Echoes, Escape, Embrace

After our short meeting, we quickly headed back to our chores, scared before we got caught. But we did not, and that made me release a sigh of relief as I returned to the scrubbing of the floors. 

Reaching in the soapy water for the floor brush, I shivered a bit, but I ignored the feeling, making sure to scrub the tiles of the corridor.

I worked tirelessly through the day, tired but knowing that I had a few more hours of rest before I escaped to XP club. Throughout the day, I worried. Every sound would make me jump. 

I had this fear that I was going to be taken away any second by a group of men who were going to be too strong for me. I kept looking over my shoulders when I cleaned, and washed some of the caretakers’ clothes, and while doing everything else. 

But nothing. Nothing happened. No one came to get me even though I was at the age when the older omegas would just disappear; be taken away somewhere unknown. 

I prayed so hard, that Mother Teresa would forget about me being 18 but I knew that that was only a dream. And there would be no way that would happen, especially what had happened in the courtyard earlier. 

When it was night and I had finally finished my load of chores, I retired to my room. The thin mattress was not comforting at all, but in that moment when my bones felt so weary, I could feel some.

Closing my eyes for a few seconds, sleep stole me away. But I was woken up by the alarm that I had set. It always woke me up by this hour, because it was the time that I would go to the club for work. 

But you see, the thing was that I did not plan to return to the orphanage this time. I had already been spared the whole day and I was not going to waste this miracle. I was going to find somewhere else. 

Even if it meant sleeping on the street, I would gladly do that then to return. As for my friends, I would try to figure out what to do about them. But in the meantime, they would be safe, it was I who had a target on my back. 

It was I who was at risk of being taken away to a place that none of us knew about. 

Waking up from the mattress and sneaking out of the room, I glanced at the clock. It was 1 AM. With nervousness in my bones, I made my way out the back. It was by this time that everyone was asleep. 

Even the guards would fall asleep by this time. 

Creeping out past the sleeping guards, my heart thundered, but like every night, I was successful. Soon enough, the sound of my feet hitting the concrete pavement as I ran was all that could be heard. 

It was drizzling and the air was cold. The full moon sat in the sky and white clouds drifted peacefully, as if they did not know how chaotic my life was. 

Before reaching the club, I ran my hand through my short hair, messing it up.

“Rue, you’re late…” The bouncer at the back stopped me. 

“I know, is the boss mad?” I asked, using a manly voice. At first, it used to be weird doing that, and it sounded so fake. But now that I was used to it, I had mastered speaking like a guy. 

The guy scoffed. “Just get in, the rain…” He pointed out.

I was getting drenched but I did not care, at least I was away from that orphanage of hell. I walked into the club, headed for the dressing room, and made sure it was empty before taking off the huge hoodie that I had on. 

When I did, I used a long cloth that I always brought with me to tie up my breasts, before taking my uniform out of the drawer and wearing it. 

Looking in the mirror, I certainly passed as a guy, considering that most of the guys in this town were pretty boys. When I was done, I discarded my hoodie and other stuff before walking out. 

Working here at XP Club was hectic, it was always so busy. And so many important people would be here every night. After an hour or two of serving drinks and being told to help clean up puke while doing other things, I finally walked into the VIP section. 

My eyes scanned the people there, they all looked so regal. The table I was supposed to carry the drinks and food to was the one right next to where the Alpha of our pack was sitting. 

I kept staring at him. Gosh, he was the hottest guy I had ever seen. His eyes held power and his aura screamed authority. He had dark wavy hair and I could smell his expensive cologne from here. 

“My drink, give my drink…” The girl at the table I was supposed to wait on said. 

“I’m sorry…” I replied, giving her a shy smile as I handed her drink to her. While I handled them, I could hear the Alpha and his Beta speaking. They were not too far from me. 

“Man, I can feel it already, and it’s just the first day,” Alpha Zach complained. 

“Your rut weeks?” The Beta asked, taking a sip from the drink in his hand. 

“What else would I be talking about? The heat in my body makes me its slave. It’s really something.” He laughed. 

“You have nothing to worry about, we just have to find you a hot omega to f*ck for the next two weeks and you’re good,” The beta smirked. “No matter how much she charges, I will personally take care of it.” 

As I eavesdropped on their conversation, my heart raced. The Alpha’s impending rut weeks and his discussion with the Beta revealed a potential and financial gain. Also, staying with him would mean I won’t have to stay at the orphanage. 

It would mean that I would have his protection. 

The rain-soaked air in XP Club felt charged with the weight of my decision. Little did I know that the choices I would make tonight would steer my fate into uncharted territory!