I couldn’t help myself this time. “What part of sending omegas out there to their deathissafe?”
I knew I shouldn’t have said that. I winced immediately, expecting a reprimand. But Marlowe justsighed.
“It works,” he said simply, with an air ofsadness.
“What doyoumean?”
Marlowe stared at the wall. His white beard rustled in the soft breeze. “The omegas know they only have two choices. And who would choose death?” He turned to look at me. “It’s not so bad, you know, pup. There are nice alphas. They will take careofyou.”
I was getting brave with my replies now. “You don’tknowthat.”
“Perhaps.” Marlowe shrugged. “I could always be wrong. But socouldyou.”
I paused and stared at the wall, too. Maybe Iwaswrong. Maybe there was a nice alpha in this pack ready to dote on little-old-me. And knockmeup.
“Maybe my fated mate is out here somewhere in the pack, huh?”Isaid.
Instantly Marlowe stiffened. He turned to me, eyes wide with outrage and fear. “Do not say thosewords.”
The words fell from his lips like lead. I’d never seen him so frightened andserious.
“Whatwords?Fa-”
“Do notspeakthem!”
We both went silent. Wind howled outside thewalls.
“They are forbidden,” Marlowe began, speaking quietly. He raised his hands. “We do not say thosewordshere.”
I crossed my arms. “Is this anotherpackrule?”
“This is not a laughing matter,” Marlowe continued. “We can’t afford to let those wordsspread.”
I was getting tired of constantly being shut down for my skepticism tonight. “Why?” I askedfirmly.
Marlowe frowned. “We cannot afford to have omegas searching for a fated mate that does notexist.”
Realization dawned on me. I knew exactly what he was saying - that omegas shouldn’t dream of better things. That they should sit down and accept their lives the way they were. That they should settle for whatever alpha came their way. That they should keep their heads down andshutup.
I wasn’t surprised. But I sure wasangry.
“I see,” I said stiffly. “Well,whatever.”
“Please understand, my child,” Marlowe said, reaching outforme.
I swatted his hand away. “Understandwhat?”
“This is all for ourowngood.”
That mademesnap.
“I’ve heard that enough for one night,” I growled beforestormingoff.
Marlowe didn’t bother calling after me, but I felt his eyes boring into the back of my skull until I disappearedfromview.
* * *
My sleep was fitful.Even inside my room, inside the pack’s walls, wind roared against my windows, making them tremble. A big storm wascoming.
