Chapter Text
You kept your eyes on the floor. That was the rule. If you didn’t follow it you’d be punished. Around you people groaned, coughed and complained about the wait time. The emergency room was filled to the brim and you’d already been waiting for about six hours. Potent and sour scents made you nauseous. You could only hope that you’d be called back soon.
“Katrina Johnson.” The name rings out over the noise of the room. By the time you had been called back, you had been waiting for about eight hours.
“Remember the fucking rules.” The alpha that brought you in, Doug, growled in your ear as he grasped your arm and pulled you to stand harshly.
He pushed you in front of him, making you stumble before you made your way through the crowded room towards a nurse waiting at the door.
“Hello, my name is Donnie. I’ll be helping you today. What seems to be the problem?” He gives you a soft smile while typing on the computer in front of him.
“She’s been complaining about a stomach ache for a week.”
“I’m sorry, you are?” Donnie looked between you and the alpha beside you.
“I’m Doug. She’s my omega.”
The phrase makes you wince. You hated him with all your might. Doug was just a few years older with a receding hairline, bad hygiene and a belly that poked out from the bottom of his shirt.
Donnie seemed to notice your reaction so he squats down to be at your level. His scent was soft, a beta. He smiled again while trying to make eye contact with you.
“What area of your stomach hurts?” Donnie asks a few questions and Greg answers all of them. “I’m going to have some bloodwork done and see if we can get you something for the pain.”
Greg moves to stand in front of you like a guard. As if he actually cared for you. Further into the emergency room Donnie is explaining the odd situation to one of the doctors.
“Hello, I’m Dr. McKay. Donnie told me you were having pain in your abdominal area. May I take a look?”
“The nurse already did this. Why do you have to do it again? Can’t you just give her something for the pain? We’ve been here all day.” Doug snaps at the doctor.
She gives him a nasty side eye before turning her attention to you. Dr. McKay does another exam and asks questions. If Doug answers she asks again until you respond.
“We’ll be running all the tests Donnie explained earlier but I’m going to admit you. If you need anything in the meantime just ask.” Dr. McKay informs you directly before stepping away.
She moves quickly through the crowded department until she reaches the central hub. Two very caring but imposing alphas are huddled together going over a few patients. McKay doesn’t waste any time.
“Robby, Abbot we have a situation.” She says before they can even ask what’s going on.
They both turn. Robby looks at her over the glasses perched on the tip of his nose. Jack straightens even more as he scans the area.
“An omega is in triage with abdominal pain-“
“That’s no cause for alarm.” Robby cuts her off.
“No but the alpha that’s guarding her and not letting her speak is. She’s in pain, filthy, won’t make eye contact, won’t speak and there’s no scent.”
Both men curse under their breath.
“No suppressants or scent blockers?”
McKay shook her head no.
Jack moves to get security and to keep an eye on the triage area. Robby turns to both the day shift and night shift charge nurses. He gives them instructions to contact the police and social services.
Scents were one of the most important things alphas, betas and omegas had. It could tell you so much without having to say a thing. At a base level the notes of a scent could tell you the designation of a person. Through a scent you could tell an array of emotions and even if the person was ill. Only when a person is old will their scent lose some potency but it’s never completely gone. So to have someone, especially a young omega, with no scent at all meant they were severely traumatized. In your case it meant something worse than an accident or severe illness.
Some security guards step up to listen to Robby’s instructions.
“Let’s get her into central seven. That way we have eyes on them at all times. We don’t do or say anything to alert the alpha that we are suspicious. The most important thing is to make sure she does not leave this building with him. Let’s try and separate them at some point and see if she’ll tell us anything.” Robby says as he looks at the team around him.
****
You’d never really had an issue with alphas before this. Now you fear most of them. But the alpha that had stationed himself a few feet away grabbed your attention. He stood up straight, hands behind his back, a quiet strength about him. It was obvious he was important. Not because he was scary but because people respected him. You felt it in your bones that if you could get to him that he would save you.
