Page 110 of Stream Heat
"Kara," Jennifer said, not bothering with small talk. "The response to the article has been... significant."
"Significant good or significant bad?"
"Both," she said, crisp. "Nexus is threatening a massive defamation suit against you, Sarah Kiminski, and StreamWatch. They're claiming the article destroyed their business. Demanding public retractions."
My spine iced over. "Can they do that?"
"They can threaten. But here's the reality, the article is bulletproof. Every claim is documented. Sarah Kiminski's team pulled financials, emails, medical testimony. If Nexus tries to drag this to court, they'll have to open up their own records for discovery."
"So it's a bluff?"
"A loud, expensive bluff. But that's not all..." A pause, and then, "I've just been contacted by three separate law firms. They're representing Omega creators who want to join a class action against Nexus. Looks like your story gave them the last push they needed to come forward."
My head spun. "An actual class action?"
"Potentially. If enough victims sign on, it won't be just about your settlement. It'll be a legal case big enough to force real changes in the industry."
After Jennifer hung up, I sat back on the couch. The pack closed ranks around me, quietly watching, like they could sense the way my brain was oscillating between numb and wild. Twenty-four hours ago, my entire life was a salvage operation. Now, overnight, there was a possibility of changing how the entire damn industry handled Omegas.
Reid broke the silence first. "How do you feel about the class action?"
"Terrified," I said, the word sticking in my throat. "But also... like it's the only thing that makes sense. Like it's what I should do."
"You don't have to make a decision now," Malik said gently. "Let yourself breathe. Let the adrenaline come down before you commit to anything."
"I know," I said. "But part of me thinks if I don't move fast, I'll lose my nerve. Or worse, the moment will pass and nothing will change."
"Or you'll make a decision you'll regret, just to keep momentum going," Jace put in, so quietly I almost missed it.
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed with another message. From Callie.
Holy shit that article was incredible. Want to do a follow-up stream? Let people hear directly from you about what's next?
I held up my phone so the others could see. "Callie wants to do a follow-up. Joint stream, prime time. Questions, answers, next steps."
"Do you want to?" Theo asked.
"I think so," I answered, thinking out loud. "People have questions. I'd rather answer them myself than give the trolls room to invent a narrative for me."
"When?" Reid asked.
"Tomorrow night. Same time slot as the article dropped."
"That's soon," Ash said.
"Maybe too soon," Malik added. "You've been running on fumes for weeks, Kara. You sure you want to take on another blast of public scrutiny?"
I looked around. They were all watching me with the same look: worry, patience, hope I wouldn't burn myself out. And I realized, for the first time, that maybe I didn't want to do this alone.
"What if it wasn't just me?" I said, slowly. "What if some of you joined? Not to speak for me. But just to be there. Show the world I'm not isolated, not unsupported. Show them what healthy Alpha support looks like."
That seemed to knock them off their script.
"You mean us. On camera. With you?" Reid clarified.
"Yeah," I said. "I want people to see that this is not about some sad, single Omega making things up. It's about context, community, the difference between what Victoria did and what real support looks like."
"It would send a message," said Theo, after a moment.
