“And to Blaine.” I say his name like I’m putting a curse on it. “You tried to silence me. You failed. You tried to sell me. You failed. You tried to break me.” A savage smile spreads across my face. “You. Failed.” The fire that’s been building in my chest erupts into my voice. “I’m still here. And now, the whole world knows.”
I hold the gaze of the camera for three more heartbeats before Josiah signals our conclusion, the redlight blinking off. For a moment, no one moves, the weight of what we’ve just done settling over all of us.
Then Brookes reaches over with his bruised hand and grips mine, his fingers trembling but strong.
“Holy shit, Char,” he whispers, his voice hoarse from the damage they did to him. “You just declared war.”
“It was already war,” I tell him, squeezing his hand gently, mindful of his injuries. “I just stopped pretending it wasn’t.”
Beaux pushes off from the wall, his usual cocky grin finally making an appearance as he stalks toward me.
“That’s my Harlequin,” he says, dropping to one knee beside my chair. “Beautiful and fucking terrifying.”
Moses’ hands finally release my shoulders as he circles around to face me.
“You did good, Charlotte,” he says softly—the rare praise from him warming me more than I want to admit.
Teagan’s pacing has resumed, but this time with purpose. “Josiah, how long until it’s live?”
“Already is,” Josiah says from behind the camera, his fingers flying over his tablet. “I pushed it directly to every major network and social media platformsimultaneously. It’s trending on six platforms already.” He looks up, a rare grin lighting his face. “They can’t bury this one.”
Teagan nods sharply. “Good. Now we move to phase two. Blaine will retaliate.”
“Let him,” I say, rising from my chair, feeling stronger than I have in weeks. “We’re ready.”
Blaine took everything from me—my security, my freedom, my body. But he made one critical mistake. He left me alive. And now, I’m not just fighting for myself anymore.
I’m fighting for every Omega who’s ever been told to be smaller, quieter, more compliant. Every Omega who’s been bought and sold like merchandise. Every Omega who’s been told their value lies solely in their ability to breed.
This is just the beginning.
CHAPTER 31
DEACON
Two Weeks later
This is Jenna Cross with World Stream News, bringing you breaking news: Senator Justus Blaine, longtime proponent of the controversial Omega Protection Act, has been arrested by federal agents following a series of damning revelations that have sparked global outrage. The arrest comes two weeks after Omega Activist, Charlotte Matthews, broadcast her harrowing account of abduction and abuse—an exposé that went viral within hours and has since sparked protests in every major city across the country.
We’re all gathered around the main screen,Charlotte curled up beside Beaux on the couch, with his arm wrapped around her protectively. Josiah sits cross-legged on the floor with a laptop balanced on one knee, Teagan stands, arms crossed, behind the couch. Close and watching the television intently. Brookes is swaddled in blankets in the armchair, legs tucked underneath him. He’s healing slower than any of us like, but he’s here. Awake. Watching.
The room goes quiet.
The screen cuts to shaky footage of the FBI storming Senator Blaine’s Washington, D.C. office. The camera zooms in on the smug bastard being led out in handcuffs, his suit wrinkled, and his face flushed with indignation. Reporters shout questions, their voices blending into chaos, until one finally breaks through the noise.
“Senator Blaine! Do you deny the allegations?”
“Were you involved in the Omega trafficking ring?”
“What do you say to Charlotte Matthews’ accusations?”
He stops, turning to the camera with forced calm and that smug, patrician smile that makes my fists twitch.
“This is a mistake,” he says, voice clipped and polished. “All I’ve ever wanted was to protect thecitizens of this country. That woman, Charlotte Matthews, is a dangerous radical. A terrorist. She’s slandering my good name with fabricated lies. And when the truth comes out, you’ll all see?—"
The feed cuts, returning to the anchor, who’s already reporting on protests, investigations, and leaked dossiers. Joker leans back with a satisfied smirk.
“Guess the feds didn’t appreciate their inbox being flooded with Blaine’s greatest hits.” I chuckle as Joker shoots me a wink.