29. Ella

Chapter twenty-nine

Ella

I 'm a complete ball of jittering nerves as the long, white car finally arrives at the venue, and I don't move from my seat for a while.

Limousine. Not the 'long car.'

I'm so out of touch.

Brody squeezes my hand tightly, then says, "We're here."

I meet his earnest brown eyes.

So we are.

I'm not ready. How am I supposed to show these people that I'm reformed?

Because I'm totally not.

Just the other day, I was hiding in the closet beneath the stairs, clutching my knife as I was preparing to kill a Beta woman, and I am so far from reformed.

I'm still a killer, and now my nerves get the best of me.

Theo takes one cursory glance in my direction and then gets out of the limousine.

Kellen waits for Brody, but then Theo reaches back inside and drags him out.

Only Alastor remains.

The Alpha has been looking at me oddly the whole ride here. All three Alphas have, for that matter.

Except Theo pretended as if I didn't exist.

"It's fine, Twenty-two. I've got you."

I meet Brody's sweet fawn eyes. He only calls me Ella in private, and I'm grateful.

He preserved my greatest secret, and I know I made the right choice when I decided to give him my name.

I will happily tell him all my secrets from now on.

Alastor steps out next, and Brody follows suit. Once he's out of the limousine, he reaches his hand back inside.

"It's okay. I've got you, remember?"

He does. And I can't believe I ever doubted him.

So, I curl my fingers around his, letting him pull me out onto the sidewalk.

A long, red carpet leads to the steps of the venue. One that is in various states of disrepair.

Brody explains. "There was an explosion here a few months ago. S-someone tried to assassinate the governor."

My heart pounds.

Does he mean Gryphon?

My fists curl on the governor's behalf.

If it weren't for him, then I never would have met Brody.

I'd still be at the prison. I may even be dead.

But he gave me a chance.

So, if I ever get to meet the person who tried to kill him, then I will end them personally.

If they're still alive, that is.

"Don't worry. They died in the explosion. You're safe," Brody whispers.

Oh, I'm not worried. I'm just pissed that I never got to be the one who destroyed them.

Cameras flash next, and it's like a scene from a movie.

Why are they taking our pictures?

My heart thumps. I'm used to living a life in secrecy. Behind bars.

This is all too much.

But Brody has got me as he assured me numerous times, and now he leads me across the carpet, posing for the cameras.

He even helps me get in position, and in one shot, he puts his arms around me.

It's as if he's telling the world that I belong to him, and now we will be the talk of the town.

Our pictures may even make it all the way to the warden, wherever he is, and you know what, I hope he does come looking for me.

I have a score to settle.

Finally, we reach the inside of the building, and I realize then that Brody didn't get in a single picture with his Alphas.

Shit.

I didn't mean to steal him away from them, and now I finally understand why they all look at me so weirdly.

They're angry… I think.

Theo didn't even glance my way once.

It's far quieter inside the venue. But just as we get inside the safety of the lobby, I hear a commotion outside, and I finally spot the protestors.

Betas.

They hold up signs, and I try to read several.

Brody gazes at them and sighs. "Yeah, it's bad out there now. The Betas are getting fed up. After the attempt on the governor's life, they didn't see fit to elect a new Beta on the council. It's understandable. It's hard who to trust now, but Betas are revolting."

My heart thumps, and then I make a vow.

If anyone tries to hurt Brody, I will stain my hands with their blood.

Brody let me sneak a knife beneath my dress. He knew it would make me feel better.

Just so long as no one notices.

They search several people upon entry, but I manage to evade their detection.

While I'm happy, that just means that others managed to slip through.

Once again, I am on high alert as I stick close to Brody.

I don't even know what happened to the Alphas. It's only then that I pick up on the scent of lime, and that's when Alastor appears by my side.

He arches an eyebrow.

I raise my chin to him just as Brody tugs me away.

"Come on. Theo called us over. He's… talking with the governor. Shit… How do I look?"

I turn to the Omega incredulously. He isn't serious, right?

"You look amazing."

Brody grins. "No more amazing than you look. By the way, did you see the expressions on their faces?"

I assume he's talking about the Alphas, and I bow my head. "I didn't mean…"

"Hey, it's fine, Ella."

He whispers the name then takes my chin. "Make them pay. They've treated you nothing short of dirt."

