Page 48 of Marked By Love

“That’s not going to work,” Theodore said. “You honestly think these places won’t notice if droves of omegas suddenly pick up and leave?”

“It’s only one part of the plan. Argus is working on getting other things in motion,” Royce said.

“You really think he can be trusted?” Theodore wrinkled his nose.

“Why not?”

“There are several of these brothels and clinics that are owned by head alphas. He stank of at least three different omegas’ fluids when I first met him. If that’s not a bad sign, I don’t know what is.”

“Argus was in a relationship with an omega when he came across his fated mate, who was also in a relationship with another omega. They all live together.”

“Beg pardon?”

“Yeah, I don’t know how, but they somehow made it work.”

“That’s … extremely unusual.”

“You’re telling me. I thought it was odd before I found my fated mate, now I’m even more confused.”

Theodore sniffed derisively. “That aside, this plan still isn’t going to work, and you were in no position to decide what I’m doing with that flash drive.”

“What?”

“You heard me.” Theodore glowered. “Just because you’re an alpha doesn’t give you the right to make these decisions. Did you even consider that you should ask someone who’s lived through this before you decided?”

“I don’t—What’s that supposed to mean? I’m trying to help!”

“Because you know best. Because you’re the big strong alpha and I’m the hapless omega. Fuck you.”

Royce stared at Theodore, his face impassive.

“No, because this is my job. Because I’m an enforcer, because this is what my boss and head alpha think is best.”

“Of course they do. Never mind you have someone right here you could ask about how these traffickers operate or what they would expect. Someone who’s lived through it.”

“Two.”

“What?”

“Freddy, he lived through it too. He’s the mate to one of our enforcers. He came to Elk Cove after leaving a breeding center. He’s an omega shifter.”

“Oh fate …” Theodore’s voice cracked. Omega shifters were rare, and when something was rare, it was considered a ‘hot commodity.’

“Listen. You had the opportunity to come with me, and you said no.” Royce pinched the bridge of his nose. “We don’t have to decide anything right now, we’re still in the early stages of setting up an op to take them down. We can talk about it more, and I can call Argus and Lucy with anything you may have that would help. Does that work for you?”

“I didn’t come with you because I’m in heat, because most alphas use that to coerce or force themselves onto omegas!” Theodore said. “I’m not going to just hand over that flash drive to someone I don’t know.”

“Fine, I won’t take it without your say-so, even though I’m telling you my office wants to shut them down.”

“Fine.”

“Fine.”

Theodore considered the alpha, then his stomach rumbled.

“Here, I brought some of these bars home. My neighbor, Buford, he’s a bear shifter, and he’s always making stuff with berries and honey for his various offices.”

“Various offices?”