Donnie steps in front of your line of vision. He smiles warmly as he positions a wheelchair in front of you. “Alright Katrina, we are going to move you into a room so that we can do those tests I told you about. Why don’t you sit?”
“She can walk.” Doug said, annoyed that someone would dare to be kind to you.
“Hospital policy.”
You look up at Doug and wait for his permission before you do anything. He nods and you stand in shaky legs before sitting on the wheelchair. Donnie takes the brakes off and pushes the chair through the hallway. Just as you get to the end, the Alpha you had seen earlier turns to look at you. His eyes are warm and kind. You want to reach out to beg for help but you’re terrified and he can see it.
****
Jack’s heart hurts for you. It takes all but a quick look from him to confirm what he already suspected. You look up at him with panicked, pleading eyes and a wobbly frown. Tears are pooling on your lash line and Jack knows that you won’t be leaving here with the alpha jerk that brought you in. The moment Donnie takes you into the room you were assigned Jack moves.
“I think it’s more than just domestic abuse. Maybe trafficking.” Jack murmurs to Robby and Kiara, the social worker.
“I already have cops on the way. I told them to wait outside so as to not spook him.”
“Good. Now all we need is to separate them to see if she’ll say anything.” Jack looks over his shoulder. “I’ll take over her care.”
“That might bring us more trouble.”
“I’d love for him to try something.” Jack all but growls.
****
“Hello, I’m Dr. Abbot. I will be in charge of your care today.”
“What happened to the other doctor?” Doug grunts from the seat beside you.
“Dr. McKay will be in to make sure you’re ok but I’m one of the Attendings and I like to make sure everything is going according to plan.”
“Well it’s not. We’ve been here for hours because this weak bitch can’t handle a little pain.” Doug complains with a sneer in your direction that makes you shrink even more into yourself.
“If you’re going to be rude I’ll have to ask you to step out. The last thing a person that’s ill needs is added stress.”
“C’mon man. You know how weak these omegas are. They’re sensitive little pains in the ass.” Doug spits. “She should be on her hands and knees thanking me for bringing her here to begin with.”
Jack takes a deep breath to calm himself. It takes everything he has to not leap over the bed and throttle this bad excuse of an alpha. Instead he turns to you while Doug turns his attention back to his phone. Jack fidgets around with the heart monitor just so that he can stay a bit longer. As discreetly as he can, Jack takes your hand for a moment and squeezes it in reassurance. It’s the first time that you look up since he entered the room and there seems to be some relief behind your eyes when he smiles.
“Based on your pain I’m going to add a CT scan to rule out anything that won’t show up on a blood test. Someone will be in to take you up soon.”
****
“Where the hell do you think you’re taking her?” Doug growled as he walked back into the small room you’d been moved into.
Dr. McKay and Dana, the charge nurse, had started to wheel you out when Doug stepped away to use the bathroom. He glared at both women while trying to block the gurney from moving.
“We’re just taking her to get a CT done.” Dr. McKay answers.
“I’m going with you.”
“Only the patient can go in to get a CT. You’ll have to wait here.” Dana speaks up.
“I’m going with her or she doesn’t get the test done.”
“She’s getting this test done whether you like it or not. Now move out of the way before I call security and have them escort you out.”
“Listen you omega bitch-“ Doug spits at Dana. He takes a step closer. You shrink against the bed even more, afraid of what will happen next.
“Is there a problem here?” Dr. Abbot steps in front of Dana.
“I’m going with her.”
“No. You’ll sit here and wait. As Dana said, if you cause any more trouble or interfere with treatment for Katrina I’ll personally walk you out of the hospital, understood?”
Doug glares at him but nods. Dr. Abbot motions for him to step out of the way. Dana and Dr. McKay move quickly. You are shivering at the thought of what to do next. Dana opens a door to a room and they wheel you in. Another alpha is standing by a corner, away from any potential prying eyes.
“Hello Katrina, my name is Dr. Robinavitch but you can call me Robby.” He introduces himself as he takes a seat in the rolling stool and moves closer to you. “We’re concerned about your wellbeing and we’d like to ask a few questions. Is that ok?”
