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“That’s me.”
He holds up his license and proof of ride. I check his license plate and slide into the cushy interior of the car. I say nothing, since it’s too damn early for words. I didn’t even sleep in. Hell, I barely slept, but right now, adrenaline pumps through my veins as he drives down the street.
I’m going to regain control of my life, and in doing so, I’m going to hone my body into a weapon.
Maybe. No omega ever has, but I had enough time to slap tape on all my glands with onion, so I will smell ripe as fuck by the end, but it’s a necessary evil.
“Here we are.” He pulls up to a fancy street that looks mostly like homes and very few stores.
Nibbling my cheek, I falter for a second before reminding myself that in order to overcome Noah, I have to work for it.
I carefully slide out of the car and stand on the brightly lit sidewalk as he drives away. The dojo isn’t what I expected. It looks like an old dime store that sits on a corner. A few steps lead to the door, where the blinds are broken and there is a crack in the window. It looks sketchy, but Cayenne never leads me astray.
Mustering up my courage, I take a few steps up and open the door. I’m immediately slapped in the face with the sharp scents of lemon cleaner and antiseptic. The familiar dojo smell of sweat and determination lingers underneath. It’s fine, comforting even, but it makes me sneeze a few times. The sound echoes in the quiet space, drawing a few curious glances my way.
“Morning!” a woman chirps from my right. “Welcome to Pack Judo.” She smiles with perfectly white teeth that only exist in commercials.
Pack Judo… How original.
“Hi.” I clear my throat, peering around the small, makeshift seating area with a large window looking into the actual dojo. All I see are mats and a few people stretching. “I was told you have a class starting.”
“We sure do. Master Zane runs all beginner classes, and you are just in time.” As she speaks, she pulls out a clipboard. “The first class is free. I just need you to sign a consent form here.”
Nerves flutter in my stomach as I grab a pen and sign off. With shaking fingers, I put the pen away and exhale my coffee breath, which is also probably the reason my teeth are stained a lovely shade of caramel. Not really, but I’m dramatic.
“Perfect.” She smirks. Her short blonde bob perfectly frames her face as she blinks at me. “Go on through and start stretching.”
“Okay.” Wow, I am on point with my vocabulary today. Tucking my hands into my sweatpants pockets, I head through the door into the quiet dojo. Incense fills the air, and it reminds me of a yoga studio as I plop down on the mat away from everyone.
I’m the only girl in here, the only adult, and likely, the only omega. My stomach twists with a mix of anxiety and determination. Being surrounded by alphas and betas, even if they’re just kids, makes my skin prickle. But I force down the urge to flee.
That’s fine. I have to start somewhere.
I begin stretching as my gaze wanders around the room. There aren’t many accolades anywhere—no trophies or medals, nothing—but it’s done in calm greens and grays. Long blinds block out the street, and I’m pretty sure it’s also soundproof.
It’s peaceful, almost like a nest.
I’ve never had a nest, and I can’t let myself dive too far into that fuckery.
A door opens across the room, and a man steps out dressed in all black, wearing a black belt. His cold blue eyes scan the room, landing on but not really seeing anyone. It’s almost as though he’s looking right through them. Dark brows almost cover his eyes as he moves to the front of the room and brushes his dark hair off his forehead, then he sits on the mat cross-legged. It’s actually impressive he can maneuver his tall body into that shape.
All around me, everyone moves to repeat his movements. Following suit, I sit cross-legged as well as I wait.
“Why are you here?” he asks the room, directing the question at no one in particular. “I want you to think about why as we focus on our breathing to center ourselves.” He allows the room to process his words before he carries on. “Close your eyes.”
I don’t want to close my eyes, but I do because there is something about him that makes me feel safe, which is something that doesn’t happen often enough. I close my eyes, hoping the memories stay buried for the next hour.
“Breathe,” he whispers to the room, settling me further. Then he does something that has my eyes snapping open all over again. His aura bursts through the room, but it isn’t to control or to warn of impending danger. No, it’s calm, settling me.
My eyes land on him. He has such a calm persona for having such cruel eyes. Slowly, they open and land on mine, but just for a moment before they close all over again.
I follow suit, trying to think about my why.
Noah. He is my why, but not because I’m foolishly in love with him anymore. No, it’s far from that. I’m here because he ruined who I was, and a part of me wishes that I could just erase him from my memories and everything he did to me.
My why is to regain who I once was.
She no longer exists.
