Page 87 of For All My Effort
“Unless betas are murdering omegas and wearing their skin, I don’t consider them taking anything from omegas. Each member of a pack decides who they want to be with. If that happens to be an omega or a beta or staying just with alphas, then I don’t see a problem.”
“What happens if there aren’t enough alphas for omegas to bond with? Should omegas be forced to endure heats by themselves? Or should betas in packs allow their alphas to rut omegas without bonding them?”
“Have you ever been through a heat?” I had to work to contain my own smile, knowing that I was trying to set her up.
“I’ve seen my omega through one.”
“But you haven’t gone through one yourself.”
“I’ve been in a rut.”
“Exactly. A rut, not a heat. You don’t know what omegas go through, except your own. If you gave us a chance, omegas could tell you our opinions about everything. There isn’t a need to guess about laws or packs or heats, because we can tell you.”
“Tell me now.”
It wasn’t what I meant, and she knew it. I knew it. I also knew I wasn’t giving up this opportunity even if I could hear Seb’s and Han’s training in my head telling me to redirect the topic. “Omegas aren’t territorial over alphas, we’re territorial over our mates. Whoever that is. Instincts might help us find our mates, but those instincts are different for each person, for each designation. And when it comes to our heats, we should always be allowed to choose who or if we want someone to help us through it. Forcing sex on anyone, for any reason, should never be allowed.”
“I think that’s a very optimistic look at our society, and maybe one that most omegas share with you. Which is probably exactly why omegas aren’t meant to make the tough decisions. Your alphas have done an excellent job of protecting you from the worst of society, of the people that have been repeatedly trying to take advantage of you, and I admire them for that.”
An ache was forming in my jaw from how hard I was clenching my teeth. She was such a condescending asshole, talking down to me like I was a little kid who wanted world peace. As if my opinions were less because I was an omega.
“And they have my thanks for letting you come out and speak with me this evening.” This was it, the last bit of my interview, the closing remarks.
Despite wishing for more time, I was glad it was done. My body finally relaxed, tension I hadn’t even realized I had during the interview draining away. As of yet, I didn’t have any regrets.
I wanted to stay here in this moment. Without the stress of the interview and before I learned about the effects of whatever was said.
“I wish you the best, Hannah. And for all our viewers, thank you and don’t forget that the curfew for omegas is still active. Head straight home, wherever you are. Goodnight.”
All at once the lights turned off. Presley didn’t have even a moment to say anything to me before I was surrounded by all my mates. Their scents of pride were so strong that I felt the familiar burning sensation behind my eyes as I held back my tears for just a little longer.
I was so tired. Exhausted, really, from all the emotions I felt. My mates didn’t linger, dragging me along with them as we left.
I needed a nap. I needed more time before the vote that week for the temporary ban to become permanent. I needed to know that I hadn’t made things worse for my designation.
I wondered, for all my effort, if I’d even made a difference.
Epilogue
A few days later
The vote for nays, for refusing the permanent movement ban, was just barely higher than the yeas, but the number was still counting.
At this point, no one was even talking. Koda and her alphas were over, as was Eve, but we were all watching the TV in the living room.
I was sitting on Zeke’s lap, but I wasn’t truly aware of where the rest of my mates were except that each one was touching me somehow. A hand on my shoulder, my neck, my knee. All of our gazes locked on the screen as the count for each representative kept going up.
The space smelled of stress and worry with only a tinge of excitement.
Before the count had started, my face had been everywhere. On most news channels, social media, even on the hidden sites. An omega that spoke out was big news, especially one with controversial statements.
Both sides had used whatever clips suited them best. If anyone watched the interview, I felt like it would be obvious that the short, put together head nods and words were taken out of context. And as much as I raved about that fact, there was nothing to do about it.
I was officially at the whims of the media. A face for the omegas whether you supported more freedoms for them or supported stricter restrictions.
No one said anything as the lead for nays got bigger, not wanting to jinx the outcome.
These last few days had been more stressful than the entire weeks that led up to the interview. Both Han and Seb’s families reached out, and neither of those conversations had gone well. The studio where we had filmed the interview receives fan and hate mail for me, because apparently while my face was public, my address was still hidden.