Page 71 of Royal Omega

Epilogue - Conrad

Four weeks later...

It’s the second dayof the reunion special. Yesterday was pure chaos, producers and cameras and Willard all running in different directions. I’m grateful that we were able to go home at the end of it all, and sleep together in our bed. Carissa is close to going into another heat, and we’re all feeling especially possessive, so it’s helpful to have the time to decompress.

I’ve already gotten up, worked out, and showered, and now I’m flipping pancakes in the kitchen and whistling to myself. I can feel Izzy waking up. She purrs through our bond like a contented cat when she realizes I’m happy.

Henry wanders into the kitchen, and I choke back a laugh. It seems that the producers’ decision to hold the reunion outside has impacted my pale-skinned friend. He’s dressed in a suit tailored perfectly for his muscular body, and the contrast between the handsome man and his lobster-red face has me biting back tears of laughter.

“Hi, Henry,” I say.

He glares at me, but I can feel affection pulsing through our now-strong bond. I never realized how closed off I was before; I never realized how much I had held back until I started giving in. It’s an incredible feeling.

“What are you smiling about?” Henry growls.

“Nothing...” My gaze trails down over his red-tinted skin, and I can’t help but chuckle again. “Looks like you got some sun, huh?”

“I forgot to put on sunscreen,” Henry mutters.

“Too bad you didn’t bring any foundation to cover up that sun-kissed look, huh?” Ransom says as he strides into the kitchen, clapping Henry hard on the back.

He lets out a long, sad groan of pain that only makes me laugh harder.

“I’m still not used to it,” Henry says.

“What, the sunburn?” Carissa asks, breezing through the room like a zephyr. Her hair is twisted into a braid that drapes over one shoulder, leaving the side of her neck with my mark visible... and highly nuzzle-able. I dip my head and inhale that honey-and-ginger scent, giving her mark a little lick that makes her shiver.

“No, the laughter,” Henry says, his eyes crinkling as he gives me a tender glance. “No question about who made this happen, but it’s still remarkable.”

“It’s not just me,” Izzy argues. “It’s all of you. You made it happen.”

“Nope, all you, omega,” I reply. “We were lost without you. We’d be snarling ferals by now, lost and bitter and lonely.”

“And now you’re stuck with each other,” she says with a smile.

“Just the way we like it,” Henry says.

Carissa’s phone pings, and she reaches for it, letting out a little gasp of surprise.

“What is it?” Ransom asks, straightening in alarm.

“Nothing. I mean... something. But something good. You know how Willard brought up my article yesterday?”

“Sure,” Henry says.

“One of the best segments of the day, of course,” I add.

The article hasn’t come out yet, but of course we’ve all read it. Carissa is an incredible writer. Her article spoke to her own experiences on the show, while touching on the limited control of omegas over their own destiny. This included a forthright discussion of heat drugs, and their importance to the freedom of omegas. She also acknowledged the difficulties of managing emotions and opinions across packs, including alpha perspectives and challenges.

The show came out looking pretty good overall, though Carissa did mention that the confessionals could be invasive, whichOmega Girlsmight not like. The lawyers don’t anticipate much of a problem from the network.

Carissa drums her fingers excitedly on the countertop as she looks down at her phone. “Well apparently it’s garnered a lot of interest, and Simon thinks that there’s a good chance that it could turn into a column. The higher ups at the Herald are suddenly very interested in hearing about the omega perspective, and not just in the gossip columns. They’re saying I could be an icon for omega rights.”

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