Chapter 57
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Thane
My back aches from sitting in this chair.
The council shut hours ago, and they are still in deliberations.
I stretch my arms above my head and turn to spot Harlow walking into the room.
Rhen took her to stretch her legs and get her something to eat when we realized this was going to take longer than expected.
My eyes trail over her, and a smirk slips onto my face as I take her in. My eyes roam over her body, stopping at her face. She raises an eyebrow at me, catching me eyeing her.
Harlow moves to sit in one of the pews, and I crook my finger at her to come to me.
She purses her lips but wanders over, glancing nervously at the door the council members will return through.
She probably thought they’d be back from deliberations by now.
My arms snake around her hips and I squeeze her ass.
Harlow glares at me but the council isn’t here, nor would they see anything behind my high desk if they return unexpectedly.
“More comfortable?” I ask her. Her cheeks flame as if she’s worried someone might overhear and understand the question I asked.
She nods her head. “Hopefully it won’t be too much longer, but if you want, I can have Raidon come and get you?
” I ask. We’ve already offered this multiple times, but she insists on staying, wanting to hear the verdict.
“No, I’ll stay,” she whispers.
I nod to the chair beside me, but she shakes her head, turning to go back to the pews.
As she goes, I notice her skin is laced with goosebumps.
The air-conditioning is on high in here, and even a few of the council members complained about it being too cold earlier.
I barely feel the cold, but it’s obvious Harlow is freezing.
Reaching out, I grip her hand, and she stops, turning her attention to me. “I want to stay,” she assures me.
Harlow is only wearing a little black dress, making me notice the tinge of blue on her skin.
I shake my head, shrugging off my suit jacket to see Rhen about to do the same.
He tosses his arms up in the air, realizing I am giving her mine.
Yep, she is definitely cold. She wastes no time taking it from me and moving back to the benches behind me, taking her seat.
Rhen places a cappuccino on the desk before taking his seat beside me.
I take a sip and wonder about the council deliberations and how they will vote.
After seeing Harlow’s demonstration, I can assume Milena and the other women will support us.
It’s a tossup as to whether or not Harlow’s testimony had any effect on Cole and the other male members.
I have known Cole since I was a kid. He was friends with my fathers, yet they shared vastly different views on Omegas.
My fathers were just not vocal about their views, which led to my mother’s downfall with the council.
Instead, she had to resort to blackmailing and digging up dirt on the members, and in the end that got her killed.
They’ve been debating for four hours, likely arguing over which laws to erase and which to keep before they bring it to a vote. They know what my vote is, so they didn’t bother asking. I sit up as they finally re-enter the room. Anticipation fills me as I wait to hear their decision.
“Before we vote, we’d like to ask a few questions, Mr. Keller,” Elder Cole says.
“Yes?” I ask, more than willing to answer anything they want.
“Exactly where do you plan to house all these Omegas? If we make this city a haven for them, we will have Omegas coming from all over the country seeking to escape their obligations.”
“They can stay at the Omega refuge I’m building in my mother’s name. I’ve already doubled the construction crew, so it should be completed by next week,” I answer, even though I know it won’t house the number of Omegas that will travel here to seek refuge.
“How many can it house?” Milena asks, glancing up from her documents.
“Roughly three hundred, maybe more,” I say. She nods her head and purses her lips.
“That won’t be big enough. We’ll have to figure something else out,” Cole says, his brows furrowing as he flicks through a folder. Tatum leans over, tossing a document in front of him.
“We can divert council funds. We should be able to afford to adjust our budgets and push a few community projects back until next year. Having more Omegas here could be a good thing. It will draw attention to the city, bringing in tourists and Alphas looking for Omegas. That revenue can be used for extra security and to reimburse the council. Can we also put aside some of that revenue into a fund for the Omegas?” he asks Cole, who nods his head.
“Is there an existing fund? How do you plan on financing this refuge?” Tatum asks, turning to address me.
It is Rhen who gets up, however. He moves toward the council table and hands them a folder.
“The Keller family has been putting aside half their company’s net profits since Hana first petitioned the council.
That hasn’t changed since Thane took over.
Each month, money is set aside, invested, and pushed back into the fund.
The interest gained on the returns alone is enough to cover any expenses the refuge has. ”
“What about schooling? These women — as you said before — have had no proper education since at least the age of twelve, and that does not include orphaned Omegas raised in facilities,” Clara, another council member, asks.
Clara and Milena are both roughly Harlow’s age, which works to our advantage.
