Page 36 of Torment Me Knot
“You won't.” The certainty in my voice surprises me. “You're too aware.”
Her chin lifts slightly. Surprised, maybe, that I'd defend her so quickly.
“But Espie…” Her gaze locks on Kev, then Lex, then back to me.
“Is terrified of us,” Lex finishes. He sets down his coffee mug with a sharp click.
“Can you blame her?” Sera's voice is quiet. “After what male alphas have done to her too?”
I stir the soup because I need to move. The vegetables are nearly soft now. Almost ready.
“You should know what happened to him,” Kev says finally. He's talking to Sera. “Aubrey. In case the files didn't cover everything.”
“I've read the reports. Axel Turns. Six years of...” Sera stops. “I know the broad strokes.”
“The broad strokes don't cover it.” Kev's voice is quiet. “He was completely shattered when we got him out. Catatonic. The doctors said he might never come back. We've spent six months trying to reach him, and nothing worked. Nothing.” A breath. “Until today.”
“What was he like? Before Turns?” I like how she spits his name, like he’s a curse.
“Happy.” Lex's voice goes soft. “We found photos of him with his first pack. There's one of him laughing with Thomas Richardson, with his whole face lit up.” He shakes his head. “I couldn't reconcile it with the omega upstairs.”
By the look on her face, she knows Thomas Richardson and his pack were murdered by Turns who then claimed Aubrey.
“Aubrey was stolen. Pack Turns didn't court him. Didn't earn him. Axel saw something valuable and he took it,” I spit out.
“We know some of what he endured, but there’s probably more Aubrey has been unable to tell us,” Kev says, his expression bleak.
“He draws. Or he used to. We found sketchbooks when we went through his apartment. Landscapes, mostly. Portraits. There was one of Thomas, I think. Aubrey is talented.” I stir the soup, watching the vegetables turn lazily in the broth. “He hasn't touched a pencil since we got him.”
“His hands shake too much now,” Kev says quietly. “We tried giving him art supplies once. He just stared at them. Like he'd forgotten what they were for.”
Sera stares into middle distance, tracing the rim of her coffee mug with her thumb. Around and around. “He was whole once.”
“They both were.” Kev's voice is heavy. “Before the system broke them.”
“The system.” Sera's voice goes hard. “You mean the people. The alphas. The institutions that were supposed to protect them.”
“Yes.” Kev meets her gaze. “And now we’ll pick up the pieces.”
Sera sets down her coffee mug. Her spine straightens, her shoulders square. Something harder takes its place. Focused. Operational. “I need to make a call to my captain.” Her voice is clear, strong. “Arrange emergency leave. I have enough banked. They'll manage without me for a while.”
She pulls out her phone and steps toward the doorway, then hesitates. Looks back at us.
“Is there somewhere private I can...”
“Use the living room,” Kev says. “Take your time.”
She nods and disappears through the doorway. Her voice drifts back, low and professional. “It's Sera. I need to activate my emergency leave, effective immediately...”
“She can have the spare room near ours upstairs,” Kev says.
Lex nods. “I'll make sure it's ready. Fresh sheets. Towels.”
“Someone needs to get her clothes. Supplies.” Kev rubs a hand over his face. He looks exhausted. We all do. “She can't live in what she's wearing.”
“I'll go.” Lex straightens. “There's a twenty-four hour Pack&Provision on Morrison. I can get basics. We can figure out the rest tomorrow.”
Kev shakes his head. “Let me. You should stay.” He glances toward the doorway where Sera's voice still carries. “Help Ezra with the omegas. She trusts you more than me right now.”
