Page 71 of Hide or Die

He smiled thinly. “All part of the service. Starting over from nothing is never a pleasant process, but it is survivable.”

“And far better than the alternative,” Kam replied.

“I’ve always thought so, yes,” Beckett agreed, rising from the couch. “I’ll keep the others out of your hair for half an hour, but after that, I’m afraid you’re on your own on that front.”

With that, he gave us a polite nod and let himself out, closing the door behind him. Silence fell for the space of several breaths, before Kam flopped back against the couch cushions and said, “Holy. Buggering.Shite.”

I met his eyes, feeling more than a little breathless. “Do you still want to run?”

He gave a single, high-pitched bark of laughter. “Odama, I didn’twantto run before. I just wanted us both to be safe.”

“Staying won’t be safe,” I pointed out.

He sobered. “No. No, of course it won’t be. But Leo—I’m not the one whose door was broken down in the middle of the night. Doyouwant to run?”

I thought about it—about everything that starting over would entail. About the fact that there could well be police or Committee operatives pounding down my door again in the near future. I thought about the underground—the shadowy organization that had saved Kam from slavery and provided me with the tools and contacts necessary to maintain my ruse for all these years.

We could be part of that organization. Next time,wecould be the people who saved some other terrified omega from a lifetime of horror.

“This morning, I thought it was the end,” I said. “I thought it was all over for both of us. But, now? Maybe it doesn’t have to be.”

Kam smiled at me, gentle and understanding. In perfect synchrony, we fell forward into each other’s arms.

“Maybe it doesn’t have to be,” he agreed.

* * *

Beckett was good tohis word. Thirty minutes after he’d left us, boots sounded on the stairwell at the end of the hall. A few moments later, the first hints of cypress, jasmine, spice, and musk wafted to us.

I’d eaten my sandwich and had a quick wash in the extravagant bathroom. It had left me feeling marginally more human, at least. A knock sounded at the door, and Kam went to open it, shooting me a speculative glance. I had a fair idea of what to expect after Beckett’s not-so-subtle hints, but for now, I knew my answer would have to remain the same.

As much as I might long for it—in the depths of my heart, where I feared to look too closely—there was no way that accepting the suit of an alpha pack during a period of so much upheaval was in any way a sane plan. Flynn would ask us, and Alex would look uncomfortable, and I would politely decline. I would ask Beckett to acquire a heat blocker for me. I’d tackle this new phase in my life with a clear head and no distractions.

Kam would support me—because Kamalwayssupported me—and we’d revisit the topic when things were less crazy than they were right now.

“Come in,” Kam said, acting as gatekeeper to the nest in the old omega tradition.

“Thank you,” Alex replied formally. She led the others into the room, and accepted Kam’s offer of a seat on the couch. The others settled nearby, giving us space.

I met her eyes. “Thankyoufor getting me out of that place. I didn’t get a chance to say it, earlier.”

“That was Beckett’s doing, not mine,” she demurred. “But I’m relieved we were in time.”

The pained look in her eyes made me realize she must be remembering the omega she hadn’t been able to save. My heart ached for her.

“Nevertheless,” Kam said, taking my hand, “we’re immensely grateful to all of you.”

“So,” Flynn said. “You’re both going to stay, right? Join the underground?”

I squeezed Kam’s fingers. “Yes. If we can’t make a difference from inside the government, we’ll try to make a difference from outside it.”

Flynn’s shoulders relaxed. Alex received the news impassively, but she didn’t look surprised.

Jax nodded in clear satisfaction. “I’m glad to hear that,” he said.

Kam tilted his head, considering. “Beckett’s an omega.” His eyes fell on Flynn. “Amatedomega. You certainly kept that quiet.”

Flynn shrugged, completely unrepentant.

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