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Jake Spelling from TVZD stood wide eyed, staring him down.
“I think it’s easy to say this idea has been a long time coming.”
“Did youplanto start a revolt?”
“A revolt? Come on,” Wilder chided.
“Do you want to see our province wracked with chaos? You’re telling omegas to boycott. It’s not as if they work.”
Gray’s head whipped to the side. “They don’t work?!”He snatched Jake’s microphone from his hand. “Omegas are held captive until they are wanted by an alpha. Then they warm that alpha’s bed, bearing their children and raising them. I’m a lucky one to have help, but many of the omegas you see here don’t. On top of raising children and caring for an alpha, they cook. They clean. They sacrificeeverythingfor their family. That’s not work? What of the omegas who give their very lives trying to bring new life into their world? You belittle all we do while refusing to give us the freedoms we deserve. Shame on you, Jake Spelling. Shame on you all.”
Jake snatched his microphone back, turning to Wilder. “This… this is what you’ve started. Utter chaos!”
“Demanding freedom is chaos?” Wilder asked, frowning. “Perhaps it is for those in power.”
“The guard is saying this protest is illegal. There was no petition placed to hold this assembly. What are your thoughts?”
“Let them try to force a thousand people away. I doubt they have the labor force for it,” Wilder said. He turned to the camera. “I’ll help fund legal representation foranyonearrested today. If there are any attorneys out there who are supportive of the cause, please get in touch with me at my office at Jaymes & Associates.”
Jake Spelling scoffed. “Justwhatdo you hope to accomplish today?”
“Honestly, I only wanted to bring attention to Avery’s case and the unjust nature of our laws.” He waved a hand at the crowd. “The rest—you’ll have to ask them. It’s their protest now. Not mine.”
“Are you trying to skirt responsibility?” Jake asked. “Putting it ontheirshoulders?”
“Absolutely not! What I’m saying is that I haveno rightto lead an Omega Rights protest being an alpha. I understand I am a guest in this space. I’ll leave the guidance of this to omegas, and I’ll support it with everything in my power. I hope other alphas and betas will join me for that support.”
“Why are you doing this, Mr. Jaymes? What does this omega mean to you?”
He refused to answer, fearful he’d say too much and cause issues with the case. He lifted his sign and joined in with the chant of the crowd instead. “No Freedom, No Peace! No Freedom, No Peace!”
Jake Spelling huffed and attempted to force his way back through the crowd, along with this cameraman.
What does this omega mean to me? Everything. He means absolutely everything.
“Hey, Jake!” Wilder called.
The reporter looked over his shoulder.
“You were wrong about no one supporting this idea. I bet you’re wrong about a lot more. Perhaps you need to close your mouth and open your ears to these omegas. They have a lot to say.”
Jake Spelling scowled before disappearing amid the crowd.
Wilder grinned. Those words had felt even better than the ‘fuck you’he’d wanted to say the day before.
* * *
Early the morningof his trial, Avery was awoken by a guard. He’d only cat-napped the night before and had been half awake already. The prison was quiet, albeit for the sounds of snoring coming from some cells he passed on his trek to the washroom. He showered alone, his echoing sounds in the enormous bathroom haunting. For some reason, the space was disturbing without the steam and cacophonous voices filling it. He kept looking over his shoulder, sensing someone or something watching him, but found nothing.
After his shower, he dried and pulled on a clean jumpsuit and slippers. He followed one of his jailors through the maze of halls and cell doors that led underground and then up into the courthouse. As they approached one of the conference rooms, he heard a roar from outside and wondered what it was.
They directed him into a room where he saw Tensen and Rohan waiting for him.
Before Avery could ask where Wilder was, a roar of sound came from outside. “Whatisthat? We heard it yesterday, but none of the guards would tell us what it was.”
“The protest,” Rohan replied, grinning harder.“Yourprotest.”
“What?”
