There is a long, weighted pause, and this time her question is answered by Marshal Lane.
“We’re reviewing all Omega-related policies,” he says carefully. “Including the suppressant protocols. The medical staff has indicated that the current requirements may be… excessive.”
“May be?” Willa leans forward slightly. “The double dose made my hormones unstable…Your ‘excessive’ protocols made me vulnerable.”
She sits back, her scent complex—satisfaction mixed with lingering anger mixed with exhaustion. I just want to cuddle my Omega in my lap and hold her until she believes that she’s safe.
“Miss James,” Dane West says next, another member of Pack Lane, “if you wish to press charges against Mr. Felton, we will support you fully. Provide character witnesses, documentation, whatever you need. And,” he pauses, “we owe you an apology. Multiple apologies. For the misconduct that occurred under our watch. For the outdated policies that failed to protect you. For the systemic issues that allowed this to happen.”
Willa’s body relaxes, and I can feel the breath she’s been holding slowly release.
“We’re also committed to changing the culture,” the Alpha adds. “Too many bad actors have been protected by nepotism and the ‘old boys club’ mentality. That ends now. We’ll bekeeping a much closer eye on harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power.”
“See that you do.” Willa stands, and I move forward automatically, needing to be closer. “Because the next Omega who comes through here deserves better than what I got.”
“Agreed.” The Beta woman stands as well, extending her hand. “Thank you for your courage in coming forward. And for giving us the chance to do better.”
Willa shakes her hand, and then she’s moving toward the door. Her scent reaches me first, and my Alpha rumbles with satisfaction. She’s okay. She’s safe. She’s ours.
As soon as we’re in the hallway, Beau pulls her into his arms. Just holds her, his face buried in her hair, breathing her in. Charlie’s hand finds her back, rubbing gentle circles.
I can’t stop staring at her. At the strength in the set of her shoulders, at the fire in her eyes, at the way she just faced down the people who failed her and demanded better.
“Jake?” She turns to look at me, still wrapped in Beau’s arms. “You okay?”
“Am I okay?” The words burst out of me, rough and amazed. “Willa, that was— You were—” I have to stop. Take a breath. “I’ve never met anyone stronger than you.”
Her scent spikes with embarrassment, going sweet and flustered. “Stop. It’s not— I just told the truth. That’s not brave. You ride bulls, that’s a hell of a lot braver than what I just did.”
“The hell it is.” I close the distance between us, cup her face in my hands so she has to look at me. “Being a bull rider? That’s adrenaline and skill and a little bit of crazy. But what you just did? Standing up to the people in power, confronting the system that failed you, making sure the next person doesn’t go through what you did? That’s real bravery.”
“Jake—”
“No, listen.” I stroke my thumbs across her cheekbones, and her eyes are wide, gray, and beautiful, and still trying to deflect. “Predators like Felton? They win when no one stands up against them. They want their victims to feel small and powerless. But you didn’t let him win. You stood up. You fought back. And now you’re making sure he can never hurt anyone else. That’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen.”
I lean in, press my forehead to hers, breathe in her scent until my Alpha settles. Until the need to protect her, to keep her safe, to make sure she knows how extraordinary she is, finally eases.
“Come on,” Beau says after a moment, his voice rough. “Let’s get out of here. Too many suits for my taste.”
He pulls her close, her curves dwarfed by the arm he wraps around her back. I watch her lean into him as they walk ahead of me, and the yearning that’s been simmering for so long swells, thick and consuming inside me.
“I need biscuits,” she announces suddenly. “Like, immediately. Please tell me someone will take me to get biscuits.”
I laugh, the sound surprising me. “I’ll take you. Beau and Charlie have that thing with the ranch supplier anyway.”
“The thing with the ranch supplier?” Willa raises an eyebrow. “That’s very specific and not at all vague.”
“We’re buying feed,” Charlie says, smiling at her as he pulls her into a bear hug. “Very boring. You’d hate it.”
“Uh-huh.” But she’s smiling now, and the scent of her happiness makes my chest feel too tight.
I thread my fingers through hers and pull her toward Beau’s truck as Charlie and Beau head off to the Land Rover. I can’t help grinning—I know exactly what they’re really up to.
“Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?” Willa teases, elbowing me in the ribs hard enough to make me laugh.
“No reason.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into the gravel lot of Sweet Buns, and the smell of fresh-baked biscuits floats over us as we approach the doors. Willa makes a sound of pure pleasure that goes straight to my cock, and I have to adjust myself before going in.
