Chapter 23 – June
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
JUNE
Tugging on the skirt of my dress, I smooth my fingers over the deep brown fabric for the millionth time. The house is full of equipment and a camera crew. I only picked this outfit because it reminds me of Bennett — and I step over cords, moving to his side on instinct just to slide my hand into his, leaning on his shoulder.
Theo was right. I’m a nervous wreck — and this is not the time for Arin to send me into subspace with a handful of orgasms to make the anxiety abate.
“Hey.” Bennett kisses the crown of my head, squeezing my hand.
“Hi.” I glance around the room. The crew moved one of our couches, placing it in a way that the camera will have a view of it and the beautiful backyard in the same shot, while the interviewer sits across from us. Clinging to Bennett, I mutter, “Who’s sitting where?”
“I think you’ll be on the couch.” He pulls into a hug. “Probably in the middle, since you are the focus of this interview.”
I make a disgruntled noise, eyeing the two chairs behind the couch. That makes sense — but does it mean something if Arin stands behind me, or sits next to me? What if they try to shove Seth in the back because he’s not an alpha? My omega prickles at that, ready for a fight.
I take a deep breath of Bennett’s perfume, trying to calm down.
“S’cuse me, ma’am.” One of the audio guys brushes past us, laying the final cords. I shuffle away, sucking in a breath as Arin walks in with the interviewer a step behind him. She’s a leggy blonde, eyes bright but no-nonsense as she nods at my prime.
“Let’s get you all settled to make sure the framing is how we want it.” She turns, looking at me first. “Will you sit in the center of the couch, Miss Walden?”
I let Bennett go, taking a deep breath before I sit. The interviewer comes over, her cream colored silk blouse fluttering as she hums and points to the two spots behind me. “I think I’d like the prime, Arin, behind June’s left shoulder.” As Arin takes his place, I look back at him. He reaches out, touching my shoulder gently.
“And…” The woman speaks again, looking around the room. “Seth. I think you should sit on Juniper’s right. Bennett can be behind you, next to Arin.” She looks back at me. “Is that alright with you?”
It leaves the spot on the couch next to me for Theo and I nod, smiling at her. Theo squeezes Grace’s hands. His mother remains standing next to Charles — the older beta’s black hair peppered with gray, smile lines around his kind eyes as he looks over at her softly.
All of us are in our best, looking polished and coordinated, and it makes my heart flutter as Theo takes his spot, my hands darting to each side, taking one of Theo’s hands in mine and Seth’s in the other. They both squeeze my fingers as the interviewer checks the monitor, giving the cameraman a thumbs up before she takes her seat across from us. She pulls out a pad of paper full of scribbled notations and my stomach swoops.
“Okay.” Her smile is kind as her eyes find me. “The Designation News Network said we could film as much as we’d like, but the story will probably only have a medium time slot. Don’t worry about being polished, it’ll be cut down, and I’ve already told your prime that he can view the final footage before it airs.”
The largest news conglomerate will air our pack for the world to see — no big deal.
Theo’s thumb smoothes over my skin and Seth turns to me, muttering under his breath. “They’ll probably cut us down to a sixty second puff piece.”
I snort, giving him a dry look. “I doubt that.”
Seth grins. “You’re right. They’ll probably double the air time, just so everyone can see how hot you look.”
I flush, fidgeting as I scowl at him, but it just makes his grin widen.
“I’ll be asking a few pre-approved questions, but some will be clarifying based on your answers.” The interviewer draws my attention. “It shouldn’t take us long, and it’ll be a conversation at the end of the day. This is a way for you to tell your story, Juniper. We’re all very excited to hear it.”
I swallow, forcing myself to smile and nod while I remind myself why I’m doing this. Grace and Charles on the side draw my eyes — an omega who just left everything she knew and a beta who’s only ever brushed up against designation politics.
I’m doing it for them. I’m doing it for me .
“Are we ready?” The interviewer looks up from the notes in her lap.