They are from a newer generation with a fresh set of eyes on how to direct our future.
Rather than letting the city remain stagnant, as Cole would have it, they are more open-minded and eager for change.
Cole bitched and moaned when they joined the council because they challenged him on everything, which is exactly why I pushed to have them voted in.
“We’ll open an Omega school, and we can train the adults for council and city jobs, or for jobs within my company.
That gives them added protection, will help us keep tabs on them, and employ those who want to work.
There will also be free courses offered through the refuge: self-defense classes, counseling, and a drug and alcohol rehabilitation program.
We have resources they can use,” I explain.
They nod, yet I can tell they are still worried about the impacts to the city, as they should be. This is a big change.
“And what of Alpha offenders? Those that refuse to acknowledge the new laws?” Cole asks.
“Like anything else, it would depend on the crime as to whether they get fined, prison time, or banished from the city. We can also make sure all Omegas have access to free healthcare to get pheromone blockers and other essentials that will keep them safe and also stop sending the city’s Alphas into rut. ”
Tatum and Milena nod their heads.
“And what of the Omegas that want to join packs or go into rotation? Some of these women have been in rotation for years. Some choose that life,” Cole says.
“Those who want it can choose rotation. We’ll just find ways to make rotations safer, and make sure the Omegas are properly compensated.
As for those who want to find a pack or a single Alpha, we can hold meet-and-greets.
We’ll make sure the choice is ultimately up to the Omega, and any requests for claiming must be reviewed to ensure the Omega isn’t being coerced or under command,” I tell them.
Saying it out loud, it sounds like a lot, but it is manageable.
“There is no perfect way to do this. It will be a learning experience, not only for us but for the city and the Omegas. There will be mistakes. We just need to make sure we learn from them and quickly make any necessary changes to prevent further mishaps,” I tell them.
They all look at each other, but I see Cole nod his head.
They deliberate for a few moments, and I glance at Harlow, who has been quiet since they came back. I wonder what she’s thinking. I can’t tell through the bond because her emotions are all over the place, as if she’s in shock that this is even happening.
Harlow looks at me, and I nod for her to come over.
Her relief through the bond is palpable, and she quickly gets up from her seat, moving to my side.
She goes to take the empty seat next to me, but I pull her into my lap, uncaring that the council members are right there.
I feel her body warm with embarrassment at the action, but they aren’t paying us any attention, too busy debating and trying to figure out what is essential and where they can make cuts.
“I feel like throwing up,” she murmurs, her nerves suddenly coming through loud and clear as she fiddles with my mother’s bracelet on her wrist. “What if they say no?”
I know she is worried about Scarlett. Elaine tested her blood, and like her mother, she is Omega, but our daughter is never setting foot in one of those places. I will forge her documents if needed.
“They won’t. We have enough proof, enough supporting documents, and it won’t cost the city much.
Half the work is already done. It’s mostly legalities now,” I assure her.
She chews her lip, squirming on my lap as she tries to hop off.
I growl, nipping her shoulder as Elder Cole clears his throat, and she quickly slips off my lap.
“We do this, and our city will come under hot water fast. So we’ll have to take precautions, Thane, and you must attend all council meetings until everything is finalized.
But the council has unanimously decided: the laws surrounding Omegas will be abolished, and new ones will be written to protect them.
We’ll start sending out closure notices for all rotation facilities within the city limits, and start the referral services,” he tells me.
I can hear Harlow’s heart racing, as if it wants to leap from her chest in excitement.
Tatum slides a calendar over to Cole, who quickly flicks through a few pages before looking back up. “Next week at 5:00 p.m., we’ll hold another meeting to discuss employment agencies and security risks. Until this is fully managed, weekly meetings will begin starting then.”
“I’ll be here, and so will Harlow,” I tell them, glancing at her.
She nods, reaching over and gripping my hand beneath the table.
Her relief is so immense it vibrates out of her and nearly steals the air from my lungs.
I know it is for Scarlett. Now she will be safe, and so will every other Omega living in this city.
We climb in the car, finally leaving after a long day. For once, I feel a sense of accomplishment after the hearing. This is the first time I’ve done something that truly matters, that will impact lives and make a difference. It only makes me want to do more.
Harlow remains quiet as I glance at her in the rearview mirror. If only I had done this years ago, or if my mother had succeeded, she never would have ended up in that place. I can’t fix that, but I can ensure I change it for the next generation, and that is exactly what I plan to do.
And once I gather enough evidence to prove this is safe and that it works, I will go to the state council, then to the Supernatural Parliament.