Page 63 of Omega Shattered
"Then drop me off at the train station, please. I'll need to borrow some money, though."
There was silence in the vehicle for a long moment, then River nodded, tapping the train station into his phone and updating the route.
"We'll stop and get you some clothes, too," Archer said. "You can't go anywhere in an ORC uniform, they'd stop you immediately."
An hour later, River pulled into a shopping center and we all got out.
"You don't all need to go with me," I said nervously. "Just Archer."
"You don't want me with you?" Kade asked sadly.
"Just . . . wait here, okay." I stood on tiptoes and kissed his lips.
Inside the store, Archer helped me find jeans and a couple of shirts, plus underwear and a bra. "You'll need a jacket, too, it's freezing. And shoes." He pushed the cart, tossing things in.
"I can't carry all this!" I pointed out.
"You'll be wearing half of it, but we'll get you a bag, too." He scanned the rack of backpacks. "Which one?"
"That purple sparkly one." I'd never had pretty things growing up and in the center, everything had been sad and gray. The backpack was exactly what I loved.
"You've got it."
"You don't need to spend all this money on me," I told him.
"Don't worry about it. We owe you a lot. We fucked up," he said sadly. "I'm going to give you my card when you go and I'll make sure it has money on it for as long as you need."
I changed in the bathroom after we'd paid. Stuffing everything else into the backpack, I slung it over my shoulder and studied myself in the mirror. I looked normal. With suppressants, I might even pass as a beta.
Smiling, I left the bathroom and found Archer nervously waiting for me. "I thought you might ditch us through the window," he said.
"Aren't you taking me to the train station?"
"Of course, but . . . nevermind. I was just worried I might not get to say goodbye again."
"You can say goodbye," I assured him.
When we reached the SUV, the others were all sitting there with the heat on.
"You got shoes!" Kade said delightedly.
"I can't walk around barefoot forever." I stuck my foot up so he could admire the sparkly purple shoes.
"Is your favorite color purple?" Orion asked in amusement.
"Looks like it." I peered down at the black jeans and purple winter jacket I wore over a lavender shirt. "I've never really had a chance to decide on a favorite color, but these just jumped out at me."
"You look good in purple," Kade told me, pulling me close again. "Please don't leave."
"I have to," I told him firmly. "There's never been a moment in my life where I was free. I need this."
He stared sadly into my eyes before nodding. "Okay, but only because I can contact you."
"You can?"
"We got you this." River twisted in his seat and handed me a phone. "Our numbers are already in there and we have your number. If you ever need anything, money, a ride, whatever, you can call. We'll always pick up."
"Thank you." I took the phone and tucked it in my pocket just as River pulled up at the train station.
