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So, the cameras were by the pool, where the light was natural. I’d been searching for my spine of steel for so many years, but the weight of it didn’t feel new or unwieldy. Everything I’d been through had poured a little more strength down the fragile links.

“No matter what, we’re right here for support,” Ajax said.

“So are hundreds of other people.” Lorna flashed me my social media account she was managing for me. My chest warmed. My feed was full of messages of encouragement.

“Let’s do this, shall we?” I nodded at the cameraman and took a seat on the stool. My lungs ached as I filled them with nervous air. Scanning the small crowd gave me tiny anchors to latch onto.

“We’re ready in three.” The cameraman motioned two and one with his fingers.

The blinking red light hypnotized me. There was a mirrored screen in front of me where I could see the comments flooding in. Some were good, some were cruel. I was as prepared as I could be, but my pulse still felt like it might burst out of my skin.

“Hi, everyone.” My voice didn’t shake. That was a good start.

You can do this.

I continued. “You might not know me, but you know my name, Tully Hartlock. The Hartlocks have a long history in Starhaven. You’ve heard the new name the media dubbed me with this week, Hartlock Harlot.” I let the word hang in the air for a moment. “It was designed to hurt. To tear me down and send me back to where people think omegas should belong.”

Lloyd gave me a nod and, in his sea-foam, bright gaze, I coasted the wave of emotion that wobbled my lip. I knotted my hands in my lap.

“Someone leaked private pictures of me on the internet. Maybe you’ve seen them, shared them, and you want to know what I have to say about it.” I lifted my chin. “I don’t care.”

Not entirely true.

But with my make-up, hair and my pink, glittery armor, I could be raw and strong at the same time. My body was still mine, even though it had become a joke, a commodity. I hoped Chase was watching and understood his reckoning was coming.

I let my lips curl.

Comments flooded the screen.

“I’m not ashamed of who I am, or the choices I’ve made. Shaming sex work is an insidious weapon used to control women. We can pretend equality exists, but there are so many unspoken rules Designated are supposed to follow. Especially if you’re an omega. When you try to exist outside of those lines, you’re punished for it.”

I exhaled all the cobwebs that couldn’t hold me anymore. I’d never fit in, because I was too small for the space provided for me. Insignificant, lacking. But in reality, I overflowed, and I was capable of so many big, beautiful things.

Like a sky full of glittering stars. I had my pick.

I cleared my throat. “We don’t like to admit it, but our world still has rigid ideas about what an omega, beta, and even an alpha should look and act like. We feel pressured to act a certain way, and I refuse to let anyone tell me who I’m supposed to be. My name has a long history of brave Designated who challenged the status quo to become who they truly wanted to be. If me celebrating my body triggers you, maybe you need to think about why that is.”

I gazed at Baylark Pack.

Standing together, touching each other like they were each other’s pillars. Pan’s haunted gaze shimmered with tears, and I directed my next words at him.

“It’s difficult, living through expectations. But wouldn’t the world be brighter? Wouldn’t it be bolder? The people who love you, truly love you, will understand and stand next to you. And I intend to make Starhaven a safer, more accepting place for all of us. Not just the ones who follow the rules.”

“That’s my girl,” Ajax mouthed.

I licked my lips to rid myself of the sudden dryness.

“Every single dollar I make from this video is going to be donated to a charity that supports women. And if you want to show support, please donate, and let’s show the person who violated me, we won’t be made to behave.”

I let out a shaky breath and tracked the explosion of comments on the screen.

A notification popped up and my heart squeezed.

Lloyd Yarrow donated $1000 with a message:proud of you.

Ajax Mythos donated $2000 with a message:in awe of you, Tully.

The comments went crazy.