“No, I’d really like to.” I look at the guys. “If you don’t mind joining us?”
“I’m not leaving your side,” Damon says.
“Count me in.” Ren curls an arm around me as the others all agree.
I chew my lip. “I said we might make banners.”
“No fear, honeybee!” Laz puts his hands on hips and puffs out his chest like a superhero. “I have a load of craft supplies. I’ll bring them down, and we can make some now.”
“Yay!” I cheer. “Crafts and cake!”
We all spend the rest of the evening making banners and signs. For a change, Laz isn’t constantly joking around. He offers everyone help and tips to make their signs shine. It’s nice to do something with them that I’d usually do at home, but it makes my mind stray to Gram.
Damon tenses, instantly sensing my mood shift. “What’s up?”
It’s impossible to hide my feelings through our bond.
“Making these reminds me of my gram, that’s all.” I put the finishing touches on my Omega Power Hour sign by adding a sprinkle of glitter. “I miss her.”
I don’t add that I’m worried about how she’ll react when she learns I’ve found a pack. Damon’s frown hints that he knows I’m holding something back, but he doesn’t press me.
I’ll have to tell Gram about the Silverwoods eventually. Now that Damon and I have bonded, there’s no going back, but that’s a problem for another time.
THIRTY-NINE
Faye
“Over there!” I point at Sabs’s flaming red hair in the crowd that’s gathering in front of Noodles and Chill on SVU’s Main Street.
There’s a buzz in the air as other students brandish their banners. I’m surprised at how many students have turned out—not just omegas, but plenty of alphas and betas too.
I watch Nia clamber onto a bench to address the group. “Thank you all for attending the Omega Unite rally today.” Her voice echoes through the megaphone. “Omega rights have come a long way in recent years, but we still have a long way to go. Just a few weeks ago, right here on our own campus, a health botany professor was dismissed for omega discrimination.”
I bristle, and Damon tightens his grip around my shoulder while Ren slips his fingers through mine. Their presence calms me instantly.
“We won’t tolerate that at SVU!” Nia raises a fist. “We’ll take a stand!” The crowd cheers, and I clap along with them.
“Omega rights are human rights!” Nia chants. “And when do we want them?”
“Now!” everyone roars back.
“Omega!” she cheers. “Unite!”
Laz punches the air. “Omega unite!”
There are rounds of clapping and cheering as we set out on the march, walking quickly to catch up with the Stellas. While caught up in this vast throng of people, I’m struck by a deep sense of pride, knowing Gram is such a key figure in this movement.
My alphas don’t leave my side as we walk, the Stella girls proudly waving our homemade banners. We trek through campus, laughing and joking as we go, nearing the designated end point of the parade where smaller groups are breaking out to chat.
Suddenly, a familiar voice comes from behind us. “Faye?”
It can’t be. Can it? I stop and spin, thinking I’m imagining it. I have to be… But before I even turn, I smell her.
“Gram?”
When I freeze on the spot, our entire group pauses, letting other students flow around us on either side.
There’s no mistaking her lilac rinse perm, green, horn-rimmed glasses, and sweet smile. I spring apart from Damon and Ren, diving into her arms.
