Chapter 11 #2
"How, Lucas?" I cut him off, standing up and pacing.
"How do we prove that? The bias already exists.
Omegas in business are already fighting uphill battles.
Omegas in pack bonds with clients? That's career suicide.
I'll be the cautionary tale. The example of why omegas can't maintain professional boundaries.
Why we're too emotional, too driven by biology, too—"
"You're not," Ro interrupted firmly. "You're one of the most professional people I know. Michelle, you've been managing my professional relationship with Lucas for six months with complete objectivity. The pack bond doesn't change your competence."
"It changes perception. And perception is everything." I ran my hands through my hair. "Matthew is right. I should have been more careful. Should have maintained distance. Should have never let this happen."
The words hung in the air, sharp and cruel.
And through the bond, I felt them land.
Lucas was devastated, like I'd physically stabbed him.
Ro was hurt, deep and cutting.
Dex was anger mixed with pain.
"You don't mean that," Lucas said quietly, but his voice was strained.
"I don't—" I stopped, closing my eyes. "I don't know what I mean. I just…I need to think. I need to figure out how to handle this. I need—"
My phone rang again.
Callie Cross.
I'd never been more grateful to see her name on my screen.
"I have to take this," I said to my pack, unable to meet their eyes. I could still feel their hurt through the bond, and it was making it hard to breathe. "Just, give me a minute."
I stepped into the kitchen, accepting the call.
"Callie. Hey."
"I heard," she said without preamble, her voice tight with anger. "Matthew Malone is making moves. Called you, didn't he? Threatened you with the ethics committee?"
"How did you—"
"Because he called me for intel, not that he got any." She paused. "Are you okay?"
"No," I admitted, my voice breaking. "No, I'm not okay. Callie, he's right. If this gets out, if people know I'm pack-bonded to Lucas and Ro and Dex, then my reputation is done. Everything I've worked for will be gone."
"Or," Callie said firmly, "you get ahead of the story. You control the narrative. You announce the pack bond yourself, on your terms, before Matthew can weaponize it against you. You do what I did with my pack. This is your story, babe. Don’t let someone else tell it.”
"Callie, I can't—"
"You can. And you have to. Because right now, Matthew thinks he has you cornered. He thinks you're scared enough to give up Lucas without a fight. But Michelle, you don't give up. That's not who you are."
"The bias against omegas in management is real. Just as real as it is against omega streamers. If people think I'm using pack bonds to keep clients exclusive—"
"Then you prove them wrong by being transparent.
By showing them exactly how you maintain professional boundaries.
By demonstrating that pack bonds make you better at your job, not worse.
" Her voice gentled. "Michelle, I've been where you are, remember? I still believe that the only reason we came out on top was because we got ahead of the story. We controlled the narrative. We went live and announced the pack bond and we laid out exactly how we were handling it professionally. Full transparency. Clear boundaries. No hiding. You know this. You remember this. You’re just overwhelmed right now. Breathe, babe. You’re a badass, remember that. "
"And it worked?" I asked, needing her confirmation even though I knew that it had, hell I was her manager after all, if anyone was going to know how well it had worked out for her it was me. But right now? In my current state of mind? I needed to hear her tell me.
"Michelle, my engagement went up forty percent. My sponsors doubled down on their contracts because they valued authenticity. Other omega creators reached out thanking me for normalizing pack content." She paused. "You want to know the real reason it worked?"
"Why?"
"Because I showed the industry that I wasn't ashamed.
That I wasn't going to hide or apologize for finding my pack.
That I could be both a successful creator and bonded omega.
And Michelle, you can too. You can be the brilliant manager you've always been and be pack-bonded to Lucas, Ro, and Dex.
Those things aren't mutually exclusive."
"The ethics committee is investigating—"
"Let them investigate. You haven't done anything wrong.
You didn't become Lucas's manager after forming a pack bond, the professional relationship existed first. You've established clear protocols for handling conflicts.
You're being transparent. That's all they can ask for.
" Callie's voice turned fierce. "But you have to act now.
Tonight. Before Matthew can spin this as you trying to hide something unethical.
