Page 99 of Stream Heat
@IndieQueenGamer: Know what’s really "unprofessional"? Attacking someone for escaping an exploitative situation. @QueenQuinnGaming deserves better. #TeamKara
@HealthyGamingDoc: Suppressant abuse is real and dangerous. Thank you @QueenQuinnGaming for bringing attention to industry pressures on Omega creators. #TeamKara
It was happening faster than I could process. Every time Victoria’s bots posted, someone I knew fired back with a real story.
Theo bounced into the kitchen, already grinning. "People know the difference between fake and real," he announced,ignoring the tension in the room. "And this PR campaign is as fake as it gets."
"But what if this blows back on you?" The fear was real, wrapping around my ribs tight as a belt. "What if sponsors ditch Pack Wrecked because of me?"
"If they do, they weren’t worth having," Ash said, joining the conversation without hesitation. "We’re not going to succeed by selling you out. Either we stand up together, or we don’t deserve to win, period."
"Plus," Reid added, "this isn’t just about you anymore. It’s about the whole system. Whether management can silence creators, or if people like us can change things. That’s a hill I’ll die on, honestly."
The phone rang again. Callie’s name flashed on the screen.
"Kara, have you seen the response?" she asked, voice clipped with excitement.
"You mean the coordinated campaign to turn me into the villain?"
"I mean the three streaming platforms that just reached out to offer you partnership deals," she corrected. "CreatorSpace, IndieStream, and Authentic Media. They want to work with creators who value transparency over drama."
Part of me didn’t believe her. "You’re not joking?"
"Not even a little," she said. "That stream last night? Yeah, it was rough. But you stuck to your truth, and it resonated. These platforms want more of that."
"But Victoria’s got reach. She could still tank all of this if she wanted."
"Then let her try," Callie said bluntly. "You’re making actual waves, Kara. That’s what real change feels like. I’ll send you the contact info for each."
When I hung up, Malik was watching me, brow raised. "Something good?"
"Three new platforms want to partner with me," I said, still a little dazed.
Reid grinned. "Told you. The truth wins over time."
"I want to believe that," I admitted, "but Victoria always finds an angle. There’s nothing she won’t do if it gets her what she wants."
"Then we adapt," Jace said, voice level. "Whatever she throws next, we handle it. We’re not letting her dictate the terms."
I took in the five of them, all of them backing me, confident, calm, steady. The fear was still there, but suddenly it felt shared. A weight spread out instead of crushing me alone.
"Okay," I said, quieter than I intended. "If any of you ever want to step back, I won’t blame you. I know I’m a lightning rod right now."
"Not possible," Reid shot back, immediately.
"We’re pack," Theo added, like it was obvious. "We don’t run."
"Even through ugly lawsuits?" I asked, making it a joke and failing.
"Especially then," Malik said, a slow smile breaking through.
I stared at the notifications. #TeamKara kept climbing, and underneath it real people were telling their own stories, finding each other in the mess. Opportunities, yes, but more than that, it was community, something I’d built myself by just existing and not backing down.
Victoria had wanted me isolated, desperate for her approval. She’d miscalculated. I had my own connections. My own worth.
And now, I had backup.
Let her come for me with every tool at her disposal.
