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After their orgasms are ridden out and swallowed down, Thane yanks my body back against his and lies beside me. The pleasure seems to last an eternity. Even when they move off of me, it’s like the pleasure is now ingrained in my body.

Thane moves us to our sides and spoons me, his arms wrapping around my front. He kisses my neck while Rhen, now in front of me, starts to kiss my lips, tasting Leon’s remnants inside my mouth.

My skin cools rapidly, making me shiver as the heat dies down. My body aches as my fingers run down Rhen’s chest. He chuckles, letting his Calling slip out. I feel the bed move as Raidon leans down and kisses my temple. “Sleep, love.”

“Thane?” I murmur and hear his Calling answer me before I ask him. I slip into the darkness.

Chapter Sixty-Five

Harlow

My entire body aches as I wake up. Every part of me hurts as arms slip beneath my body, lifting me. I don’t want to get up yet. I’m quite content to remain in bed all day, but that isn’t an option. I hear water running before I’m submerged, making me hiss at the sudden sting.

“There’s a council meeting today. Attending is part of the agreement, babe. We can’t miss it, or I would have let you sleep,” Rhen tells me as he sits with me in the bath.

“Where’s Thane?” I mumble, wetting my face and trying to wake up.

“Making you something to eat. Raidon is feeding Scarlett, and Leon went out to get more formula and diapers,” Rhen tells me. I nod my head, leaning back against him.

“My heat felt different this time,” I mumble.

“Yes, we know. Thane thinks his serum enhances it.”

I figured as much because, usually, the pain is excruciating. However, this felt different, more like a craving. There was more desire than pain, though that was there still. It’s just that instinct was overriding the crippling agony that usually writhes through Omegas.

“Tip your head back,” Rhen demands as I reach for the loofah. I scoot forward between his legs and tip my head back so he can wet my hair. His fingers massage my scalp as he lathers my head, and I begin to wash my body, knowing that if he woke me it means we need to leave for the meeting soon, which in turn, means I slept all day.

Chapter Sixty-Six

THREE DAYS LATER

Harlow

The city is holding a fundraiser and its first meet-and-greet. Omegas may not need Alphas the same way they need us, but they are essential when we go into heat. Omegas could live happily enough on suppressants, but it isn’t a perfect solution. Even I know that.

We’ve gone over the details to ensure no Omegas are coerced or commanded at these functions. Thane wants to ensure that, ultimately, Omegas have a choice. The city is adjusting so well to the changes that many other cities are now doing the same thing.

Even so, we have a long way to go, but I have no doubt Thane will see it through. I know Thane feels like he is taking over where his mother left off, finishing her purpose, which has now become his. Ours. Thane has taken on the challenge, and I know he won’t stop fighting until he succeeds. Especially now that he has even more reason to fight: Scarlett.

There was a huge outcry after Thane publicly revealed what truly goes on in the sanctuaries. The number of people outraged by the treatment of Omegas is surprising. Even more surprising—it is the female Alphas.

Alphas, the very people we were sold off to.

None were willing to step forward to fight for Omegas before Thane. They had no reason to do so. But now that they’ve heard our stories, they are quick to step up and say no, enough. They are stepping forward and fighting alongside him. This is not a battle he will fight alone.

The hardest part will be fighting the corruption within the government. In hindsight, there isn’t much difference between the black market and what was legal. It is still trafficking, and most Omegas in the sanctuaries aren’t willing participants.

One thing has also become apparent: Omegas aren’t as rare as we thought. Many, like my mother, decided to take their chances on the run, refusing to bow down to the corrupt system and Alpha ownership. We also learned many Alphas have been keeping their children a secret, fearing they’d end up in the sanctuaries. So they kept their Omega daughters and sons out of public view.

“Come on,” Thane says, offering me his hand. I groan, not wanting to move from my spot on the floor. I’m helping design flyers for the meet-and-greets in the coming weeks.

“No, come on. You promised we could try again,” he tells me. I grab his hand, letting him pull me to my feet. He grabs the front of my robe, which falls open when I stand. It is starting to get cooler at night, so I’ve been wearing more layers.

I love the colder nights. Nothing beats the crackling sound of wood on a fire. Although we will have to get baby gates once Scarlett starts crawling. She loves watching the flames flicker from her rocker. It makes me worry she will want to crawl into the giant fireplace. Raidon says he will put them up when we need them.

Rhen sets his newspaper aside and Leon turns the TV off.

“Just like yesterday. You almost had it,” Thane assures me, and he is right. I managed to hold him under my aura, even though it didn’t really have much effect on him. He said it felt unnatural, but he definitely felt it. So now we just have to perfect it. Thane wants to ensure I can’t be commanded by anyone.