Chapter 51: Chapter 51

I sigh yet again.

Trees run along the roadside as the car speeds ahead. My eyes stare out of the window dully. What is wrong with me?

I didn’t think I’d miss him like this.

Maybe this is karma for telling Luke you’d be glad to have some time being single again when you were leaving. I crinkle my nose at my thoughts. I shake my head as if trying to ward off the gloom cloud.

The SUV is enveloped by unbearable silence. The two guards sitting across me, dressed in dark suits look like they’ve swallowed gum.

No, I’m not going to act like a lovesick puppy. I’m going back to mom, to Carlos and Angelina and Morgan. My family.

That thought cheers me up a little.

Not much interested in making conversation with my guards, I content myself with the scenery outside the window. The sun is rising, scattering its golden light all over the earth. Only a millennium later, I see the familiar streets of

Minneapolis, the hustle of the city, and soon, we’re racing down the earthen road to the pack estate.

The car stops and just as the doors unlock, I jump out of the damned vehicle and take a deep, deep breath.

“Ms. Attwood, we have orders to guide you up to the very entrance.” One of the guards says in a deep, gravelly voice

I nod at him and start towards the main gates, holding myself back from breaking into a sprint. Once I cross the threshold, the guards bid me goodbye and turn away.

As if a leash has been broken, I sprint forward towards the vast gardens. Everything is exactly the way it was seven weeks ago.

No one to greet me, no celebratory preparations even though they had received word that I would be arriving today.

Why is the familiar behavior making me grin?

Because it doesn’t matter anymore, and I don’t want to feel sentimental about leaving this place.

I reach the omega quarters, the little building makes a rush of homesickness go through me.

I take a deep breath outside the door, my hands trembling from the onslaught of emotions. I grab the handle, turn and enter.

The living room is dark, even the window curtains are drawn. Furrowing my brows, I reach for the light switch and flick it up.

“WELCOME HOME!”

I’m frozen in my place, stunned by the decorated living room, all of the omegas grinning at me. Angelina is holding a

huge cake in her arms.

“Elise my dear!”

The next moment I’m engulfed in a puff of motherly love as mom crushes me in her arms. I faintly register the tears flowing out of her eyes as she kisses my cheeks, my forehead.

“Mom, I’m okay.” A watery laugh escapes me as I wipe her cheeks

“That’s my girl,” Morgan says, patting me hard on the back, her grin as fierce as always

“Do you like it?” Angelina asks nervously, gesturing at the decorations

“You, all of you, I didn’t think,” words betray me, those bastards and I hug mom and Morgan “I missed you all so much.”

“You missed your birthday,” Kassy says, coming up to me with a smile “So we thought we should make it up to you.”

“Thank you,” I’m saying, a little shaken by this happiness that has pounced on me so unexpectedly “All of you,” I gesture to everyone in the living room “This is more than what I would’ve ever expected.”

“You don’t need to thank us,” a scrawny boy says, I remember his name to be Victor “We should thank you, you’ve

given all of us something to be proud of.”

A loud clang of agreement rings through the air, everyone is hugging me, taking pictures, giving me cards of what

they think about my adventure.

You’re the bravest Omega I know.

I want to be as strong and resilient as you are.

You show them higher wolves that we Omegas aren’t less than anyone.

I’m still marveling at the ingenuity of this whole ordeal when I hear a familiar voice;

“Seems like you’ve forgotten me, Elise.”

I whirl around, the cards still in my hand when I see him, dressed in his warrior’s uniform. Carlos flashes me his

usual crooked grin and the next thing I know is that I collide hard with him, wrapping my arms around his neck,

almost knocking him off his feet.

“How can I ever forget you, you bastard?” I ask, grinning widely

“You’re still the little shit I remember you to be,” Carlos laughs, ruffling my hair

“Idiot,” I give him a mock glare

The party goes by in a haze of me telling my stories, eating cake, asking how things have been in the pack, telling them about the crowning ceremony.

A few hours later, I’m curled on my bed, relishing the familiar feeling of my head in mom’s lap, her hand stroking my head.

