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I would give up everything I own if I was able to spend a single day more with my original pack.

But I can’t.

I can, however, keep my Omega’s future safe.

Adrenaline, the same as when I’m attending an incident, has kept me on my feet.

I worked meticulously throughout the night, phoning my contacts and arranging deals.

My crew appear to have worked over Devlin just as thoroughly.

He pulls his hat down low over his face like he can hide how badly he had his ass kicked yesterday.

Gossip spreads faster than fire through this town. By tonight, everyone will know what happened.

Devlin will no longer be the power in Oak Hollow.

My grin turns grim.

I only wish that I’d done this years ago.

The lunchtime sun shines down brutally on the lawns at the base of the courthouse steps. The courthouse is a redbrick building with a grand clock tower.

Customers of the stores glance over curiously. The other investors waiting for the auction glare at Devlin, as he pushes through them.

I calmly lean against an oak’s trunk, crossing my arms.

Devlin only falters for a moment, when I don’t react to his approach.

Then he pokes me hard in the chest. “How dare you show your face here, asshole? After what you did last night? After leaving me to the mercy of your crew? I’ll be filing charges as soon as I’m through winning this auction. You’re fucking through.”

He’s speaking loud enough to make sure that everyone can hear.

I flick my gaze down to his jabbing finger. “Stop touching me, unless you want your finger broken too.”

Devlin snatches back his hand. He is trembling.

He holds up a leather document folio, which he has been clasping underneath his other arm. “I have everything in here that I need to buy Paige. Are you here because you want to watch me win? What? Did you reckon you could scare me off that easily? I’m not some boy who can be stopped from claiming my Omega with a whooping. Paige is mine. When I bond with her, you’ll never see her again.”

Son of a bitch, I’m here to do more than watch.

“Let’s see what happens.” I press my boots back against my leather briefcase, which is resting against the trunk.

Concern flares in Devlin’s eyes.

He tilts his head. “You don’t have enough cash to… I have almost four hundred thousand and⁠—”

“Almost?” I mock. The embers of hope burn hotter in my chest. Thank Christ, I may truly do this. “Daddy gave you a budget?”

“Shut the fuck up. Of course he didn’t.”

But Devlin isn’t meeting my eyes.

He did.

Devlin’s dad is a larger prick than Devlin is. He obviously reckons that his son’s happiness and future pack only has a certain price.

Can I beat it?