13. Ella

Chapter thirteen

Ella

I wake startled one morning when my cell door creaks open, and there I find Theo hulking in the door.

Kellen and Alastor are at his side, and I rub the grit from my eyes.

More torture, I see?

They will never get me to talk.

I will ensure my secrets die with me.

Theo nods his head at Alastor, and now the silent Alpha creeps toward me.

He unshackles my wrists, keeping his sharp green eyes on me the whole time. There's no missing the mischievous sneer.

"No funny business now."

I match his scowl, and his small smirk only stretches.

Once he's unshackled my feet, he drags me up and hauls me out of the cell. The light is bright outside, and I squint.

But it's a small price to pay once I feel the sharp spike of twigs beneath my feet, and my heart thumps throughout my body.

I know this is some cruel trick. They're leading me to my execution.

Yet to my surprise, they take me to the house, and I freeze like a deer in the headlights when we cross the threshold.

I've never been in a house before…

Well, not for some time.

All I have ever known are bars, and the open plan terrifies me.

So much space to roam, and I don't think I can take it.

I go into a blind panic, but none of the Alphas barely notice. Alastor gazes down at me briefly, but Kellen is oblivious.

Finally, we come to a large living space. There is a hearth and couches, just like the one from my oldest memory.

The male Omega I saw yesterday waits anxiously in one of the comfy seats. He nods at his Alphas, and they let me go.

Now I am free to move, standing in this strange, foreign place.

The floor beneath me is soft, and it takes me a moment to find the word.

Carpet.

It's a little like grass, but instead of green blades of vegetation, it's made up of many tiny fibers.

There is no concrete to be found whatsoever. Or a celled door.

Just.. openness.

My body shakes, but I remain on my feet, focusing on the Omega before me.

He's even more precious than I remember, and does he feel it, too?

The draw between us?

He is my scent match. He has to feel it.

It can't be one-sided.

No one speaks. The Omega just stares at me for some time, and I think I spy something like sadness in his eyes.

He points at the nearest seat. "Please, sit."

I gaze at the upholstered chair. When was the last time I sat on something so soft?

"I insist."

I whirl back around, gazing at the Omega. I only spy sincerity in his eyes.

This is not a cruel trick after all.

In the end, I lower down on the seat, taking a moment to adjust to the softness.

It's amazing.

It does things to my soul, touching some deep primal part of me that yearns for comfort, and I fight back the tears in my eyes.

The Alphas aren't too happy. But I don't care about them.

All that matters is the Omega.

I find something like understanding in his light brown eyes, and he knows…

He knows I am fighting the urge to cry.

The clock ticks ominously on the mantle as all four males stare at me for a while, and even though I love my comfy seat, a part of me wants to go back to the cell.

At least I'm safe behind bars.

I'm not used to having so much freedom.

That one time in the woods was different.

This isn't quite the same.

The Omega sighs, planting his hands firmly on his knees. "S-so… I suppose introductions are long overdue. I am Brody, the Omega of this pack. And these are my Alphas."

No one speaks. I don't look at the Alphas.

Now that I am out of my cell, I don't feel so bold.

This is foreign territory.

I am out of my element.

My head swirls, and I become short of breath. But I keep my gaze focused on Brody.

So, that's his name.

It suits him.

Kellen growls when I gaze at his Omega for too long, but Brody shoots him a look.

The sound dies in the Alpha's throat, and I blink at Brody in wonder.

Wow… he's has superpowers.

Alphas are dangerous to Omegas. That is why I was taught that I needed to kill them.

Yet he has these three wrapped around his little finger.

Brody is a god.

He smiles when he catches the awe in my eyes. "Alphas, hey."

I have nothing to say in response.

The Omega studies me again for some time. Then he clears his throat and asks, "Do… do you have a name?"

The Alphas stiffen.

I do have a name, But I'm too afraid to announce it in front of them.

They're the enemy, and I won't give them a vital piece of myself.

So, I just tell him my assigned number. "Twenty-two."

Brody blinks. "Surely… you go by something else?"

I shake my head. "No, sir. That is the only name I have ever known."

A somber silence befalls the room, and I still can't take my eyes off Brody.

Now I spy genuine grief.

