Page 15 of Omega's Reign

He shakes his head. “I see a lot of Wilder in you. That’s the reason he thought you would make a good leader.”

“He just wanted to get me out of Gilded Sands so he and my other brothers could focus on knocking up Kinsey without grossing me out all the time.” Heat burns my cheeks with my words. “It was a long year with them in isolation.”

“I can’t even fathom what you’ve been through.”

“It probably made me who I am. Psycho killer.” I blink my eyes again, forcing away my tears. I shouldn’t be this upset over murdering a monster who would have easily taken my life.

Shaking his head, Andrew turns toward the window, breaking eye contact. “You’re not a psycho. And you killed that man for a good reason. I looked over all the evidence that your pack gathered to turn into the Pack Regimes. They authorized this, you know. And the fact that you are standing in this room, demanding space from your mates because you’re trying to hide how much this affects you proves as much. You’re afraid they’ll look at you differently. I bet you’re wrong. All they’re going to see is the woman they’re in love with. If anything, they will question why they couldn’t protect you from doing that.”

A smile quirks the sides of my lips, and I exhale a long breath, feeling the weight of the world lifting. “That’s nice of you to say. I still feel bad.”

“As you should. That was a brutal thing you had to face, and if you didn’t show your emotions, I’d truly believe you were one of those alphas. It’s hard to tell your order.” Is this his subtle way of asking me if I’m taking suppressants? There once was a time when they were illegal, and now they’re just frowned upon mostly by alphas. But I can’t give a fuck about what they think. Even if I’m starting to change my mind about taking them.

“I can’t have my order distracting everyone, now can I?” I smirk wider, already feeling better. “The alphas would act way worse toward me than they already do. Now they just avoid looking at me and speaking to me. They would probably fight harder if I was distracting them with my pheromones.”

“Or maybe they would finally realize that things have officially changed and only the best people get to lead despite their order.” Andrew messes with his tie, loosening the fabric. I can tell he doesn’t like formal attire, and he only wore a suit to meet me because that’s an expectation.

“You think so?”

“Yes.”

“Are you sure you’re not just against suppressants? I know that it fucks with alphas.”

“Absolutely not. I just don’t like that people feel they have to take them. It’s like—”

A knock sounds on the door, cutting off Andrew’s comment. Wesley’s voice rumbles through the wood, and I peek toward the door, knowing that life goes on now. I can’t hide forever.

“I’m coming,” I call, adjusting my dress and fixing my hair with my fingers. I turn to Andrew. “Some of us don’t feel like we have to take them. Just so you know.”

I straighten my shoulders and walk to the door to greet Wesley.

He gives me a long once-over, his brows scrunched on his forehead. “Are you okay, lovely?”

I bob my head. “I’m better now. Sorry about that. I just needed to gather my bearings.”

He engulfs me in a hug, and I meet Andrew’s gaze from over his shoulder. “I’m here for you.”

“I know,” I whisper. “I know.”

“Cheers to Her Majesty,” Vic says, raising his glass for the third time in ten minutes. The alpha took my message to heart, proving just how adaptable he is. I thought this yacht party would be super awkward and quiet, considering I just killed someone, but they have proven just how twisted they really are.

I hold up my glass and fake a sip, my stomach still a bundle of nerves. I imagine what it would be like to just drop these alphas off in the middle of the ocean and say good riddance, but then I would just have to deal with another group. When one alpha falls, another rises, and I don’t see many in this territory acting much better. At least not yet.

Music hums across the sundeck, lit by twinkling lights, the soft glow like stars on the water. The city lights of Platinum Shores light up the land, and I appreciate the view from this super yacht. It takes a whole staff to manage the boat, and it’s big enough to keep all of us for several days, the cabins spacious and the main suite like an apartment. It’s a shame this yacht is on its final excursion. I can imagine inviting real friends aboard, my brothers and Kinsey, Beckett and Jordan’s sisters. Other omegas. I wish they were here now instead of these asshole men who have lied about how they’ve treated their omegas. How their omegas are so terrified of them that it has come to this. We still need the alphas, but they don’t need their omegas, and it’s time I set them free. They will no longer be in Platinum Shores. Kinsey will help them find suitable mates at her club.

Comforting arms slide around my waist, and Isaiah rests his chin on my shoulder. It wasn’t long ago that we were both giggly teens excited about this new adventure. I may only be twenty, but I feel as if I have lived a thousand lives. Isaiah has had to live twice as many to keep up with being a beta among a pack with an omega leader.

“We have about an hour. The alphas need to be drunk enough not to realize what’s happening.” He whispers the words, his warm breath playing with my hair. “Can I distract you until then?”

I spin around and face him, hooking my fingers around his neck, pulling him closer for a kiss. “Dance with me?” I hug him tighter, swaying to the music and taking the lead until he gives in to my desire and presses his palm to my lower back, clasping my right hand in his. He’s not much of a dancer like the others, but he’ll never deny me. And I love that he does this for me now.

We sway and move, the ocean breeze scenting the air with salt and the intoxicating aroma of champagne. Isaiah dances me toward the bow of the yacht and away from the small group of alphas enjoying the fresh air instead of partying in the saloon.

“Do you think we’re doing the right thing?” I ask after a minute, losing myself to the sensation of cold air prickling goosebumps over my skin. “It’s dangerous.”

“I believe that anything we could have decided on would’ve been dangerous. These men aren’t good. They are only compliant because they want to keep their power without a battle they can’t guarantee themselves victory over.” Isaiah spins me and dips me low, the quick motion making me squeal.

“I’m just afraid. What if they find out that we set this whole thing up?” Because I still can’t stop thinking about the Righteous Water Pack and how they’re out there somewhere, wanting revenge.

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