You keep your eyes on your fidgety hands but nod. The three of them sigh in relief at the possibility of your cooperation.
“My stomach doesn’t hurt.” You whisper.
“I’m sorry, what did you say?”
“My stomach doesn’t hurt.” You repeat. “I’ve been faking it all week so he didn’t have a choice but to bring me in.” You finally begin to sob. Your hands covering your face. “What have I done? He’s going to kill me when he finds out.”
“Hey, it’s ok,” Dana runs her hand up and down your arm to try and reassure you. “You did the right thing, kid.”
“Please! Ple-ase,” you Hiccup between sobs as you grab on to Dana for dear life. “He’ll kill us if he finds out. You can’t tell him.”
Robby looks at both women. Eyes full of rage and concern. “He’s not going to hurt you anymore.”
“What do you mean ‘us’, Katrina?”
“My name isn’t Katrina.” You say once you’ve started to calm down. “It’s Y/N. He has other omegas at the house. Alphas come and take whoever they want. He’ll hurt them if I don’t go back.”
“He won’t.”
“You have to take me back. Please, I can’t let them get hurt.” You look between McKay and Dana, begging them to listen to you.
“Y/N, listen to me.” Robby said quietly before looking through the small glass window at the door to make sure Doug wasn’t looking for you.
Your eyes were red rimmed and filled with fear. The alpha in him wanted to go out there and rip Doug into pieces for ever laying a hand on you. Instead Robby takes a deep breath and runs his hand over his face.
“We have cops outside. All you have to do is say the word and they’ll arrest Doug. You’ll be safe here with us and the cops will find those omegas and bring them in.”
“You called the cops?” Your eyes flickered up for the first time since being brought in.
“Yes. But you have to give us something. Please.”
“He took me to his house. Kept me locked in the basement. Then he tried to sell me to a disgusting alpha. If I don’t do what he says he hits me.” You looked up, first at McKay and then at Dana. “You believe me, right?”
“Of course we do, honey.” Dana leans in for a side hug. “Let us help you. I know it’s scary but you’ve been so brave up to this point. What do you say?”
You nod your head slowly. “You believe me too, right?” Your eyes are on Robby now. Quietly begging for him to believe you.
“Of course I do.”
Robby looks at both women before giving them a small nod of his own. He pulls out his phone from his pocket and makes a call.
“He’ll be arrested shortly. Dana will stay here with you until Doug is in custody.” Robby says softly before getting up and heading back to the central hub.
“How is she?” Jack asked Robby the moment he leaned against the nurses station.
“Terrified. You were right. It’s a trafficking ring.”
Jack’s jaw tightened as he turned to look across to the alpha that was sitting in your room. He had half a mind of going over there and beating him within an inch of his life. Just then one of the uniformed officers steps in through the ambulance bay doors. He’s a tall wide wall of muscles. Robby nods at him and the officer nods back before moving to the room he’d been given.
“Sir, I need you to stand up and put your hands behind your back.” The command left no room for argument but it seemed like Doug didn’t care.
“What for?”
“You’re under arrest for kidnapping and abuse towards an omega.” He informs the poor excuse of an alpha in front of him.
“You’ve got to be kidding me.” Doug stands and sidesteps the officer. He sees McKay and heads right towards her. “Where the fuck is that ungrateful bitch? I’m going to kill her!”
The officer grabs Doug and starts pulling him away. You stand with Dana by your side, watching as Doug gets pulled back by two officers now. He sees you and sneers in your direction. Doing spews hateful insults in your direction. The whole department is watching as he fights against his restraints.
“Tell them you lied.” He used an alpha command on you.
Your eyes water, “I-I” you look to the side and see Dr. Abbot and Robby watching you. There was something about the way they looked at you, as if they could keep you safe from everything, that reassured you. “I’m not lying.” It came out stronger than you felt.
