Page 213 of Claiming the Pack's Omega
My knuckles are white as I grip the edge of the witness stand.
"It's obvious to anyone with eyes and ears, but I'll spell it out for you all. What do you do if you want to take control over an underground Southside omega trafficking ring? You make the registration process unattractive, so you have all these vulnerable, young omegas who don't want to be ripped away from their families. Then, you give them a way to support their families just enough so that they're in a better position, but not enough for them to ever leave on their own. So now they're trapped, coerced into continuing to sell their bodies."
Mr. Buckland's jaw is opening and closing like a fish out of water. Looks like I've stumped him.
I can feel the pride from all four of my mates pouring through the bond, but I purposely keep my gaze locked on the defense lawyer in front of me. If I look at my mates, I'm worried I'm going to break down.
I feel a bone-deep exhaustion starting to settle in. I guess losing my cool like that, in front of a room full of hostile Northsiders, has taken it out of me.
"Do you have any further questions for the witness, defense?"
"N—no, your honor. The defense rests."
"Very well." The judge turns to the side, looking down at me. For the first time, since I entered the courtroom, I can finally read some sort of expression on his face. It almost looks like... pride? "Ms. Carver. Thank you for your time. You are now released by the court."
"Thank you, your honor," I say.
A bailiff appears by my side and ushers me towards the same hallway I was brought into the courtroom from. I glance over my shoulder at my mates and offer them a little smile and a wave.
I flinch at the noises the reporter's cameras make as they take pictures of me leaving. God, am I glad to be done with this.
I have a feeling that I've completely changed my life, though, after today. The world knows that I'm bonded to one of the most talked-about Northside packs. They also know exactly who I am. The good and the ugly.
"Is there a restroom I can use?" I ask the bailiff. I'm probably going to be stuck in a room, waiting for the proceedings to wrap up so that I can leave with my pack.
"Sure," he nods.
He leads me down another windowless back hallway and to a women's restroom. Once I'm done with my business, I step back out into the hallway and freeze.
"Don't move," A voice I don't recognize growls.
Aimed right at my head is the barrel of a gun.
CHAPTER 44
Reyna
The bailiff is crumpled on the floor of the narrow hallway, bleeding from some sort of headwound. He's out cold. There's no way he can help me in his condition.
I'm in this alone.
"Don't scream," the alpha in front of me barks, his dominance exploding out of him.
I feel the impact of his words instantly. It's like my throat closes up without my permission.
Panic flares through my body, and I can feel the tendrils of concern flowing back through the bond. God, I wish this bond could send more than feelings. With the way my heart is beating out of my chest, I can't focus on the bond well enough for me to gauge what any of them are feeling.
"Who are you?" I ask. I've been ordered not to scream, but I can still talk. I can still try and figure out what in the world is going on. "What do you want from me?"
"You're going to come with me," the alpha says, gesturing down the hall with the gun that's still directed at me.
He looks normal enough, just a douchebag Northside alpha. Cropped dirty blonde hair and blue eyes, expensive suit, aroundsix two, two hundred and twenty pounds. I try and take into account everything about this man that I can.
The fact that he's not even pretending to hide his face makes alarm bells go off in my brain.
"And why would I do that?" I ask, fighting the urge to wipe my clammy hands on my slacks. Like hell am I going to show him just how nervous I am. My scent is probably telegraphing that well enough, with how sour and bitter it is right now.
"Seriously?" He huffs. "I have a gun pointed at you, that's why."
