Page 74 of Knot All Is Lost: Part 2

“Yes, there is a second half to this. Whatever we turn the Care Centers into, that will only be part of what I want to do. The most important thing for me is to head up a team that will locate all the Omegas that have been sent to other countries. Savo and I are going to team up with Rick who is, under your direction, I believe, setting up a task force to investigate this. I’m not sure what can be done, but I would like to bring back those who no longer wish to live in the other country if they aren’t bonded or committed to a pack. Those that are, I would like to establish communication between them and any family they might have. I can only imagine the parents who trusted that the Care Center was the safer option are devastated to know their child is gone. We owe it to them to do all we can, since we failed them,” I declared.

This idea seemed to catch all of them off guard, besides the two who already knew. Marius turned to Savo with a curious expression. “You’re in support of this idea?”

“One hundred percent,” Savo answered. “I feel as strongly about this as she does, which is why I suggested we work together. Rick’s Omega is from Shearia and can help us with that connection, and as we all know, I have ties to Asturg. It’s not lost on me that there will be a lot of political red tape to pull any of this off, but I think if we make welfare checks a concession at first, it means we can locate them and it won’t ruffle too many feathers.”

Marius rubbed his jaw in contemplation. “This project will take time, but I think we can absolutely make this part of the overall agenda. If I inform the public about it and use it as a major part of why they should re-elect me, it's a win-win for everyone across the board.”

“That was my thought, plus it's the right thing to do,” Savo agreed.

Spencer reached across the table and took my hand which had been nervously plucking at my napkin. “Little Dove, I think these are brilliant ideas and something to be proud of. It will take some time to get these up and running, but what about if you started some small classes at the shelters? Start small, find what works, what people want to know or don’t know already. This can help direct you. An education is important, and if you feel that needs to be part of it, then do it. Just don’t let it stop you from setting things in motion. There will be political hoops no matter who's in charge, but if you get the ball rolling it’s harder to stop it.”

I smiled and squeezed his hand. “Thank you, Spencer, it means a lot to me that you’re already so invested in this idea. I think you’re right that education is not going to be the thing that holds me back, but I want to at least have my GED. For me, that’s been a dream to accomplish for three years and I’d like to do it for myself.”

“Then that’s what will happen,” Rafael assured. “You’re already in the program and it’s a go at your pace, so if you want to finish it as fast as possible then we’ll get you there.”

My heart swelled as I felt all their love and support through our bonds bolstering me for the hard work that was to come. “This is just the beginning, I see all of us doing our part to change the world in our own ways. As you always tell me, this pack was founded on an idea and look how far you’ve all come. I’m so excited to see what the future has for us all.”

“Here, here,” Nixon cheered and raised his glass. “To the future of Oscad.”

“To Oscad,” we all said, raising our glasses.

Marius stood, holding his wine glass looking at all of us. “I know another speech, but I promise it will be brief.” Everyone snickered but we held our glasses waiting for his toast. “To the pack of misfits who saw how broken the world was and decided to change it. Little does the world know the power a unified pack full of love and friendship can have. Thank you all for being my family, and I have no doubt our future will be unlike any of us expected. Here’s to you, because without you all, I wouldn’t be here today.”

“Cheers!” I cried, thrusting my glass of water into the air, knowing our adventures were just beginning.

Chapter 33

Epilogue - Three years later

Theworldaroundushad changed in so many ways over the past few years. Marius was officially elected as Head Speaker, and Nixon was elected as Governor of Citizen Welfare. Fitting if you asked me, since he was in charge of making sure all of our citizens had the support they needed to build better lives for their families. Spencer and Bodhi were now the directors of the Open Arms Shelters and Education centers. They were a fantastic team and have used their skills to help so many get back on their feet; finding jobs, homes, and finishing education they might have missed out on, like I had.

Oscar was still producing music but he was also working with Bodhi in his music classes at the shelters. They became so popular they were overwhelmed and had to bring on more help. People didn’t see the point in learning a skill when it couldn’t put food on the table. Now that life was a little easier, it allowed them to find joy in hobbies and other activities they’d been forced to set aside.