It angers him in a way you’ve never seen. Especially as you stand there defiantly. Doug manages to free himself from the cops’ grip and he runs at you. He grabs your wrist with such strength you can feel a pop. Doug screams in your face just as his hand comes down and makes contact with your cheek. To your credit you fight back as hard as you can, leaving deep scratches on his face with your uninjured hand. Your fist connects with his nose. Then he’s ripped away from you. Dr. Abbot has him pinned on the floor until the cops can get handcuffs on him. When Doug is pulled back up to his feet you notice the blood dripping from his nose.
He deserves worse. You think.
The cops pull Doug away. The moment he’s out of sight all strength leaves your body. Your legs give out but Dana catches you. Suddenly people are moving around you. Dr. Abbot and Robby are at your side in a few short strides.
“Why was she out here?” Robby demands an answer from Dana.
“She needed to see him get arrested.”
“Don’t be mad, please.” You plead from the floor where Robby is looking over you.
“I’m not mad. Just worried.” Robby’s voice softens as he looks at you.
“Let’s get her back on the gurney and then I want IVs in place. Let’s treat dehydration. Let’s get x-rays for her wrist and I want full lab work done.” Dr. Abbot orders as he gets back up.
Dana and Robby help you onto the gurney and then you’re being taken back to a room. Robby finds a blanket and lays it over you while Dana grabs everything she needs to place an IV. She works slowly, explaining everything she’s doing so that you won’t get scared. After she’s done she introduces you to the night shift charge nurse Lena.
The results show previously broken bones and an infection in your blood. Caused by the untreated wounds on your skin. Jack takes care of cleaning them personally.
“I’m going home for the night but I’ll see you bright and early, ok?” She says softly while taking your hand in hers.
You nod in response as she tilts her head to the side to catch your eye better. She gives you another small smile before pulling away. You’re left alone in the small room. Tears fall against your will. Your first moment of freedom wasn’t what you expected as you thought about what just happened. Exhaustion hit you in full force and you fall asleep quickly.
****
The cool night air does nothing to ease the burning anger consuming Robby at the moment. He couldn’t stop seeing how scared you were or hearing your uncontrollable sobs. There was no logical reason for this to affect him so much. He’d seen plenty of omegas in abusive relationships. He would help as best as he could and move on. But this was different. You were different.
Soft footsteps pull Robby from his thoughts. Jack stops beside him, a quiet, thoughtful expression on his face.
“How is she?”
“Asleep. The adrenaline wore off.” Jack informs him quietly.
“Good.”
“You ok?” Jack leans in then. His chest grazing Robby’s side and a hand going to his lower back.
Robby nods without looking at his mate.
“Liar. I can feel it through our bond.”
“She was terrified. It took everything in me to not just hold her and promise her I’d keep her safe.”
“Me too.” Jack murmurs. “But she won’t have to see him again. She’s safe now.”
Robby nods but the feeling of helplessness doesn’t ease with his mate’s words.
****
Cops were back in the ED in the evening. Robby had been long gone, leaving Jack to deal with the situation. They ask to speak with you in order to get an official statement. Dread pooled in Jack’s stomach at the thought of having you recount your experience. But he knew it was also important to get justice.
Jack knocks on the door before slipping in quietly and explains the situation. He hates the look of fear overcome you but he reassures you that it’s a good thing. The detectives come in and take a seat.
“I’m detective Jones and this is my partner detective Reed.” The woman said.
“Do you mind doc?” Reed nods towards the door and you whimper when Jack puts his hand on the doorknob. They all turn to look at you. “Do you want him to stay?”
You nod. They turn to Jack and he nods in agreement. He only pokes his head out to let Lena know what’s going on before closing the door again and moving closer to your side.
“Can you tell us when you first met Doug Morris?”
You play with the hem of the blanket covering your legs and take a deep breath.
“I got home from work one day. I used to live with my dad because he has health issues. That day Doug was there and my dad said I had to go with him.” You took in a shuddering breath trying to keep your tears at bay. “I said I didn’t want to but my dad slapped me and said I didn’t have a choice. Then Doug just grabbed me and threw me into the back of his van.”
The detectives write everything down. They begin asking more questions. Things that you wanted to forget. Things that made you feel ashamed.
“Did he ever force himself on you?” Detective Jones asks quietly.
