CHAPTER 49
OLIVE
It’s beena week since our escape, and the fear comes and goes.
We keep the television on, listening for updates on the aftermath ofEden’sdestruction.
Most of the deaths were from poisoning, a few from bullet holes.
Every Omega survived—the members on the board ofEdendidn’t.
My assistant Lindsay, and Monica both survived and gave statements. Both have publicly called outEdenand plan to testify in a committee hearing.
The news mentioned Dylan’s name, naming him as a person of interest, but nothing more.
Brock’s disappearance is mentioned as well, but security footage didn’t recognize Killian. All they saw was a man in a dark hood starting a ruckus.
Hannah and I are on suppressants, and after meeting with a Canadian government official that made a house call, we’re all granted temporary citizenship.
We’re some of the lucky few.
Down the street from Brock’s cabin is another similar cabin, in dark wood and forest green trim. Surrounded by the lush trees and the light dusting of snow on the roof, it looks like something directly out of a fairy tale.
Brock rents it for Hannah almost immediately.
Of course, she’s always welcome to stay with us, but my Heat is arriving soon, and this will be my first Heat with a bonded pack.
It would be awkward if Hannah stayed in one of the rooms during that time.
I’m a mixture of emotions afterEden, and some days are good, others not so much.
I was only there for a week, but nightmares creep up while I sleep.
Dylan cuddles and purrs for me every night, and Brock and Killian check in on me each morning.
All the Omegas survived, butEdenkilled a little bit of each of us.
It’s going to take time to repair what they broke.
I call my Dad at the end of the week, and my face hurts from smiling so much.
I call him at his work, the same way I did with my mother.
“Pumpkin?” Jonathan Astor asks. “Is that really you?”
I choke back a sob as Dylan strokes my hair. “Yes, I’m okay. I made it out. I was only there for about a week.”
“Oh, thank God.” He says, his voice cracking. “I miss you so much, Olive. I keep needing you for coding problems.”
I burst out laughing. “Ask any of your IT guys.”
“But you’re better at it. You know IT is worthless.”
Tears stream down my face, and Dylan kisses the top of my head as we sit on the couch. I grip the phone like a lifeline, soaking up every moment of my dad’s voice.
“But you’re safe, wherever you are?” He asks hesitantly.
He knows I won’t be able to tell him where I am, despite the curiosity I hear in his voice.