Page 116 of Pack Owned
I nod, because what else can I do? There’s too many cops and the half dozen Nexus officials here make any chance of escape possible.
I can’t trust anyone—learned that lesson well enough at home.
So here I am, wearing my poker face while my insides twist and riot. I’ve gotten good at playing pretend. Had to. But right now, with Martha looking at me like she might actually see past the façade, I’ve never wished for anything more than to stay with my Alphas.
“Kayla?” Martha prompts, soft yet insistent.
“Yes. I vow to tell the truth.”
Martha’s eyes narrow, a flicker of something unreadable passing through them. She steps closer, and I fight the urge to take a step back. The tension in the air crackles, every cop’s gaze heavy on our little group, guns and tasers too close for comfort.
“Are you with these Alphas of your own free will?” Martha asks.
Every eye is on me, but the only ones I care about are Dane’s, Liam’s and Ryker’s.
I push past the lump in my throat, past the fear that they might strip away this sliver of happiness I’ve clawed out for myself.
“Yes,” I say, clear and loud.
Martha holds my gaze a moment longer as if searching for any hint of a lie. But there’s nothing to find except the raw determination of a girl who has decided her own fate, despite the odds.
Her nod is almost imperceptible, but it’s there—a sign of respect? Relief? I can’t read her and it’s twisting my stomach up.
Martha’s gaze is unrelenting, a spotlight that tries to peel back my every layer. “And you haven’t been coerced, bribed, threatened, or forced?” she continues, each word sharp like the crack of a whip in this silent standoff.
I straighten my spine. “No, of course not.”
Martha’s lips twitch, but she doesn’t say anything for a long beat.
Martha shifts her focus to the Alphas, her gaze transforming into an ice-cold glare. “You promise to love, honor, cherish, and protect your Omega?”
Ryker stands, grabbing my hand, his grip firm and comforting. “Yes.”
“Forever and always,” Dane adds, standing and moving to my other side.
“Fucking yes,” Liam says, winking at me over his shoulder.
My heart hammers against my ribs, not just from fear, but from the overwhelming sense of being claimed, protected... loved.
Martha nods once, sharply. Her eyes linger on us, maybe seeing more than we intended to show—a bond that goes beyond legalities, a connection that paperwork could never capture.
“Then you and your Alphas are registered and certified. Congratulations.”
“Really?” My voice escapes me, small and disbelieving. Overwhelmed doesn’t begin to cover it. I’m about to collapse into my Alpha’s arms.
I swallow hard, trying not to let the emotions choke me.
“Really,” Martha confirms.
“Yup. And you helped us rein in these three, so I think Nexus owes you a debt. We’ll call it even then?” The corners of her eyes crinkle, and I realize she’s not just playing good cop—she believes this is right.
“Thank you.” The words tumble from my lips before I can stop them. “Yes, yes. Thank you.”
Then she turns on her heel and marches away, leaving behind the scent of authority and a trail of whispers. The criminal Nexus officials hauled off in cuffs don’t matter anymore. They’re nothing but a fading nightmare.
I glance at my Alphas, their faces mirror my own shock and relief. Ryker’s hand gently squeezes mine, while Dane’s fingers lace with my other hand, firm and secure. Liam stands close enough that I can feel the heat radiating from his body.
Suddenly, they’re hugging me and I’m in the middle and it’s wonderful.