“No, not him.”
“Who?”
“He had brought another alpha over. A friend. Told me that I had to take care of his friend.”
Jack’s stomach was knotted. He felt so much anger and disgust over what he was hearing.
“How were you supposed to take care of him?”
A few tears slipped then. You hid your face behind your hands, ashamed of what had happened.
“Hey, it’s ok.” Jack whispered beside you. He wanted to reach out but didn’t. “We can take a break.”
You shook your head, wanting to get things over with as quickly as possible. “He made me take his friend to a room and I was supposed to let him knot me. But I couldn’t. I begged him to let me go.” You cried.
“What happened then?”
“He threw me on the bed and tried to rip my clothes off. But I didn’t let him.”
“What happened next?”
“I kicked him in his knot.” You say with a faraway look in his eye, as if you were reliving that moment. “Hard.”
Jack and Reed couldn’t help but grimace while Jones smirked.
“Good.” She said, “You’ve been very brave.”
After that there were more questions. You told them about how Doug beat you after that situation. He threw you into a cage in the basement for months. There was barely any food and most of it was rotting. You had become the punching bag for Doug since you fought anyone that tried to touch you. They learned about the other omegas and how you did your best to protect them along with another omega.
“We have taken pictures of the wounds she came in with. We can also provide medical records, with Y/N’s permission of course. It will show severe dehydration, infection due to open and untreated cuts as well as malnutrition. There are also the old poorly healed fractures.” Jack informs.
At some point you had grabbed Jack’s hand and didn’t let go. As furious he was for what you went through, he remained a steady and safe person for you. When the detectives leave you feel like a weight has been lifted off your shoulders.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The next morning Robby came in earlier than usual. He carried a brown paper bag with a few pastries. Some for Jack and some for you. He wanted to be able to provide some comfort in any way he could.
“Good thing you’re early.” Jack says when he sees Robby walk in. “Cops raided that asshole’s house. The survivors are enroute as we speak.”
“Good. Let me put my things away. I’ll be back.”
Jack watches Robby head into the locker room before turning to Lena. He gives her instructions to have any available room prepped for the omegas that are on their way in. Jack checks in on another patient before getting himself ready for what he may see.
On the other side of the ED Robby enters your room slowly. The lights are dim and the privacy curtain is closed completely. Robby calls your name softly, receiving a small whimper in response.
“Good morning.” Robby says when he lays eyes on you. “How are you feeling?”
You don’t really look at him. Just in his general direction but your eyes are low enough that it seems like respect for an alpha and not fear. He hates it. “Good.”
“Did you sleep well?”
“Yes.”
“You know, you don’t have to lie. Trying to sleep in the ED is the worst. All the monitors and someone always coming in to check vitals right as you’re about to fall asleep. It’s kind of horrible.”
You nod, a ghost of a smile on your lips. Warmth pools in Robby’s chest when he catches it.
“I have two things for you. The first is some breakfast. You can have as many as you want.” Robby sets the bag on the tray table and slides it closer to the bed. “The second is some good news.”
You perk up at that part.
“The police went to Doug’s house and found the other omegas. They’ll be brought here to be taken care of.”
“Really? They’re free?” Your voice was small but hopeful.
“Really. You should be very proud. It was a very brave thing you did.”
You fluster at his words. This big, important alpha that could command the attention of everyone around him thought you were brave. It made your heart flutter and the heart monitor betrayed you by beeping loudly at the change. His eyes flicker up at the monitor and then back at you. He smiles enough that his eyes crinkle at the corners. It’s endearing and for the first time in a long time you feel something other than fear.
“I’ll come back to check on you later, ok?”
You nod and watch as he leaves. The minute he’s out of sight you snatch the bag of pastries. You can’t remember the last time you ate something that wasn’t at the verge or rotting. The croissant was still warm and gone in about three bites. You take a big sip of orange juice Lena had given you earlier before taking a cheese and strawberry danish. With how fast you were eating you’d probably get a stomach ache but you didn’t care. It was all so good and so gone in the matter of minutes. Afterwards you were able to fall into a light sleep, something you desperately needed.
