Page 82 of Beta Lies and Cursed Lives
“She wouldn’t shut up about it.” Arlowe’s tone is sarcastic yet watery when she steps back and smacks my upper arm.
My smile is automatic, my eyes swimming as I look at my friends. “I’m so glad you’re okay.” My voice cracks. “I knew you’d fight when you were able.”
“This one,” Arlowe smacks Nyx’s arm this time, “has fried all sorts of Beta assholes.” She grins proudly.
Nyx rolls her eyes. “I didn’t have much of a choice.” I follow her gaze over her shoulder where Headmaster Laurant stands, fidgeting and shellshocked, beside a young man whose pale blue eyes are locked on Nyx. His once-styled hair is mussed from battle, tribal tattoos peek from beneath the neck of his shirt like black flames. There’s a ring in one of his nostrils and a barbell in his opposite eyebrow.
I turn wide eyes to a smirking Arlowe. “That would be Erich.”
I stifle an even bigger smile when Nyx turns back to us in a huff. Then, her face goes pale as a familiar voice sings from behind me.
“Well, well.” I turn to find lilac eyes above me, but they’re honed in on Nyx; that wild and unhinged smile is settled on Zephyr’s face. “This is the most pleased I’ve been to escape my life as a lab rat.”
My lips part, but nothing comes out, my brows furrowing as I look back and forth between Zephyr and Nyx.
Arlowe lets out a huge laugh, gripping her middle as she bends over with the force of it. “I don’t know whether to hate or pity you,” she says between laughs.
“Attention, if you please!”
The room sobers and we all turn toward Willow, who stands alone in the center.
“First, I want to congratulate you all, not only on a job well done, but because you fought for your freedom today.” She proudly looks around the room. “Our fight is not over, but yours can be. We would never force anyone to join our cause. If you choose not to fight, you can leave any time. Our people will help you find safety.” Her hands clasp. “If you choose to stay and fight, know that what we fight for is not only retribution, but to change the entire world.”
When she moves about the room, most are captivated, but some look disbelieving. “I have a pack,” she gestures to Jory and Caius. “And we will fight for pack freedom as well. If you have found your mates, there’s no longer any reason to hide. We will protect you, and help you protect yourselves.”
The energy in the room changes as if there’s a collective sigh of relief.
More people file in from the back entrance, and murmurs build.
“Also, we’ve taken the juvenile facility. Our leader is there now, and all the children are safe.”
There are gasps from some people, including Arlowe, whose hand flies to her throat. I put my palm on her back, but she doesn’t react.
“If any of you have family there, you can see them tomorrow morning. If you’re unsure if you do, the registries are open for you to search. Your tablets and all the computers have been unlocked, and you all have unrestricted access.” She looks right at Rai, who gives a small nod.
“Now that we’ve received the all-clear,” Willow gestures to Colt, who also nods in confirmation, “we will begin the process of healing and cleaning.”
Willow directs anyone who’s greatly injured to a group of rebellion members who have the power to heal, and anyone with minor injuries to be examined by Dr. Gayle, whose face is somber but determined.
So many who aren’t Cursed decided to stand against the GBE. To stand for what’s right.
A tear of gratitude slips from my eye.
When Willow seeks volunteers with power to help clean up the hundreds of bodies strewn across the campus, Zephyr claps his hands, making the three of us jump. “Well, that’s my cue, ladies!” And he’s gone, joining a large group by Caius, including the Alpha named Erich, who eyes him warily.
I’m about to ask Arlowe about the juvenile facility when Willow comes by, her smile bright, eyes crinkled in the corners.
“Miranda!” she sings kindly before addressing my friends. “I’m Willow. Miranda and her pack found us escaping here.”
Nyx and Arlowe turn big eyes from Willow to me and back again.
“They were right where Colt thought they’d be,” I supply.
“That would be my doing.” Major Tomlin—Jory—joins Willow’s side and puts his arm around her. “I knew some of the kids here could read thoughts, so I did everything I could to feed information to them. About the rebellion’s existence and location.” He frowns. “All I wanted was to take this place down with you, but I had to set other things in motion first.”
“So you further endangered my daughter and her pack.”
My father comes up from behind Willow and Jory, his gaunt face severe.
