Page 52 of Omega on Fire

Josiah smiles. Not his usual cocky grin—something darker. Fierce. "That's our girl."

And just like that, the game changes again.

"Absolutely fucking not."

Teagan's voice booms through the room, filling the space with Alpha command. My Omega hindbrain shudders at the tone, but the rest of me, the Charlotte who's spent her entire adult life telling Alphas to shove their commands up their asses, bristles. Even Josiah's shoulders slump at his tone and I ain't having none of it.

"I wasn't asking for permission." I cross my arms over my chest, ignoring how the movement pulls at tender muscles. "I'm going."

Teagan stalks toward me, all predatory grace, his scent sharp with displeasure. Leather and gunmetal wrap around me like a warning. "This isn't a democracy, Omega."

Ah, no. "Good thing I'm not your subject then,Alpha." I step into his space, tilting my chin up to meet those furious hazel eyes.

Moses clears his throat from the doorway. "Maybe we should all take a breath."

"Oh look, the voice of reason has arrived." Beaux lounges against the wall in the hall, looking far too amused by the tension crackling between Teagan and me. "Let her speak before you blow a gasket, Trigger."

The nickname seems to land like a slap. Teagan's nostrils flare, but he steps back, giving me room to breathe.

"This is a direct invitation from the man who had me kidnapped," I say, turning to address all four men. "He's making a move. If we don't respond, we're just waiting for the next attack."

Moses frowns, his dark eyes calculating. "You're suggesting we use you as bait."

"I'm suggesting I use myself as bait," I correct. "With you as backup."

"The difference being?" Teagan demands.

"Agency." I don't flinch from his glare. "My choice, my risk."

Josiah clears his throat. "Technically, it's a solid play. They'd expect us to refuse. Why else send an invitation we can see straight through? It's a taunt."

"Or it's arrogance," Beaux offers, pushing off the wall to join our impromptu war council. "Blaine thinks he's untouchable. That he can operate in the open because no one will challenge him. Motherfucker’s got the audacity to kidnap Omegas on the side while voting on legislation during the day."

Teagan's jaw works, a muscle ticking in his cheek. "And you want to walk into his party? After what you just went through?"

The concern beneath his anger isn't lost on me. I soften, just a little. "That's exactly why I need to go. Because he thinks I'm broken. Because he thinks I'll run and hide." I reach out, my fingers brushing against his forearm. "He doesn't know who he's dealing with."

For a moment, the room is silent. I can almost see the calculations happening behind Teagan's eyes, the Alpha weighing risk against reward, strategy against emotion.

"If, and that's a big fucking if, we do this," he finally says, "we do it my way. Security protocols, comms, weapons, extraction plan. You don't take a goddamn step without one of us knowing exactly where you are."

"I can agree to that," I say, relief flooding me. "As long as I get to actually engage with people. I need tobe seen talking to the right folks, not just hiding behind your sexy muscles all night."

Moses moves further into the room, his presence calming. "Beaux and I can handle perimeter. J can run comms. Teagan stays on Charlotte."

Beaux cocks an eyebrow. "You sure you don't want that job, Deacon? Plenty of opportunity to get handsy with our favorite Omega under the guise of protection."

A hint of red touches Moses’ cheeks, and I bite back a smile. Even after everything we've done together during my heat, he still blushes at Beaux's crudeness.

"Focus," Teagan snaps. "This isn't a game."

"Everything's a game," Beaux counters, his grin turning feral. "Senator Blaine just doesn't know he's losing."

I step back, watching the four of them slip into planning mode. They move around each other with the ease of long familiarity, finishing each other's thoughts, anticipating objections, building a strategy that feels both improvised and meticulously constructed.

This is what makes them special. Not just the individual skills, but Teagan's leadership, Moses' tactical precision, Beaux's controlled chaos, Josiah'stechnological wizardry, and the way they flow together is natural. A true pack, bonded by choice, genuine love, rather than circumstance.

My mind drifts back to the nest, to the way they'd moved together even then. Taking turns, sometimes tag-teaming me, sometimes watching, always in tune with each other's needs as much as mine. I'd never experienced anything like it. The few times I'd shared my heat before, it had been with a single Alpha, and the experience had been adequate. Serviceable. Never transcendent. Never like this.

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