Page 143 of Stream Heat
“Boundaries are important,” Jace put in, quiet but powerful. You could almost feel the shift in chat, the sudden hush when someone who rarely spoke had something to say. “Both personal and professional.”
Ash nodded. “Which is why we’ve set clear rules. Some things we’ll share. Other things about our pack life will stay private.”
The chat scrolled by so damn fast I could barely make sense of it. Some people were obviously pissed, hoping for something sluttier. But a lot of people, even more than I expected, were there for actual answers. Real talk, not just the usual thirst. Theclaiming incident had started something, and apparently, people weren’t letting it go.
“Let’s hit the basics,” I said, taking a huge breath while pretending I wasn’t about to pass out. “Yes, these are claiming marks.” I made a show of pointing at each bite. “We’re a real pack. Not just a ‘collective’ for content. And yes, it happened after what was supposed to be a purely business move-in.”
“Plot twist,” Theo stage-whispered, and I couldn’t help but laugh.
Reid chimed in, steady as granite. “The business stuff is still real. We stream together, compete together, share resources. But the bonds? They weren’t a marketing strategy. They just happened.”
I nodded, feeling the weirdest swell of gratitude for his plainspoken style. “You probably know the headlines, the heat crash that forced me to come out as Omega, the illegal suppressants I’d been using, all the health fallout. What you might not know is how pack bonds have been part of my recovery.”
Malik leaned in. He was always the academic. “Pack bonds create actual biochemical pathways that stabilize designation health issues. For someone recovering from suppressants, that can be crucial.”
“In human language,” Theo said, “being in a pack helps Quinn’s body heal from all the chemical warfare she put it through.”
Malik smiled. “Correct. Though I’d have phrased it differently.”
The questions in chat were coming so fast I could barely keep up. Did you plan the pack from the start? Which Alpha claimed first? Is pack bonding why Quinn’s withdrawal symptoms improved so fast? Can five Alphas even claim one Omega? How does that work, biologically?
Reid pointed at the chat, almost bemused. “Let’s just take these in order. No, we didn’t plan any of this. At first, it was a content partnership to help Quinn rebuild her channel after the heat crash.”
“I went out of my way to fight off the bonds, honestly,” I said, grimacing because it was true and also embarrassing as hell. “Ask them, I was the world’s most stubborn Omega. Stole their hoodies for my nest, then claimed I didn’t need anyone.”
“The hoodie thief strikes again,” Theo intoned, eyes wide with fake horror.
I elbowed him gently. “For the claiming order, that’s… kind of personal. But the point is, the bonds formed over time. Not overnight.”
Jace, quietly said, “Each bond is different. They’re all unique. Different needs, different strengths.”
“Which brings us to something I wish more people understood,” I said, my voice settling into a steadier rhythm. “Poly pack dynamics barely exist in mainstream media. Most designation stories focus on one Alpha, one Omega. But that’s not the only way bonds work.”
Malik took over. “Traditional packs always included multiple designations. Singleton bonds are mostly a modern social construct, not a biological imperative.”
I watched the chat, waiting for the backlash. Instead, there was actual curiosity. Questions. People wanting to understand, not just stare at my bite marks. Maybe we were making a dent.
“The biggest misconception,” Reid said, “is that multiple bonds dilute each one. But they don’t. Each bond is whole, distinct, and still contributes to the pack.”
“Like instruments in an orchestra,” Jace said, so soft I almost missed it. “Different sounds, same song.”
I blinked, surprised at how much it fit. “Exactly. That’s why we wanted to do this live. There just isn’t enough honest representation of pack life, especially from Omegas.”
Ash, blunt as a sledgehammer, jumped in. “The suppressant problem goes beyond Quinn. Young creators are still pressured to hide their designations, even risk their health with illegal drugs, just to keep up a ‘marketable’ image. It’s got to stop.”
And suddenly the chat blew up. It was a wall of stories.
my manager tried to make me start suppressants
been hiding im omega for 3 yrs bc ppl say fps wont be taken seriously otherwise
quinn made me throw away my suppressants and just try being me
It hit hard. I tried to swallow the lump, but fuck it, I let myself feel it. “This is why we’re having this talk. No one should have to poison themselves just to be taken seriously.”
“In any field,” Malik added and I nodded my agreement.
“And that leads to the next thing,” Reid said, always picking up the slack when my voice turned raw. “Industry reform. Quinn’s been asked to join the Designation Diversity Advisory Board for the platform, and we’re working with legal to build cases against agencies that pressure creators to use suppressants.”