My heart hammers, but I still feel so ashamed.

I am stealing his Alphas' attention away.

And in turn, I am stealing him away from them.

Brody pushes me along gently. "Come, it's time to meet the governor. F-fudge… his Omega is with him. Oliver is famous."

"He is?"

"The first male Omega to perfume ever … Darn. He will think I'm a nerd."

I snort. "No, he won't."

As we get closer to Theo, I recognize the other Alpha on Gryphon's side, and it's Jeremy.

His eyes find mine at the same time, and he blinks several times.

Gryphon turns his head, and he too, looks surprised when he sees me.

I guess I am a different girl from the one they knew at the prison.

"Twenty-two…" Jeremy whispers, and he still can't take his stunned gray eyes off me.

Gryphon has a bit more restraint, and that's when he turns to speak to Theo. "So, I see she is settling in quite well. Your Omega has already taken a shine to her, I see."

Theo grinds his teeth. "I suppose…"

Brody is barely present. He can't stop staring at Gryphon's Omega.

The other Omega, Oliver, smiles, showcasing his nice white teeth. "I take it you're Brody."

Brody's eyes expand, and then he laughs nervously. "Holy… you know my name?"

Oliver nods at Theo. "Your Alpha was just talking about you."

"All… all good stuff, I hope," Brody titters.

I smile at Brody. He's so cute when he's starstruck.

Brody sucks in a breath. "I… I just want to say thank you. You really turned a tide at the Academy, and now Omegas can receive all kinds of combat training."

Oliver's grin widens. "Glad to hear it. See? Told you it'd work." He nudges Gryphon playfully with his elbow.

"Of course, I do archery. I'm quite good at it now, but to be honest… I'm not much of a fighter."

Brody gazes down at the ground, and his expression wrenches on my gut.

He is a fighter.

He's stronger than he realizes, but it's okay. He has me to fight for him.

I will gouge the eyes of anyone here tonight who looks at him wrong.

Oliver shakes Brody's hand. "That's quite all right. Besides, it's never too late to train. Now that you're free of that hellhole, maybe your Alphas can teach you."

Brody looks at Theo hopefully.

Theo, however, looks a little caught off guard, his champagne glass halfway to his lips.

Screw Theo; I will teach Brody how to fight.

Oliver peers my way at last, and I finally meet those ocean-blue eyes. "You must be Twenty-two. I'm Oliver. My sister is really looking forward to meeting you tonight."

His sister?

Why?

Jeremy glances behind his shoulder, and that's when his gaze lands on another pair of Omegas.

One is male and the other female.

I can only see the male at the moment. His moss-green eyes brighten when he catches Jeremy's gaze.

His face rings a bell. But it's faint.

I know we have met before. Most likely during the time I was in Jeremy's custody.

But it's all a blur now.

He taps the female Omega's shoulder, the one with long black hair, and when she turns, I meet those familiar ocean-blue eyes.

The world stops.

My old cellmate.

A fellow Rogue.

Somehow, I don't feel so alone anymore.

She moves closer and stops between Jeremy and Oliver, and there's no missing the shine in her eyes.

My could-be friend…

Maybe I can finally get a chance to apologize for screaming in her face.

"It's you…" she whispers, and I can't speak.

Because once again, I see myself in that cold cell, shivering on the ground.

There is so much I would like to say to her. But words fail me.

Oliver grins, placing his arm around her, and it's easy to see they're siblings now.

The same ocean eyes.

"Twenty-two, this is my sister, Belle."

Belle smiles shyly. "But you can call me Twenty-three if you like."

My eyes pop.

The guys fall silent.

Brody looks at me curiously.

Jeremy winces. "Belle, you no longer have to go by that name…"

She sighs. "I don't, but I just want to show Twenty-two that she is not alone here tonight. That she's not the only number. That… that we both harbor the same scars…"

Finally, she shows me her wrist, and I spy the number 23.

Just like mine.

Now I extend my own arm, and she smiles when she sees my own tattoo.

But, of course, mine has the number 22.

We make a silent vow to each other then.

We will find the warden.

But until then, we will enjoy our freedom and learn what it is to truly live.

When I see her here with her pack, I start to believe that I can be happy too.

Happy with Brody.

He's all I need in this world.