Page 70 of Claiming the Pack’s Omega (Riverwell Omegaverse #2)

"I was saved, but there was a price. The person who saved me offered me suppressants so I didn't have to experience my heat if I didn't want to.

And at that moment, I certainly never wanted to.

But they came at a cost. A monetary cost that was well out of the realm of possibility, given the fact that my parents were barely scraping by when they were both working eighty hours a week," I say.

"So when that same alpha offered me a job, I took it, even if it meant selling my body. "

"Other than allowing you to afford those suppressants you needed at the time, what else did that job afford you?

" Theo asks. Even though he's in lawyer mode right now, I can feel the pride pouring through our bond.

I have to fight the urge to cup the crook of my neck and touch the bond mark he gave me.

"I worked nights, on the jobs that I had, which meant that I could spend the days taking care of my siblings. I was in charge of making sure they made it to and from school, making sure they ate, and taking care of them when they were sick."

"Those sound like the potential positives of your job, but what were the negatives? Would you choose to work that job if you had the choice?" Theo's eyes tighten as he asks this question. He didn't like it when we practiced, and it looks like he doesn't like it now.

Andy insisted, though, and he had a point. The defense is going to try and frame me as a sex and money-hungry whore. I'm here to convince the judge otherwise.

"I don't know if we have enough time to list all the negatives," I say.

I grip the edge of the witness stand, my knuckles going white.

"The kinds of men who would come and see me are the kinds of men who would see Southside omegas because they enjoyed having all the power they wanted.

They enjoyed belittling the women they were with and making us feel worthless.

Like less than nothing. And it was our job to grin and bear it because we had no choice.

Whether we were sold into the business because our families had debts or we were working to keep us or our families out of debts, we were there because we had to be, not because we wanted to be.

If I'd had the choice at any point, I would have always chosen not to do it. "

"The clientele you saw, if you could use one word to describe them, what would you use?"

"Northsiders," I say, swallowing hard.

"And you're sure?" Theo pushes.

"Yes. There were plenty of Southside alphas who went to the clubs to watch the girls dance or watch the fights, but the vast majority of men who were rich enough to buy my time were Northsiders."

I let the world fall away, only looking at Theo as I continue to answer his questions about the Southside, my knowledge on the omega trafficking, and my role in the brothel I worked at.

"So in summary, Ms. Carver," Theo says. "You chose to do the work you did, but only because it was the only choice you had as an omega who still had family to care for?"

"Yes," I nod.

"And is your story out of the ordinary for other Southside-born omegas?"

"No. Not at all. There are plenty of omegas out there who choose not to register with the Northside.

Whether that's because they don't trust the Northside or they want to stay in contact to help support their families.

A lot of us feel like we're given the choice to sell ourselves to the Northside right when we present and go into heat or take things into our own hands. "

"And with that, your honor, I close my direct examination," Theo says, nodding to the judge as he moves to sit down.

The judge nods, his expression unchanging. It's like the man's made out of stone.

"Defense, you may begin your cross-examination," the judge says.

"Thank you, your honor." The unfortunate-looking defense lawyer says. He's an older man, but age hasn't been very kind to him, if his patchy hair he's desperately trying to hold onto, and sunken eyes are any indication.

I've had a bad feeling about him this entire time. He's been sneering at me so hard it feels like it's a permanent fixture on his face.

"So, Ms. Carver," the defense lawyer says, stepping up in front of me.

He's let himself go surprisingly hard, for an alpha, if his strong, burnt bread scent is any indication of his designation.

"The prosecution has done an excellent job painting this picture of you as this down-on-her-luck omega whose only intent is to help her family, but I'm inclined to believe that just like how artists paint onto canvas, that this is all a fabrication. "

Theo's hands clench into fists on the table in front of him as he stares down at the defense lawyer. If looks could kill, that man would be on fire with how intense the stares of all four of my mates are.

But wow. Melodramatic much? Who the hell is this guy performing for? Hopefully not the judge. I seriously pray that he's not the type of guy to make a decision off on something like that.

That's when I realize that some of the audience behind him is nodding along.

