Page 32 of Storm

He doesn't answer immediately, staring out at the city with an expression I can't read. "I don't know," he says finally. "But someone wanted this to happen."

"You're telling me you didn't want this? Because for four years I've watched you monitor her camera feeds, track her movements, become practically obsessed with her." I can't keep the edge from my voice.

"Reed," Jonathan says, his voice cold and laced with warning.

I study him carefully. Jonathan has always been calculating, always ten steps ahead, always in control. He’s never lied to me, but he can’t deny that some part of him wanted this. Whatever game is being played here, I'm not sure even Jonathan knows the rules.

“Who made the call to put both beta-born omegas up for choosing?” Because I know that doesn’t come from the head of Omega House. That comes from higher up and Jonathan’s involved with that side, well at least he was until now. We don’t work for the Omega House anymore.

They knew the uprising was happening. Hell, we all knew there was talk. They took too long to squash it and it grew like wildfire. Whoever thought of putting two beta-born to be up on Choosing day that quickly thought they could stop this rebellion from happening.

“The governor.” Jonathan finally says. His head tilted back in thought. “He doesn’t make the calls, at least not until two weeks ago when he called me and told me to put the two oldest beta-born up.”

Fuck.Fuck.

"The whole city saw it happen," I say, turning back to the window. "Live broadcast, millions of witnesses. There's no walking this back now. Who are our enemies?"

“We have too many to count.” Jonathan turns to look at me.

"Who would benefit from this chaos?" Is it an elite with a grudge? They don’t like the power our pack holds. Or is it a beta-born who used us in their game to grow their cause about the lottery? The lack of Omegas. Until they find a cure to stop alpha’s going feral. I don’t think this will ever be fixed.

There’re not enough omegas to go around for every pack. There are 2 levels in the omegas house that are closed. There aren’t enough to fill every room on the floor we do have in use.

"I don't know yet," Jonathan says, his expression darkening. "But I intend to find out."

Jonathan’s phone goes off and I watch as he reads messages.

“The families are already calling,” he tells me. “The Governor wants a meeting tomorrow. The beta-born alphas are rioting in the streets.”

Everyone wants answers that Jonathan doesn't have.

“I need to look over security footage at the theater.” I need to see all the tickets. I assume they all have our name on them. No way we would be that lucky to be pulled out. Not with the number of tickets in there. The odds are too high.

“My fathers are demanding a meeting now,” he growls. They’re gonna be more upset that Storm is beta-born than the fact what just happened is illegal, and we didn’t even enter. But he should have said something. Took her back to the Omega House. I didn’t like her being here. Invading our space with her bitter chocolate scent.

"What did you expect?" My words come out sharper than intended. "You just claimed an omega through a lottery. I would think they would want to do more than talk."

"I had no choice," he says, his voice eerily calm.

"Then explain it to me," I demand, stepping closer to him. "Make me understand why she's worth all of this chaos."

Jonathan meets my gaze steadily, green eyes unreadable. "She belongs with pack Kingsley."

The finality in his tone sends a chill down my spine. This isn't just about desire or control. This is something else entirely. Is this his alpha making a claim on this omega? The one who’s in love with her beta-born alpha fighter. I know he won’t give up trying to find her.

"And Holloway?" I ask, already knowing the answer.

"If he comes for her, you handle it." Jonathan's voice leaves no room for argument.

The command hangs in the air between us, a test of loyalty wrapped in a death sentence. I think of Rook Holloway last Saturday, bloodied but undefeated, his eyes burning with a determination I understood all too well. The desperation of a man who has nothing left to lose.

Could I kill him? Yes. Without hesitation, if it meant protecting my pack. That's what I do. I enforce. I protect. I eliminate threats.

But something about that feels wrong when it comes to Rook. There's a sincerity to his desperation that resonates with me.

"We'll discuss strategy in the morning," Jonathan continues, already turning toward the hallway. "I need to check on Storm. Make sure she hasn't torn apart the blue room."

"Alex has been calling," I say. “You can’t leave him out of the loop.”