“I don’t have all of the answers. I don’t know how to fix the birth issues. But I know that I deserve to live freely. And if nothing changes, I will end up back in those nests. I would choose death before I let them take me again.”
“Look into my face,” I challenge them. “Look into my face and tell me that I deserve to die. The omega creed is a death sentence, and it needs to be repealed. Omegas deserve to be free. My children deserve to be free.”
“My name is Ava Stone. I am an omega, and I deserve to be free.”
“Please, speak up for us.”
Heaviness in my limbs drags me down as I finish speaking, silence a weight in the air. The ache in my back starts back up again with a vengeance, and I sag against Nikolai in exhaustion.
It’s his turn to talk about Emery, but when I look up at his face, he’s frowning, lifting his hand to his eyes to peer out, past the blinking red light to the warehouse.
“What’s wrong?” I whisper. “Nik?”
He takes a step forward, his face paling as he lifts up his hand. “Stop!”
It all happens sofast.
An unfamiliar male voice shouts, his tone furious. A dark silhouette appears against the lights as I lift my hand to try and see. It’s too wide and stocky to be one of my pack. I freeze, unable to move as Harper screams, her cry piercing my ears.
Rat-tat-tat-tat.
A heavy weight tackles me to the ground, and I cry out as I land awkwardly, a shooting pain running up my stomach. I can’t breathe, my face pressed against the damp ground, small stones digging into my cheeks as I whimper.
My head feels foggy as the shouting and snarling grows louder.
They’ve found us. This is it.
The weight suddenly vanishes, and I squeeze my eyes shut, readying myself for harsh hands. My mind races as I try to think.
Where are they? Where are my pack? Have they been hurt?
I flinch, a petrified whine tearing from my chest as I’m lifted from the ground. My arms thrash as I scrabble to pull myself free. But the arms are familiar, sandalwood twisting around me.Luc.
“Ava,” he croaks out. “It’s alright, sweetheart. Talk to me. Are you okay?”
The relief is all-consuming, but the pain in my stomach only grows.
“Luc. It hurts,” I whimper. “The babies.”
He shouts for Max, and the sound of sobbing reaches my ears.
“What’s going on?” My voice sounds funny.
“Don’t worry,” Nik appears at my side, his face distraught as he cups my cheek. “You’re going to be all right, little bird.”
“I’m fine,” I mumble. “Don’t worry.”
I can smell iron, and I look woozily down at my stomach as Nikolai runs his hands over me frantically. He pulls back, his face full of relief. “It’s not hers.”
My mind starts to clear as Nikolai shouts for Max again. Panicked voices sound around us, but they’re not focusedonus.
If it’s not mine… then where did the blood come from?
“What’s going on?” I grab Luc’s sleeve, struggling to lift up my head where he holds me. “Bastien! Max!”
Is this theirs?Blind terror splinters up my insides as I look down at the blood.
He looks down at me, his skin pale and eyes wide as he shakes his head. “They’re fine, baby,” he chokes out. “It’s Christian.”
