80. Chapter Seventy-Nine

Chapter Seventy-Nine

Lana

Friday Afternoon

B rooke escaped the encounter with her father unscathed, and we all decided to go back to Ezra’s suite so we could stick together for the rest of the night. My pack were back and forth in and out of the bedroom looking after Shadow, and I mostly stayed in the living room with Pete, Brooke and Kellan, talking things over.

Marianne is expected to make a full recovery, and Dr. Morgan has promised to work with her on the brainwashing side of things once she’s doing a little better physically.

The security guard she drugged woke up with the embarrassing story that he was punched out by the kitchen server he tried to flirt with on duty.

We learned yesterday that it’s unlikely that Warren can take someone over if he hasn’t already brainwashed them into letting him tell them what to do.

I’m still not sure if that’s reassuring, or terrifying.

But it’s Friday afternoon, and Brooke is on stage in the social event hall with me, talking to the academy’s Omegas who’ve been waiting for this moment to be told the unvarnished truth about why I’m changing everything.

It feels weird to be speaking into a microphone and it feels even weirder that I have a reporter from the news filming the whole thing, but I know it’s important for the wider world to know what went on here.

“As the new head of administration of Goldcrest Academy, I took guardianship of every Omega at this school from my predecessor, and I intend to do the best by every one of the Omegas in my care. I’ll be frank, the way the academy was run before was disgraceful. It was corrupted from the beginning by rich donors dictating the way everything should be done. I had to correct this by no longer allowing donations and applying for government funding to turn this school into a place of learning. What this means, is that we will no longer be grading anything or anyone based on how rich they are.”

There’s a lot of chatter across the room when I pause. So far, the audience have been receptive, but it feels very much like they’re not sure what to make of any of this.

I clear my throat before I go on.

“I know this is a lot to digest, and some of you may wish to be released into your parent’s guardianship. That’s your choice, but I’d like each and every one of you to think very carefully about what you’d like to get out of your life before you fill out your form and take your meeting with me. This isn’t about what your parents want for you. You may still want to find your mate or mates, and we will still be hosting social events to help those who wish to do this. These events will be safer than they were in the past. We will only allow Alphas who can demonstrate the appropriate levels of respect for our Omegas into this hall from now on. Alphas, Betas and packs who are earnestly looking for their true mates will be welcome to apply to come to our first social next month. I’ll meet with each individual and group separately to screen them.”

There’s still a lot of murmuring, Omegas talking amongst themselves.

“I’ll take a few questions now, and then I’ll pass the floor to Brooke Corvina.”

A half-dozen hands shoot up in the audience.

“Please make your way to the microphone at the front of the stage, if you want to ask a question.”

A blonde Omega makes her way over. The others put down their hands.

“Um,” she says, as she puts a hand on the stand and leans into the mic. “I don’t get it. We’re supposed to be here to find a mate. Our parents picked this place so we could meet a rich Alpha, because we were raised in wealthy families. And now we’re going to be expected to meet guys who might be working class?”

“Astor, you haven’t been here for as long as some of the Omegas, but you’ve been to a few of the social events. How well would you say those events went?”

She blinks at me. “Oh. Um, well … Not great.”

“And why weren’t they great?”

“Um … I didn’t meet any good guys. They were all disgusting.”

Laughter rings out through the crowd. A few Omegas start clapping.

“That’s what I’m trying to change. The Alphas at those events were given access based on who they were and that was based on their parent’s bank accounts. I know now and then someone was able to meet the right guy, but for the vast majority of our Omegas, that hasn’t been the case. Would you rather keep going to parties with the same disgusting men, or try something different and maybe meet the men you were always fated to be with?”

Astor sighs. “Well, it would be nice if the men I was fated to be with were rich.”

She steps away from the microphone, and a brunette Omega takes her place.

“It feels like this is all happening a bit fast. None of us are used to change. Better the devil you know, right? I just … How quickly are we going to have to make our decisions?”

“Good question, Ivy. I’m not expecting anyone to be rushed along with this. I’ll give you as much time as I can. I have no end date as yet, though the budget may dictate that in the future. Rest assured there’s at least six months of a buffer for all of you.”

“Oh, thank God,” Ivy says, before she steps away.

No one else comes up to the microphone.

“Is that all?” I ask, looking out over the audience.

Everyone is shrugging, looking at each other.

Apparently, those were the main concerns.

“Okay, well, you can ask me anything when you make your appointments. For now, we have a former Goldcrest Omega to share her experience with the academy and how her father as a donor was able to manipulate the system for his own purposes.”

Everyone starts to clap as I introduce my guest speaker.

“Please welcome Brooke Corvina.”

My mate moves onto the stage in a white silk dress, mirroring the expensive look of everyone in the audience. They can relate to Brooke. She’s been where they are now. She knows what the academy is like, and she knows the changes I’m making will make things better for these women.

I move off to the side and watch her give her speech.

It gets all the right reactions.

This is what the TV news crew came for.

They couldn’t turn down a chance to hear Brooke’s side of the story, finally.

