Chapter 55
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.”
“He has an Omega daughter?” I ask Thane, and he nods.
“Yes, she’s twelve.”
“So next year she’ll be forced into a sanctuary, right?” I ask Thane, and he nods his head. I chew my lip before reaching into his pocket. Thane watches me, amused, as I steal his wallet. “How long is the break?”
“Fifteen minutes, why?”
“I have an idea,” I tell him, turning on my heel.
“Wait, Harlow!” Thane calls out, but I wave him off. “Fuck! Go with her! I can’t leave in case they come back early,” I hear Thane tell Rhen, who jogs to catch up with me.
We stop at two different stores before returning just in the nick of time. We walk back in as the council members are retaking their seats. Elder Cole seems disinterested as the woman calls me up. I take my bag, stuffed full of goodies, and move to the front of the room.
“Hurry up. Let's get this over with so we can vote,” Elder Cole says, glaring down at me.
“It would be easier if you came down here to help me. I need a volunteer,” I tell him. Thane cuts me a look before turning to look at Rhen, who chuckles while shaking his head. One of the women gets up, surprisingly, and grips Elder Cole’s shoulder.
“Come on, what’s a little demonstration?” she purrs. He rolls his eyes but gets to his feet.
“You are aware this isn’t how council meetings are held?” he snaps at me as he stomps down the steps.
“No, but you are aware that Omegas are rarely allowed in the council, so how would I know how they are held, Elder?” I ask him.
He clicks his tongue and shakes his head, walking down to the small area in front of the council tables, where I’m standing.
I grip the little table and drag it over.
A few of the council members sigh and shake their heads.
“Your daughter is twelve?” I ask, and he nods. “So old enough to go to sanctuary next year?”
“Yes, she wants to study politics,” he tells me.
“Even though she’ll never be permitted to hold a seat on this council?” I ask, and his brows furrow. He should know that. Is he just giving her a false sense of hope, or did he really think she will be the exception? “And you expect them to teach politics at an Omega Sanctuary?” I ask him.
“Of course. It’s a private school, one of the best sanctuaries.”
I reach into the bag to pull out a porn magazine.
“Well, I never got the chance to study politics, Elder Cole. And neither will she, but I can tell you what she’ll be learning.
At her age, I’m sure you were studying to be a council member.
Or maybe, with your prepubescent brain, you wanted to be an astronaut.
” I shrug and hand him the magazine. “This is what I was taught at thirteen. Where a dick goes and how many my body can take,” I tell him.