Page 65 of For All My Effort

“Something to get everyone working together,” Jackson said. “All the causes are spread out and it’s only lowering the full force of numbers. Alphas, betas, omegas, most are on our side, but they’re all fighting individual causes rather than one big umbrella issue.”

“We need to get everyone who opposes the ban to realize that it’s the real deal. Doing nothing, just assuming it won’t pass because it’s so outrageous, is putting everyone in danger,” Zeke added.

“I know there are other omegas who won’t be happy about this,” I told my mates. “I just wish I had a way to get in contact with them too.”

“I can download an encrypted messaging app,” Han said. “You could find them on social, maybe reach out and get a private number then suggest they get the app too. It would be a risk, though. The messages might keep out anyone trying to intercept them, but if they willingly reveal their phone, you’d be outed.”

I shook my head. “They wouldn’t.”

“It’s too big a risk, rebel,” Jackson said.

I stood up, needing to show my mates how serious I was about my words. “Think about what would happen if the omegas revolted. We just agreed that all the designations need to work together—that means omegas. It’s a bigger risk with a bigger reward.”

“Even if the omegas stood up, they have no voting power,” Sebastian reminded me. “We need to get the betas and alphas on our side, working together. That’s our focus with this app. If you can’t get enough followers, then we can go to picking out specific omegas for help.”

My frustration was tainting my perfume, and I knew my mates could sense my annoyance down the bond. Any big speech would be a waste of breath because I knew my mates were right. No matter how much I wanted to dramatically change the world, to bring omegas into equal rights with the other designations, this wasn’t that kind of fight. This was all about stopping that permanent movement ban. Just like the betas and alphas needed to focus on one issue, so did I.

I agreed, albeit reluctantly. My disappointment was quickly washed away when Han sat down next to me and watched as I finally got to login on the secret laptop. Zeke was still behind me, his hands going back and forth between my neck and Han’s shoulders.

The three of us sat together as I created my profile and then set up my page. I looked up accounts that I had memorized as being big names to add some credibility to my own, sending them a message through the app. Not all of them would respond, but maybe one would. Especially with the new note on my profile. Something so rare, even in this app, that I was hoping it would catch attention. Omega.

I was a strange mix of excitement and nerves. For all my bravado, it was easier to claim I wanted to shout my demands from the rooftop than actually made the proverbial climb up the ladder. It was the same feeling I got when I snuck into omega rights rallies. I always had nerves in my stomach to the point that I wondered if it would cause literal damage.

The first event I had gone to, I had to leave early because I was perfuming too much. Hiding my emotions was never possible, but after enough events, and not getting caught, my fear was replaced by excitement, and that was much easier to blend in with the betas.

Working on the computer, so close to my mates like a physical form of protection, it was a near perfect moment. I was surrounded by love, acting in the best interests of my designation, and in comfortable clothes. The trifecta of a perfect day.

Then one of my mates’ phones went off, except no one moved to answer it. My brain was slow to notice the specific ringtone that meant Koda was calling. But when I did, I stood up quickly, ignoring the ache in my knees and the slight tingling of my ass as my nerves decompressed from being sat on for so long.

I got to my phone just as the ringing stopped, but I immediately called Koda back.

She answered halfway through the first ring, “Hannah.”

“Koda? What’s wrong?”

“I’m so angry.” She didn’t sound angry. It sounded like she was crying, especially as she sniffled again. “Do you have time to talk?”

“Of course.” My mates were all watching me as I stood frozen, worry for Koda making me hold still while she spoke to ensure I didn’t miss a single word. “What’s going on?”

“Have you seen the protests going on? Alphas against betas. Betas against packs. It’s been causing a lot of trouble at Braker with the two designations mixed all the time, which, in case you were wondering, has been hell on my instincts.”

I nodded even though she couldn’t see me.

“We got a school email basically saying that protests and political arguments needed to stay off campus. That caused an uproar, because of course it did. We’re not talking about tax increases, we’re talking about the rights of designations. I have no idea what Chancellor Kelly was thinking with that declaration. The man has a beta assistant, so he isn’t completely opposed to betas.”

“Didn’t he try to kick you out when you joined a pack, though?”

“Eh, that was complicated. Jenson was my professor, too. Although I do remember him saying something about the only reason there wasn’t a rule that alphas and betas at the school shouldn’t bond was because no one thought it would be needed.”

“See?”

“But he also wasn’t … I don’t know … mean. I guess, if I was being honest, and if I was giving him the benefit of the doubt, I could see that we’d sort of backed him into a proverbial corner.”

“There were a lot of stipulations in that.”

She sighed. “I know. I just keep associating the fact that I didn’t get kicked out of the academy with him. He could have sent the reporters away, but he created a whole interview session where he basically said he supported me staying simply by not refusing to kick me out.”

“He let reporters on campus then but isn’t letting the students stand up for their designations now?”

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