Chapter 15 #2
"Am I happy?" I read aloud, considering the question seriously.
It deserved more than a flippant response, more than the kind of surface-level positivity that influencers usually served up.
"I'm terrified. I'm excited. I'm confused about half the things I'm feeling and certain about the other half.
I'm everything all at once, and that's okay. That's human."
"That's the most Callie answer ever," someone in chat commented, and it made me laugh, that wind-chime sound that came out when I was genuinely amused instead of performing amusement.
"Look," I said, leaning forward slightly, Nova's hand sliding to rest on my lower back to keep me steady.
"I know this challenges everything I've said before.
The independent Omega who doesn't need anyone, who gives savage dating advice about avoiding Alpha bullshit, suddenly surrounded by five Alphas?
I get how it looks. I get why people feel confused or even betrayed. "
The viewer count hit 325,000. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I registered that this was probably the biggest stream I'd ever done, bigger than the convention fallout, bigger than any collaboration. But it felt less like performing and more like... existing. Being seen.
"But independence isn't about isolation," I continued.
"It's not about proving you don't need anyone or anything.
It's about choosing your connections, not having them chosen for you.
It's about having the freedom to say yes because you want to, not because biology or society or family pressure demands it. "
"And we choose each other," Nova said firmly, his voice carrying the kind of certainty that came from boardroom negotiations and high-stakes decisions. "Every day. Every stream. Every moment. Even when it's inconvenient or complicated or when the internet has opinions about it."
"Even when Crash leaves his energy drink cans everywhere and builds weird sculptures with them," Blitz added, earning a indignant squawk from the youngest Alpha.
"Even when Ghost rebuilds his entire streaming setup at 3 AM because he heard a weird noise in his audio," Crash shot back, grinning.
"Even when Nova schedules intimate time in his planner like it's a business meeting," Milo said with a perfectly straight face, and the entire pack dissolved into laughter while the chat went absolutely feral.
NOVA SCHEDULES WHAT NOW
intimate time I'M DECEASED
this is the best stream ever
MILO REALLY SAID THAT WITH HIS WHOLE CHEST
nova's control issues extend to romance I cannot
scheduling intimacy is actually kind of sweet though?
The banter felt good, normal. Like we weren't performing for 330,000 strangers, just being ourselves in our own space.
Which, I realized as I watched the comments shift from chaotic to affectionate, was exactly what people needed to see.
Not a perfect pack with perfect chemistry, but real people figuring things out in real time.
"We're figuring it out," I said once the laughter died down, my voice softer but no less certain.
"Day by day, choice by choice. We're not perfect.
We're probably going to make mistakes. Hell, we'll definitely make mistakes.
But we're doing it together, and we're doing it publicly, because representation matters. "
"Other packs need to see there are different ways to exist," Nova added, his business manager brain clearly engaged. "Not every pack forms the traditional way. Not every bond follows the expected timeline."
"Other Omegas need to know that needing people doesn't mean losing yourself," I said, thinking of all the messages in my DMs from scared teenagers and isolated adults.
"Other Alphas need to see that respect and desire can coexist," Ghost said quietly, his voice carrying weight despite its whispered delivery. "That claiming someone doesn't mean owning them."
The viewer count had passed 350,000. #CalliePack was trending worldwide again, but this time, I knew if I scrolled through the tag it would be different. More nuanced. More real. Less about drama and more about understanding.
A donation came through from a familiar name that made my chest tight with emotion: Kara from Pack Wrecked with a message that popped up in bright gold letters.
Proud of you for showing the messy middle. That's where real life happens. Love you, babe.
"Thank you, Kara," I said, feeling tears prick at my eyes. "For everything. For paving the way, for showing me it was possible, for being the one of the best friends a girl could ask for."
We streamed for another hour, answering questions with as much honesty as we could manage.
Yes, we were navigating intimacy and it was complicated.
No, we weren't fully bonded yet and we weren't rushing it.
Yes, there were challenges with five Alphas and one Omega.
No, we didn't have all the answers, and we were okay with that uncertainty.
When we finally ended the stream, Ghost's finger hovering over the button for just a moment before clicking it, everything felt too quiet. The absence of notification sounds and chat messages was almost jarring after the hour of digital chaos.
"Well," Crash said, flopping backward on the carpet, "that was either the best or worst thing we've ever done."
"Both," I decided, echoing my earlier answer as I finally relaxed fully against Nova's chest. "It was both."
My phone buzzed with a text that made my breath catch. My mother's name popped up on the screen.
Watched your stream. You looked... happy. Real. Different than I expected. Maybe we could talk? When you're ready. No pressure.
I stared at the message, feeling the pack's quiet support around me like a physical thing. Not pushing for details, not pulling me toward any particular response, just... there. Present. Steady.
"You okay?" Milo asked softly, his chef's intuition picking up on the shift in my energy.
"Getting there," I admitted, tucking my phone away.
And surrounded by five Alphas who'd chosen to protect my autonomy even in the depths of biological chaos, who were willing to face the internet's judgment alongside me, who made me laugh even in the middle of crisis and held me steady when everything felt like too much, I thought maybe, just maybe, I actually was.