Come morning, our tentative peace will be well and truly broken. We need to find out what’s happening out there, and how the public are responding to Ava’s words. God, we need to contact the Winter pack and find out how they’re doing.
“Tomorrow,” I murmur instead, brushing her hair back. “Rest tonight, brat. It’ll all be there in the morning.”
Ava moves to get off my lap, but my grip tightens. “Stay with me?”
I can’t let her go right now. She settles in, her head against my shoulder as she dozes off.
Leaning back against the wall, I watch over my family until the dawn breaks.
ChapterSixty-Six
Ava
Bracing myself, I stare at the blank television screen as everyone gathers in the living area. I’m ensconced on the couch, my feet resting on Nikolai’s lap, Leo in my arms and Max’s arms around me. Bastien sits at my feet, Emery dozing in the moses basket next to him, and Luc paces around us. Nervous energy vibrates from him as he runs a hand through his hair agitatedly.
“Ready, little bird?” Nik asks. Sucking in my breath, I glance down at my son, letting his face give me the courage I need to face this. When I nod, Nik switches on the screen, flicking to the news channels.
The blonde beta presenter I watched before talks animatedly, her hands moving. Nik turns up the volume and her words pour into the room.
“Marches are taking place around the country as protests continue to advocate for the repealing of the omega creed laws.”
I bolt upright as everyone freezes, and Leo lets out a scolding mewl. Jiggling him, my eyes remain glued to the screen, the unbelievable sight of the images changing, flicking from city to city to city. Crowds of people line the streets, some protesting outside government buildings, some walking. But all of them carry signs calling for the creed to be abolished.
Luc’s head swivels towards me, his mouth falling open. “Ava.”
“I – I don’t—,”
I don’t understand.
This can’t be real.
Turning to Max, who’s staring at the screen intently, I tug his sleeve, my voice panicked. “Max.”
I need my healer to tell me that this is real. That it’s not just some sick joke. I don’t know what I expected to happen. Maybe some mumblings, some public discussion. But not… not this.
Max turns to me, his brown eyes damp. “This is happening, sweetheart,” he breathes, pressing his lips to my forehead with a ragged inhale. “You did this.”
His confirmation breaks the dam in my chest, and I lean over Leo, holding him to me as the sobs fall out, wracking my body. In a flurry of movement, Max encourages me to hand Leo to Bastien before he pulls me onto his lap. I press my hands to my stomach, struggling to find the words I need to say. Blearily, I scrub my eyes, turning back to the screen.
“In the last 48 hours, the country has erupted into tensions over the revelations shared by omegas from the Omega Compound and the shooting of previous Compound Director Christian Winter. Protests have been focused particularly on the OC headquarters, where newly instated Director Jonathan Stone is facing significant criticism over the incidents shared by his own daughter, omega Ava Stone.”
Ice shoots down my spine as my father appears on the screen. He looks more unkempt than I’ve ever seen him, his normally pristine suit rumpled as he fights to be heard, standing at the gates of the Omega Compound.
“Director, how do you respond to the accusations made by your daughter, Ava Stone?”
He levels a glare on the reporter. “My daughter is and remains the property of the US Government. 864 is gravely unwell and I would urge anyone with information to contact—”
He flinches back as something hits his chest, staring down as broken yolk oozes down his shirt from an egg thrown by a protestor.
“Was your daughter unwell before or after she was impregnated by gang rape at your command, Director?” The reporter calls caustically, and Stone snaps his head back. I can see his jaw ticking, the absolute fury in his glare as he turns his back on the reporters and walks back inside.
The crowds outside the gates swell, cameras panning to show some of the signs being waved.
Omegas are not a number.
Say their names.
Heat nests = gang rape
