Page 15 of Going Down Smooth: Part Two

“Earth to Mercy. Maybe today wasn’t a good day to debrief you,” Freeya says, her concern pulling me out of my thoughts. She moves closer to me on the couch and grabs my good hand. “We can put a pin in this, Mercy. You want to discuss something else?”

She offers me a half smile of encouragement but the last thing I want to do is talk about my trauma. I don’t want to talk about the nightmare of suffocating, of the fire and smoke that I still smell, as if I remain trapped in the building. I can’t tell her that I may not be able to step back into the one place that has always felt like home to me. I can’t tell her that every time I close my eyes, I hear my sister calling out to me, screaming in terror and I can never reach her. Her cries went unanswered as I ran in a dark maze, mute, unable to call out to her. I haven’t even mentioned it to my guys. I am well-read enough to realize I may have PTSD, but I am not ready to crack open my head to a professional, not yet. My father fucking screwed me over, and I want to make him sorry for taking away my happy place. For taking away the good memories of my dad and replacing them with horror. I hate him.

I stay quiet for a long time, just breathing, calming my rising heartbeat duet to the panic threatening to claw its way out of me, because, yeah, I didn’t want to talk about it. “I want to start a foundation. I think those donations we are receiving will go a long way.” I turn, attempting to angle my body toward her, but damn my fractured arm. Huffing in defeat, I continue, but not before Freeya shifts to sit on the coffee table, seeing my struggle and accommodating. This, this is why we are besties.

“In fact, I think we should hold a gala, invite all the activists, law makers, and politicians who support Omega rights,” I say, my mood brightening and chasing away the darkness, my spirit renews as the ideas fall from my lips. For the next hour I talk about charities and new employment terms and conditions concerning Omegas within Smooth Bourbon. Without a doubt in my mind, I know I will be taking more Omegas on board as soon as we are operational again. Freeya jumps up and scrambles for her tablet as she notates it all with rapt interest, adding some of her own ideas as she goes. When I finally finish, I’m exhausted, throat aching, but filled with purpose, almost like myself again. Almost.

She whistles. “Damn, Mercy, this will be major, you know this, right? How do you think your father will react to your open opposition to his teachings. Not only him though, there are going to be a lot of people who won’t like what you’re doing. Me, I am all for it. I am ready to burn the system down right along with you.” She frowns. “This is only going to make you more of a target for scrutiny, being the first Omega CEO has already done that,” she says with a shrug.

“Fuck Christopher! I want to piss him off. The more upset he is, the easier it will be for him to make a mistake. If he comes for me again, I will be ready, and this time, it won’t be Smooth Bourbon burning. As for everyone else, let them come at me. I won’t hesitate to show them who I really am.” I can feel my anger rising with each word. I won’t be made a victim and I won’t be painted as weak on the world stage. This Omega has an Alpha bite, and I will not let my father or anyone else stand in my way. I will decide my fate, not them. If I am a catalyst for change, then I want to be a fortified foundation for those who want to make a difference. I will construct change for Omegas, brick by fucking brick, for all the Omegas of the world.

“Well, you have my support.” Freeya squeezes my hand and I sigh feeling satisfied. I figuratively went on an emotional rollercoaster and now my thoughts have come full circle. I’ve dealt with my own shit, well, some of it. But the woman next to me is still hiding from me and she thinks I haven’t noticed in the slightest.

“I know you have my back. It’s why I keep you around,” I say playfully, making her roll her eyes.

“You mean, you couldn’t live without me.” Freeya sticks out her tongue and stands, crossing over to her bag, she slides her tablet inside. With her back to me, I dive right in.

“So, are you going to tell me what’s going on with you and the Omega and his pack? Or are you going to pretend like I don’t know you well enough to know something is happening between you all?” I watch her straighten, back ramrod stiff, then she blows out a long exhalation of breath. Freeya’s hands go to her hips and her head falls forward. I can only assume she’s giving herself a pep talk. Her silence worries me further.

“Free, what’s going on?” I ask softly, all my interrogation tactics fly out the window as my concern grows for my friend. She doesn’t turn around but looks over her shoulder toward the hall that leads to the kitchen. The sound of male laughter drifts towards us, it’s a good indication they are all getting along and are distracted. Freeya quickly unzips her jeans and turns toward me with the waist band down over her hip.

She watches me expectantly, her face neutral, giving away nothing. I lean forward to peer, in stunned silence I gaze at a mate mark on her hip. My mouth falls open, but she doesn’t stop there. Zipping up her jeans she pulls her blouse up to reveal her pink lace and satin bra, she steps closer, eyes flicking back to the hall then to me.

“I have one on my breast.” She tips forward showing me the mark on her left breast hidden away by the lace. “I have one on the base of my neck.” She lets go of her blouse, fingers brushing over the fabric of the high collar. Clearing her throat, Freeya walks towards me and sits in front of me on the coffee table again. “The last one, well, girl, it’s in a place only meant for my Alphas and Omega to see.” She looks down and the O shape I’ve formed with my mouth only widens. She waits for me to blow up, to mouth diarrhea at her but I am too shocked to speak. It takes me a second to process that my best friend is mated.

