Page 110 of Break Me Knot

“We have Mira’s testimony. And those of the omegas found in the basement, and it’s still not enough,” Zane says, his anger pinging through our bond.

It would be enough if omegas had rights, but our word means nothing. Even the scars on our bodies mean nothing. We're still reduced to being whispers in a storm, easily dismissed and disregarded by those with power. Seen as nothing more than a biological function. To those who dictate the rules, our pain is invisible, irrelevant.

But not to my alphas. And, I’ve learned, not to many other alphas, either. I was subjected to the worst in the designation and thought that was all they were, but my alphas, my mates, have shown me there are more alphas out there who want change than the alphas who want control. We just have to fight for it.

Wearefighting for it.

“I have every faith that Asher will get exactly what we need to put Hardwick away forever,” Adrian says.

“At least things are changing,” Cole observes, his steady presence behind me grounding as always. “The public's outrage over Haven... people are demandinganswers about omega rights, about the birth crisis. Hardwick can't keep her stranglehold on her position of power forever.” His hand squeezes my shoulder gently. “She’s running scared and the truth has a way of coming out.”

Adrian's phone buzzes, interrupting our discussion. The moment he looks at the screen, his entire demeanor shifts. His cedar scent ignites into burning wood as his surge of shock resounds through our bond.

He looks up, his eyes dark with something that makes my stomach clench. His hand tightens on mine almost painfully. “That was Phoenix. Asher’s pack brother.”

Zane’s brows draw together. “What’s he doing contacting us?”

“Adrian? What's going on?” Joy wars with worry. My heart picks up speed at his expression.

He looks at me, his eyes intense. “Asher has found Emma.”

Joy explodes through me, bright and sudden. “Emma? They found her?” The words tumble out as hope surges in my chest, but Adrian's serious expression doesn't match my elation, and confusion seeps in. “Why... why aren't you happy about this?”

“Asher led his taskforce to a suspect's house. They were keeping an omega there. It was Emma. She's asking for you.” His voice is measured, too measured, like he's choosing each word with deliberate care.

My heart pounds against my ribs, so hard I can hear it in my ears. “ This is good news, isn't it? We've been looking for so long...” But something in Adrian's expression makes the words die in my throat. The tension around his eyes, the tightness in his jaw. “What aren't you telling me?”

Adrian takes both my hands in his, his touch gentle but grave. “Asher is in a lot of trouble. The moment he saw Emma...” He takes a deep breath, and his concern pulses through our bond. “He bit her. Claimed her. Bonded her right there in the middle of the raid.”

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