She turned down multiple offers until I asked her to do this.

She knew it was important to me, and she wanted to help the Omegas here.

It was the Alpha Alliance who suggested giving it a bigger audience.

They’re trying to change the world.

I’m just trying to change my little corner of it.

When Brooke’s done telling her story, every single Omega in the room is clapping and cheering.

I have no doubt she’s helped them realize change isn’t so bad, and that being incredibly wealthy isn’t everything.

I dismiss the Omegas back to their suites, and security help them to slowly filter out of the hall.

The crew stop filming and the reporter, Rachel, walks over to us.

“Thanks so much for letting us capture this,” she says. “It was amazing. I’d love to get a follow up story on the Omegas that the Shultz and Spencer detective agency helped the Alpha Alliance to rescue.”

“I’m a little busy with running this place,” I admit. “But I’ll see what I can do.”

“Great,” she says, beaming. “It’s just so good to be breaking important news that’s going to change things for other women, you know? One of my bosses got arrested in that story. I hope he burns in hell.”

“Here’s to traffickers burning in hell,” Brooke agrees.

“And brainwashing psychopaths,” I add.

“For sure,” Rachel says. “Well, call me when you have time. I’ll make the time to come out here.”

I nod, and she walks over to her crew. They’re packing up, ready to leave.

I look at my one and only female mate.

Brooke takes my hand, and we walk backstage where our packs are waiting for us.

We separate easily. I know she’s mine, even if we might not be together all the time like we will be with our mates.

“That was awesome,” Shadow enthuses, his eyes bright. “I could feel those Omegas going from confused and uncertain to uplifted and enthusiastic. They’re so behind you.”

Ezra puts his arm around me. “You did a wonderful job.”

“Brooke did the heavy lifting,” I protest, feeling my cheeks flush.

“Pfft!” Pete mutters. “You’re the one who thought she’d get the point across with that story, and you were right.”

“He’s right,” Owen agrees. “You set all of this up. And it couldn’t have gone better.”

I’m a little embarrassed by their praise, but I accept the group hug they pull me into without complaint. I have everything I could possibly ever want right now. It’s like a dream that I never want to wake up from.

They eventually let me go and I stay snuggled against Ezra’s shoulder.

“So, what now?” Owen asks, clearly thinking one thing and one thing only.

“Forget it,” Shadow warns him. “My heat broke last night and I’m glad because I seriously need new clothes. I can’t walk around looking like a douchebag skater kid any longer.”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I stink by now,” Pete says. “I’ve been wearing the same clothes all week.”

“Me too,” Owen says, looking at me. “Lana doesn’t mind.”

“You guys are good now, but you should definitely get some clothes.”

“Yes!” Shadow smiles. “Shopping trip upcoming.”

“Pete, you’d better tell her about the closets,” Owen prompts.

Pete screws up his nose. “I’d actually rather talk about clothes.”

“Ooh, this must be bad,” Shadow murmurs.

“It’s not going to matter now that you’ve taken the skeleton key from the kitchen staff,” Pete says. “But I found out how Warren planned to get into your room. I think the lights were a distraction. The closet was the entry point. Turns out a bunch of the staff closets are linked to hidden staircases that come out in those rooms in the basement. I think maybe they were meant to let security staff get around quickly when they were installed, but some of them are exits only because of the way they lock. The one in your old room was an exit only.”

“Oh my God,” I murmur. “That’s so creepy.”

“Yeah. We should repurpose those rooms, make sure no one’s living in any of them.”

“I dismantled the camera in our hallway earlier,” Pete adds. “The feed went to a TV in Marianne’s room. Warren was watching for his chance to sneak up on you, it seems.”

I shudder at the thought of that. “I slept alone in that room for weeks.”

“And you’re never sleeping alone, or in that room again,” Owen reminds me.

I smile at him. “Does this mean you’re moving to Cressidan City?”

“It means we’re buying a house here, and moving in together,” Ezra says.

“But we’re staying in the suite for a bit longer though, right?” Shadow asks hopefully.

I can’t help but laugh. “We can stay in the suite for as long as you like.”

“We’re not in a rush,” Owen agrees.

“It’s probably easier while we’re all working here,” Ezra adds.

“It’s definitely easier,” Pete says. “But we should get a house.”

“Oh, we’re definitely getting a house,” Owen says. “I put our old one on the market this morning. We’ve already got interested parties.”

He shows us his phone.

“Wow, nice place!” I tell him, wondering how far away Platinum Valley actually is.

“The commute would be hell,” Owen says, as if he just read my mind. “But we’ll find something like it closer to where we are.”

“Let’s talk about it on the way to the mall,” Shadow suggests, wiggling his dark eyebrows.

“I could use a bit of retail therapy,” I tell them, making Shadow grin.

“We all could,” he insists.

“Okay, come on,” Ezra says. “Let’s go get some new clothes.”

We wave to Brooke and her pack as we exit the stage, heading out of the building.

I text Melvin to let him know we’re out for the afternoon.

He tells me he’ll hold down the fort while we’re gone.

I have no doubt he will.