“We’re ready,” I confirm, setting off a flurry of activity. The producer swings around to signal that the audio recording should begin, cameras trained on us.
The interviewer finds her camera, flashing a smile.
“Good morning, I’m Florence Miller and it’s my sincere pleasure to introduce the world to bestselling author, June Wald — or Juniper Walden — who shocked everyone when she cancelled a string of book signings in Europe after discovering that her designation wasn’t actually that of a beta — and instead was an omega. Biologists have weighed in on the possibilities, world leaders have questioned if omega responsibility laws need to change, but it’s only right that those affected be the voices who receive a platform in this heated designation discussion.”
We breeze past introductions, discussing Arin’s job, Seth and Bennett’s business, and Theo’s work, before ending on me. When Florence asks me about the sales boost, I feel so awkward that I mumble something about not expecting my books to sell out.
“I don’t find that bizarre, with omegas electing not to work, it makes sense that the public would have a vested interest in reading your books, as they were written from a beta’s perspective on omega life. Were you heavily involved in designation politics prior to emerging?”
“No,” I answer softly, shaking my head. “I stayed away from it. My family — my parents —” My voice catches as Theo’s hand grounds me, touching my thigh. “They’re both betas and believe in alpha supremacy. They think that everyone should defer to alphas, that alphas should be the only ones in power, and each one deserves a single omega who serves them.”
Florence hums, her eyes sparking with interest. “And how did they feel about your choice of pack life? The London Designation Center didn’t pair you, correct?”
“No.” My voice gets a little stronger. “They provided no help. I wasn’t covered by their existing policies and many of the packs refused to meet me because of my age. I would have been in a very poor situation had Seth and I not met by chance. The Designation Center only facilitated pack meetings when a handful of alphas reached out in concern. I was made to sleep in an office for multiple nights, turned away from my hotel, and from flying back to the states, because I wasn’t bonded and considered high risk.”
Florence’s eyes widen, almost imperceptibly. “Let me clarify, you were trapped inside the center for multiple nights, refused agency, and told to pick a pack of alphas from total strangers?”
“That’s exactly what I’m saying.” My eyes find the camera as I hold Seth’s hand. “But Seth came in, he demanded to see me. I understand their policies exist to protect omegas, but I went in as a grown woman with free will — and I could only leave because an alpha signed that he would oversee me.”
Florence shakes her head, looking briefly at her notes. “The alpha that signed you out — Bennett Lawrence — you were already bonded to Seth Harding?”
Bennett clears his throat. “Yes, Seth and I are bonded. And yes, it was me that signed June out.” He pauses and I glance back to see his face twist. “It made me vastly uncomfortable to sign documents that essentially signaled ownership of Juniper. The center wanted to wash its hands of her, and wanted to claim that she was no longer their responsibility. She was exhausted.” He reaches forward and his hand brushes my hair back, voice softer. “She was hungry, scared, and forced to meet a revolving door of alphas that were unmatched for a variety of reasons. It wasn’t right, that was no way to treat another human being.”
“And” — Seth pipes up beside me — “they didn’t respect me either, just because I’m a beta doesn’t mean I love her any less.” He shifts on the couch, leaning forward, voice passionate as he squeezes my hand. “I was not leaving her there, the poor treatment of omegas has to stop. It’s not right to have the majority of the world turn a blind eye to the designation system that affects us all at the end of the day. There are omegas as young as sixteen , being paired off by their guardians to packs, just because that’s how it’s always been done — but what does that mean for people like June? For older omegas who grow into themselves and end up with a pack or bonds that are more like shackles?”
“And what would you suggest be the policy, Mr. Harding?”
“It’s fine if the world wants to act like omegas can’t think for themselves, or live by themselves — but the proof is that they very well can. There’s no point in forcing bites and bonds on young omegas, or stripping people of their own choice in the matter.” Seth’s voice goes soft, eyes on me. “Don’t get me wrong, I’m very grateful that June could go to a center, but having them function as places that make money off the buying and selling of an omega’s rights is wrong on a humanitarian level. She deserved to feel safe, not like a burden during a terrifying, life-changing moment.”
