35. Malachi

35

MALACHI

The stench of political corruption clings to the air like a second skin as Aria and I approach the mayor’s office. My hand rests on the small of her back, a gesture that’s both protective and grounding. My cedarwood and amber scent mingles with her sweet orange creamsicle.

“Ready for this circus?” I murmur, feeling the tension coiled in her muscles.

Aria’s lips quirk in a sardonic smile. “Born ready. Let’s show this stuffed shirt what happens when you mess with our pack.”

Her spirit, as always, ignites something primal within me. This is my mate—fierce, unstoppable, and utterly unafraid to bare her teeth at the world.

We enter the lion’s den, the heavy door sealing us in with a finality that sets my nerves on edge. The room reeks of stale coffee and cheap air freshener, a poor mask for the undercurrent of deceit. Mayor Blackwood, every inch the smug bureaucrat, doesn’t bother to stand, and his beta scent reeks of hostility and cheap aftershave.

“Mr. Clarke,” he drawls, his eyes sliding dismissively over Aria. “I wasn’t aware this meeting required an omega’s presence.”

Aria bristles beside me, but her voice is pure steel when she responds. “Funny, I wasn’t aware city hall required sexist pigs, yet here we are.”

Pride swells in my chest, even as I struggle to maintain my composure. I clear my throat, drawing the mayor’s attention. “Shall we cut the bullshit and get down to business?”

Blackwood’s eyes narrow, a predator sensing a challenge. “Indeed. Let’s discuss your little… social experiment. Omega Guardians. Hardly befitting a security firm of your caliber, wouldn’t you agree?”

I lean forward, keeping my voice low and controlled. Every instinct screams at me to put this arrogant beta in his place, but I channel that energy into my words. “With all due respect, Mayor, Omega Guardians is providing essential services to a vulnerable population. We’ aren’t just protecting omegas, we’re empowering them—something this city has failed to do for far too long.”

“Empowering them?” Blackwood scoffs, the sound grating like nails on a chalkboard. “You’re upsetting the natural order. Omegas have their place, and it isn’t in positions of authority or independence.”

Aria steps forward, her scent spiking with righteous anger. “And what place would that be, Mayor? On our knees? Silent and subservient?” Her voice rises, filled with the fire that first drew me to her. “That ‘natural order’ you’re so fond of is nothing but a smokescreen for oppression. It’s time for change, and if you can’t see that, then you’re on the wrong side of history.”

The mayor’s face flushes an ugly shade of red. “Watch your tone, omega. You forget your place.”

A growl rips from my throat before I can stop it. The alpha in me roars to defend my mate and tear this pompous fool limb from limb, but I force myself to remember why we’re here. “Mayor Blackwood,” I say, my voice dangerously quiet, “I strongly suggest you reconsider your words. Aria is my mate and a valued member of our community. Her voice deserves to be heard, and I would advise against threatening her again.”

The tension in the room is suffocating, a powder keg waiting for a spark. Blackwood leans back, a smug smile spreading across his face like oil on water. “Well, if you’re so concerned about omega voices, perhaps you’ll be pleased to know that I found a security firm that shares your… progressive views.”

Ice floods my veins. “What are you talking about?”

“I’ve accepted a contract with Sentinel Security,” he says, his eyes glinting with malice. “They have proposed some fascinating initiatives for omega protection. Much more… comprehensive than your little project.”

The name Sentinel Security doesn’t land quite right, like a half remembered dream. Something about it nags at me, a faint echo of a conversation I can’t quite place. My mind races, trying to connect the dots, but it’s like grasping at smoke. There’s a growing sense of unease, though—a tightness in my chest I can’t shake.

“Does the name Logan Pierce ring a bell?” His smug smile stretches across his greasy face.

“You can’t be serious,” I growl, the words tearing from my throat. “Logan Pierce is a known threat to omegas. He’s dangerous, manipulative?—”

“He’s effective,” Blackwood interrupts, his voice slicing through my protests. “And he understands the importance of maintaining proper societal structures, unlike some people in this room.”