The biggest change was, of course, no longer forcing Omegas to be sent to a Care Center. They were free to be with their families and grow up with all other designations. Once they reached eighteen, they were able to file with the Pack Support Organization (PSO) that they were open to finding a pack of their own. Of course, many packs developed naturally between people of all designations, and they just had to register their pack with the PSO so they could receive support and guidance whenever they needed it.

With Rafael’s help, I founded the Omega Education Initiative with my inheritance, and we had decided instead of making classes for people to go to, we held them at schools. It didn’t take us long to figure out it was the new generation we needed to focus on first. Helping them understand how all designations were equal yet had biological differences and some needed more attention than others. It was simply magical to witness children driving the change and teaching others how to respect and care for each other.

As for the work Savo and I paired up to do, that wasn’t progressing as smoothly as we’d hoped. The Omega Recovery Project was up and running, with Rick’s amazing support. Sasha, Rick’s bonded Omega, joined our team as well, assisting us as the Shearian ambassador. Through her connections we got their government to allow us to send in teams to check on the health and wellness of those Omegas that had been sent there. Asturg wasn’t so open to having anyone step foot in their country, especially since we were no longer going to send any Omegas to them like Yoram had.

Most of Marius’s efforts were dealing with the fallout of breaking deals made with Yoram. There was a tense time when we thought we’d have to go to war with Asturg but by some miracle they managed to figure something out between them. It was hard to adjust to the fact that Marius and Nixon couldn’t always tell us what was going on when it came to national security, but it made sense.

“Mrs. Neenan,” Sheela called through the intercom. “There is a Mr. Tibble to see you.”

I looked across my office to where Savo’s desk was. He flat out refused to let me have my own space when I was meeting with so manyshadypeople as he called them. Really, they were different connections and underground workers who helped us locate the Omegas we were looking for. Since there was a massive crackdown on the black market sellers, I came up with the idea that they could switch sides and help us if they didn’t want to go to jail.

“Send him in, please,” I instructed.

Savo got up from his seat and took his place behind me, watching my back as I spoke to our newest recruit. Mr. Tibble was a black market smuggler that dealt mostly with Asturg, which was where we needed the help. Most of the Omegas that got sent over there were placed in breeding houses and I’d made it my sole mission to get them all out of there if I could. An incredibly small number of women had found a pack and seemed to be happy enough. I had offered them the same chance I did all the others if they wanted out, but most refused. Only one had accepted and we’d smuggled her back into Oscad and into the safe house I’d converted the family mansion into. So much heartache had taken place there, so I wanted to use it for good. Now that it had been gutted and remodeled, it was a safe house for all the Omegas we smuggled out to receive treatment for their physical and mental wounds.

“Ma’am,” the anxious man greeted me as he stepped into my office. His hand nervously twisted his hat in his hands as he stood there.

“Please take a seat, I was told you have information for me?” I instructed, gesturing to one of the chairs in front of my desk.

He sat but refused to look at me, but I wasn’t surprised by that, Savo had that effect on pretty much anyone. “Yes ma’am, I located another group of girls in Southern Asturg. I’m not sure how they got there, since the North is careful to keep an eye on all the Omegas they have. Many are chained to their beds in the breeding houses so they can’t run.”

“Yes, I’m well aware of this,” I said, fighting back the bile that was threatening to come up at the mere thought of these poor women suffering. “What is the importance of them being in the South? From what I understand, their views on Omegas aren’t that much different.”

“Well you see, there is one thing they do differently. They only place them with the military, and they are trained to fight as well as to be bred. These women are in a training camp and I’m not sure we can get them out. President Dragomire pairs them up with a unit, kind of like a pack that they train and serve with. It’s one reason their Omegas live longer, they can fight and are guarded around the clock by their unit. These aren’t just normal units either, only the elite are awarded an Omega,” Mr. Tibble explained.

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