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“Of course, Mr. Mayor,” we both respond.
As Malachi ends the call, we stare at each other, the implications of what we just heard sinking in.
“You see it, don’t you?” I show him the footage again, pointing out the alpha’s words. “Aria’s an omega, Malachi. She could affect our pack, our business, and everything we have worked for.”
My whole body shudders with the realization.
Malachi frowns, skeptical. “Are you sure? Maybe you’re misinterpreting it. He could be saying anything.” He stares at the screen, his expression a mix of disbelief and growing concern.
“I’m not,” I insist. I know I’m right, and his denial only makes me angrier. “Why would she keep this from us?”
Malachi sighs, clearly not convinced. “Zane,” he starts, his voice low and serious, “this just got bigger than Aria lying to us. If she is truly an undocumented omega, and we’ve been courting her without registering…” He trails off, running a hand through his hair. I can practically see the wheels turning in his head as he considers the ramifications.
Even I begin to grasp at straws. “The bill isn’t in effect yet.”
“But we know.” He stresses the word, shaking his head. “We could lose everything,” Malachi continues, his words heavy with the realization. “The security contracts, our political connections, the business we’ve built from the ground up—it could all disappear if word gets out that we’ve been courting an unregistered omega.”
I feel the ground disappear beneath my feet, and I slump into a chair. My own anger is now shadowed by how bad this situation just got.
Malachi paces the small office, his agitation palpable. “This new bill… It’s not just about protecting omegas. It’s about control and accountability. The government wants to know exactly who is courting whom and why. We’ve been operating completely outside the system.”
“Fuck, I should have listened to those speeches.” Nausea swirls in my stomach. I’d rather feel anger. I understand anger, and I can control it. “So what the hell do we do?” I ask, my fists clenching at my sides.
Malachi stops pacing and looks at me, his expression grim. “We need to talk to Aria immediately. We need her to open up to us. We know she’s been running from something, likely her ex, but now she needs to open up to us completely. No more half-truths or omissions. Zane, we need to approach this carefully. If we push too hard, if word gets out about her status before we can address it…then the consequences could be devastating, not just for us, but for Aria too. There is no telling what the government will do to her.”
“Talk to her? She’s been lying to us this whole time. Who knows what else she’s hiding?” My anger finally bubbles up, chasing away my nausea. I feel as though my entire purpose is falling apart.
Malachi raises his hands in a placating gesture. “Calm down, okay? Let’s handle this rationally. We can’t afford to make rash decisions.”
I take a deep breath, trying to rein in my frustration. Malachi’s right, but it’s hard to stay calm when I feel like my world is being turned upside down. “Fine, but she better have a damn good explanation.”
What if her ex is an alpha she is already bonded to? What if she just expects us to protect her from a good alpha? That is against the law as well.
I grab the keys and jangle them before walking out of the office without looking back. Either he follows or he doesn’t, but I’m going to confront her now.
My mind races from one thing to the next as I step up to the elevator and slam my finger down. The doors open, and I step in, not waiting for Malachi, who still hasn’t left the office.
From the first moment I met her, I knew something was off. She’s beautiful in that way all omegas are, with their seductive eyes and curves. She’s alluring, I’ll give her that, but she stank…like onions.
As the elevator doors close, I realize what she’s been doing—taping onions to herself so it hides her natural scent.
There’s also that witchy woman. She must have sold her a scent suppressant.
That conniving bitch.
As the elevator doors open, I stomp to the car.
“Zane, wait!” Malachi runs up to me.
“No, she’s been hiding her scent,” I snap back and slide into the driver’s seat. I’m just about to slam the door shut when Malachi catches it.
“In the back. You are far too worked up to drive.” He gives me a look that damn well tells me I won’t win the argument, so I slide over. It’s his car anyway.
“Onions, Malachi,” I snarl and buckle myself in. “She’s been taping onions to herself.”
The bastard smirks. “I’ll give her credit, that was slick.”
“Was it, Malachi? Was it really?” My leg won’t stop moving.