“You’re hair has gotten so damaged, dear.” Mom says gently “But it’ll be fine. I’ll mix up my herbal oil, it does wonders for the hair.”

I hmm, mindlessly trailing my fingers on the sheets, mind running a thousand miles per second.

“Mom,” I finally say “I met him.”

Mom’s hand stops moving, I hesitantly push myself in a sitting position, looking at her startled face.

Then she seems to snap out of her stupor.

“Who? When? Where is he?”

“I can't tell you who,” I give her a teasing smile “But I met him on the Hunt, he’s dealing with some important stuff right now.”

“Who is he?” Mom takes my hands in hers, a wide smile on her face, eyes crinkled “What is he like? Tell me!”

“You’ll just have to meet him,” I laugh “But I can tell you what he’s like. He’s a dominating, bossy, perfectionist. But he’s good to me, he tends to get overprotective but I can sway his mind. Sometimes.”

“An Alpha,” Mom muses, I nod “What of your rank? I swear to all that is holy if he even thinks—

“No,” I say quickly “No, he doesn’t care about that. He doesn’t care about anything other than making sure I stay with him.”

“So where is he now?” Mom asks impatiently “When will he ask for your hand in marriage?”

“He’ll come to get us in a few days,” I tell her “But geez, mom, I’m not getting married so soon.”

“It’s the proper way, dear.”

We’ll just have to see about that, wouldn’t we?

“What does he look like?” Mom asks me excitedly, I shake my head “Come on dear, I need to know just how cute my grandchildren will be.”

Blood rushes to my face “Mom!”

She laughs and pinches my cheek “Just teasing dear,”

I give her a brooding look, she nudges me.

“Fine, just one thing,” I finally give in “He has the most hypnotizing blue eyes. There. I’m not ruining the surprise more.”

Mom squeals like an over-excited school girl. I can't help but smile, adoration welling up inside me. soon, I’ll take her far away to New York, where she’ll be allowed whatever she pleases.

The door knocks, Morgan peeks in “Sorry to disturb the mother-daughter time, but we need to go Juliette.”

“Where?” I furrow my brows

Mom sighs as she gets off the bed and puts on her shoes “We have to go shopping with Luna, dear. You know Morgan and I always go with her.”

“Can't you stay?” I ask, like a child asking her mom to sleep in the same room

“I tried to sway her,” Morgan says with a sigh “But you know Fay, she’s stubborn.”

Mom presses a kiss to my head and leaves with Morgan, the door closes behind. I huff. I know why Luna insisted on going shopping just now, to let me know it's not a big deal that I’m back.

Well, mother-in-law, I hope you can swallow your hate for me for your son.

I leave the Omega quarters and step out only to see two-pack warriors coming in my direction. They stop a short

distance away and exchange a glance.

“What?” I raise an eyebrow

One of them, a heavy-set man with dark eyes, Eamon, clears his throat.

“You have to leave, Attwood.”

“What?”

The other one, Kyle, holds out something for me. I take it and realizations hit me. My contract.

“The Alpha says that you and your mother are to leave in an hour.” He says

“But mom’s not even here!” I give them a fierce look

Eamon shrugs, Kyle only looks away before they both walk away, leaving me in a confused panic.

I race back inside the quarters and pick up the landline, remembering the contact no. Luke gave me I dial. the call rings. He doesn’t pick up.

“Damn you, Winters,” I grumble and dial Casper’s number. He doesn’t pick up either.

Is that part of that stupid ritual? That no one contacts them?

I slam the phone down. Think, Elise! You idiot, why didn’t you remember this? Maybe I can use the money mom saved for my wedding? Go with the original plan and stay in a hotel for a day or two? Luke can find me, I can give

Carlos the address of the place.

Nodding, I hurry to my room and pack all my things and quickly scribble two notes.

I hurry out of the quarters, a few thousand dollars in my bag. I run into Angelina on the way out.

“What are you doing?” she asks me, eyeing the bag

“Leaving this soon forsaken place,” I say “My contract, remember? I’m sure everyone knows of it.”

