Page 97 of Fated to the Warrior Wolf

And as I watched a silent tear trail down her cheek, I vowed that I would never make her cry another if it killed me.

When she looked away, I cleared my throat and stepped forward. Every eye except hers turned toward me, and I spoke with conviction. “I propose that we request an amendment tothe law to delay ODL action until the age of twenty. If we can’t get it overturned completely, that buys us time. But I also think we should add in a reading of the omega’s powers before action can be taken against them. Narcissa was the only omega toeverhave the gift of war. She was a single grain of sand amid an ocean of wolves. It’s possible that if we can get them to agree to give exemptions to any omegas who have gentle gifts, all our problems could be solved.”

I rubbed my jaw, examining my pack mates’ reactions as I continued. “The weight of worry that would be lifted off our pregnant she-wolves alone would save lives. Stress adds to the mortality rate.”

“He’s right,” Brielle said with a nod. “There are plenty of studies on the impact of microaggressions and heightened stress on pregnant humans. It’s one of the few things that isn’t different for wolves. I would be willing to go on record that this has already negatively impacted our pack because of what happened to Gracelyn.” She shot a nervous look at Reed and Dirge, then continued. “She had a uterine tear, and it occurred very shortly after the Omega Defense League enforcers arrived at the great pack gathering. If my wolf hadn’t been able to repair that, we would have lost all three of them that day.”

Silence reigned, and Lucien was the first one to break.

“What do you mean, yourwolfrepaired it? Aren’t you a doctor?”

Brielle’s eyes went wide as she realized her error. “Umm, well, I…”

Kane stood, stepping in front of her and blocking her from Lucien’s line of sight. “It’s time we told you why this is so important to our pack. If everyone is in agreement?” he asked, looking around the room and waiting for each of us to nod our consent.

I locked eyes with Leigh as I nodded. Seeing the tension fill her baby blues made me want to step in front of her, like Kanehad Brielle. But I knew that wouldn’t be welcome, so I held my position across from her.

“Brielle is an omega. The first known to have survived to adulthood in centuries, since the omega wars and the resulting hunt by the ODL. When she says her wolf healed the uterine tear, she meansher wolfhas innate powers that guided her to magically correct it. Her gift is fertility, and she’s been blessed by the Goddess that no pregnant females will die while she’s present, and no pups will be lost. Her gift is a threat to no one, except those who want to keep wolves oppressed.”

I watched Lucien’s face carefully as he listened, first shock, then awe, then confusion finally winning out. “That’s… incredible. But how did she not get murdered at birth? I thought it wasn’t possible to get past the ODL’s detection.”

Brielle peeked around Kane’s back, giving Lucien a kind smile. Her still-water scent perfumed the room, taking the edge off my mood even before she spoke. “A very powerful curse that drains my wolf’s powers and renders me weak enough to be undetectable.”

He blinked rapidly, and I didn’t envy him trying to process all this in a few minutes when the rest of us had gotten weeks to get through it. But to the man’s credit, he didn’t jump to conclusions.

Like I had.

I shot a regretful look at Brielle, feeling like an ass all over again for ever suggesting we turn her in to the ODL.

Now, my daughter was the next omega. The Goddess had a real sense of humor.

“So, as you can imagine, this isn’t a someday problem. This is a deeply personal issue to Pack Blackwater, and to me as high alpha,” Kane said, still watching Lucien closely.

“I understand, High Alpha. I’ll do my best, and I won’t say a word.”

“Thank you.”

Tension leaked out of the room like air from a pinhole in a balloon. After a few moments of collective processing, Reed brought us back around to the topic at hand. “I think petitioning for more time and for a test of the omega’s powers are great ideas, Gael. Does anyone else have more to add?”

Leigh was idly rubbing her stomach, her face troubled as she thought. “Is anyone else worried that the more attention we put on the omega issue—to outsiders, seemingly out of nowhere—that we’re actually increasing our risk of Brielle getting caught? She’s under the radar right now, but the more we push, won’t they push back and dig harder to find some kind of leverage on us?”

Shit, she had a point. A point that could bring a firestorm down on our baby too, if more scrutiny fell on our pack. Which was stress Leigh did not need. I dragged a palm over my stubble—I hadn’t shaved in at least two days, and it itched—and racked my brain for alternatives.

“As the high alpha, I have a bit more leeway on bringing issues that affect all wolves to the council without personal scrutiny, but I can’t deny that there’s risk. If we want to operate within and change the laws, though, we don’t have much choice. And Brielle’s training as a doctor makes her uniquely poised to address the effects of that added stress toallour females.” He shot a mournful look at Brielle. I could tell it was killing him to put her inanydanger, and I felt that to my damn bones.

If I could lock Leigh and Petal into a tower Rapunzel-style and guarantee the ODL couldn’t get them? I’d do it in a heartbeat. Not that she’d consent to being locked away. But I’d be willing to deal with her hatred if it kept her and our child safe.

“We can keep the focus broad. I think Kane’s right, though, knowing what I do now,” Lucien said. “Does anyone have anything else they want added to the petition?”

“Penalties,” Shay blurted, and all eyes turned to her. “Thereshould be penalties put in place against the ODL and a formal review process to handle things like what happened to Gracelyn at the ODL. They shouldn’t get to harass us with no recourse. Right now, they’re above the law, and that’s not okay.” She lifted her chin even as she stepped closer to Dirge’s side, as if she could hide from the attention.

As everyone discussed the various ways we could and should ask for review or removal of overzealous ODL agents, Leigh excused herself and stepped out of the room.

Everything in me wanted to follow her, but I’d already left her two notes and a credit card. Following her was definitely not giving her space. So, I gritted my teeth and stayed put as my heart walked out the door without me.

FORTY-EIGHT

Leigh

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