I grinned as I looked around the kitchen at this group of people who were all starting to feel like family.
Then my good mood vanished as Donovan came running into the kitchen.
“The jury’s in. It’s time.”
My breath caught as ice flooded my veins.
Sam shut off the music and tugged my arm. “Come on,” he said gently.
We all crowded into the living room. I leaned forward from my perch on the couch as if getting closer to the TV screen would bring me closer to my alphas.
Time seemed to move in slow motion. One of the alphas on the jury handed a card to the bailiff. He gave it to the judge.
We all knew what the verdict would be, had known it from the very start of this trial, but I couldn’t help but hold my breath as the judge placed the card down in front of him.
Then he read out the verdict for each felony count.
Guilty.
Guilty.
Guilty.
There was a rushing in my ears as if all the sounds around me had been muted, and I dug my fingernails into my palms.
Sam’s hands folded over mine, urging me to unclench my fists.
“Shh, it’s going to be okay,” he murmured.
I realized I was making a high-pitched whining noise and cut off the sound.
“We knew this would happen,” Sam said, staying infuriatingly calm as he kneeled before me.
Knowingit wasn’t the same as experiencing it, and right now, it felt like someone had punched their fist into my chest and ripped out my heart.
“Now they can hurt them,” I whispered, closing my eyes.
The only thing keeping my alphas safe was the public nature of this trial, but now the government could do anything they wanted.
“Glen’s going to punish them because I escaped,” I whimpered, my breaths coming faster again.
Sam drew me into his arms without saying anything, which told me I was right.
Raph, the member of Lilah’s pack I knew the least since he’d been locked away working on Alliance plans, ran into the room and scooped up his omega. Lilah had tears streaming down her face, and I guessed he had felt her distress through their bond.
Gerald squeezed in next to me, lending me his steady presence.
Amirah cleared her throat and I pulled away from Sam, curling up in a ball on the couch.
“Their sentencing is scheduled for tomorrow morning, but we’re confident they’ll be sentenced to the Facility,” she said calmly.
“What’s the Facility?” I croaked, even though part of me didn’t want to know.
“Jericho’s new pet project,” Amirah responded with a grimace.
“They passed the legislation last night,” Donovan said, his tone bitter. Jackson cupped the back of his neck and pulled him in close in a move so tender it made my heart hurt.
“Tell me,” I demanded, unable to stand the suspense.