****
There’s a blood curdling scream that rips you out of your sleep. It makes you sit up in bed, disoriented by your surroundings until the sound of the heart monitor brings you back down to reality. The screaming is coming from the hallway. You get up and head to the door to get a better look. Caleb, one of the omegas that had been kept in the basement of Doug’s house, was in the room across from yours. You don’t really think it through, you just react. The IV is pulled from your arm and all of the other wires are left behind as you push your way through the group of medical professionals trying to do their jobs.
“You’re scaring him. Stop it.” You say as you move further into the room. One of the nurses, Jesse you think his name was, pulls out a syringe. Without second thought you slap it out of his hand. “STOP IT! EVERYONE STOP IT! YOU’RE SCARING HIM.” You stand beside the hospital bed and grab Caleb’s hand who is curled into a ball.
Robby is at the door just as you finished yelling, leaving everyone stunned. He walks in slowly in order to give you time to adjust to his presence. You’re murmuring reassurances to Caleb while also shielding him from the alphas in the room.
“What is going on here?” Robby asks softly.
You look up at him with wide eyes and a pout. He wants to reach out and comfort you but you seem like you’re ready to fight everyone in the room.
“He doesn’t like male alphas. Can-can someone else help him?” You ask. “Please.”
“Ok.” Robby looks around the room. “Langdon go get Santos. Jesse, Mateo switch out with Perlah and Princess.” He turns to look at you. “I’ll step out but I have to be at the door to oversee everything.”
“Can I stay? He’ll let them help if I’m here.”
“Of course you can.”
A young woman walks in, an irritated look on her face before her eyes find you and the omega cowering on the bed. Her eyes soften as she moves closer.
“I’m Dr. Santos and I will be helping you today. Can you tell me where it hurts?” She asks with a softness that has your shoulders sagging with relief.
A few hours later you were back in your room feeling more exhausted than ever. They had brought in all twelve omegas and you’d been beside each of them to offer them comfort and reassurance that they were safe. The only reason you were even back in your room was because Robby practically dragged you back.
“You did a great job with them, Y/N.” Robby praises as he covers you up with a blanket.
“I just want them to be safe.”
“And you did a great job getting help. You should be very proud.”
“I just tried to do the right thing.”
Robby smiles as he pulls out a mandarin from his pocket. He peels it and places it on the tray table in front of you. “Eat. I’ll be back to check on you later.”
****
For two weeks Jack and Robby would show up to your room. Robby usually brought breakfast. Jack usually brought dinner. They were comforting in a moment where you didn’t know what would happen next. During the day you helped Robby keep the other omegas calm. At night Jack would read to you after you woke up from a nightmare. You hadn’t realized it yet but they were becoming your safe space. And the two alphas hadn’t realized you’d rekindled their want to share and care for an omega. They just knew that their need to care for you superseded their own needs. Which is why they were on the roof talking about what was going to happen to you.
“Gloria wants her out.” Robby runs a hand over his face. “She doesn’t care where she goes.”
“If it’s up to her Y/N would’ve been on the street already.” Jack is already looking at his mate. He already knows what Robby is going to say because he’s been thinking about it for a while. “We should sign the paperwork. Get her home with you tonight.”
Robby nods before turning and pressing a kiss to Jack’s lips. “It’s only temporary. Until she can get the help she needs and become independent.”
“Agreed.”
They both nod but there’s a pit in their stomach at the thought of you leaving their side permanently. Both their pagers go off at the same time and Robby curses thinking it’s another trauma.
*****
“I don’t have anywhere to go.” You cry as you pick up the few things you did have. Some clothes donated by Dana and Lena, some hygiene products that Samira had collected and some books that Mel gifted you. You didn’t even have a backpack.
“This doesn’t feel right.” Ahmad, the security guard said from the door to the room you’d been staying in.
“I know you feel that way but she has refused all placement arrangements and she’s not sick. Unfortunately she can’t stay any longer. We need this bed for actual patients.” Gloria, the beta that ran the hospital, said.