“Free—”

“Tada! I’m mated!” she says with her arms spread wide in some grand gesture of surprise. My mouth closes slowly as a surge of protectiveness washes over me. Freeya is a grown woman, and she deserves nothing but the best. She deserves the God damn world and for men to worship her at her feet. Not assholes with nefarious intentions. If they—

“Was this consensual, Free? And if they’ve threatened you, please tell me now.” I hold out my good hand and she automatically reaches for it and pulls me up from the couch. The pain in my rib’s smarts, stealing my breath but I clench my teeth to stifle a groan. Fuck, I am in no shape to go into bat here. But I will.

“Yes, Mercy. I said yes. I agreed to be their mate,” Freeya’s words fly out of her mouth in an attempt to stop me as I turn on my heels and make my way toward the kitchen.

“Freeya, you don’t even know them. What you just said sounds more like a business arrangement than a heartfelt commitment,” I reply, as I attempt to speed walk but only make it five whole steps, before I stop. Wincing in pain I pant for breath like I just ran a marathon.

“Mercy, stop, please. You are supposed to be resting here. That was our agreement. I can visit as long as you don’t overexert yourself!” Freeya pleads, trying to steer me back around to the couch but I swat her hand away.

“I’m fine. I need a minute.” I slowly turn and take shallow inhales to ease my aching body. “Who’s going to protect you, huh?” I pant, trying to catch my breath. “When did this happen, Free? Are you sure they didn’t coerce you?” I ask in disbelief, but by the frown on Freeya’s face I want to suck my words right back into my mouth.

“Please forgive me that I didn’t ask your permission, Mercy. Or should I call you Alpha, now?” I rear back in shock at the sudden outburst of anger.Well, hello, hand to the face.“I mean, come on.” Her arms flap up and down in exasperation. “Matings happen like this all the time. Don’t they? Every. Damn. Day. I wish I’d had the opportunity to grow up with my mates, to know them as well as I know myself. What you have is rare and you should be grateful for your connection with those Alphas. You walked away, rejected them, and they still love you despite that. Rare, Mercy. You know what I felt the other night when Omari approached me in that club? For the first time in my life I sensed recognition, my soul reached out to its twin. When I met my Alphas, I felt the same pull to them. I don’t know how else to explain it. They are mine, Mercy. I know that in my heart. But you’re questioning me, like I don’t have the good sense to think for myself. Mercy, I wanted this. There was no manipulation here. I saidyes.” The last word was through clenched teeth. She’s clearly pissed.

Well, fuck. I stand corrected.“Free, look, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t be your best friend if I didn’t lose my shit and go all rabid guard dog on your behalf.” Her face softens slightly as she bites her bottom lip in an attempt not to laugh. I bet I look a mess, all breathless trying to march into the kitchen to faceoff with an Alpha and an Omega. “I didn’t mean to imply that you can’t think for yourself. This is big news. Life changing news, Freeya. You’re right, who am I to say anything about your mating when I ran away from something one of a kind for years. I don’t deserve them, but they love me, and mated me regardless of my hardheadedness.” Freeya’s eyes widen, and it’s my turn to show her my own mate marks as I raise my wrist first and then pull back my shirt to show her Trey’s mark on my shoulder.

“And my other two, well, they are for my Alphas eyes only.” I shrug and smirk, making her laugh.

“I guess I should have started off my visit with girl talk first, then we could have eased into the show and tell.” Freeya sighs. “I wanted to tell you, I was going to tell you last Sunday but—”

“I get it.” I wave her off, not wanting to think about last Sunday. “But just so you know. As soon as I catch my breath, I am going to limp in there and give them the ‘hurt her and I will kill you’ speech.” I try to make light of the situation. I would never attempt to negate her feelings, especially ones that are soul deep.

“Free, you are my family. All the family I had for a very long time. I consider you part of my pack, you know. I mean, unofficially.” I try to hide my emotions, but my damn lip starts to wobble as a tear escapes. I wipe it away and Free’s eyes begin to water at the sight of me getting all watery. “I will not cry, damn it. But you are my girl, I care about you, and I want you to have the world. So, they better give you just that,” I say with all the attitude I can muster. Freeya steps into my space and wraps me in a hug.

“I love you, Mercy. I’m so happy you didn’t die. I would have had to find you in the afterlife and drag you right back.” She wraps her arms around me and hugs me carefully, as I do the same. Our lives are changing fast, everything is changing all around us. But I am determined to hold on to the good moments because they can all vanish in the blink of an eye.

“Damn, Free, morbid much?” I pull away and turn toward the kitchen once more.

“When it comes to you, I mean every word,” she replies, grabbing my arm and helping me walk toward the kitchen.

I have an Alpha and an Omega to threaten.

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