“Rumors.” Angelina nods, her brows furrowed “But, Elise, you can't leave?”

“Seems like I am,” Easy words, coming to me as if they don’t mean anything

Her eyes become the size of the moon “But where will you go?!” She asks

“I have a place in my mind.” I give her one of the two letters “Give mom this, it explains everything.”

With a troubled face, she nods. I quickly go around her towards the pack warrior residence.

“Carlos!” I call as I near the training grounds

Beta Drake glares at me, then he barks something at Carlos, he mutters something before quickly jogging towards me.

“What’s up?” he asks, but his eyes flicker to the bag “Elise, don’t tell me you’re—

“Leaving,” I nod “I have to go quick, brother. But do me a favor?”

He nods, but the tension in his shoulders tells me he doesn’t like this.

I give him a little piece of paper “This is the address of the hotel I’m going to, when Luke comes back, you have to give him this.”

His eyes widen, but brows furrow “Why? What am I supposed to say to him?”

“Just, don’t ask questions,” I tell him “Give him this, tell him Elise says he’s an idiot for not picking up.”

His eyes widen further “I can't say that to the Alpha Supreme! He’s going to have my head.”

Trust me, saying that might save everyone a lot of trouble.

“Just give it to him.” I say “Please.”

“Okay, okay,” he exhales “You drag me in the craziest things.”

I grin, adrenaline and recklessness mix in a dangerous blend in my veins. This is what I wanted, a chance to run free,

to put my unquiet mind to use, to follow all the crazy ideas that pop into it.

I’d be lying if I say I’m not enjoying this adventure.

I’d probably end up telling mom everything when she comes to the hotel.

I turn around, to see Angelina running up to us.

“Here,” she huffs “I got this for your birthday.”

She holds out a little packed box. I accept it with a smile and put it in my bag.

“Thank you, Lina.” I hug her “Don’t miss me too much, I’ll come to see you again.”

“Would they let you?” Carlos asks, his voice taut

I turn to him with a grin “I’d like to see them try to stop me.”

“Lost your head on the Hunt, Alice?”

I cringe as the familiar voice reaches me, slowly, not wanting to, I turn to look in the direction of the voice to see

Casper’s twin. Darcie’s grey are eyes just like his, but lacking any of his joviality or kindness.

“Finally, we’re purging crap like you.” Darcie smirks, crossing her arms “It’s about damn time.”

I give her a passive look “Trust me, I’m the lucky one in that situation.”

“Smart talk all you want, Elise.” Darcie sneers at me “But now everyone knows what you are. A selfish bitch. People have it worse than you, but you just have to make it look like our pack has been horrible to you.”

Maybe seven weeks ago, I’d be angry at her words, wanting to prove her wrong, but right now only a humorless chuckle escapes me.

“You’re right, Darcie.” I nod, mirth filled in my voice “I’m a selfish bitch, one who would steal all she isn’t given.

One who’s learned to lick freedom off the knives since she wasn’t fed by a spoon.”

I lean forward, my voice low and haughty when I say;

“And I don’t regret it.”

I straighten myself, ignoring the look of surprise on her face. Giving Carlos and Angelina a parting glance, I turn around, ready to start a new chapter of my life. Life is no longer dependent on the whims of strangers.

But my feet stop. His isn’t the ending I want this chapter to have.

I turn back, a grin on my face.

“And I don’t regret this either,”

My knuckles slam against Darcie’s nose.

That moment is forever burned in my memory when Darice loses her balance, arms failing, and falls on her behind in an ungraceful heap.

I whirl around and sprint for the gates she yells for the warriors, a laugh bubbles past my lips and I know they can't catch me now. The one thing I learned on this Hunt is to run.

At the gates, I cast one final look back. Darcie’s nose is swallowed, she’s yelling something and Beta Drake is trying to calm her down. The warriors look amused and surprised, Angelina is grinning and so is Carlos.

Darcie’s livid gaze meets mine. I grin at her and give them all a two-finger salute before I call;

“Hasta La Vista, Bitches!”