit, so we stay on the move."

"He's right," Dani says, handing me my shirt so I can dress myself again.

When I finish, the alphas open their eyes again and immediately share a very concerning look.

“We have to go,” Kieran says. “Grab your stuff, and let’s take it to the car.”

All I have are the things the pack has given to me, and the old photo I found before running away. But I make sure both the gun and the picture are secure in my waistband before taking one last look at the battered house that welcomed me in my neediest hour.

Then I hold my head up high and walk out the door.

I don’t look back this time either.

fifteen

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