Page 64 of For the First Time
“Uh no.Seeing what, exactly?”
She made an angry noise.“Turn on the fucking news.He’s back at it again.I can’t believe this guy.He’s such a raging dickhead.”
“What news?”
“Doesn’t matter which one.He’s holding a damn press conference.They’re all covering him live.Do you have it up yet?”
I looked around to the males and Oaks seemed to be the quickest on his phone.He was holding it out so we could all see.And see we did—Representative Adam.Spouting his elitist bullshit.
“Talk of designation reform has been a big contender in all of my elections.It’s a topic near and dear to the heart of my constituents as well as my own.Specifically, the protections of omegas.They are our weakest in society.The ones that need our defense and legal safeguards against the cruelty constantly posed against them.”
“Are you seeing it?”Hannah asked again, more impatiently.
It was hard to swallow, to get words out.“Yes.I’m seeing it.”
“It says he’s opening an investigation.”
The bar on the screen below him didn’t say that on our end.No, it read,“Representative Adam makes grand speech only months before his reelection.”
“You don’t think this is about me, do you?”Hannah asked.
My heart was racing.“No.I don’t think it’s about you.”I hoped she believed me.I didn’t sound too convincing but that was because I couldn’t truly believe what I was seeing.What I was hearing.
Adam continued, “And the most vulnerable within an already terrorized group are our young, unbonded omegas.The ones who are only beginning to learn the way of their designation at the Omega Compound.”
He paused, obviously for dramatic intent.“It has come to my knowledge that a single person, one individual in particular, has made an attempt to hurt those just coming into society.A beta, who had up until recently worked at a local OC here in the city, has acted against the best interests of omegas, putting them in harm’s way with full intent to exploit a perceived designation crisis.”
I gasped, a similar sound coming on the other end of the phone.I knew Hannah wasn’t believing Adam’s words, but I wasn’t sure if she understood the full implications.
Hands reached out to touch me, to offer comfort.No one spoke.The only sound was of Adam’s voice coming through the phone speaker.
“This person has already been removed from the OC, but I’m not content to let this assault go unanswered.I will not do nothing.Will not allow these hateful designation separatists to attack our most vulnerable while we sit back and do nothing.”He shook his head.“I am personally seeing this beta charged, to set a standard of protection on our youth.The OC is supposed to be a safe place where parents can send their children.Our society revolves around omegas and their places in our packs, in our hearts.I know I am not alone in wanting to see justice for those that this beta has harmed.”
The words along the bottom of the screen changed to read,Rep.Adam to lead investigation on supposed beta separatist movement.
“I have just submitted the final paperwork with the court and am proud to announce that my office will be throwing the full force of authority and power behind this case.We are confident that this will be the first step in furthering protective rights to omegas by punishing betas who think they are above the law.”
“What the fuck?”I barely heard Hannah’s voice.The phone might have been pressed against my ear, but all my attention was on Adam.
The male was basically inciting a designation war.Betas versus omegas.Which meant betas versus omegas and alphas.He was trying to ostracize my entire designation.What was he thinking?Betas were the masses.We had the numbers...It didn’t make any sense.
“Any questions?”Adam asked.
It seemed like every reporter volunteered and Adam didn’t hesitate to pick.
A woman’s voice asked, “Presley Abject, here.Can you reveal the name of this beta you’ll be prosecuting for omega-related abuse?”
I swore his lips tilted up in a smile.“Not at this time.”
Another question.“What steps are being taken in the meantime to ensure the current OC occupants aren’t being harmed while this investigation is underway?”
“A new standard of protocol and oversights have been imparted including internal investigations of all betas as employees of the OC.As well, all pack structuring procedures are being temporarily paused—”
The world was spinning.I couldn’t focus—could barely breathe.I was still staring at where the phone had been even once it was gone, my gaze unable to move.Then my face was being pressed into the column of Atlas’s neck, forcing my eyes to blink and my breath to start again.I clung to him, wrapping myself around him so tightly that I didn’t care about the pain in my core.
I wasn’t sure where my plate went.Where my phone had gone.I just clung to my mate.
He started to purr, the sound soft and melodic.I let him offer that comfort, soaked it all up.And I ignored the dark, oily, bubbling sensation in my mind.
