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ChapterFifteen
Briar
My heels clicked on the floors of the Omega Services Office. Everything here was overly nice, from the shined marble floors to the polished dark wood furniture. They’d spared no expense.
“Can I help you?” the security guard called out when I approached the desk. The two men looked bored and simultaneously frustrated that I was ruining their quiet.
“I’m here to see Miss…” I glanced down at the business card attached to the file. “Olivia Price.”
“Do you have an appointment?” the second security guard asked in a haughty voice.
“She told me to stop by today,” I countered. “My name is Briar Mackenzie.”
“One moment,” the first said, picking up a phone, entering a number, then waiting.
“Olivia, it’s Mason down in security. I’ve got a Briar Mackenzie here for you?” He paused, and I almost laughed when he started to nod along like she could see him. “I’ll send her right in.”
The second man hit a button. “Elevator, second floor, room 203.”
“Thanks,” I said curtly, heading for the silver elevators. After I hit the button, I took a calming breath. Part of me couldn’t believe it when Graham had added my name to the lease, finalizing that gesture so easily. There was a clause that any of us could request the others buy out our shared portion at any time, but until then, the penthouse was a shared property, and that was all Olivia had required to close my case.
When the elevator opened, I stepped inside. Hurried footsteps had me glancing up. A frazzled omega was running my way, and she slipped inside right before the doors could close her out.
“Man, this place gives me the chills,” she said as she shuddered dramatically. “They’re like fucking robots or something.”
I laughed at that. “You’re not wrong. It’s all a bit too perfect.”
“Right?!” she said, throwing her hands up and nearly tossing a folder identical to mine. She noticed at the same time I did. “Oh god, did they hit you with the ultimatum as well?”
Sighing, I nodded. “The ‘Here are ten packs. Pick one or we pick for you,’ one?”
“That’s the one,” she growled. “Like we can’t function without an alpha by our side. My boyfriend is a beta, and I have no intention of leaving him because some asshole alpha knocked me up. Ridiculous!”
My chest tightened at her words. “Maybe they need to take a look at alphas needing to be managed instead.”
“That’s what I said,” she mumbled, a hand brushing her pregnant belly. She looked younger than me, barely eighteen. Her long red hair was straight and shiny, skin flawless, and she had a bright smile despite our conversation. I hated that someone was trying to dull this adorable, cheerful person. “My name’s Katelyn, by the way. Nice to meet another badass omega who hasn’t been brainwashed by the splendor of this place.”
“Briar. And I’m also telling her to fuck off,” I admitted with a grin. “My pack stepped up when they heard.”
“Nothing kickstarts commitment like the prospect of losing a good one,” she said with a wink. The elevator opened, and we stepped out. I followed the numbers to 203 and pushed the door open, with my new ally following behind me.
“Welcome, ladies,” the caseworker who’d visited me said. “I take it you’ve chosen? Briar, I am shocked to see you so soon. I thought you’d give me the most resistance.” Her fake chuckle had me fighting back a growl. I’d misread her trust in the system as her being a good person, but now I knew for sure that she was just another pawn for the alphas who made our laws.
“Actually, I have a pack and won’t be needing your help or your prospects. Though I do have to say I’d rather be alone than set up with packs that could be my grandfather.” Her smile thinned, but I kept my face even as I handed over the folder, a copy of our signed lease on top. “There’s the signed lease that you requested, and my alpha Graham had it notarized so there’s no confusion on its authenticity. He also filed a copy with his lawyer.”
“How nice of him.” She sneered, glancing it over then sitting down with a huff. I wasn’t sure what her deal was or why she wanted to stick us with these packs so badly, but I was happy to ruin her day. “However, we did get a message from the baby’s father and will be required to inform him of this little… development.”
“You have no right to get involved in my life, and I’m fairly sure there are laws that protect me against men like him. Alphas assaulting omegas then trying to take custody doesn’t exactly look great in court or the public eye,” I countered in a low, venomous voice. I didn’t even care that Katelyn was hearing me. “I’d think twice before breaking the law, because you will be the one to face the fallout, not anyone else.”
Her face tightened further. “It’s standard procedure. And you are here for what purpose?” She turned to Katelyn, effectively dismissing me.
“I’ve declined your packs as well. I have a partner who has claimed me, and I intend to continue to live with him, as I told you previously. Here is paperwork from my alpha doctor and our lawyer since you didn’t take no so well the last time.”
Now, Olivia was downright furious. Two omegas defying her in one day was clearly enough to trigger the woman.
“How nice. However, that’s not satisfactory. There are laws in place to protect omegas from making poor decisions like this,” she bit out, but Katelyn was already prepared to fight her. Oh, now she cares about laws.
“My lawyer cited those laws in the papers I handed you and told me to remind you that if an omega is in an established relationship, has a stable home life, and steady income, she’s exempt. I’ve also been advised to make this my last contact with your office. If you have further questions or need me, you’ll go through her.” She dropped a business card on Olivia’s desk like a mic drop, and I almost cheered.
“Have a good day, Miss Price. Thanks for your concern, but it seems we both aren’t in need of your services,” I said professionally, giving her a small smile before heading out. Katelyn was right on my heels, but neither of us spoke until we were in the elevators, then our laughter burst out as if we couldn’t contain it anymore.
“That was fucking gold,” Katelyn said around her laughter. “She might be blowing a blood vessel right now.”
“Is it just me, or is it strange how persistent this office is?” I said as we caught our breath.
“That’s why we lawyered up. There’s an omega shelter across town that offers free legal counsel. They’re directly trying to combat this office’s barbaric rules,” she said quietly. “If you ever need help, check it out.”
“Thanks,” I said, though I kept to myself that I wouldn’t have felt safe there for a second. They needed a new location, fast, if they wanted to encourage more omegas to connect with them.
We parted ways the moment we went outside, Katelyn heading for street parking while I headed for the lot. Ellis had insisted on taking me, and we were going to check out a pregnancy and baby boutique across town now that I was done. Things were still a bit rocky between us, but now that he’d given himself permission, he was really trying. That progress meant more than any words he could have said.
“Briar.” My footsteps faltered, and an icy tingle of fear went through me. Immediately, I was back in that copy room, his rough hand tugging up my skirt as the other gripped my hair so tightly my eyes watered.
“Ellis,” I breathed out, frantically looking for my alpha. I spotted him stepping out of the car and moving my way. When I tried to run to meet him halfway, a hand clamped on my shoulder.
“Get your hands off of her!” Ellis roared, his face contorted with rage as he ran forward. I was spun around and held tight to someone’s chest, a cold blade pressed against my neck in warning. I swallowed hard, terrified of what might happen if I struggled. Ellis was fist fighting with more than four others, and he was swiftly losing. Panic rose with each hit that made contact. If it wasn’t for fear of them killing him, I’d have screamed my head off.
“I’ve come here to retrieve you, Briar. You see, the moment my office was contacted for further medical history, I knew I needed to step in. So I’ve been waiting here for you, and I’m not a patient man,” the mayor said with a dark chuckle. The man that haunted my nightmares tugged at the lapels on his suit as he started to pace. His thick brown hair was styled to perfection, his suit unwrinkled. His cold blue eyes were studying me with a hint of amusement. “You’ll be coming back with me. It seems I need a bit of image clean-up, so Vivian suggested I come find you. Let’s go, omega.”
“No,” I said with a startled laugh. “Have you lost your fucking mind?”
“Watch your tone,” he barked out, a bit of that well-practiced composure falling away. “You will need some training. A bit of submission practice at my hand would do nicely. I could use some stress relief, and you did take my knot so perfectly before.”
