“You know, it’s amazing how society has just agreed to pretend that we have all these alphas together in packs, having sex with omegas during their heats, with no swords crossing,” Jackson said with a snort.
Anger rose in me as I thought about Sam having to leave the province to be with Gerald, all because his fathers found out he was gay. It wasn’t fair.
“We’re not sure what Glen’s fixation is on you, though,” Donovan said gently, as if afraid I would freak out.
“Glen thinks I belong to him. The night I revealed as an omega, we were at a dinner party at Glen’s house. My friend Sam—”
“Sam Larsson?” Terrance interrupted.
“Yeah. Why?” My chest tightened. Had something happened to him?
“He’s been contacting us in a panic. He heard from Amirah that you had made it here, but we haven’t responded to his messages. We weren’t sure if you wanted him to know where you were?” Terrance said.
“Yes, please tell him I’m okay,” I said, biting my lip. I should have thought to let Sam know the minute I made it here.
Terrance nodded and pulled out his phone.
“What did Sam say?” Donovan asked, prompting me to continue my story.
“He overheard Glen talking to my parents and making some sort of deal. Glen told me he knew from that moment that I belonged to him.”
All of Donovan’s alphas stiffened, and Nico let out a growl. I flinched and his face softened. “Sorry,” he said, looking abashed. “Omegas can’t begivento anyone,” he muttered.
“You think there was some agreement that you would be Glen’s omega?” Donovan asked, looking sick.
“Sounded like it. But then, I’m not sure why they went back on it.”
There was silence in the room.
“Well,” Terrance said slowly. “Maybe they decided that Glen was out, and so it didn’t make sense for you to be... given to him anymore.”
“The timing of that makes sense,” I responded slowly. “It probably all happened when I left the DA just over a year ago.”
Understanding alighted across Jackson’s face. “It was about a year ago that Glen started to… unravel. It makes sense that it would have all gotten worse once Jericho went back on his agreement to—” Jackson growled, biting out the next words, “—giveyou to Glen. Pack Madden would have been a better choice, then. They’re the hottest up-and-coming pack in the government, and your fathers have groomed them for years. They don’t want an omega, but if Pierce is going to run for governor, his pack would have to be bonded. People aren’t going to accept another bondless alpha in a position of power like that. It’d be too unconventional.”
My mind was making connections faster than I could process them. This must be why there was so much tension between Glen and Pack Madden and why Glen had been trying to delay Pack Madden claiming me. Maybe he hoped he could still change things and claim me for himself.
“You okay, Josie?” Donovan asked softly. I realized I was shaking. The reality of how close I had been to being bonded with Pack Madden was finally hitting me.
Nico materialized in front of me, holding a plush, pale green blanket. “Why don’t you wrap this around you, omega?” he suggested gently. “None of them can get you here.”
I took the blanket from him and got it around me after a few tries. It mostly smelled like laundry detergent, which I appreciated. I liked these alphas but didn’t want their scents on me.
“How do you know we’re safe here? Won’t Glen suspect I’m here?” I asked, looking up at Nico.
“He probably does,” Donovan said. “But he won’t dare come here. Let’s just say we’ve made a game of collecting incriminating material on Glen, starting back at university. How do you think Amirah was able to keep her position at the DC? Before I was a painter, I was a pretty good photographer. Documentary photography was a particular talent.” He smirked and I could only imagine what those photos contained.
“Even in college, they were on this traditionalist designation crap,” Jackson said, rolling his eyes. “They started a club. They had t-shirts and everything.”
I raised my eyebrows, trying to picture younger versions of the alphas who had abused me wearing coordinating t-shirts for their club. It seemed ridiculous, and it made them a little less scary.
“Plus,” Terrance added, “Donovan is famous not just here but in Sol and other provinces. The government couldn’t raid the house of Designation Magazine’sOmega of the Year.”
The pride in his voice was obvious, and it made my heart ache. He spoke of his omega with such love and admiration even after decades together. I thought I saw a hint of a blush on Donovan’s cheeks, and I scented his perfume. Is that what my alphas sounded like when they talked about me?
Donovan muttered, “Pretty sure that doesn’t matter much.”
Nico pulled in his omega and kissed him on the forehead. “Don’t sell yourself short.” He turned to me. “You omegas have done more to take down this government than all the rest of us combined. We would be nowhere without Amirah, Donovan, Lilah, Angie, Charlie, you, and so many others.”
