Page 38 of Stream Heat (Omega Stream #1)

CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

Kara

The phone buzzed against my palm, sharp and insistent. It was Victoria Smith again. Three calls in as many hours, each more desperate than the last. She wasn’t even trying to hide it anymore. I just stared at the screen, thumb itching to hit Decline, when Reid appeared in the doorway.

“Let it ring,” he said, lounging against the frame as if he owned it, as if nothing could touch him. “She’s trying to rattle you before you go on the air.”

“I know.” I thumbed the phone silent, not bothering to answer. “And it’s working.” Admitting it pissed me off.

Reid crossed the room, scent all cedar and summer rain.

It was the kind of scent that should have been cliché, but wasn’t on him.

It felt like stepping behind a wall, safe.

“She’s desperate,” he said, voice low. “Ash said the call this morning was obvious, more suppressants, lawsuits. That’s what you do when you’re trapped in a corner. ”

“I’m not the only one who’s desperate.” I swept a hand at my monitors, Callie’s email glowing blue and white with summit details. In three hours I was going public for real. Not just my story, but names: Victoria. Nexus Management. The doctors slinging the suppressants. All of it.

“Good.” The word landed with Alpha weight, forcing my spine straight whether I wanted it to or not. “They deserve to be called out.”

“And if they sue me into oblivion? If they ruin the pack? If–”

“Kara.” He grabbed my hands, made me face him. “Stop. You’re not being reckless about this. You know that, right? We have recordings of Victoria pushing you to take illegal substances, we have your medical records, testimony from a dozen other creators. We’re not going in blind.”

It should have sounded cold, but strangely, it helped. The facts were bigger than my panic. The evidence was there. The pack was there. We weren’t just shouting into a void.

“Besides.” He cracked a smile like he knew something I didn’t. “Theo’s been recording every call and text they’ve sent in the last two weeks. Our lawyers are already looking at harassment charges.”

“Of course he has.” I snorted a laugh, the painful tightness in my chest loosening a little. Trust Theo to channel his chaos into something useful for once.

Then the phone buzzed again and I caught my breath. Another text from Victoria. This time it wasn’t bland legalese or a veiled threat. The words cut through me.

Final warning, Kara. I have something you don’t want made public. Something not even your Alpha bodyguards can protect you from. Call me in the next hour or it goes live.

I handed the phone to Reid and watched his expression darken.

“She’s bluffing,” he said, but I saw a flicker of uncertainty. “What could she possibly have?”

I thought. “It’s all already out there. Medical history? Stella’s already hit me with that. Designation status? Everyone knows. The suppressants, the tournaments. There’s nothing left.”

“Then she’s flailing.” Reid took the phone, thumbed out a response before I could object.

We record all communications. Keep threatening. Our lawyers appreciate the evidence.

“That was direct,” I said as he handed it back.

“She needs to know we’re not rattled.” He shrugged, as if it were that simple.

Before I could answer, the phone vibrated again. A different number, nothing in my contacts. Instinct said answer, so I did.

“Ms. Quinn? This is Steve Anders, legal counsel for Nexus Management.”

Reid went still, like a tree before a tornado.

“Mr. Anders,” I said, as level as I could manage. “What can I do for you?”

“Calling to inform you that Nexus is prepared to offer a settlement regarding your recent allegations.” His tone sounded like victory already secured.

“Settlement?” I shot a look at Reid. He was all calculation and sharp edge now. “I haven’t filed any legal action.”

“Yet. But your public statements constitute potential defamation, you know this, and Ms. Smith thinks it best for all parties to resolve the dispute privately.”

“Meaning what, exactly?” My fingers drummed on the desk.

“Full release from your contract. Seven-figure compensation. Medical care for all health issues stemming from your medication regimen. In return, you sign an NDA and withdraw from all public commentary, especially tonight’s broadcast.”

There it was. Money on the table. A golden ticket out of the nightmare if I wanted it. It should have felt more tempting than it did.

“May I have some time to consider?” I asked.

“One hour. Ms. Smith wants your answer before your next event.”

“I’ll call you back.” I hung up before he could get clever.

Silence stretched between me and Reid. “Seven figures,” I said.

“They’re terrified.” Reid’s teeth flashed in a predatory smile.

“They know if I go public, I’ll spark tidal waves. Everyone they’ve silenced could suddenly speak up. It’s not just about me anymore.”

Another buzz. Callie, this time.

SOS. Victoria had called offering me an exclusive contract with insane money, trying to buy me out of the summit. She was contacting everyone.

“She’s blitzing the summit,” I said, holding up the phone. “It’s a last-ditch effort. Buy everyone’s silence, make the evidence go away.”

“What do you want to do?” Reid wasn’t pushing. His voice was even, like he already knew the answer.

I sat with it. The money would fix everything. I could walk away, patch my finances, get my liver fixed. But I’d be just another statistic in Victoria’s graveyard of NDA’d Omegas. The others, still dosed, still sick, still blaming themselves, would never know. And I’d be complicit.

“If I take the deal, I’m just another cog in her machine,” I said. “I can’t do it. Not when there are others still trapped.”

Relief, pride, something raw flickered across Reid’s face. “I was hoping you’d stick to your guns.”

“And anyway…” I grinned, dark and a little reckless. “Isn’t that witness tampering? We just scored more leverage.”

“Exactly.” Reid’s eyes were all Alpha satisfaction now.

I opened the group chat and sent a quick warning.

Victoria’s trying to buy silence. Don’t take unknown calls. Record everything. Summit goes ahead.

Responses came fast. Theo with angry emojis; Malik calm and cool; Jace a thumbs-up; Ash already sending new instructions for securing calls. Even the other streamers threw in support. We were a wall. We weren’t backing down.

