“Oh.” Barb shifted her weight and glanced nervously in Liza’s direction.
“We need to let the public see that she’s still the same Liza they’ve known since she was adopted into our pack when she was only four years old.” Dad winked at Liza to lighten the mood. “Think you can handle that?” Barb nodded as Dad turned his attention back to Liza. “You’re leading this meeting, Liza. Tell us what you have in mind.”
She sighed. “Honestly, I think I should tell the truth about what I am, but also allow people to see that I’ve been a productive member of the Keller pack all these years. I’ll introduce myself, remind them of my parents, and talk to them about my catering business and all of the people who have trusted me to cook for their families.”
My mate had clearly put a lot of thought into this.
“Everyone’s always thought omegas to be mythical creatures, so it would be a good thing for them to put my face with the title. That way, they can see that I’m harmless, and it will take away their fear and reservations about something new and different they don’t quite understand.”
Brilliant. My mate was a fucking genius.
Dad smiled. “That sounds like a great start to me.” He turned to Barb. “Did you get all that?”
She nodded as she typed quickly, trying to keep up with Liza’s fast pace.
“I’m not finished. I have another idea I’d like to run past you.” Liza paused and glanced back at me. “What if we flip the script, so to speak? If I focus on Castro and what a horrific person he is, outlining all the grief he’s put me and your family through, the general public will see that he’s the one who needs to be focused on. We can even show a picture of him on the screen, and ask them for their help in finding the man responsible for planting a bomb in the bell tower and nearly detonating it, without caring who was hurt.”
We all gave our input but allowed Liza to lead the discussion. She knew exactly the kind of outcome she wanted from her press release and also had a decent idea of how to get there. Three hours quickly passed as we discussed hercoming out,and her version of how she came to be a part of the Keller pack.
Liza would include the truth of her pack’s existence, but with a fabricated story of how they came to an untimely end.
When the decision was made to lie about how every member of the Wylde pack had died, I growled. “I hate this, Liza. I don’t want you lying on our behalf.”
She looked me dead in the eye. “I’m your mate, which means that this pack is now mine to protect, not just yours. My parents are a part of this pack, and so are my brothers and my best friend. I’ll do my part in protecting them, whatever that may look like. It’s no longer a ‘me versus you’ situation. Iamone of you.”
A hum of appreciation came from my mother, and I when I looked at her, a soft smile adorned her face. When I shifted my gaze to Dad, pride emanated from his expression. They all knewthis wasn’t an easy choice for Liza, but it displayed not only her loyalty to the pack, but also her loyalty to me. This was going to be our legacy, and she had chosen to protect it.
“Ty,” my mother called out gently, bringing me back to the present moment. “We’re all so proud of Liza for making this choice. She’s truly proven herself as a valuable member of our pack.”
“Thank you, Mom.” A surge of gratitude and love for my family and my mate almost took my breath away. “I know how much this means to all of us, especially to Liza.”
My father chimed in; his voice strong despite his weakened state. “Son, remember that our pack is built on loyalty and trust. Liza’s decision shows her dedication to our people and her commitment to you. Never forget what a gift she is.”
I nodded in agreement. Our future together would be filled with challenges, but with Liza by my side, I knew we could face anything. The fate of our legacy rested on our shoulders, and we would do whatever it took to protect our pack and uphold the Keller name.
I placed my hands on Liza’s cheeks. Her eyes met mine, filled with determination and a vulnerability that tugged at my heart.
“I love you,” I whispered earnestly, hoping she could feel the depth of my emotions behind those three simple words. “I know this is a big deal for you, and I’m so proud of you, Liza. I promise I’ll be by your side during the entire thing.”
“Thank you, Ty,” she murmured, leaning into my touch. “That means everything to me.”
The tender moment was interrupted by Nico’s security team entering the room, wheeling in a camera on a tripod. They began setting it up in front of my father’s desk, adjusting the lens and checking the lighting.
“Is this happening now?” I glanced at my watch. I hadn’t realized how much time we’d spent discussing Liza’s speech.
“We’re setting up for Dominic to record his announcement to the pack,” Nico explained, glancing over at my father, who seemed to straighten his back with renewed energy.
A member of the security team stepped forward and applied a light amount of makeup to my father’s face. Before our eyes, he made Dad appear more alert and awake than he really was.
“Everyone ready?” Nico asked, taking charge of the situation, as usual.
My father nodded, sitting at his desk with an air of authority that hid his true physical state.
“Three, two, one,” Nico counted down, then pointed at my father to signal the start of the recording.
“Hello, and thank you for tuning in for this special message from your alpha,” my father began, his voice steady and strong. “Tonight, I’d like to address the rumors that are being spread about our pack. Please know that these truly are rumors being supported by fabricated and altered video footage. It’s important for you to know that there is a man out there who, for selfish reasons of his own, wants the demise of the Keller pack. This man is obsessed with obtaining power, and he will stop at nothing to get the recognition he thinks he deserves. Do not be fooled by this man. He is, in fact, the lowest of the low and doesn’t deserve to be in the Keller pack’s presence.”
As I watched my father, I couldn’t help but be awed by his unwavering resolve. No one watching the video would be able to tell that he was at his weakest. We were all grateful that Castro, our enemy, wasn’t aware of my father’s waning power. If Castro had known, he surely would have attacked us more swiftly, knowing he truly had the upper hand.