“She didn’t refuse the arrangement, she gave her spot for the other omegas that needed it more. That has to mean something.”
Gloria looked over at Dr. McKay with annoyance before turning her attention back to you. “It does, just not here. Now it’s time for you to leave.”
You sobbed quietly as you gathered your things and stepped out into the hallway. There was a bigger number of spectators considering the night shift crew had arrived and were getting ready to take over. They all watched with concern. Some even voiced their disapproval of the situation. You had become part of the family during your time with them.
“What is going on here?” Robby’s voice boomed through the ED.
Jack was already moving through the crowd as the group of nurses and doctors tried to explain what was going on. He gets to you quickly, standing between you and Gloria.
“You’re really going to kick her out?”
“We gave her some vouchers for her help with the others. She has a full prescription of antibiotics and painkillers. But she can’t stay anymore.”
Jack would love nothing more than to tear her a new one but you’re trembling like a leaf behind him. He doesn’t want to scare you either. Robby however doesn’t seem to mind giving his two cents about the situation.
“This wouldn’t be an issue if you opened up the floors upstairs that were assigned for this kind of thing.” He argues. “And even if there wasn’t any space, how can you even feel comfortable throwing her out on the street after everything she’s been through?”
Robby turns to Kiara, the social worker, and hands her a piece of paper. It’s signed by both him and Jack.
“We’re already cleared for temporary placement. Jack and I are more than happy to help.”
“So she could’ve been out of here days ago?”
“If you don’t leave my department now I won’t be responsible for the next thing I say.” Robby growls.
Gloria huffs but when she looks around the staff is watching, protecting you. She shakes her head and stomps away, muttering something about disrespect under her breath.
You’re still trembling, scared of what’s going to happen next. Mel, the soft spoken alpha, steps up next to you. She smiles, telling you that everything will be alright and that she’ll send you more books.
Jack smiles at her before turning his attention to you. Robby is at your other side and they usher you into a quiet hallway. You stand there trying to hold in your tears, your breathing stuttering as you try to calm yourself down.
“Hey, it’s ok. You don’t have to go out on the street ok.” Jack is the first to speak. A low rumble to his words in order to soothe you.
“What’s going to happen now?”
“Well, if you’re ok with it we would love for you to stay with us.” Robby answers. “We submitted the paperwork but at the end of the day it’s your choice. We have a room all set up just for you and you can stay for however long you want or need.”
You look up at Robby and then at Jack. One of the few times you give them genuine eye contact. They see it clearly. The fear you’ve been living with for the past few years.
“What about the others?”
“We’ll let you know how everyone is doing every day. But it’s important that you take care of yourself and we want to help.” Jack says. “What do you think?”
“I can stay with you?”
“For however long you want.” Robby reassures you.
“But I don’t have money. How will I-“
“You don’t have to worry about anything except getting better. We’ll take care of the rest.”
“You’re sure? I don’t want to be a burden.”
“Never. We wouldn’t do this if we weren’t sure.” Jack reassures you yet again. He smiles when you look up at him.
“Ok.”
“Atta girl.” Jack smiles. “Now you’ll have to go with Robby but I’ll see you in the morning. I should head back.”
Jack leans up and gives Robby a quick kiss on the lips. You stand there, shocked at seeing such open affection between them considering you didn’t know they were mates.
“C’mon sweetheart, let's get out of here.”
****
The drive in Jack’s truck was quiet. Only the hum of jazz music fills the space. When Robby stopped at a Chinese restaurant you were surprised he actually bought you food. Even more so that he asked you what you wanted.
It only took a few more minutes before Robby pulled up to a beautiful home. He hopped out of the truck and moved quickly to open the door for you. You tentatively take his hand and get out of the car. The things you brought from the hospital are in a backpack Dana had found for you. You take in the beautiful two story house. It takes your breath away.
Robby places a hand on your lower back as he stands next to you. He watches as you take it all in. The flowers blooming under the wide windows, the well manicured lawn and the overall charm of his and Jack’s home.
“Welcome home sweetheart.”