Chapter 6

• Allison's POV
• The very next day, I'm on a bus taking me back to the outskirts of the pack. That miserable place where we Omegas have been forced to live. When I escaped from that place some years ago, I had promised myself that I wouldn't go back.
• I had worked harder than I thought possible, building my reputation as the best software developer in the most prestigious tech company in the city. I had clawed to the top with all my strength, only to take one hell of a fall and end up right back at the beginning.
• I sigh, looking away from the window and back at the screen of my phone. I had typed out a message to Elsa— I've been fired. I'm on my way back to the outskirts— and have spent hours trying to decide whether or not to send it. What if she's still mad at me? What if she reads the message and doesn't care? That would crush me completely. But this is Elsa, and if nothing else, I have faith in her kindness. So I tap the send icon and lean tiredly back into my seat. I miss my car already.
• I had to sell it this morning just to raise some more money.
• At least there's someone waiting for me over there. My childhood friend, Ian. He has always been my biggest cheerleader, and I can trust him to have my back no matter what. He is an Omega like me, but unlike many of those that resented me for leaving the outskirts, he had been happy for me. When I called him to say that I had been fired, robbed and forced to leave the city, he had promised his help without hesitation.
• I am still deep in thought when the bus stops. I join the other passengers in getting down. I've only taken a few steps when I hear my name.
• "Allison!"
• That's Ian's voice. I turn around quickly, and there he is, waving at me. Feeling a lot lighter, I hurry over to join him.
• "Ian!" I say, feeling tears of joy bloom in my eyes.
• We hug for a while, and for the first time, it feels like coming home.
• ……
• It's been a month since I arrived at the Omega outskirts. I've been living at my father's old house, which I have had to repair a number of times. Thankfully, I have Ian by my side. He keeps me company, making sure that I don't sink into my misery, and helps with a lot of my financial problems. I can't believe I forgot how it feels to live in the Omega outskirts.
• Having to do menial jobs just to get by each day, lacking access to a lot of amenities, and being forced to endure the filthy streets. But I'm not going to give up.
• I've survived here before, and I am going to do it again.
• Elsa has been calling, too. I was surprised the first time I got her video call, especially when she got all teary eyed, lamenting about what a horrible friend she is. We're more than cool now, and she has been planning to visit as soon as she gets a day off. Which is why I'm not surprised to see her on my doorstep now, her usual bright smile on her face.
• "Allison!" she calls excitedly, like a child on Christmas morning, arms outstretched.
• She throws them around me in a tight hug as soon as I step out, holding me as if I'm going to disappear if she lets go.
• "Elsa, ow! You're going to kill me!" I squeal.
• But I'm so happy to see her that my eyes go misty. We hold hands as we walk into the house, chattering like little girls. With a different high class werewolf, I would have felt self-conscious about my unglamorous home. But not Elsa nah... She takes everything in stride, as if there is no difference between this place and the luxurious buildings in the city.
• "Ian," I call out. "Look who's here."
• He and I have been making lemonade in my little kitchen. He walks out, wiping his wet hands on a towel, and I see Elsa's eyes go wide.
• "Who is that?" she whispers to me.
• "My childhood friend, Ian," I reply. "Ian, this is my best friend, Elsa."
• "It's nice to meet you," Ian said, smiling as he offers Elsa a handshake.
• Elsa shakes his hand, then goes on holding it as she stares up at him with a starstruck expression.
• "The pleasure is all mine," she breathes.
• My eyebrows go up. Is this… love at first sight? Now, that's unexpected. Elsa, the only woman I know who doesn't swoon over Xander Black, has fallen for Ian? Not that women don't throw themselves at him here in the Omega outskirts. He's very attractive, and I receive threatening glares on a daily basis because many of them assume that I'm his lover.
• I look at Ian's face. His pleasant expression hasn't changed. It's clear that he doesn't notice what's going on.
• Poor Elsa, to let this dense childhood friend of mine steal her heart.
• "Allison has told me a lot about you," he continues, when Elsa finally lets go of his hand.
• "She has?"
• Elsa's gaze darts to me and back at him, her entire posture wondering what I've said and hoping it isn't anything that will turn Ian off.
• "Yes," I reply, beaming. "I've told Ian very good things about you."
• I actually like what's going on. If the two people I love most in the world end up getting together, it would make me very happy. Though, of course, whether or not this will happen depends on Ian. Still, who said I can't help string things along?
• "Ian makes very good lemonade," I say to Elsa. "Would you like to join us?"
• She perks up at a chance to spend time with her crush. "Of course I would."
• "Great," Ian said. "I'll fetch an extra glass, then."
• Shortly after, we're sitting around the old dining table, sipping the tasty drink from tall glasses. My life hasn't felt this complete in a long time.
• "So, how have you been, Elsa? Rachel isn't giving you much trouble, I hope?" I ask.
• "Ugh," Elsa groans dramatically, leaning forward. "She's been looking around for someone else to punish when she's in a bad mood, since you're not around anymore. Just last week, she appeared over my shoulder like some ghost, to criticize my work and tell me to start over. Three different times! Then when there was nothing else to complain about, she told me that the font looked "lazy". Who the hell does that?"
• "A bitch like Rachel, obviously," I chuckle.
• I should have known that Rachel would pull that sort of nonsense, trying to transfer her aggression towards me to Elsa. She has always disliked her for being friends with the lowly Omega. Before I can say anything else, my phone suddenly rings.
• I look at the screen and see an unknown number.
• Raising my eyebrows, I look at Elsa. She mirrors the look, then shrugs. It's her way of telling me that it could be anybody, so I might as well pick the call.
• I pick the ca
• ll and lift the phone to my ear.
• "Hello?"
• "Allison Carter? It's Rachel Fisher."