“Should we call Anders back?” Reid asked.

“Let’s get them on record.” I hit redial and put it on speaker.

“Ms. Quinn,” Anders said. “Have you reached a decision?”

“I have questions. The settlement, is it just for me, or does it cover every creator supplied with suppressants?”

He hesitated. “I can’t discuss other clients, Ms. Quinn.”

“So there are others.” I pressed on. “They’ve all been given the same stuff that nearly killed me, and Nexus is hoping I’ll step over their bodies for a payout.”

“I can’t confirm or deny,” he said, voice thinner.

“Let me be clear.” I didn’t hide my anger. “I’m not taking a deal that protects me and leaves the rest to rot. Address the system, or we’re done.”

Another pause. I could practically hear the scramble on the other end. “I’ll take your concerns to Ms. Smith.”

“While you’re at it, tell her that bribing multiple witnesses ahead of a disclosure event is legally dicey. You’ll want counsel.”

I hung up, heart pounding.

Reid whistled, low and appreciative. “That was good.”

“It was terrifying,” I admitted. But necessary.

My phone lit up with Victoria’s name. I knew it was coming. This time, I answered. Speaker on.

“You stupid, ungrateful little bitch,” she spat. “Do you have any idea what you’re throwing away? What I’m trying to save you from?”

I kept my voice even, almost bored. “I know what you’re really trying to save, Victoria. Your company. Your own ass. Not me.”

“You think those Alphas care about you? They want the drama. When the numbers drop, so will you. You’ll be nothing.”

Reid bristled but stayed silent. He trusted me to handle this.

“You don’t know them. And you don’t know me,” I said. “I’m not a kid anymore, and I’m sure as hell not begging for your approval.”

Silence. Then a dangerous calm. “Fine. But you’ll regret this. Remember the Tokyo Invitational? The one we both agreed never happened?”

My stomach twisted. The Tokyo Invitational, when I’d been on double the suppressants, fighting a breakthrough heat. Everything had turned to static that night.

“What about it?”

“I have footage,” she purred, smug. “Hotel security. You off your face in the hallway, latching onto a room-service Alpha. The way we had to sedate you to get you under control. That story goes public if you don’t cancel tonight and sign.”

Reid’s face turned to stone.

“That’s not what happened,” I said, rage burning in my throat. “You overdosed me on suppressants. I was collapsing from toxicity. The Alpha was helping me back to my room.”

“Not what the tape shows. To everyone else, it’s an Omega in heat going after someone who didn’t consent. Career-ending stuff.”

My mind raced. Did they have cameras? I barely remembered it.

“Check your email,” she said. “A taste. The rest goes live unless you back out.” Then she hung up.

I opened the email. It was a video file, grainy but clear enough. A hallway, me weaving, barely upright. The room-service guy approached. I reached for him, slumping against his chest, nose pressed against his collar. Classic heat behavior if you didn’t know what you were looking at.

“That’s not what happened,” I whispered, shame and anger burning in my throat. “He was helping me. I was sick, not in heat.”

“Anyone with a brain and a medical degree will see it,” Reid said. “But the masses don’t care about context.”

“So we give it to them,” I said. “We admit what really happened. The suppressants. The overdose. She thinks she’s got ammo, but it’s just more proof.”

Reid smiled, sharp and proud. “We’ll find the room-service guy. Get his testimony. Back it up with your medical records. It’s airtight if he talks.”

“His name was Jin,” I said, the memory flickering. “He was a med student. He knew it was toxicity. That’s why he helped me.”

Reid was already texting the others.

I sat back, breathing through adrenaline. Victoria had tried to blackmail me into silence, but what she’d dug up just painted her guilt in neon. Suppressants, cover-ups, exploiting Omegas for money and content. It was the story I was ready to tell.

“We’ve got two hours until the summit,” I said. “Is that enough?”

“We just have to get ahead of the narrative.” Reid shrugged like he’d already mapped it out. “If she posts the footage, we hit back with the truth. Show everyone what suppressant toxicity looks like. Admit the medical emergency. Frame it exactly as it was. She can’t win if we own our side first.”

The group chat was going wild. Ash hunted down Jin. Theo prepped counter-content. Jace stitched together medical comparison videos. Malik worked with the summit organizers to adjust our plans in real time. Their solidarity made my chest ache with something like pride.

“They’re all in,” I murmured, a lump rising in my throat.

“Obviously.” Reid’s voice was rough. “You’re pack.”

His words steadied me more than caffeine ever could. For the first time, I wasn’t facing this alone. No matter what Victoria threw next, I wasn’t the only one in the ring.

With hands steadier than before, I typed a reply to Victoria.

Release whatever you want. The employee was a medical student who recognized your suppressant toxicity. He was helping me during a medical emergency you caused. It’s more proof you broke the law and nearly killed me.

She fired back instantly.

You’re bluffing. No one will believe it.

I sent the killing blow.

Try me. Summit starts in two hours. I’m not backing down.

That was the line in the sand.

Reid caught my sleeve before I could leave. “Are you sure?” His eyes were sharp, deadly serious. “If you go all the way, Victoria will use whatever she has. There’s no going back.”

I looked at him and knew I’d never been more certain of anything. “Let her. I’m done hiding. She doesn’t get to control my life anymore.”

His pride was like a pulse in the air. “Then let’s do this. The way only pack can.”

We moved to where the others were already assembling. I felt lighter than I had in months. Victoria’s last weapon hadn’t crushed me, it had made me dangerous.

Time for hiding was over. Time for truth had come.

Let her come. I had nothing left to lose, a pack at my back, and the reckoning Victoria Smith had been dreading was already in motion.