Page 18 of Omega's Reign

I tap my knuckles on the closed door to the cabin Gabi stays in, and she lets out a soft whimper at the sound of me calling her name. Easing open the door, I peek inside and see the older woman wrapped in a robe and sitting on the edge of the bed. She twists her hands together, the tightness of her hold turning the tips of her fingers purple.

And then she begins to sob, her shoulder shaking, the rest of her body crumpling forward until she hides her face on her legs, bent over completely.

I rush to her and envelop her in my arms, pulling her close until she buries her face in the crook of my neck, her tears dampening my dress and hair. Her emotions get the best of me, and I can’t stop my eyes from sheening over with tears. It’s as if I can feel her fear. Her relief. Her storming emotions filled with confusion and hope and something darker.

“You’re safe,” I say, wishing my voice would come out stronger. She doesn’t need a whimpering omega in this moment. She needs a leader. A protector. Someone to make her feel as if her world isn’t over. Because it’s not. Her life is just about to begin.

I rub circles on her back for what seems like forever until she finally runs out of tears, her voice hoarse from crying. Probably from salt water and screaming.

“Brutus is dead. He cannot hurt you anymore. You’re officially free. You and your children will finally be able to find a pack that deserves you. Or you can just be with them. It’s up to you. You get the final say, okay?” I dry my damp cheek on my shoulder, trying to pull myself together to give Gabi the strength to do the same.

She leans away from me and takes my hand in hers, her makeup smeared, her eyes bloodshot and her hair sticky with salt. “What if I make the wrong choice? I can’t survive without an alpha. I don’t have a way to earn money. I don’t have a pack to return home to. And I don’t know if I want another alpha.”

“You don’t have to make these decisions immediately. We have a place for you to live and you’ll be able to get everything together. No omega will be left on the streets. You’ll be taken care of until you can take care of yourself. I promise.” I hold her hands in mine and smile, imagining the good life she will finally get to live. It makes everything I’ve been through now even more worth it. A part of me has always been a bit selfish, always just wanting to do things for me. But now that I can do things for other omegas? It’s my destiny. I feel it deep in my bones. In my soul. This is how we make it work. The brutality can’t go on forever.

“I trust you,” Gabi whispers, taking a deep breath to slowly push it out between her lips, her body relaxing, her muscles no longer tense.

“And I’ll do whatever it takes to keep it. Now you’ll find some clothing in the closets. You should get dressed. We’re continuing the excursion, okay?” Because I still have the other omegas to worry about.

I leave Gabi in the cabin, feeling a lot better, knowing that she finally accepts that she’s no longer in danger.

Wesley remains in the hallway with Andrew by his side, now dressed in jeans and a T-shirt, though my brain automatically remembers him and just his towel. I need to get myself together. Get some fresh air.

“The others are waiting in the saloon. Did you want to talk to Beckett before you go out there?” Wesley asks, his comment more of a suggestion.

But I don’t need Beckett to tell me how to proceed or what to say. I can handle this.

I shake my head. “That’s not necessary. I know exactly what I’m doing.”

He nods in silence.

Andrew remains expressionless, and I can’t help but wonder what he’s thinking. If it’s about the situation or if it’s about me.

It doesn’t matter.

Nothing matters at this moment except completing my mission.

Once these omegas are free of these alphas, we’ll be one step closer to a perfect territory.

The world will see the greatness of my reign.

9

Change

Holly

“Is there anything the rest of you need to tell us? I’m tired of having to flex my power. At this point, I’m not even sure I should accept any of you as leaders in our territory. It might be best to just say good riddance.” I stand in the middle of the saloon, facing the leather sectional while several alphas sit alongside each other. Seeing them straight-backed with their shoulders squared, eyes fixated on me for the first time that I can recall makes my skin crawl.

It used to piss me off that they wouldn’t show me any attention, but now I don’t want it. I don’t even know what I want besides not having to worry about constant threats.

“Is this why we’re here? You plan on throwing us overboard? Killing us?” Vic crosses his arms, his nostrils flaring. “I helped subdue the traitor. Isn’t that worth something?”

I press my lips together without responding. Does the single act wipe away his entire history? I haven’t studied his file, but I’m sure he’s done stuff that would haunt my dreams.

“We’re not killing anyone unless you prove that you cannot handle your current position,” Beckett speaks up, drawing my attention to him. “I don’t know how things were done before, but you need to quit the bullshit. Times are changing. It has been proven that treating omegas with respect and as equals makes a difference. It makes packs stronger and also helps territories thrive.”

No one responds to him, remaining silent. I hope his words sink in. They can’t all truly be so hardheaded that they can ignore the truth of things. Believe what they want to believe despite the evidence against them. But who knows? I don’t understand a lot of things about alphas.

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