The room is quiet as I lean in and kiss his cheek, whispering against his skin. “I love you.”
He turns his head, brushing his lips against my cheek in return.
After we part, Florence speaks. “This just brings us back to the heart of the issue. It’s unprecedented, an omega emerging this late — how did you feel about it, as pack alpha and prime, Mr. Mohan?”
Arin’s voice is clear as he speaks up. “It doesn’t matter to me what age an omega figures out their designation, but much like the rest of my pack, I was appalled at the treatment June received during a high stress moment. The entire reason she found herself with our pack was that we provided a safe place for her to process the change while preparing for her upcoming heat.”
I flush, sitting up a little straighter.
Florence doesn’t look at all ruffled at the mention of my heat. “It’s said that heats set in two weeks after a designation emerges. Juniper, did you consider, or were you given the option of a hired heat help service? There have been many discussions recently on their safety and efficacy.”
My skin flushes as I open my mouth, floundering. Theo’s palm on my leg rests heavy, a reminder I’m not alone.
“Not officially.” I settle on the words. “Even if I had chosen a service, I would have had to pay for it out of pocket. I wasn’t sure if I could afford a reputable option. Suppressants weren’t a choice, because the heat broke through so quickly. The option of help during a heat might work for omegas who come from well-off families who have the funds, but for someone like me — I was in a foreign country, I was told I was a risk and that my only option was finding a pack of strangers that I could feel safe enough spending a solid week with, needing their care and attention.”
“I’m sure the options presented to you were not your first choice. Can I ask —” She pauses, then looks away from her notes, leaving them in her lap. Her eyes meet mine — woman to woman. “Did you feel unsafe around any of the alphas that you met? Before you left with Pack Mohan?”
The use of Arin’s surname throws me — but politics elect that packs take the surname of the prime. I frown as I glance at Seth, then Florence.
“Well, actually, yes. I did feel unsafe.” I steel myself. “The alphas I met were mostly nice, but there were a few instances where I felt I wasn’t protected. Someone called claiming to be family, I guess to circumvent the process and protections the center had in place — but I was glad to already be with Seth and Bennett by then. Nothing ever came from it.”
Florence looks a little pallid as she mutters, “That’s interesting. I’ll have to reach out to the center to see if they have phone records. I find it very concerning they were willing to let someone see you without validating if they were telling the truth.”
“Me too.” Theo finally speaks and I move my free hand overtop his on my thigh.
He clears his throat, looking at me. His eyes are so gentle that I feel my chest throb.
“I wasn’t happy when June first came to our home in London. I didn’t understand the levels of difficulty she’d already experienced, and the vast changes happening in such a short amount of time to her. I regret that every single day.”
“Theo.” I say his name softly, frowning.
He gives me a little smile. “I’m just telling the truth. And it’s opened my eyes in the ways the world refuses to help omegas who find themselves in terrible situations.” The unspoken words about his family make my throat tighten.
Theo looks at Florence and the cameras. “I think I can speak for us when I say that I can only hope June’s story and experience usher in a change for any other omegas who find themselves in this situation. The way the current system works is flawed, inherently, and no one deserves to go through what she did. We can’t continue treating omegas like property. They deserve to make their own, informed decisions, at every step of the process.”
Pride for him swells in me — I just know his words will echo for weeks across news stations.
“Well.” Florence clears her throat. “I have greatly enjoyed meeting and speaking with you all, Pack Mohan. Thank you so much for your time.”
Arin shifts behind me. “Thank you, Florence. But I’ve never enjoyed the tradition of packs taking the surname of the prime. That isn’t my place, I am not the heart of this pack. We are not Pack Mohan — we are Pack Walden.”
Tears spring to my eyes as I look back at him.
Arin smiles, touching my cheek. “Juniper is the heart of us, she is our world, and the world deserves to know it. I’m so honored, every day, to know my future will be spent with her.”