I slam my hands on the desk, relishing the way he flinches. “This is corruption, plain and simple. You’re putting omegas at risk for what? Political gain? Financial kickbacks?”

Blackwood doesn’t back down, his calm demeanor only fueling my rage. “Careful, Mr. Clarke. You’re treading on thin ice. Remember, your mate here is unregistered, isn’t she? It would be a shame if that information were to become public.”

The world stops. “We still have time to make sure she is registered.”

Aria’s hand finds mine, her grip tight and reassuring. I can feel her trembling, but her voice is steady when she speaks. “Is that a threat, Mayor?”

Blackwood’s smile is all teeth. “Consider it a friendly reminder of the importance of following regulations, especially for those in… precarious positions.”

My vision turns red at the edges, the alpha in me howling for blood, but Aria’s touch grounds me, reminding me of what’s truly at stake. I take a deep breath, forcing calm into my voice.

“You’re blackmailing us?” Aria asks, her voice gaining strength with each word. “You’d really stoop that low? I guess I shouldn’t be surprised. Men like you always resort to dirty tactics when you’re threatened.”

“You’re playing a dangerous game, Blackwood,” I warn. “If anything happens to Aria, or any omega under our protection, I’ll make sure the entire city knows exactly who’s responsible.”

The mayor leans back, spreading his hands in a gesture of mock innocence. “I’m simply enforcing the law, Mr. Clarke. Perhaps you should focus on doing the same.”

Aria steps forward, her chin raised in defiance. “And perhaps you should remember that laws can change. The tides are turning, Mayor. Omegas are finding their voices, and we won’t be silenced.”

“Bold words,” Blackwood sneers. “But words won’t protect you when Sentinel Security takes over. I suggest you both consider your options carefully.”

The threat hangs in the air, heavy and oppressive. I feel Aria’s pulse racing through our joined hands, but her expression remains a mask of defiance. Pride swells in my chest even as fear clutches at my heart.

“We’ll do more than consider our options,” I growl, leaning in close enough to see the beads of sweat forming on Blackwood’s brow. “We’ll fight this with everything we have.”

The mayor’s smile falters for just a moment before he regains his composure. “I’d expect nothing less from you, Mr. Clarke, but I wonder… are you prepared for the consequences?”

Before I can respond, a sharp knock at the door breaks the tension. Blackwood’s assistant pokes her head in, looking flustered.

“I’m sorry to interrupt, sir, but there’s an urgent call for you. It’s the chief of police.”

Blackwood’s face pales slightly. “I’ll be right there.” He turns back to us, all false politeness. “I’m afraid we’ll have to cut this meeting short. I trust you can see yourselves out?”

Aria and I exchange a glance, silently communicating our suspicion at the convenient interruption. As we rise to leave, I can’t shake the feeling that we’ve stumbled into something far bigger and more dangerous than we initially thought.

Blackwood pauses at the door, barely looking at us over his shoulder. “Malachi, I prefer to think of this as… mutually assured destruction. You keep quiet about Sentinel, and I’ll ensure Aria’s status remains our little secret.”

I’m seething, every alpha instinct screaming at me to protect my mate and tear this corrupt beta apart. The taste of copper fills my mouth as I bite the inside of my cheek, forcing myself to think strategically. We can’t afford a public scandal, not with Noah circling like a vulture.

“This isn’t over,” I say, my voice low and dangerous. “You might think you won, but I promise you, Mayor Blackwood, your corruption will come to light, and when it does, I’ll be there to ensure you face the consequences.”

He snorts before walking out into the hall, leaving us alone in his office.

As we step into the hallway, Aria’s grip tightens on my hand. “Malachi,” she whispers, her voice tight with worry, “what are we going to do?”

I pull her close, breathing in her scent to calm my racing thoughts. “We’re going to fight, love, and we’re going to win.”

“What now?” she whispers, her voice shaky but her eyes bright with determination.

