Chapter 62

"Are you ready?" Rome asked, his gaze on me expecting an answer.

"I'm fine, don't worry too much," I smiled, though I was struggling inside. I was about to meet everyone after the incident. Rome had called for a pack meeting, and everyone had to come. The anxiety of being the topic of discussion was weighing heavily on me.

Rome grabbed my hand and held onto it firmly. "I'll be beside you. Let's go."

His touch was reassuring, a steady anchor in the storm of my emotions. We walked together towards the meeting hall, his presence beside me giving me the strength I needed to face what lay ahead. As we approached, the murmurs of the gathered pack grew louder.

Rome pushed open the doors, and the room fell silent, all eyes turning towards us. My heart raced, but I kept my head high. Most of these people were strangers to me and I needed to show them that I was strong, even if I felt anything but.

Rome led me to the front of the room, and I could feel the tension in the air. "Thank you all for coming," he began, his voice commanding yet calm. "We have gathered here today to address the recent events and to ensure the safety and unity of our pack."

He turned to me, his eyes softening. "Zendaya, do you want to share anything?"

I took a deep breath, squeezing his hand for support. "I know many of you have questions about what happened to me. I was taken, but I am back now, and I want to assure you all that I am safe. Rome and I have a plan to find those responsible and bring them to justice."

A murmur went through the crowd, but Rome raised his hand to silence it. "We will not let this incident divide us. Instead, we will come together, stronger than before. I ask for your support and cooperation as we move forward."

The pack responded with nods and murmurs of agreement. It was a relief to see their solidarity, to know that they were behind us. I felt a renewed sense of purpose, determined to see this through.

Rome squeezed my hand gently, signaling that it was time to move on. "Let's get to work," he said, and with that, we began our path to justice.

If only the pack members knew what they were agreeing to. Rome and I sat on the chairs designated for the Alpha King and Queen. If it were before my abduction, I would have been worried about sitting next to him and would have overthought my role in his life. I would have been plagued by thoughts of feeling inadequate to be Alpha Queen. But I didn't have the time to worry about such issues. I had something more pressing to figure out.

"The children and young adults can leave the room," I commanded.

Unknown to me, I had used my aura as the King's mate that compelled the others to leave. Everyone turned their gaze on me like I was an alien. "What did I do? Why are they all staring at me?" I whispered to Rome.

Rome's eyes widened slightly, but he quickly composed himself. "You used your aura," he whispered back, his tone a mix of surprise and admiration. "As my mate, you have the authority to give commands."

I blinked, surprised by my own power. "I didn't mean to."

"It's okay," he reassured me, giving my hand a comforting squeeze. "It's a part of who you are. Embrace it."

The children and young adults filed out of the room, their eyes wide with curiosity and confusion. Once the doors closed behind them, Rome stood, his presence filling the room with a commanding energy.

"We need to address a serious issue," he began, his voice steady and authoritative. "There is a traitor among us, someone who betrayed our pack by orchestrating Zendaya's abduction. We must find out who it is."

A heavy silence fell over the room. The air was thick with tension and anticipation. I scanned the faces of the pack members, searching for any sign of guilt or discomfort, but everyone appeared equally shocked and disturbed by the revelation.

"Does anyone have any information?" I asked, my voice firm despite the anxiety bubbling inside me. "Anything at all that could help us identify the traitor?"

The pack members looked at each other with interest. Not everyone was aware of my abduction. They must have wondered who had the guts to kidnap me. Rome, sensing the rising curiosity, called for silence and then spoke. "Soon, kindly come forward and tell us what happened that day in your own words," he commanded.

Soon, an omega who worked in the kitchen and was in charge of housekeeping, stepped forward nervously. She was a kind soul, and we had become fast friends. Clearing her throat, she began to speak. "Zendaya came to the kitchen to help as usual," she said, her voice steady despite the tension in the room. "Everything was normal until Silvia informed her that the Alpha King was looking for her. I didn't think much of it at the time. But now, knowing what happened, it feels suspicious."

She paused, glancing around the room before continuing. "Silvia has occasionally disrespected and bullied Zendaya in front of the others. It's been happening for a while now, and I regret not standing up for her more often." The other Omegas nodded in agreement, murmuring their assent.

Before Rome or I could react, Silvia exploded. "Hey! Why are you lying?" she yelled, her face contorted with fury. "You're just trying to frame me!"

Rome raised a hand to silence her. "Enough, Silvia," he said firmly. "We are here to uncover the truth, not to point fingers without evidence."

Silvia's eyes darted around the room, her bravado fading. "I didn't do anything wrong," she muttered, but her voice lacked conviction.

Rome turned back to Soon. "Thank you for your honesty," he said. "Your courage to speak up is appreciated."

I watched Silvia closely, my mind racing. Her reaction was defensive, almost too defensive. It was clear she had something to hide. "Silvia," I said, stepping forward, "if you're innocent, you have nothing to fear. We're not here to blame anyone unjustly. We just want the truth."