Page 75

She seems like she’s about to cuss him out again but changes her mind. “Leon, grab—” she starts, batting her eyelashes at him and making him smirk, “a smaller one?” she purrs.

“Not a chance,” he tells her, and she pouts.

Thane pulls her to sit on his lap. His hand tangles in her hair and he nips at her mark. “If you remove it,” he warns, running his tongue along her jaw, “it’ll be my dick next time, not a plug.” He slaps her ass, and she grits her teeth. I know she’s going to make him regret that later.

“Now get dressed. We have the hearing in an hour,” he tells her. She huffs, snatching up the dress he set out for her and heading into the bathroom.

“I’m surprised you didn’t make her suck your dick,” Leon groans, sounding a little disappointed. It must be a nice reprieve for him. It’s usually his ass over Thane’s lap.

“Oh, she will. She’ll just do it on the drive there,” Thane assures him before turning to me. “If she isn’t out of there in ten minutes let me know, and I will drag her ass out,” Thane tells me as he leaves the room.

Chapter Fifty-Five

Harlow

Thane is gonna pay. I can still feel his fingers etched into my skin. And sitting is very uncomfortable. Although, I actually don’t mind the plug. I have no idea why Leon made such a big deal about it when Thane told him to get it out.

We have been stuck here for hours. Thane has influence within the city, but he still needs to prove that he isn’t letting a cold-blooded killer loose. I've recounted the events with Corbin’s pack—and how Leo was instrumental in my safe return—for the council three times. When they finally give the verdict that Leo is free to go without repercussions, I let out a breath of relief, excited to get home. Yet as I move to rise from my seat, Thane grips my knee.

“Now, moving on to the Omega laws,” the Council Elder says. I sit my ass back down, looking at Thane. He leans into me.

“You want the laws changed? This is how we do it. I’m giving you a voice here, so use it,” he whispers before getting up from his seat and moving to the front of the room.

Rhen drapes his arm across my shoulders, his fingers massaging the back of my neck as I listen intently. There are twelve council members; six of them are women and the other six are men. They are all Alphas, and they don’t seem too impressed with Thane wanting to amend the laws.

“Mr. Keller, these laws have been around for… well, for as long as I can remember. Omegas are a rarity, and you want us to just let them be free to do as they please? As if they aren’t necessary for our survival? We owe it to werewolf society to keep these laws in place. What you are asking for could make Alphas extinct,” the Elder, Cole, says.

“Like we are currently doing to the Omegas,” Thane argues.

“They are born for us!” Elder Cole retorts.

“Says who? You? Because you believe an Omega will never choose you if we actually allow them a choice? If we look to our history, Elder, Omegas were once revered. Not seen as objects, or an Alpha’s possession. Now, they are simply toys!” Thane snaps at him.

“The laws were put in place to continue Alpha bloodlines. A small sacrifice to preserve our way of life. Your way of life, too, Mr. Keller,” Elder Cole says, and Thane shakes his head.

“Is that what you will tell your daughter when she is shipped off to a sanctuary next year, Cole? That she is no longer allowed to have her own life but is now expected to become an Alpha’s fuck-toy. Are you going to be the one to force her to her knees, or will you ask the sanctuary to do it?”

I watch his mouth gape open.

“Mr. Keller, you are out of line!” he roars, his face turning an angry shade of red. The women, however, listen intently to what Thane is saying. A few of the younger members even nod at his words.

“Really? Well, how about we ask one? Ask my Omega, Cole. Let her explain what her education was like, and we’ll compare it to the traditional education an Alpha receives.” Thane tells him. Elder Cole shakes his head as one of the women speaks up.

“I want to hear it,” she says, her eyes moving to mine. She nods to me while Elder Cole sits up straighter in his seat.

“You are not seriously entertaining this. We need to preserve our bloodlines.”

“What about the Omega bloodlines? Have you heard the recent statistics for how many Omegas die each year from forced bonds?” Thane questions.

“Which is why we created the serums—to acclimate them,” Elder Cole retorts.

“Still not a guarantee. We lose more every year,” Thane responds. Elder Cole stands to argue, his thinning gray hair wisping around his skull. It makes me wonder how old his daughter is. He looks ancient, but Thane spoke as if she is still young. I shudder at the thought of being paired with someone old enough to be my grandfather.

“How about we call a small recess? Afterward we can hear from your mate about the Omega facilities,” the woman says, standing. She flicks her dark hair over her shoulder and the woman beside her also stands. Thane curses when they leave and storms back over to us.

“The women are interested in listening. So is Tatum,” Rhen reassures him.

“Yes, but Cole holds the majority ruling. Even with my vote, he’ll be the tiebreaker. I know he intends to go against me, like he did with my mother. If he does, I may just kill the old bastard.”