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Avery took a cleansing breath as Tensen guided him through direct examination. He relayed everything that had happened, starting with the sudden deaths of his parents at an early age. How they had barely enough money to survive, and not enough to thrive. How he wouldn’t have been able to afford to send himself or his brothers to the balls to search for an alpha. How there were no jobs to be had in the OQ, other than surrogate or sex worker. Finally, to his choice to go to college and find a job to support his family.
“From what I’ve read, your uncle was mated soon after you began college,” one of the other judges asked. “And that he and his alpha could’ve provided for you all—and did, in fact, take on your younger brothers.”
Avery lifted his chin. “Yes, but by that point, I had achieved a level of freedom that other omegas did not possess. Freedom that I felt we deserved.” He searched the faces of the judges. “Why should we be forced to beg for protection from alphas when we are more than capable of providing for ourselves? I proved myself skilled enough. I graduated at the top of my class. I worked and made an income. I did not need my uncle and his alpha to take in my brothers, but I knew they would have better access to the schools of the Family Quadrant and be closer to their friends. And I would have a quiet house to study and excel in… which I did.”
“But this is the way of our world. Alphas provide the means, omegas provide life,” another judge stated.
“We’re not here to argue whether we should change the laws. They already have been,” Tensen replied. “Our representatives voted on the matter and the laws rewritten… just this morning, in fact.”
“Just in time to affect your case,” another judge said. “Do not think we did not notice the delay tactics you used in order to provide time for those laws to change.”
“Our case was scheduled before that, Your Honor,” Tensen said. “We did not realize Congress would vote before our hearing.”
Several of the judges scoffed.
A judge who hadn’t spoken yet leaned forward. “While I’m sorry to hear about the loss of your parents, your story isn’t persuasive or compelling. You say you had money. You had a home. You could’ve survived, better than many omegas in the quadrant do. I listen your story and think you… greedy. You were accustomed to wealth and luxury and wanted to live as you had with your parents.”
“Greedy? For wishing to work under my own steam? I worked hard to ensure my brothers and I would be well cared for, and why wouldn’t we want to live as we once had? We were accustomed to a certain lifestyle that I was willing to work for it, versus putting my hand out to an alpha. I wanted to earn my own way.Howcan that be considered greedy?”
“I’ve heard of far worse conditions in the OQ. Omegas forced to make impossible choices because they had nothing. Nothing. You had everything compared to them.”
“You heard their stories and did nothing to help the conditions in the OQ? Your words speak far more about your character than mine.”
Gasps sounded in the audience, and Avery worried he’d crossed a line. Regardless, it was the truth. “Too many omegas have suffered in the Omega Quadrant. My uncle and I used to cook additional helpings of meals and offer them to our neighbors when in need, when their families gave too little for their care. We would take in strays here and there, boys who had no home and no means while inside those walls. My uncle would scrape together the money and dress them in old suits of his, sending them on to balls, in hopes they’d find their alphas. It shouldn’t have been that way.
“There are a million stories like these there, and a billion worse. You all had to know what was going on and yet you did nothing.” Anger roared through Avery.“You did nothing!”
He stared at the judges, indifferent to their reactions to his anger. It was clear he wouldn’t be found innocent, so he’d make sure they would know his rage before he returned to prison.
“I made a choice to get out of there and find the means to help myself. To help my family, when there was no one else to do it. You all sat here in judgment as omegas suffered and you didn’t care.” Avery took a breath, willing the tears still burning the backs of his eyes to remain unshed. “You didn’t care… and you have the nerve to look at me and call me guilty. Howdareyou?”
Tensen stepped behind him, resting a gentle hand on his elbow.
“No!” Avery yelled, glaring at Tensen. He spun to face the judges. “I stand here in judgment of you. Of this government… and I sayyouare guilty.”
A yelp of encouragement came from the gallery, and Avery was glad someone had appreciated his words. Avery searched the blank expressions of the judges, wondering if he’d made an impact at all. Not likely.
Yet he’d had his say.
“Are you quite done?” Judge Emory asked, appearing bored.
Avery nodded.
“We’ll retire into our chambers and return with our ruling soon. Court is in recess,” Judge Emory stated before banging a gavel.
The judges rose and exited as they’d entered.
Tensen led him back to their table. Avery met Wilder’s gaze and rushed into his alpha’s arms. Wilder squeezed him tightly.
“Was anger the best offense?” Wilder asked, whispering near his ear.
Avery leaned back and looked up at his alpha. “It didn’t start out that way. I didn’t plan that… but it just came. Iamangry at the way we’re treated.”
“I think he rocked it,” Lake said, grinning.
“I do, too,” Auggie added.
“Me, three,” Gray murmured, squeezing Avery’s shoulder.
