For a moment, she felt like she was outside of her body, taking everything in. She saw a beautiful omega, standing confidently before the centerpiece of the exhibit, surrounded by three distinguished alphas who couldn’t seem to look at anything but her. That woman was lit from the inside with happiness, filled with love and pride, and ready to change the world.
Behind her, the massive, intricate collages revealed the faces of the three omegas at the center of her story, but when youshifted your gaze, each face was made up of smaller tableaux: scenes of heartbreak and horror, fear and fire, suffering and strength. There was power in these stories, and in the stories of all the omega artists featured throughout the exhibit. There was power in the story of the omega holding the microphone, smiling out at the room full of people who’d come to hear it.
Genesis took a deep breath. Gabriel’s hand rested on the small of her back. Orlando and Luke stood behind them, solid and supportive. The pack bond thrummed with love and pride.
“Thank you all for being here this evening for the opening of an exhibit that is near and dear to Pack Rossi’s hearts,” Genesis began, as all other voices in the room fell silent. “As many of you know, two of the omegas featured in the series of articles that inspired this collection held personal connections to our pack. We honor Josephine Valentine and Evelyn Rossi, who will live on in our hearts and our work.”
Genesis paused, letting her gaze travel over the crowd. She nodded at Pack Valentine, who’d flown in from London just for the event, and who now watched her with pride and sadness in their eyes. Near them, her brother Greyson stood with his royal pack, beaming at her with unguarded adoration.
A frantic little wave caught her attention, and Genesis blew a kiss to Noah, who stood with his family near the door—a spot Avery had chosen in case Genesis’s adorable infant niece got fussy and they needed to make a quick exit. Everett and his new boyfriend were nearer to the room’s center, her editor grinning like a fool.
“We’re so grateful to Serenity Rhodes for her partnership—not only the amazing work she’s doing through her charity, but for sharing her story with me, and letting me share it with the world,” Genesis went on. “Thank you for giving voice to the voiceless, Serenity and thank you for your strength and vulnerability. When I met your best friend, Princess DestinyDuvalle, she told me you were a rockstar and she was right. You’re an absolute badass.”
The crowd laughed and clapped as Serenity smiled shyly from where she stood with her pack. Her four alphas clapped the loudest, gazing at her adoringly all the while. Destiny Duvalle whistled and hooted in a very unprincess-like way, and Greyson wrapped his arm around her waist.
Servers appeared with trays of champagne, weaving through the crowd to pass them out. Genesis saw Avery smack Xavier’s hand away as he pretended to reach for one. One of her mates laughed and ruffled the boy’s hair.
Genesis took Gabriel’s hand, smiling at him fondly. “My extremely talented and ridiculously handsome alpha created the art behind us, which I will get out of the way and let you enjoy momentarily. We hope that it makes you think and feel and encourages you to join us in fighting to change the way omegas are treated in our society. We hope that you’ll join us in creating something better, something new.”
The gallery director stepped forward and handed Pack Rossi glasses of champagne. Gabriel lifted his glass, and the rest of the guests mirrored the action. Genesis felt as light as the bubbles in her champagne flute.
“To a new beginning and a bright future,” Gabriel exclaimed.
The guests echoed his proclamation, and everyone toasted their neighbors. Gabriel pulled Genesis into a champagne-sweetened kiss, to a chorus of hoots and catcalls. When he pulled away, Genesis saw tears in his eyes. Luke and Orlando joined them, each alpha taking a kiss of their own.
“Toournew beginning,” Orlando murmured.
Luke brushed a hand over her cheek. “To our bright future.”
“To our happily ever after,” Gabriel said.
Genesis smiled, feeling tears on her own cheeks. She knew that all the people she loved most were in that room, sharing her joy,and rooting her on. Her heart was so full she thought it might burst.
“Well, let’s get started,” she replied.
And so, Pack Rossi stepped into their new beginning, embracing their happily ever after.
Epilogue
One Year Later
Genesis
Genesis frowned at her computer screen, trying and failing to force the words into submission. Had she always used so many em dashes in her writing? And had she always had to search for synonyms for everyday words this frequently? Before she’d started this project, Genesis had thought she had a pretty extensive vocabulary, but this manuscript seemed determined to prove her wrong.
“Whose idea was it to write a frigging book?” she asked her empty office, glaring at her keyboard as if she could stare the right words into existence. “What the hell was I thinking?”
“You were thinking that my mate is brilliant and has already written a Polk Award-winning series of articles, so it would be well within her wheelhouse to say yes to one of the severalprestigious publishers who reached out with offers to pay her to turn her work into a bestselling book.”
Genesis jumped, spinning around in her chair to find Orlando standing in the doorway, watching her with a steaming mug in one hand. She would never get used to how stealthy he was. He swore he didn’t do it on purpose, but Genesis wasn’t certain that was true.
“I’m starting to agree with Luke. Maybe we should put a bell on you.” She gave Orlando a halfhearted glare. It was incredibly difficult to feign anger when he was standing there looking so sexy in his tailored suit. “If that’s not coffee, I don’t want it.”
“The American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists recommends that pregnant women limit their caffeine consumption to less than 200 milligrams per day,” Orlando replied in that smooth honey voice that still made her panties wet. “And we’re supposed to be erring on the safer side and limiting you to a single cup a day, which you have first thing in the morning. Asyouinsisted, despite Dr. Birch’s assurances that you’re doing great, not to mention the battery of tests that back up his assessment.Yousaid that you’ve been wanting to cut back on caffeine for a while and your alphas agreed to assist you in sticking to your goals.”
Genesis glared at the cup of red raspberry leaf tea Orlando set in front of her. “That was past Genesis. I was younger and more foolishly optimistic then. Mama needs her caffeine now.”
Orlando squatted at her feet, bringing his face level with her belly, which was growing more massive each day. His warm bergamot, cinnamon, and cardamom scent wrapped around her like a soft blanket, soothing and seductive at the same time. Genesis’s core clenched.
