Page 64 of Bliss & Her Idols (Pack Bonds Omegaverse #10)

“Do you think that we truly did all this for you?” Torin drawls, looking at his sister like she’s the most insignificant person he’s ever seen. Satisfying. “I don’t expect that you’ll feel sorry or change. I hoped that Una may but I was na?ve to trust her. I can see that.”

“I raised you,” Una protests.

“Did you?” Torin cocks his head. “It felt a lot more like you neglected me.”

“And I’ve sung like a pretty bird in a cage too many times for you,” Jin adds, bravely. “This evening, it wasn’t for any of you. It was for my fans.”

“This is what they become like when they’re too famous.” Zoe rolls her eyes. “Delusional.”

Jin smirks. “The ones watching us all around the world right now.”

“W-w-what?” Una stutters, blanching.

Enjoying myself, I answer, “They’ve been watching from the moment that you walked in. What’s the punishment in your rulebook for Alphas who spill the secrets of the pack?”

Philomena growls, launching herself out of her seat.

Instantly, Stapleton pulls out his gun and points it at her. “Stay where you are.”

“What are you doing?” Zoe hisses.

“Reading the room,” Stapleton replies.

Philomena scoffs. “You’re not going to pull that trigger. You’re not fierce enough to point it at the Idols. If you continue acting like this…”

“What?”

“I’ll send you back to the Alaskan academy for more conditioning.”

Stapleton prowls closer to Philomena, grabbing her by the arm and pressing her down in her seat. Her eyes widen, when he pushes the gun against her temple.

“The thing about Alphas like you,” Stapleton snarls, “is all you understand, beneath your elite veneer of civility and thinking that you’re fucking better than everyone else, is threats and violence.

The only Alpha in this pack who has offered my security team and me a reward is Torin. I’m loyal to him.”

“You traitorous snake.” Devin starts to rise out of his seat but stops, when Stapleton takes a step back and casually points the gun at him instead. Then Stapleton leans against the stage. “How long?”

Torin grins, coldly. “Since I was fourteen and made a pact with the Idols. I made one with the security team as well that if they ever helped me to be in a position of power, then I’d break them out of their contracts.”

“A position of power…?” Devin laughs but it’s more with nerves. “What a joke.”

“Except, it looks like that day has come.” Stapleton appears as satisfied as I’m feeling to wipe the grin off Devin’s face.

“Rory, want to join us on the stage?” Immortal offers.

Philomena tries to stop Rory, as he stands up. “Why do you want him? Are you going to attack the weakest pack member because that’s low, even for you. Ignore them, Rory, and come here.”

It’s Philomena’s order, however, which Rory ignores. He rushes to the stage, climbing up onto it.

As planned, he drops dramatically to his knee in front of Torin.

I hear the gasps from the front row but I’m not looking away from the way that Rory is kneeling.

The surge of pride through the bond is overwhelming.

Torin is shaking but working hard to suppress it.

This is his moment, the one that we’ve worked toward.

For him, it’s been a lifetime coming.

“Brother.” Rory bares his neck.

It’s a shocking move for an Alpha to bare his neck to another Alpha like this in public, especially when he knows that it’s being filmed.

Yet Rory offered to make this gesture.

He’s trying to make up for his past mistakes.

He’s also trying to prove that he does love Torin.

When one Alpha bares their neck to another willingly, it’s a powerful primal gesture of submission.

Also, as practiced, Cricket and I copy Rory and fall to our knees.

“Head Alpha,” we say as loudly and clearly as we can at the same time.

Jin and Immortal kneel next, followed by every other Idol.

I sneak a glance at the stunned Idol siblings who are sitting in the front row.

“You are not the Head Alpha,” Philomena snarls. “This is as much a performance as your song was. But none of it is real. I still have the authority to send you to the center and—”

“You don’t, actually.” Torin pulls out the most important document that he has ever possessed.

It’s an emancipation paper that Chase managed to have Senator Knight rush and sign overnight. Then Chase drove fast on his Harley to get it to me in time.

“This emancipates the Idol pack from you as Head Alpha.” Torin waves the paper above his head. “If you believe that one of our other siblings will simply take over, well, you’re wrong because Sheriff Dante is just outside those doors, ready to arrest you all.”

Philomena is clutching the arms of her chair hard enough to tear the velvet.

Stapleton keeps his gun carefully trained on her.

“Please, I don’t know what you think we’ve done…” Una begins, looking up at Torin with soft eyes.

Except, I won’t be tricked again. She’s as much a predator as her brothers and sisters are.

“I know what you’ve all done.” Torin’s voice is icy.

“You’ve admitted it live on air. Your tricks don’t work anymore.

I could tell you why you’ve hurt me and everyone here, but why bother?

I’m not the one who’ll be locked up for a long time in the center — you all are.

None of you are important to me anymore, apart from Rory.

On the other hand, my bonded pack, the Idols, and a future of being seen and loved is.

You don’t have power over me; you’ll never have it over anybody again. ”

I know that twist of the knife is the worst thing to these people.

Taking away their power is like taking away their souls. It’s the worst punishment. And exactly what they deserve.

Not only have I saved Jin and Immortal from forced bonds in my first mission, but every Idol from now on. I hope that this will make big enough news that it’ll spread around the world.

We’ve done it.

“Head Alpha, I love you.” I spring up, throwing my arms around Torin’s neck.

He lets out a surprised laugh.

Cricket and Jin jump up as well, cuddling Torin in a four way hug of wild nuzzling. Elation sings through the bond.

The young Idols giggle.

Immortal whistles.

We purr and hug and the world sees our love.

Our freedom,

“I’m safe,” Jin says in a shocked daze. “We’re all safe.”

“You’re free,” I reply.

And I feel that deep in my bones.

We’re free.

What comes next?