He grins. "Well, do you mind if I give you another name? Twenty-two just sounds so…"

Horrible, I know.

Like a catch-22.

Which pretty much sums up my life.

I'm too afraid to tell him no. So, I nod, letting him give me another name.

"Ooh, let's see!" He gets excited now, and I watch him curiously.

I've never met anyone with quite so much enthusiasm. It's… pleasant.

Nearly everyone I have met has been a crouchy bastard, and I try not to look at Theo.

"How about Diane!"

No. Not Diane.

"Rachel!"

Not Rachel either.

"Mildred?"

I fight hard to keep the disgust off my face.

"I know… Ariel!"

Something resurfaces from my memory, an old movie I watched as a child about a cartoon girl with a fishtail, and I meet his gaze.

"The Little Mermaid?"

Brody laughs. "Glad someone gets the reference!"

Kellen huffs. "I got it. I love that red-headed mermaid!"

A smile comes to my lips, and Brody won't stop staring at me.

Even the Alphas look at me astonished.

Brody smiles in return. "I take it that's the first smile you've had for a while…"

Wrong.

It's the first smile I've ever had in living memory.

Brody chuckles and stands. "Come, we can figure out a name for you later. You must be tired. Let's take you to your room."

My… room?

They're not taking me back to the cell?

Panic seizes me next, and Brody is the only one who catches on. "It's fine. You're safe… T-Twenty-two…"

Safe? Am I? Truly?

When I peer into his eyes, I find myself falling into oblivion, and only his hands can capture me.

I really am safe.

Brody won't hurt me.

He comes to my side and reaches out a hand. I tense, not knowing what to do.

I turn to the Alphas. They are poised to attack. After all, Alastor's warning rings clear.

No funny business.

"It's okay. You can take my hand…"

I swallow, reaching out a shaking hand. Our fingers touch, and I'm sure sparks fly at that moment.

My Omega stirs next, wanting to claim his throat immediately, but I merely freeze, not knowing what to do.

I'm pretty sure Brody feels it too, and I hope he does.

I can't be alone in this.

I am sick of being alone.

His pupils blow out, taking over his soft brown eyes, and then he stammers, pushing his glasses up his nose.

"W-well, then… l-let's go…"

He pulls me to my feet and then leads me up the stairs. He barks at his Alphas to stay behind. They resist at first, but in the end, they cave.

I pause before the bottom step, my lip shaking.

"It's fine. I've got you."

Again, I meet Brody's brown eyes.

He won't let me fall.

Finally, I take the first step and rise. I stumble a few times, but he puts his arms around me, and before long, we reach the top.

My heart pounds.

I haven't walked upstairs for a while; the guards at the prison always dragged me up.

Brody leads me to a room near the end of a hall with a beautiful wide window.

I stare out the glass in wonder.

The whole world…

Well, that's how it looks to me.

"Wait until you see the view from the window in your room."

That's right.

My room.

The blood rushes through my head. I've never had a room…

Only a cell.

Will there be a cage in my room, too?

Finally, Brody pushes the door, and the room beyond is revealed.

Soft carpets, soft bed, soft everything.

It's certainly not a cage. That's for sure.

"Go on. It's safe."

With shaking legs, I take the first step. Brody watches from the hall.

My breath comes in quick gasps as I gaze around, waiting for the catch.

There is always a catch.

"You must be tired. How about you sleep for some time?"

I stare at the bed.

When was the last time I even slept in such a large bed?

Brody remains outside. He's afraid of coming in and getting his scent on the carpet.

I don't mind.

He can rub his scent everywhere.

He can rub it on me…

"Well, I will leave you to it. My Alphas are worried about me."

I turn around quickly. I don't want him to go.

He smiles, spying the sentiment in my eyes. "It's fine. Twenty-two. I promise you are safe."

Well, when he says it, I believe it.

"Now, get some much-needed rest. Heaven knows you need it. You must have been through quite the ordeal."

I guess I have.

Finally, he shuts the door gently, and to my surprise, he doesn't even turn the key.

I gaze around the room.

It's all white and cream, and this is wrong…

I shouldn't be here; I will sully everything.

My eyes land on a closet.

It should suffice for a cage.