Page 133 of Puck & Her Blades

Cygnus’ gaze becomes determined. “Rebel Omegas.”

I’m so proud that he’s able to claim his rebel status with such bravery now, when he’s spent his life trying to hide his Reject status.

I admire the fuck out of him.

Cygnus sits up, pulling me with him.

When he glances out at the frozen lake, he looks troubled. “This is the first time that I’ve come here, since the accident. You give me more courage than I knew I had, treasure.”

Setting the radio next to me to make sure that I don’t miss another goal or the siren, I bite my lip.

“Shit, I’m sorry. I wouldn’t have asked to come out here, if it’s triggering for you. You should have told me.”

He shakes his head. “It’s not triggering. It’s freeing, actually. Dad forbade me to come here again after… He’s just scared of letting me free because he thinks that if he does, then he’ll lose me like he lost Mom.”

“I don’t understand.”

Cygnus hugs his knees with his arms. “There used to be a large flock of beautiful swans who lived here. When I was little, my Omega mom would bring me every day to see them. Mom liked to check that they were okay. She’d tell me stories about them. I think she was lonely. She told me that she wanted me to find a bond as strong as the ones that swans find with each other.” His voice drops to a whisper. “And I have with you.”

Warmth blushes my cheeks.

I edge closer to Cygnus, glancing over the lake.

I stroke his curls, knowing how much touch helps him.

“Your mom sounds amazing,” I venture.

Cygnus leans gratefully into my hand. “She was. When the night skies were clear, she’d love to bring me out to the lake and show me the stars. She’d point out the Cygnus constellation, which looks like a flying swan. She said that she’d asked Dad to name me Cygnus because I was a symbol of their fated love.”

What the hell?

Surely, the Traditional Roarke wouldn’t have allowed an Omega the control over the naming of his son? How can he have such a beautiful love story with his own Omega and yet treat others with such cruelty?

The hypocrite.

I work out how to diplomatically word my next question.

“Your Dad sounds like he treated her differently than Sydney does Lark,” I say, carefully. “If he loved and cherished your mom, why won’t he let you have the same relationship with your own pack?”

Cygnus jerks away from me. “Dad isn’t the same as Sydney. He changed after Mom fell ill and died. She left us both alone here, then I almost died as well. He began to think that Omegas were weak and needed protecting from themselves. He doesn’t understand how much he hurts me by shielding me from the world. He refuses to see how much he’s damaging the entire world by treating all dynamics badly. Well, unless I show him that he’s wrong.”

To my surprise, Cygnus twists to me.

His eyes are burning, as he plunges his hand in his pocket and pulls out a thumb drive. He waves it under my nose.

My brow furrows.

Is it what I think it is…?

Hell, what if it is?

My throat is suddenly dry.

“How long have you been walking around with that stolen information on you?” I demand.

“I told you that I was going to work for the resistance.” Cygnus puffs out his chest. He’s tiny, but I’ve never seen such a big man. He’s fucking brave. “I’ve been investigating up in Blade House and collecting everything that I could off my dad and sister’s computer. It’s a gold mine of secrets, reaching all across the Alpha NHL, from abuses against players to shady contracts and corrupt business deals. We can get this to your friends in the resistance and make something of it to help everyone in the sporting world and other Omegas, right?”

He looks at me excitedly, as he hands me the thumb drive.

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