Chapter 34
THIRTY-FOUR
jake
The APbrA office smells like stale coffee and paper, with an underlying scent of anxiety that makes my Alpha restless. But underneath all of that, I can smell her—buttercups and honey, slightly acrid with nervousness but holding steady.
Willa sits in the chair across from the board members and Pack Lane, the heads of APbrA, large and imposing, but with her spine straight and her hands folded in front of her.
If I could have locked us in that hotel room for the next year, I would have.
My plea for her to come to our house was also met with a firm no that made my Alpha want to argue.
But she insisted on going home, to take a real shower, sleep in her own bed for a couple of nights, and collect her thoughts.
Those forty-eight hours without her were the hardest days I’ve had in years. My Alpha was agitated by her absence, needing to know she was safe even though I logically knew she was fine.
When she asked us to come with her today, there was never any other possibility. So here we are—me, Beau, and Charlie—taking up the space on either side of Willa as she faces down the people who are supposed to protect Omegas in this industry.
My hands are clenched at my sides, and I have to consciously relax them before I leave marks in my palms. I want her to own this moment.
“Miss James,” the board chair says—an older Beta woman whose scent is so subdued I can barely smell it. “We want you to know that we take your allegations very seriously.”
Willa’s scent spikes, a brief flash of fear before she controls it. I lean forward automatically before catching myself. Beau’s hand finds my shoulder, grounding.
“They’re not allegations.” Her voice is steady, clear. “Mark Felton locked me in a bathroom during my heat. There’s security footage. There are witnesses. It’s not an allegation—it’s a fact.”
Pride surges through me, warm and fierce. My Omega, standing her ground.
“Of course. You’re right. I apologize for my word choice.
” The woman shifts papers on her desk, and I catch the subtle scent of her discomfort.
Good. She should be uncomfortable. “What we meant to say is that we take these facts very seriously. Mr. Felton has been terminated from his position effective immediately. He’s currently in Denver city jail awaiting arraignment on formal charges. ”
Willa’s shoulders relax slightly—just a fraction, but I see it. Smell it in the way her scent eases.
“We also want to address the broader issues you’ve raised,” another board member—an Alpha male whose scent carries notes of bergamot and tobacco—speaks up. “You mentioned in your written statement that Mr. Felton had been… inappropriate with you since you started the internship?”
“Yes.” The single word carries weight.
“We failed you.” The Beta woman again, and this time, there’s genuine regret in her scent.
“Our policies should have protected you. Our oversight should have caught this behavior before it escalated to—” She stops.
Clears her throat. “We’re implementing immediate changes.
Mandatory harassment training for all staff.
A confidential reporting system for Omegas who experience unwanted attention. Regular reviews of staff conduct.”
“And the suppressant requirements?” Willa’s voice is sharp now. “The policy that requires Omegas to be on double suppressants that mess with our hormones and make heat unpredictable? Are you changing that?”
There is a long, weighted pause, and this time her question is answered by Marshal Lane.
“We’re reviewing all Omega-related policies,” he says carefully. “Including the suppressant protocols. The medical staff has indicated that the current requirements may be… excessive.”
“May be?” Willa leans forward slightly. “The double dose made my hormones unstable…Your ‘excessive’ protocols made me vulnerable.”
She sits back, her scent complex—satisfaction mixed with lingering anger mixed with exhaustion. I just want to cuddle my Omega in my lap and hold her until she believes that she’s safe.
“Miss James,” Dane West says next, another member of Pack Lane, “if you wish to press charges against Mr. Felton, we will support you fully. Provide character witnesses, documentation, whatever you need. And,” he pauses, “we owe you an apology. Multiple apologies. For the misconduct that occurred under our watch. For the outdated policies that failed to protect you. For the systemic issues that allowed this to happen.”
Willa’s body relaxes, and I can feel the breath she’s been holding slowly release.
“We’re also committed to changing the culture,” the Alpha adds. “Too many bad actors have been protected by nepotism and the ‘old boys club’ mentality. That ends now. We’ll be keeping a much closer eye on harassment, discrimination, and abuse of power.”
“See that you do.” Willa stands, and I move forward automatically, needing to be closer. “Because the next Omega who comes through here deserves better than what I got.”
“Agreed.” The Beta woman stands as well, extending her hand. “Thank you for your courage in coming forward. And for giving us the chance to do better.”
Willa shakes her hand, and then she’s moving toward the door. Her scent reaches me first, and my Alpha rumbles with satisfaction. She’s okay. She’s safe. She’s ours.