I press a kiss to her forehead, my mind already formulating plans. “We’ll fight back,” I say, my voice filled with quiet resolve. “But first, we need to protect you. It’s time we addressed your registration status.”

As we walk to the car, the bustling city, I pull out my phone to call an emergency pack meeting. The game has changed, and the stakes are higher than ever, but one thing remains certain—I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Aria and our pack safe.

“Malachi,” Aria says, squeezing my hand. “Don’t you dare try to shoulder this all on your own. I’m not some damsel to be protected. I’m your partner, your equal. We’ll face this as a pack.”

Her words fill me with warmth, reminding me why I fell in love with this fierce, unstoppable woman. “You’re right,” I say, pulling her close. “They have underestimated us, love. Our bond, our pack, is a force they can’t comprehend. Let them try to break us.”

As we drive home, a spark of hope flickers amidst the worry. Noah and Blackwood might think they have outmaneuvered us, but they have underestimated the strength of our bond and the power of our convictions. This is far from over. In fact, it’s only just begun.

The drive back to the pack house is tense, the air thick with unspoken fears and determination. Aria’s hand remains clasped in mine, her thumb tracing soothing circles on my skin. The city blurs past us, a kaleidoscope of lights and shadows that mirrors the turmoil in my mind.

We arrive at the pack house, the tension still crackling between us like a live wire. Aria stays close to my side as we enter, her fingers gripping my arm tightly. The rest of the pack is already gathered in the living room, their expressions shifting from concerned to determined as we walk in.

Zane is the first to speak, his brooding presence filling the room. “What’s going on? You both look like you saw a ghost.”

I take a deep breath and glance at Aria before addressing the pack. “It’s Noah. He made a deal with the mayor, and they are coming after us and Omega Guardians. We need to act fast.”

Quinn’s eyes narrow, his usually calm demeanor faltering. “What kind of deal?”

“Sentinel Security,” I explain, watching realization dawn on their faces. “They are positioning themselves as the city’s go-to for omega protection, but it’s a front, and the mayor is fully aware.”

Aria steps forward, her eyes betraying her fear. “And if we push back, the mayor’s threatening to expose my unregistered status. We can’t let that happen.”

Silence falls over the room, each of us processing the implications. Finally, Dash breaks the quiet, his usual bravado replaced by quiet resolve. “So what’s the plan? Because sitting here waiting for them to come at us isn’t it.”

“Agreed,” I say, nodding. “First, we’ll secure Aria’s registration. Quinn, I need you to look into any allies we have in the registry office, someone who can expedite the process without alerting the wrong people.”

Quinn nods, already pulling out his phone. “I’ll hack every system in this city if that’s what it takes.”

“Good. Zane, I need you to double our patrols around the pack house and the salon. I don’t want Noah or his people getting anywhere near Aria.”

“Consider it done,” Zane says, his jaw set in determination.

“Dash,” I continue, turning to him. “We need eyes on Noah’s movements. I want to know where he is, who he’s meeting, and what he’s planning next.”

Dash smirks, his confidence returning. “I’ll find him. There is no way he’s slipping past me.”

I turn back to Aria, taking her hands in mine. “You’re the heart of this pack, Aria. Protecting you isn’t just our duty, it’s our privilege.”

Aria nods, her grip tightening on my hands. “I trust you. All of you.”

As the pack disperses to carry out their tasks, I pull Aria into a tight embrace. “They underestimated us, love. Our bond, our pack, is a force they can’t comprehend. Let them try to break us.”

Aria nods, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. “They want a war? Fine. Let’s show them what happens when you corner a pack of wolves.”

With a renewed sense of purpose, I watch my pack spring into action. The challenges ahead are daunting, but we’re prepared to face them head-on. As long as we stand together, there’s nothing we can’t overcome.

As I stand here, though, surrounded by the strength and determination of my pack, a nagging thought tugs at the edges of my mind. In this high stakes game of power and politics, how far am I willing to go to protect what’s mine? The line between justice and vengeance has never felt so thin, and I can’t shake the feeling that before this is over, we may all be forced to cross it.