Chapter 7

The message burned in my pocket the entire ride home.

I didn’t show it to Jules. I didn’t tell the other girls. I just slipped it into my coat like it hadn’t made my heart race or set my pulse pounding with that horrible, electric dread.

Someone was watching us.

Someone knew what I was doing—and they didn’t like it.

“You should’ve let me handle it,” Jaxon said from behind the wheel, gripping the steering wheel tighter than necessary.

“I can’t sit back and pretend this isn’t happening,” I said, arms crossed. “Ava didn’t just disappear. Someone took her, or scared her off. Either way, she didn’t vanish into thin air.”

“I know,” he muttered. “But now you’re involved. More than you already were.”

“I was already involved. These girls are in danger. I’m not going to just stay quiet.”

He pulled into the driveway and killed the engine. “You’re brave, Elara. But being brave doesn’t mean being reckless.”

I opened the door and stepped out. “And what about you? You want me to go back to hiding? Pretending everything’s fine?”

“No,” he said, following me up the steps. “I want you safe. And I want these girls safe. Which means we need to start talking louder.”

I turned, surprised. “Louder?”

He nodded. “If someone wants you scared, the last thing you should do is go quiet.”

I didn’t expect the board meeting.

Jules called the next morning, voice full of warning.

“The city’s Omega Oversight Committee wants to talk to you. Today. A formal hearing.”

“Why?”

“They’re saying your presence at the center is stirring up trouble. That you’re a liability. That someone should’ve vetted your background better.”

My heart sank. “Cyrus.”

“Probably,” Jules said. “He has friends on the board. But I’m not pulling you. Not unless you want out.”

I didn’t hesitate. “I’m showing up.”

“Then wear something strong,” she said. “And bring backup.”

The Oversight Committee met in a wide conference room lined with windows too high to see out of.

Eight Alphas. One Beta. Two bored-looking assistants. And me—Omega, clearly out of place in my thrifted blazer and knotted stomach.

Jaxon came too, dressed sharp and silent beside me like some kind of royal bodyguard. He hadn’t said much on the drive over, but now that we were here, he radiated tension like a loaded spring.

A man with graying temples cleared his throat. “Ms. Sloane. Thank you for coming.”

“It’s Elara,” I said. “And thank you for summoning me like a rebellious teen.”

He blinked. One of the assistants stifled a laugh.

Another board member—a woman with a no-nonsense stare—leaned forward. “You’ve been working at Haven House?”

“Yes.”

“Without registering as a certified Omega mentor?”

“I didn’t know I had to register to care,” I said calmly.

“Let’s not play games,” said another man. “You have a history with Cyrus Black. That makes your presence controversial.”

I smiled tightly. “You mean threatening.”

Jaxon shifted beside me.

Someone else cut in. “We’ve received complaints that your involvement has incited unrest. There’s concern your personal history is influencing the youth under your care.”

“I hope so,” I said. “I hope they see that even if you’re trapped in a gilded cage, you can still break the lock.”

A murmur went through the room.

“You’re provoking,” the first man snapped.

“I’m existing,” I snapped back.

That’s when Jaxon stood.

And the room froze.

“If I may,” he said, voice deep and steady.

The board chair narrowed his eyes. “And you are?”

“Jaxon Black. Registered Alpha. Business owner. Protective guardian of Elara Sloane.” He looked around. “And the brother of the man you’re all too afraid to name.”

A hush fell.

Jaxon stepped forward. “Let me be clear. Elara has done more for those girls in two weeks than most of you have in your entire careers. She’s shown up. She’s listened. She’s given them something none of you ever bothered to provide—respect.”

“Mr. Vaughn—”

“No, you wanted this meeting,” Jaxon said sharply. “So now you’re going to listen. My brother may have money, but Elara has integrity. You can’t buy that. And I won’t let you use her past as a weapon to silence her.”

The woman on the end folded her hands. “And are you saying you intend to protect her from official oversight?”

“I’m saying I’ll protect her from abuse disguised as oversight,” Jaxon said. “If you want to regulate mentors, fine. But don’t pretend this is about rules. This is about control.”

He turned to me then, his voice softening. “You don’t owe them silence. Not anymore.”

Something inside me steadied.

I stood straighter. “I’m not stepping down. And if that costs me something, so be it.”

The committee went quiet.

The chair finally cleared his throat. “We’ll deliberate and get back to you.”

Jaxon opened the door for me.

And we walked out together.

Outside, I finally let out a long breath. “I don’t know whether to thank you or scream.”

He smiled slightly. “Please scream later. I like the drama.”

I bumped his arm. “You didn’t have to defend me like that.”

“Yes, I did,” he said. “Because I’ve watched you shrink for too long.”

We were quiet for a moment. Then he added, “I’m not Cyrus. And I never want you to treat me like you’re bracing for a hit.”

“I’m not,” I whispered. “Not with you.”

He met my gaze. “Good.”

And then he stepped closer.

And for a second, I thought—

But then my phone buzzed.

Another text.

Blocked number.

One down. Two more to go.

You should’ve stayed out of it, Elara.

We warned you.

I froze.

Jaxon saw the screen.

“Is that—?”

“Same number,” I said, breath catching. “They know I went to the committee. They’re watching.”

He grabbed my hand. “We need to go. Now.”

When we got back to the house, the front door was ajar.

I stopped cold. “Did you leave it open?”

“No,” Jaxon said.

He stepped in first, tense and alert. I followed slowly.

Nothing was obviously missing. Nothing broken.

But when I got to the kitchen, I saw it.

A photo.

An old one.

Me. At my wedding.

And it was torn in half.

Cyrus’s face gone.

Mine circled in red.