Page 63 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

He controls himself, however, clutching tightly onto his guitar.

Devin has almost incriminated himself on camera without any prompting.

Nobody is meant to know about the forced bonding system that the twins and the sisters use, as if their Idols are no more than valuable bribes or bargaining chips to give to powerful packs.

It’s Beta trafficking.

If we can get Devin to admit it, then it will make his conviction much easier. Both twins have already implicated themselves in abuse.

“Why does it matter for one night?” Torin arches his brow. “I needed Jin for this special show.”

“Because a dear friend of mine is coming to pick him up in about an hour,” to my surprise, it’s Una who replies with a bored sigh. “Someone important, who I hope will work with us to distribute our albums into the wider markets. It’s a good deal.”

The music executive is Una’s friend…?

Immortal edges closer to Jin like he needs to feel the touch of his arm at the mention of the music executive.

“And where would he be going?” Torin says through clenched teeth.

“I’ve matched him with a good Alpha who knows how to keep bad Betas like him in line,” Una drawls. Got her. “Now, be a good boy and—”

Torin strums his electric guitar aggressively like it’s a weapon.

She winces.

That must have been satisfying.

“This won’t take an hour.” Torin’s smile is cold and deadly.

His hair falls over his eyes. He looks as much a rock god as the two men next to him.

He’s finally found a place that he fits.

“We want to return the type of welcome that you gave to my bonded family and me. The type that you’ve earned.

For one night only, this is our Set Us Free Concert, and you have front row seats. Sit down.”

Cautiously, Aran slips into the seat next to the wide eyed Zoe, only appearing to notice her for the first time.

“This is ridiculous,” Devin scoffs.

“ Sit. Down ,” Torin roars.

His command echoes around the hall with its spectacular acoustics, followed by his rumbling growl that raises the hairs on the back of my neck.

His dominance settles across every Alpha in the room.

A dominance that he’s hidden or has been ignored by his siblings.

I bet that they’re regretting it now.

Philomena is staring at Torin in shock, as if she doesn’t recognize the man on the stage who is challenging her.

Devin’s breath catches.

He strides to collapse in the seat next to his twin. They clasp each other’s hands protectively like they haven’t been the monsters who’ve been haunting this estate for decades.

Una sits down abruptly next to Devin, dragging Rory with her.

Philomena holds out for longer.

She crosses her arms, turning to Stapleton. “What are you doing just standing there? Take your gun out and get those little shits off that stage. Shoot them if you have to.”

My heart stops.

I take a shaky step to the side to more fully block her view of Cricket.

She’d really shoot us…?

I’m trembling but I don’t move from the stage.

Nobody does.

Philomena is staring at us in shock like she can’t believe that her bluff has been called.

“If you’re going to shoot anyone,” Jin says, holding his arms out wide, “I’m here. Don’t point that gun at kids or my pack mates. They’re here to support me and have been from the start. So, if daring to raise our voices means that we deserve to die, then shoot me now.”

This is the moment of truth.

Jin said that he trusted Stapleton.

I don’t.

I trust Jin, however, and all of us are risking our lives in this fight. I need to let Jin make this choice.

Yet it doesn’t mean that I’m not fucking terrified.

Just for a moment, Stapleton’s expression softens. “If I shot you, then how could you continue to be a pain in my ass?”

Jin gives a shaky laugh, lowering his arms.

Philomena steps closer to Stapleton slapping him sharply across the face. “I told you to drag those shits off the stage.”

“And I’m telling you,” Stapleton ignores the pink that blossoms across his face and merely smooths over his hair, “that my job is to protect the Idols in my care and not to murder them.”

“Your job is to do what I tell you.”

He shrugs, looking away.

Philomena narrows her eyes. “You’ll regret that. I’ll make sure that every member of the Betas on your security team suffer for it.”

“You always do for my mistakes.” Stapleton’s eyes flash. “Don’t you have a performance to watch?”

“Fine, let’s get this charade over with.

” Philomena stomps to the far end of the seats and throws herself down.

“If you think that this protest will change anything, then you’re wrong.

Protests are how the weak try and convince themselves that they’re not powerless.

At the end of it, however, they still need to kneel and bare their necks to the same Head Alphas as they ever did.

I can listen to one song before I send you to the Alpha Center, brother. ”

Torin gives a wicked smile. “Oh, but this isn’t a protest. It’s a revolution.”