As soon as we’re in the hallway, Beau pulls her into his arms. Just holds her, his face buried in her hair, breathing her in. Charlie’s hand finds her back, rubbing gentle circles.
I can’t stop staring at her. At the strength in the set of her shoulders, at the fire in her eyes, at the way she just faced down the people who failed her and demanded better.
“Jake?” She turns to look at me, still wrapped in Beau’s arms. “You okay?”
“Am I okay?” The words burst out of me, rough and amazed. “Willa, that was— You were—” I have to stop. Take a breath. “I’ve never met anyone stronger than you.”
Her scent spikes with embarrassment, going sweet and flustered. “Stop. It’s not— I just told the truth. That’s not brave. You ride bulls, that’s a hell of a lot braver than what I just did.”
“The hell it is.” I close the distance between us, cup her face in my hands so she has to look at me.
“Being a bull rider? That’s adrenaline and skill and a little bit of crazy.
But what you just did? Standing up to the people in power, confronting the system that failed you, making sure the next person doesn’t go through what you did? That’s real bravery.”
“Jake—”
“No, listen.” I stroke my thumbs across her cheekbones, and her eyes are wide, gray, and beautiful, and still trying to deflect.
“Predators like Felton? They win when no one stands up against them. They want their victims to feel small and powerless. But you didn’t let him win.
You stood up. You fought back. And now you’re making sure he can never hurt anyone else.
That’s the bravest thing I’ve ever seen. ”
I lean in, press my forehead to hers, breathe in her scent until my Alpha settles. Until the need to protect her, to keep her safe, to make sure she knows how extraordinary she is, finally eases.
“Come on,” Beau says after a moment, his voice rough. “Let’s get out of here. Too many suits for my taste.”
He pulls her close, her curves dwarfed by the arm he wraps around her back. I watch her lean into him as they walk ahead of me, and the yearning that’s been simmering for so long swells, thick and consuming inside me.
“I need biscuits,” she announces suddenly. “Like, immediately. Please tell me someone will take me to get biscuits.”
I laugh, the sound surprising me. “I’ll take you. Beau and Charlie have that thing with the ranch supplier anyway.”
“The thing with the ranch supplier?” Willa raises an eyebrow. “That’s very specific and not at all vague.”
“We’re buying feed,” Charlie says, smiling at her as he pulls her into a bear hug. “Very boring. You’d hate it.”
“Uh-huh.” But she’s smiling now, and the scent of her happiness makes my chest feel too tight.
I thread my fingers through hers and pull her toward Beau’s truck as Charlie and Beau head off to the Land Rover. I can’t help grinning—I know exactly what they’re really up to.
“Why do you look like the cat that ate the canary?” Willa teases, elbowing me in the ribs hard enough to make me laugh.
“No reason.”
Twenty minutes later, I’m pulling into the gravel lot of Sweet Buns, and the smell of fresh-baked biscuits floats over us as we approach the doors. Willa makes a sound of pure pleasure that goes straight to my cock, and I have to adjust myself before going in.
The bell chimes as we enter, and the warmth hits us, along with that particular scent of home cooking. Behind the counter, Hattie Belle glances up from the coffee pot.
“Morning, Willa. Your usual?” She’s already reaching for a plate.
“Yes, please.” Willa’s scent goes warm with contentment. “Oh, and extra Tabasco.”
“Like I’d forget.” Hattie Belle grins, then her eyes shift to me. “And Jake Dillon. Haven’t seen you in here in a while.”
“Hey, Hattie Belle.” I lean against the counter. “Been busy.”
“I can see that.” Her gaze bounces between Willa and me, and her smile turns downright smug. “Willa showing up with not one but two Alphas from Pack McCrea recently— My, my.”
Willa’s face flushes crimson, and her scent spikes with embarrassment. “Hattie Belle—”
“Don’t you ‘Hattie Belle’ me, honey.” She’s grinning now. “Just hope you’re enjoying yourself,” she adds with a nod in my direction and a particularly lascivious glint in her eye.
“We’re just—” Willa starts.
“About time,” Hattie Belle says, cutting her off with a knowing look. She crosses her arms and studies us both. “That’s all I’m saying. About damn time.”
Willa opens her mouth, closes it, then just sighs. “Can I please just get my biscuit?”
“Of course, honey.” Hattie Belle’s still smirking as she turns to plate up the food. “A James special, coming right up.”