To heal a Rogue

BONNIE

The High Gamma looked at me at first and after taking in the state that I was in, he turned to the girl I’d kicked and said, "Is that water?"

There was something sharp settling into his expression as he continued. "The only reason I can tolerate you being in this room, despite lacking the training our born and bred Omegas in this house receive, is because Alpha Lysander seemed comfortable with your presence here." His eyes narrowed. "Are you trying to drown the girl and put the rest of us in trouble?"

"Of course not," the girl said quickly. "She woke up disoriented. Coughing out water."

"Yeah, that makes sense. People just cough water." He then turned back to him, putting his hand in his gun already like he was ready to take someone out. "You, did she do something to you?"

I forced myself upright, the last of the cough finally settling in my chest. "She didn’t do anything to me."

I looked at her properly, guilt already crawling up my spine. "I’m sorry. For kicking you."

She waved it off, though I noticed the careful way she held her stomach as she did it. My mind snagged, briefly, on the strangeness of the whole room. A High Gamma and a fleet of sentinels, all of them looking genuinely concerned for me instead of hungry to end me like it has been since the accusations started flying. That gnawing feeling settled deeper the longer I sat with it.

They’d seen it. The blue light. The stitching of Lysander’s ruined throat with nothing but my will and my hands. A healer had walked among them tonight, and apparently that changed the temperature of an entire room.

I looked around the room again. But Lysander was nowhere to be found and that bothered me in degrees I could not begin to explain.

"Where’s Lysander?" I asked.

"He’s in an important meeting," the Gamma said.

My eyes drifted past him toward the door, where I could see the shapes of several sentinels posted just outside, alongside the retainer already stationed inside. It made me feel like a jewel under guard rather than a person who could simply exist in a room. I didn’t like it. My heart started beating faster, and before I could stop myself, my voice came out soft, almost pleading.

"Can he come here? I want him here."

"That won’t be possible right now," the Gamma said. "Once he’s finished, I’m certain he’ll come to you. For now, if you need anything, you may ask any of us."

The girl I’d kicked smiled gently. "My name is Delta by the way. I am an Omega under Alpha Lysander back in Lily of the Valley. He’s put me in charge of your care. So you don’t need to worry."

Why was everyone telling me that? I was losing my mind.

She even reached out to touch my arm, meaning to comfort me, and I pulled back before her fingers landed.

"I’m fine now," I said. "I just want to clean up."

That was when I noticed the chains were gone from my throat and wrists. I hadn’t even registered it until that moment, but they were no longer on me. I was however still wearing the sheer red dress from earlier, and I crossed an arm over my chest instinctively, covering what the fabric didn’t.

"Can I have some privacy?"

"Of course," the Gamma assured. "We’ll be right outside. The moment you feel unsafe, let us know."

I nodded, and they filed out, leaving Delta and me alone in the room. I was glad even the retainer took the hint and left. Usually, in our line if work, we were deemed invisible.

I studied the Omega the second the door shut.

My instincts kicked in fast, sharp and practical the way they’d always been. Things had gone completely sideways tonight. Lysander might be decent, in whatever limited way an Alpha could be decent... well... that ranking system had to be damned considering he has taken a bullet for me not too long ago and without knowing he would survive it. But... but the truth remained that I hadn’t been thinking clearly when I saved him. I understood that now, with a clarity that felt almost embarrassing. It had to be the stupid mate bond. Yes, that was it. The fucked up instinct that was outside my own control, driving me to do something I’d sworn to myself I’d never do again.

I glanced toward the windows which sadly happened to be barred, unlike the guest room I’d been in earlier. This felt like a prison dressed up in lilac and soft furniture now.

But if I could get past the Omega, maybe I could figure something out. I had training. I was good at this.

What was some Omega that I couldn’t take out?

"Are you thinking of attacking me?"

The question caught me completely off guard.

"What?" I said, like she had not clocked my ass.

"It’s in your eyes," The girl who I remembered said her name was Delta said. "I can tell." She studied me a moment longer. "I do hope you won’t, though."

"Why not?" I swallowed. "You don’t understand what’s happening here."

"I have a pretty good idea," She said in a tone that was probably sharper than she meant to. "I was there when you healed him. I saw the whole spectacle and I know it must be terrifying," she continued. "But Alpha Lysander will protect you. He’s your mate after all, isn’t he?"

Something cold went through me. "He told you that?"

"It was fairly obvious," she said. "I know him a little. But he confirmed it himself, actually, while talking to his brother earlier."

"I know it’s frightening," she continued, softer now. "But Alpha Lysander will look after you."

I scoffed. "You’re brainwashed if you think high rankers give a damn about most people other than themselves. I will admit. Lysander is probably the best of the lot. But an Alpha is still an Alpha."

Delta sat down slowly on the edge of the bed. "You don’t sound like you actually believe that."

Fuck, she was really good at reading people. I was trying to convince myself and her that was the case. It needed to be.

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