Page 89 of Puck & Her Blades

Do to the entire pack?

I narrow my eyes, as a tall, lean Beta who’s dressed in a suit that looks like he’s only wearing it to bully someone with his wealth slinks toward me.

I shift, as he sprawls against the wall next to me.

Then he leans down to me and whispers, “I know who you are, Puck.”

I jump away from the Beta, spilling my drink. “Wolfie!”

I’d know that sneering, nasal voice anywhere.

Wolfie smirks. “I recognize your disgusting Reject Omega scent. Did you reconsider my offer to fuck?”

I scowl at him. “You’re the one stalking me. Did you get lost in the woods on the way to grandma’s house? This is the Blade Estate.”

“All the mascots in the Conference Finals are invited, dumbass,” he growls.

“You say the sweetest things.” I flutter my eyelashes.

Wolfie’s eyes flash. “Do you know your problem?”

I shrug.

“You’re not playing by the mascot rules, and I don’t mean the ones like not messing with the magic and shit. I mean the ones between us mascots. Do you know that I have my own fan club?”

“Thanks, but I’m not joining.”

When Wolfie snatches me by the shoulders, I yelp in shock and drop my cocktail.

The glass shatters.

Fear shivers up my spine.

Wolfie slams me against the wall with his hands pressed against my shoulders.

His face is too close to mine.

“We all work hard for our positions.” Wolfie’s fingers dig into my shoulders, and I wince. “We don’t steal the fucking limelight from each other. But you’re all the news and fans are talking about now: the Omega mascot. Alphas get to be the players, and Betas get to be the mascots. That’s how it’s always worked. I can skate. Did you ever think that I’d have liked a chance to be fucking cheered out there too? Or perhaps, been adored and coddled like an Omega. I’m a Beta, however, so this is what I have.”

I swallow. “I didn’t choose this.”

“But you’re milking it for all it’s worth, right? And it’s worth a hell of a lot. You’re not even trained, but the rest of us mascots spend years of harsh training, which separates us from our packs. Then we work up to this level as mascots. We’re entertainers, often treated cruelly by our teams. My social media following is in the millions. I’m my team’s chief promoter. I charge thousands for appearances. But what happens if all the teams decide that they don’t need to pay Betas anymore because they can simply train up Rejects to skate for free? The whole system falls apart and once again, fucking Betas lose out.”

I stare at him.

I wish that he was wrong, and I could merely hate him. But Companions are already used as free labor. What if people start to use Rejects in the same way?

I want Omegas to be free with equality.

And that means paid.

If not, then it wrecks everything for Betas, as much as Omegas. And I care about Beta rights too.

I can see that Wolfie’s expecting me to argue.

But then, to his shock, I reply, “You’re right.”

“What?” Wolfie takes a wary step back. “Is this a trick?”

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