That just irritates me. Of course they think I'm lying.

If I were telling the truth, it would mean they'd have to admit that their precious Northside actually fucked up fifteen years ago after the riots happened.

They can't face the fact that their stupid legislation actually has long lasting impact.

I clear my throat and paste on as pleasant a smile as I can. The court battle to get the judge to rule in our favor isn't the battle at play. There's also the court of public opinion and I don't know whether it's because I'm bonded to a councilman now, but I want to win that fight too.

"Excuse me, but was there a question there?" I ask, my gaze not dropping from his.

The lawyer's jaw clenches as he stares me down.

"It seems that you lack an ability to read subtext, Ms. Carver," he sniffs. "My question is, but do you really expect us to believe that you're not on that stand with any ulterior motives?"

"Objection," Theo growls, standing from his seat. "Argumentative, your Honor."

There's a moment of silence as the entire courtroom waits with bated breath for the judge's response.

"Sustained. Mr. Buckland, you will rephrase your question," the judge says.

"Yes, my apologies."

He's not sorry at all. His sharp, cutting gaze bears down on me at full force. His burnt bread scent twists throughout the air, significantly angrier than he's letting himself look. And he looks pissed.

He glares at me like he's expecting something. Like he's expecting me to cower and apologize.

How is an alpha like him allowed to let out their dominance like this in a courtroom? To an omega witness? That's absurd.

Lucky for me, his show of power just seems to piss me off.

He also hasn't asked his question yet.

"What was the question you wanted to ask me?

" I ask. I fight to keep my entire body still.

The only thing that moves is my right brow as I raise it imperiously at him.

I appreciate the witness stand elevating me above my normal height, because despite his tall stature, I'm still slightly above eye level to him in my seat.

"Fine then, Ms. Carver. I see how this is going to go," Mr. Buckland huffs. "Tell me. You admit that you were a willing prostitute, and you claim that you saw Northside clients. You've lived in the Southside your entire life, correct?"

"Yes," I say. "I have."

I don't like this breadcrumb line of questioning. It makes me worry I'm going to say something wrong.

"And the only Northsiders you would ever interact with were these supposed clients of yours, correct?"

"Yes."

"Then it would not be outside the realm of possibility, maybe even the realm of probability, that you are here, testifying for a high-profile case because you're seeking out new clientele?"

I can't hide my expression at that ridiculous line of questioning. Neither can my mates, if their anger that's pulsing through the bond is any indication. I glance over to the stands and see Milo and Stone gripping Killian's arms to keep him from standing up.

"Objection!" Theo snarls, jumping up from his seat again. "Leading the witness, your Honor."

"Overruled. Mr. Buckland, you may continue."

"Well then, Ms. Carver, what's your answer?" Mr. Buckland starts pacing again, but he inches closer and closer to the witness stand with each step.

It makes my hackles raise. My inner omega doesn't like that. Hell, the rational part of my brain doesn't like that. It's like he's stalking his prey, and I'm bleeding in the water.

“No, I don't need to anymore," I say.

A grin crosses the faces of the defense attorneys, even the one still sitting at the desk, and a jolt of fear runs down my spine. Did I fuck up?

"Oh, and is the reason you don't have to anymore because of your relationships with the Graylock Pack? Quite suspicious, don't you think? A star witness for such a high-profile case, sleeping with such a high-level Northside pack?"

"Objection, irrelevant," Theo growls, his voice low. His hands are clenched into fists that he's pressing down onto the table below him. If it weren't for Theo's high level of control, I think Theo would've thrown himself over the table to knock the defense lawyer down.

"Overruled," The judge says. "But Mr. Buckland, you will watch your dominance. I will not have you intimidating a witness in my courtroom."

Theo's jaw ticks as he seemingly fights the urge to argue back with the judge. I focus on singling out our bond and send my own wave of reassurance out to him.

He's my mate. It's his job to worry about me. But I have a job to do here and I'm going to do it well.

Now that this defense lawyer has toned down his dominance, though he's done it with a huff, I can finally take a breath.

"So, Ms. Carver, do you have an answer?"