Page 31 of Alpha Fate
I look around us. “It’s…great,” I say quietly. I don’t have a real point of reference aside from my stinking cell, and compared to that, this is heaven. Sierra shoves a box out of the way and clears a spot on a nearby sofa for me to sit on. I perch on the edge uncomfortably.
“We didn’t have much of our own stuff; Jagger was in the single quarters when I arrived, and after that, we were assigned a one-bedroom apartment, and then when you…” She stops. “I’m babbling.”
I smile at her. “I don’t mind.” I really don’t. It’s a relief not to have to speak, and Sierra’s doing enough for both of us.
She runs a hand through her hair; it’s dark like mine but thick and glossy. Mine still hangs limply onto my shoulders. I wouldn’t be surprised if there were things living in it.
“God! I’m an idiot! Why am I expecting you to sit down for a chat when you probably want to get cleaned up? And eat! I remember I was ravenous when I got here.”
“Food.” I sigh the word reverently, my mouth instantly watering.
“They didn’t feed you. I know it.” Sierra’s mouth turns down in a scowl. “The canteen here does a mean steak. And their pies…” She stops and grins as my stomach rumbles. “I’m still babbling. Give me a second. I’ll call down to Bert and order something up.”
“Bert?” My brow furrows as I watch her pull a device from her jeans pocket.
“He runs the canteen.” She holds the device up. “They got phones here. Isn’t that neat?”
I nod, still frowning, as she swipes the screen and makes a quick call. I’m not sure if I should know about phones or not, but the thing doesn’t look like something I’d be familiar with.
Because we live off-grid. That comes to me now.
“You don’t remember home, do you?” she says once she’s ended the call.
“Not much.” I shake my head. “Our lives were pretty…basic, right?”
“I guess you could say that. Hopefully, it’ll start to fall into place once I’ll tell you all about it. But first, we’ve got to get you more comfortable. And fed. God, you must be starving. Luckily, I’ve ordered pretty much everything on the canteen menu.”
“There was food there…sometimes. At Leadmills,” I say. “But it made me sleep.” I look down at my hands. They’re filthy, grime caked under my nails and into the creases of my knuckles. I’m suddenly self-conscious of how dirty I am. I clasp them together.
“They drugged you. The fuckers.” My sister looks like she’d happily hurt someone right now, and I love her for it. Actually, I just love her, period. Now that I recognize her, I feel like I’m regaining a part of my lost life.
Not all of it, though.
We’ve both lost our home. Our family.
As if reading my thoughts, Sierra sits next to me and drapes an arm around my shoulders, pulling me close. “We’re going to find them, you know. Jagger promised me. And we can trust him. He’ll do it. If anyone can, he will.”
I pinch out a smile. I know that they’re out there, and I know that I miss them, but aside from the blurred images, I still can’t remember. Sierra squeezes me, pulling me more firmly against her.
“I’m just so glad you’re okay,” she whispers fiercely. “And that they didn’t hurt you. Aside from starving you, and…you know.” She aims a look at my neck where it meets my shoulder. There’s a small sterile bandage stuck down over a patch of skin that had formed an odd scar. I’d been vaguely aware of it while I’d been back with the rogue pack, but I’d been too foggy and confused to pay much attention to it. Now, I lift my hand and gingerly prod the sensitive spot where the doctor had removed something from my neck earlier.
“The chip.” I still can’t believe it was in there.
“It’ll heal up quickly now that it’s out. The Doc is amazing. She sorted me out when I got here. Well…when I finally admitted I had a problem.” She rolls her eyes.
“It was a tracking device?” That makes sense now. Rack had said he’d be able to find me. Now I know how. The way he’d spoken, it felt like he was talking about a mate bond.
Thank God it wasn’t!
“Yeah,” Sierra is saying. “A tracking device and more.” She rolls her lips together. “It’s designed to keep you in heat.”
“In heat?” I frown. I remember the doctor mentioning something about it when she’d examined me but hadn’t gone into detail. Sierra had said she’d explain later. I guess now’s the time.
“I know it’s a lot to take in. And now that the chip is out, you’ll regulate again. And maybe you’ll be luckier than me.” She glances down.
“Luckier than you?” This catches my attention, though I still have questions.
Sierra’s throat works. “The chip messed me up inside. Dr. Bea says I can’t have pups.”