“Nope.”
“Read it.”
“Piss off.”
“This is about you and me.”He grabbed the papers from the coffee table and shoved them into his hand.
Ford snatched the papers and let Chase point out the paragraph, because they were the ones legally responsible for whatever happened next, not Lucky.
Addendum B6: Exception to alpha-rule.
In an AOA relationship, two alphas brought together by an omega are legally and medically recognised as equals.
Both alphas can hold equal weight and power.Legally, neither can be asked or forced to answer as to which role they serve in the relationship.Any who breach this law can be prosecuted, as this act is tantamount to harming the omega.
That was his favourite part.Lucky could never be quizzed about their roles.No one had to feel singled out or inferior.No one could use his intimacy with Ford to drive a wedge between them or suggest Lucky wasn’t omega enough to satisfy his mates.
The arch of an eyebrow suggested Ford found the ruling as illuminating as Chase had.
Lucky took the papers and read them thoroughly.The flush to his cheeks said he understood and approved.
“I don’t need no law to tell me you’re mine.”Ford kissed Chase, light and fleeting.“There ain’t nobody on this planet gonna stop me from touching you if I got a mind to.”
Chase licked his own lips, savouring the taste—how perfectly Ford tasted, smelled and felt in his hands, acknowledging that nothing would have stopped him from being with Ford, even if the law hadn’t approved.No one would ever tell him what he felt was wrong, and if they tried to stop him, he’d burn the world to ash.
Chapter Twenty-Five
Friday
Ford
His phone rang as Ford slipped his jacket on, hovering by his desk in the hope it would stop or someone else would pick up.The blinking light said it was a direct call to his number, not part of the switchboard.
He was two minutes from leaving this place to head out for lunch.Cursing his rotten luck, Ford grabbed the receiver, fighting the urge to roll his eyes.“King.”
“I need a favour.”
He huffed and sank into his seat.“I’m about to leave headquarters.”
“I’ve just arrived.”Wynna sounded pissed off, which was never good.“The adoption paperwork is pending and Hana’s time has run out.I have sole custody of Pip and made it known I was not to be called in for work.However, I just got a frantic call from an extraction team to say that one of the omegas they’ve found has gone into a contact heat.It sounds like another case of OX, but we can’t be sure until they get to the medical ward.”
Ford rubbed his eyes, hating that this was the problem he’d hoped the team would have prevented.“I get it.You need me to take Pip?”
“Please.The extraction team need a high-ranking omega with the child as they get treatment.”Wynna cleared her throat.“I’m parked.Meet me in the lobby, I’ll hand Pip over and tell you the rest.It’s better he doesn’t hear.”She hung up before he could reply.
Ford figured there was no point.He didn’t want Pip knowing anything about the ORT—or the Market—until he was old enough to apply, and he hoped that by then he’d be so turned-off the idea of joining that Ford wouldn’t have to refuse him the application.Ain’t no way he was letting one of his kids put his life at risk.It was no way to live.
Hanging up, Ford left before he could get caught and headed into the main hallway.Wynna was already swiping her card at the entrance.
Pip waved enthusiastically, though he was smart enough to never let go of Wynna’s hand.He had a small backpack over his shoulder, clutched a book in one hand, and looked miles happier than the last time he’d seen the kid.
“Hi, Tauri.”
“Hey, monster.Can you sit and read while I have a chat with Tiloo?I need to make sure I ain’t gonna get in trouble if we get snacks later.”
He nodded, like the good kid he was, and climbed into one of the chairs along the corridor.He was so patient and obedient, he literally opened his book to start reading.
Wynna walked a few paces away, to put more distance between them, waiting for Ford to join her before she filled him in.“The extraction team arrived at a warehouse about an hour from here to find three omegas trapped in a storage locker.Someone had reported the smell, but thankfully it was just a local gas leak and all the omegas are unharmed.”