The Idols immediately lower their heads, allowing their hair to obscure their faces.

Torin exchanges a glance with Immortal. Then they start to play.

It’s a rocky arrangement of the song that Torin composed for his bonding gift.

Immortal and Torin are incredible rock guitarists. Despite the tension, I can’t stop myself dancing and rocking out.

These three men don’t need gorgeous costumes, effects, and lighting to look like rock gods.

It’s part of their natures and souls.

Immortal swaggers around the stage, practically fucking his guitar.

I meet Cricket’s gaze, and he gives me an excited thumbs up.

He’s monitoring how this is being received.

I bet that this is already going viral for being a brand new song, then doubly for the guitar solos with a Beta and Alpha together.

It’s going to be nothing, however, compared to when Jin and Immortal begin to sing.

At last, the guitars quieten. Immortal approaches Jin. The contrast between their white and black hair is dramatic, as they sing into one microphone.

This song was breathtakingly beautiful when Torin sang it.

When Jin and Immortal sing it, however, it’s shockingly spellbinding.

Moving.

Raw.

Entranced, I can’t look away from the stage.

I’m breathing too fast. My skin tingles. I feel like I’m floating.

Even Cricket’s fingers have stilled over the keys.

I’ve never heard Jin sing like this. I thought that he’d been entrancing before, but released now from his chains, he’s flying even higher.

This is him, singing for his life.

As the song reaches its climax, the ranks of Idols raise their heads, revealing their faces.

They join in on the choruses. Their combined voices are like a host of angels. Except, ones who have been trapped and had their wings broken.

“When I die, I hope that I hear this in front of heaven’s gates,” Cricket whispers.

A shiver runs down my spine.

I won’t let him die.

My eyes water with tears. “Now.”

Cricket taps away at the laptop, turning on the cage-like screen at the back.

This is what we need to show the world: the talent of the Idols but also, the dark truth of this estate.

Instantly, the screen lights up with images that Cricket has spent the day selecting from the estate’s cameras.

The twins in particular like to film their punishments, but Philomena also keeps neat records.

We now hold the evidence in our hands. We’re showing it on the screen for everyone to see.

Cricket gained the permission of the college aged and older Idols amongst the singers, who were eager to get out the message of what was happening, then found images of them to show on the screen.

The shock value to viewers of hearing the angelic voices and then witnessing the cruelties going on behind them, will hit hard even for a Traditional.

I hear alarmed rustling at the front of the hall.

Philomena is watching in seething fury.

The other members of Torin’s family appear in shock.

A seat rattles, as Aran stands up like he’s going to run. Stapleton grabs him by the shoulder and shoves him back down.

As the song rises to a crescendo of soaring notes, the screen shifts to show alternating shots of Jin and Immortal.

Immortal in the darkness of solitary…

Zoe beating Jin…

The twins forcing high school aged Jin and Immortal to repeat moves until they faint…

Images of mistreatment, while Jin and Immortal walk to the front of the stage together, singing with an otherworldly beauty.

Torin plays the last notes on the guitar, as the screen finally fades to the well-known dragon logo and then the flashing words: SET US FREE .

The final notes echo around the hall.

Then silence.

Jin and Immortal are breathing hard. Torin drags off his guitar, before dropping it to the floor. Then he throws an arm around each of his friends.

Cricket stands up.

I snatch his elbow, pulling him after me. We launch ourselves onto the group and hug them as well.

I nuzzle Jin. “You were amazing. You all were.”

“Another superfan won over to the Immortal charm.” Immortal shakes his hair out of his eyes. “It was always going to be a matter of time.”

Torin’s lips twitch. “I hope that your brother knows what he’s in for.”

I hope that Immortal knows what he’s in for with my brother.

“Well done,” Jin calls over to the young Idols, “I’m proud of you.”

The kids and teenagers glow, bouncing with excitement.

Mena slow claps, before standing. “Do you feel better now that’s out of your system?

What a load of immature, whiny bullshit.

Was that meant to make me feel sorry for you?

Have a road to Damascus moment? You’re Betas in my pack.

I can discipline you any way I fucking want.

And every single Beta on that stage is going to discover that now the hard way. ”

I’m proud that even the youngest of the Idols doesn’t whimper or cringe back at her threat.

Philomena is a wolf who has lost her fangs but is too dumb to have realized it yet.