Page 35 of Storm

The old nickname—the one he used before I presented as an omega—sends a shiver down my spine. I bristle at it anyway. "Don't call me that. I'm not your 'little' anything."

He ignores me. "Because what you've started? It's not going to end with your freedom. It's not going to end with you and Holloway riding off into the sunset. It's going to end with blood in the streets and a system in ruins. And you'll be right at the center of it all."

The weight of his words sinks in slowly, reality crashing down on me with crushing force. I hadn't thought beyond my escape, beyond reaching Rook. I hadn't considered the wider implications, the ripple effects of what I'd done.

"Well, shit," I say finally, trying to hide how rattled I am behind flippancy. "If I'd known I was going to start a revolution, I would've worn a better outfit."

Reed doesn't smile. "This isn't a joke, Storm."

"No kidding. My sense of humor tends to evaporate when I'm kidnapped by alphas and held against my will. Weird, right?" I cross my arms defensively. "What do you want me to say? 'Oops, my bad for accidentally starting a rebellion while trying to escape forced bonding?' Sorry, fresh out of apologies over here."

"Jonathan doesn't want you as his omega," Reed says bluntly. "None of us do. You're a complication we didn't ask for and don't need."

The words sting more than they should. I've spent four years hating Jonathan, wanting nothing to do with him or his pack. So why does Reed's dismissal feel like a slap?

"Well, that makes two of us, Stormy Blue Eyes. So let me go." I stand up, hands on hips. "If I'm such an unwanted hassle, just open the door and point me toward the exit. I promise not to send a thank-you card."

Reed laughs, but there's no humor in it. "It's not that simple."

"It's exactly that simple. Door, me, goodbye. Even an alpha should be able to grasp that concept."

"You saw the chaos at the ceremony," Reed says, rising to stand over me, using his height in a classic alpha intimidation tactic. Nice try, buddy. "Jonathan publicly claimed you in front of the entire city. If he rejects you now, it undermines the whole system. And more importantly, it makes him look weak. The alpha who couldn't control his own omega."

"So I'm trapped here because of his fucking pride?" My voice rises with indignation. "What is this, the dark ages? 'Me alpha, you omega, ugh ugh'?" I grunt and beat my chest in a Neanderthal impression.

"You're trapped here because of choices you made," Reed corrects, voice hard. "And I'm stuck dealing with the fallout until Jonathan figures out a way to fix this mess."

"Oh, I'm sooo sorry this is inconvenient for you," I shoot back, voice dripping venom. "Here I was thinking being forcibly claimed against my will was bad, but clearly your discomfort is the real tragedy here."

I glare up at him, refusing to be intimidated by his height or his scent or his alpha-ness. "What if I ran? Just disappeared? He could say I escaped—wouldn't damage his precious pride."

Reed's eyes flash. "You really think Holloway could keep you hidden? From Jonathan? From the authorities? From everyone who's looking for the omega who sparked a city-wide rebellion?"

Put that way, it does sound na?ve. I know Rook would try—he'd do anything for me—but against the full rebellion? Against the entire system? My scent would give me away every time. Not enough blockers in the world can hide it.

"He'd die trying," Reed adds, his voice matter-of-fact. "And you know it."

The thought of Rook dying because of my mistake makes my blood run cold. I can't let that happen. I won't.

"Fine," I snap, hating the surrender in my voice. "I'll stay in this alpha bachelor pad from hell.For now. But I'm not playing house with you guys, and I'm certainly not wearing any frilly aprons or baking cookies or whatever twisted omega fantasy you're all harboring."

Reed's lips twitch, almost like he's suppressing a smile. "Wouldn't dream of asking. I've seen your attempt at cooking."

I narrow my eyes, surprised he knows about my legendary inability to make anything more complicated than toast. "You've been watching me for years, haven't you? Through the Omega House cameras. Creepy much?"

"Security protocol," he says, but his eyes shift away briefly. Fuck. Has he been watching me in the mornings? Was it Reed and not Jonathan behind the lens of that camera? I try to calm my racing heart. I don’t know what’s worse.

Reed sighs, clearly tired of our little chat. "Back to your room."

"What's stopping me from trying again tomorrow night? Or the next?" I challenge, not moving an inch. "You can't stay awake forever, Reed Howard."

"Nothing," Reed says simply. "Except the knowledge that every time you try to escape, you put Holloway at greater risk. And I don't think you want his blood on your hands."

The words twist like a knife in my gut because he's right. I'd do anything to protect Rook, even if it means staying here, even if it means playing their game. For now.

"Has anyone ever told you that you suck at pep talks?" I say, but the fight is draining out of me.

Reed almost smiles again. "It's come up once or twice."