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Seth tilted his head, speaking in a condescending tone. “I think it would be in the best interests of her and the town if she went on hormone suppressants.”

My rage was boiling over. Just knowing he’d been thinking about Marlowe in any way was insulting enough, but actually trying to regulate her body? “Oh yeah? Better for her to be permanently drugged than for the males here to learn some self-control, is that it? What a positive message we’re sending to the females in our town.”

He swallowed, his smile faltering. “I… it’s for her own good. And the females in this town would probably agree, they don’t want their alpha partners going berserk…”

Oh, he didn’t even know what berserk meant. “What’s next on the agenda for the meeting then, hm? ‘City Manager Seth Ashton proposes all females should wear skirts down to their knees or lower lest they tempt the male folk with their sinful legs?’”

“Please, that’s not the same thing and you know it,” he scoffed, his eyes rolling.

My hands balled into fists but I kept them firmly by my side. “No, it’s not, because covering up doesn’t alter your body’s chemistry. She wouldn’t be able to go into heat or have pups on hormone suppressants, Seth. Are you really proposing we chemically spay her just becausesomealphas can’t keep their noses to themselves?”

His eyes narrowed as he spit back, “I know her backstory. She was on them for years without any problems. She might even agree to it.”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I grabbed him by the shirt and lowered my face into his. “Don’t youeverspeak about her like you know her again. You have no idea what she’s been through. This is her home now, and she has the right to live as free and openly as all the other shifters here. It’s in our town charter, for fuck’s sake.”

Back when omegas were more prevalent, our town had writtenspecific laws and policies to protect their rights. They were as much a part of our society as the other designations, and I refused to let Seth take out his anger towards life and me on Marlowe.

Luckily, our illustrious pack leader had more than enough sway to help back me up, so I upped the ante. “And do you really think Camden Wolcott would continue to sponsor any of your projects if you tried to pass this? Say good-bye to the Fourth of July BBQ and parade, Maxwell Street Days, the new football stadium for the high school, and anything else you’ve got on the pipeline.”

I thought I had a slam dunk argument, but Seth smiled instead, and my confidence faltered. “Your pack would screw over this town just for your omega? Well, thank you for giving me the final push I needed to initiate a recall petition. I have a league of very concerned voters ready to start collecting signatures this very minute.”

He couldn’t be serious. I’d won in a landslide two years ago, so even if he could get enough signatures, there wasn’t anyone in this town with enough clout to run against me in a recall election and win. And who exactly were these “concerned voters?”

“The Betas Against Brutality are tired of alphas throwing their weight around. Betas outnumber you assholes four to one, and it’s about time our government reflected that.”

BAB? How laughably pathetic. BAB was a small, niche group of elderly beta females. Was he really trying to rally them into leading this farce?

Seth had always been a sardonic son of a bitch, but he’d beenmysardonic son of a bitch. What had happened for him to turn against me like this?

Could it really be something as pedestrian as jealousy over my new happiness?

Marlowe had rubbed a handkerchief along her neck before she’d left, leaving us each with her scent as a goodbye present. She’d insisted we give her ours as well, and it had been adorable watching her carefully pack them like they were her most prized possessions.

I let go of Seth and smiled back, taking out the handkerchief, waving it in front of his face. His pupils dilated and his nostrils flared, his breathing turning into desperate pants. “Is that her?” he asked. His hand reached out to grab it but I held it out of his way.

His face became pleading as he tried to get it from me. “Please, I just need one more sniff…”

“Enough!” I barked.

Seth whined and his shoulders shrank. For all his bravado, hewas still a beta, and I was still an alpha. And in my hands, I held one of the most powerful motivators known to our kind.

“Now listen to me,” I said. “We were on fine footing before Marlowe arrived. I understand I dropped a lot on your plate while I tended to her, and you were dealing with a lot of your own shit. But you speak of me wanting to screw this town over for my pack, when you’re just trying to ensure I’m as miserable as you are because it hurts too much to see me happy. Or do you just really want my job? Because if so, run against me in the next election, fair and square.”

His eyes were focused on the handkerchief as he listened. “But I’ll be damned if you think you can threaten the health and well-being of my omega just for cheap political points. You have no idea the lengths I’m willing to go to protect her. Well,” I looked down at the erection in his pants and smirked. “You might be starting to get the idea.”

I sacrificed my gift from Marlowe and handed it over. He snatched it quickly, taking deep breaths that caused his whole body to shudder. I cringed as I thought where it was likely going to end up, but it was a small price to pay to keep her name out of his mouth and off the town council agenda.

“So what’s it going to be, Seth? Apologize and I’ll forget this ever happened. Or go forward with this stupid charade, and… ” I gestured towards the security camera pointed towards his door. “Perhaps I’ll leak the video of a certain City Manager creaming his pants over the scent of the very omega he’s trying to medically control.”

Seth growled, “Fine.” Then he slammed his door in my face. I walked away before I’d have to hear what he was doing, heading straight to my office to get a copy of the footage before he was clear-headed enough to try to erase it first.

Marlowe would be furious if she ever learned what I’d done, but threats weren’t just coming from alphas and vamps.

I’d do whatever it took to keep her happy and safe here.

8

ARCHER