You announce it yourself, frame it as professional transparency, show the industry that you're setting new standards. "
"What if it backfires? What if I lose everything?"
"What if you don't? What if this is the moment you become the trailblazer?
The first openly pack-bonded omega manager in the influencer industry.
The one who proves it can work." She paused.
"Michelle, you've been fighting for omega representation in this industry for years.
This is just the next battle. And you've never backed down from a fight before. "
I leaned against the kitchen counter, processing.
She was right. God, she was right.
I'd spent years proving that omegas could be objective, professional, successful in business. I'd built my entire company on that principle, even if I’d never officially outed myself as an omega.
And now I was ready to throw it all away because I was scared.
"I hurt them," I whispered. "My pack. I said I should have never let this happen. They felt it through the bond."
"Then apologize. Tell them you were panicking. Tell them you didn't mean it. And then get your ass out there and fight for them the way you fight for all your clients. Because Michelle, they're worth fighting for. And so is your career. You don't have to choose."
"I don't know if I'm brave enough."
"Yes, you are. You just forget sometimes." She softened her voice. "Remember what I asked you last night? What do you want to catch you when you fall? You said your pack. Well, honey, you're falling right now. Let them catch you. Let them help you fight this. You don't have to do it alone anymore."
Tears were streaming down my face. "What do I do?"
"You go back to your pack. You apologize for panicking. And then you tell them you're going to fight, that you want to announce the pack bond tonight, on stream, with full transparency. You're going to show Matthew Malone and the ethics committee and the entire industry that you don't back down."
"Tonight?"
"Tonight. Strike while you have momentum. Don't give Matthew time to spread his version of events. Control the narrative." She paused. "I'll watch the stream. I'll support you publicly in chat. I'll be the example that it can work. You won't be alone in this."
"Thank you," I managed. "Callie, I don't know what I'd do without you."
"You'd figure it out. Because you're brilliant and stubborn and stronger than you think." She laughed. "Now go. Apologize to your pack. Plan your announcement. Show the world what you’re made of."
She hung up before I could respond.
I stood in the kitchen, phone in hand, tears on my face, and felt the weight of the decision I'd just made.
Going public. Tonight. Putting everything on the line.
But Callie was right. I couldn't let Matthew Malone win. Couldn't let fear dictate my choices. Couldn't give up my pack to save a reputation that would crumble anyway if I tried to hide.
I had to fight.
I wiped my face, took a deep breath, and walked back to the dining room where my pack waited.
They were exactly where I'd left them, Lucas sitting at the table looking devastated, Ro leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, Dex standing by the window radiating protective fury.
All three of them looked at me as I entered.
And through the bond, I felt their emotions: hurt, yes, but also hope. They were waiting to see what I'd choose.
"I'm sorry," I said immediately, my voice cracking. "For what I said. About wishing this hadn't happened. About needing to maintain distance. I didn't mean it. I was panicking and scared, and I lashed out, and I hurt you. All of you felt it through the bond, and I'm so, so sorry."
Lucas stood, starting toward me, but I held up a hand.
"Let me finish. Please." I took a breath.
"Matthew Malone is threatening everything I've built.
My reputation, my business, my other clients.
And for a moment, for a terrible, cowardly moment, I thought about taking his deal.
Transferring you to his agency. Protecting my career by sacrificing our pack. "
The pain that flashed across Lucas's face was like a knife to my chest.
"But I talked to Callie," I continued quickly.
"And she reminded me who I am. I'm not someone who backs down from fights.
I'm not someone who sacrifices what matters to save my reputation.
I'm not someone who lets bullies win." I looked at each of them.
"I'm someone who fights for my pack. Even when it's scary. Even when it might cost me everything."
"Michelle—" Lucas started.
"We're going public," I said firmly. "Tonight.
On stream. All of us. We announce the pack bond ourselves, on our terms, before Matthew can spin it his way.
We control the narrative. We show the industry that transparency and ethics and professional boundaries can coexist with pack bonds.
We prove that I can be both a brilliant manager and a bonded omega. "
Silence.
Then Ro pushed off the wall. "That's the Michelle we know. Strategic and brave and ready to change the industry."