Page 14 of Omega's Reign

“He will be handled accordingly, and then we will celebrate our new circle of power between us.” I keep my smile firm, my eyes locked on the bastard.

Beckett grabs a wine glass and holds it up. “Let’s make a toast. To Platinum Shores and Holly.”

Everyone raises their glasses.

Wesley hands me the weapon, his presence protectively behind me with Jordan and Isaiah. Andrew stands on my other side, ready to protect me if the other alphas react.

“Cheers,” I say, aiming at Amy’s alpha.

He doesn’t get a chance to move. To beg for his life.

I get the justice we all deserve by pulling the trigger.

I am a ruthless queen when it comes to taking care of my people. I will end anyone who tries to ruin what I’m trying to create. I’ll be the villain in their story if it means I’m the hero of mine.

Silence fills the room as the alphas realize that I’m not playing games. I’m not in this position just because my brothers gave it to me, and the Saint Vista Pack Regimes agreed with them. I’m in this position because I’m worthy.

“Let this be an example. I’m your leader. That will not change. It is up to you to adapt. Treason will not be tolerated. Do you understand?” I hand Wesley the gun, my fingers numb from the sensation. “My brothers raised me well. Do not forget it.”

These alphas probably think I’m psychotic with how I force myself to smile. But my insides twist. The edges of my vision shadow. In a moment that’s supposed to make me feel powerful, I feel weak. It makes me feel no better than them. It’s funny how my feelings can just suddenly change because of the flick of my finger.

This isn’t how things should be, but it is what it is right now.

I turn around and stride from the dining room, abandoning Beckett to deal with the aftermath. Andrew’s soft footsteps follow behind me until he catches up and stays by my side.

“Holly, slow down,” Jordan says, filling the empty space to my right. “Let me take a look at you.”

I stop in my tracks and turn to face him. Glancing down the hall, I make sure I’m out of view of the arched entrance to the dining room. “We need to hurry up and finish this. I can’t stand them being here a moment longer.”

“Everything’s ready. They won’t be a problem. I can already tell you that.” Jordan opens his arms, begging me to step into them.

It hurts to deny him, but I don’t want to stand in this hallway any longer. “Just ensure it, please. I need a moment, okay?”

His face falls with his realization. I don’t think I’ve ever denied him my time, but I’ve never killed a man in cold blood. Last time it was because I was being threatened. Because my pack was being threatened.

I feel like a monster.

Without waiting for him to argue, I cross my arms over my chest and turn away. I enter the first room I come to and try to close the door. Andrew puts his foot in the way and silently follows me in. I don’t have the will to kick him out, so I ignore him and head toward the window of the unoccupied staff room.

Tears burn my eyes, and I stare out at the back lawn with a view of the ocean. The sun lowers in the sky, the sunset blazing with reds and golds, bouncing off the gilded clouds that remind me of the desert sands of my birthplace.

“You probably think I’m a mess. That I’m heartless and crazy,” I say, filling the silence with my voice.

Andrew’s presence doesn’t allow me to ignore him, even if it isn’t his intention, his cotton candy and bubble gum sweetness permeating everywhere he goes, battling with Beckett’s citrus and overpowering every other scent.

He doesn’t respond to my comment, remaining the stoic shadow he’s been hired as.

“I should get used to this. Alphas need to know me as the bitch queen who stole everything from them,” I continue, blinking the tears away but instead they splash on my cheek. “I’m sure I terrified those omegas. They probably won’t even believe I’m one now.”

The thud of Andrew’s footsteps draw closer, but he still keeps his space, keeping to the perimeter of the room yet getting into my periphery.

“If I may speak, Your Majesty,” Andrew says, surprising me with his comment.

I turn to him and meet his gaze, his green eyes vibrant in the streaks of sunlight coming into the room. “You never have to ask to speak. You might be my bodyguard, but I don’t treat people like my servants. That’s not how I want things to be. And call me Holly. I only allow my formal title in front of the leaders. They need the reminder that I’m in charge, because it’s the only way to get this territory to a better place. Once that happens, I hope to be seen as someone for the people.”

“You’re a lot like your brothers, Holly,” Andrew says, stepping a little bit closer.

I lift and drop my shoulders. “Maybe Desmond.”

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