Page 36 of Redeeming His Omega Mate

He didn’t need to finish. I already knew.

Panic flared hot in my chest. My breath came quicker and shallower. This couldn’t be happening.

Another Omega’s voice rang out, louder this time.

“You’re only here because you want us to fight for you against the rogues, isn’t that right?”

A shocked murmur rippled through the hall. Whispers of uncertainty turned into open distrust. My stomach twisted into knots. How had they found out?

“You lied to us!” the same Omega shouted, his voice thick with fury. ”There are no supplies. You’d never truly invest in anything that could make our lives better, would you?”

Then his gaze landed on me. “You both lied to us! You came in here, selling us lies about trying to better our lives. Meanwhile, you were just tricking us!” If looks could kill, the intensity of his glare would have knocked me straight to the ground.

He turned to the crowd, his anger fueling theirs. “There are no supplies!” he declared. “My friends checked the wagons. The crates are empty. They’re deceiving us!”

That was all it took for the tension to finally shatter.

Shouts erupted from all sides. Anger surged through the hall likewildfire, fast and uncontrollable. Chairs scraped against the floor as people leaped to their feet. Some tried to calm things down, but years of buried frustration had finally erupted.

Brad moved from the table, hands raised in an attempt to ease the tension, but he was just one man against a room full of fury.

Then, the guards marched in, moving swiftly to shield Damian. That was the breaking point.

The act of peace was shattered.

Chaos exploded. People hurled whatever they could grab, cups, spoons, plates, and even their own shoes at the guards. Some rushed forward, fists swinging. The guards fought back, only escalating the violence.

“You’ve got to get out of here, Tala,” Brad’s voice was urgent as he grabbed my arm, practically hauling me from my chair. “It won’t be long before they turn on you. They already see you as a traitor for having a seat on the council.”

“Wh—what about Damian?” I asked, my heart pounding.

“He’ll be fine. Your guards will get him out, and I’ll make sure he’s safe. But you need to leave. Now.”

I hesitated, my gaze darting to Damian. He was tense but composed, his voice raised as he tried to regain control. But it was too late. The room had unraveled into complete mayhem.

A firm grip closed around my arm. I turned to see one of the guards.

“We have to go, ma’am. They’re trying to block the exits.”

With one last look at the hall, at the overturned tables, the shouting, and the guards struggling to contain the angry mass, I let myself be pulled toward the exit.

As I stepped outside, the cold air bit into my skin, but it did nothing to cool the dread pooling in my stomach.

The outreach had failed.

I had failed.

Chapter 16

Tala

“Your little charity event was a disaster,” Elder Maren spat, his glare pinning me in place. “Not only did it accomplish nothing, it nearly got our Alpha killed.”

A murmur of agreement spread through the room. I felt the weight of their stares, cold, disapproving, and unforgiving. I told myself I didn’t care what they thought. That their judgment didn’t matter.

But right now? It did.

Another Elder rose to his feet. His expression was twisted with the same scorn that laced his voice. “We should have known better than to take orders from a sheep in wolf’s clothing.”

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