Page 73 of Mercy & Her Devils

Antonio shrugs. “Who knows? He’s a mystery, even to me. You know those tragic hero types with the tortured back stories that they never talk about? Yeah, that’s him. I’m more the cheerful villain.”

Who the hell is this Second Alpha?

What’s the secret of this pack?

“If you don’t mind stopping the short, silver, and mysterious act for a moment,” Lark drawls. “What’s the name of your pack?”

Antonio’s gaze becomes steely in the same way that it did, when he was in dominant guard mode, breaking us out of the Institute.

He’s dangerous.

Yet never to us.

I feel like he’d be our perfect protector.

Although, after hearing what his asshole family did to him, I wish that I could protect him as well.

I don’t know how I could do it, while my legs are still weak and I’m literally lost in the middle of the wild forests and mountains with unknown Alphas.

Perhaps, with my witty banter and newly found feral growl.

“The name of my pack is…” Antonio pauses for dramatic effect, and I kneel up on the bed, holding my breath. What is it? “…none of your business right now, nosy Omegas.”

I let out a frustrated woosh of air. “Mean.”

Antonio grins, patting his ass. “Just look at how cute this tight ass is and remember that it thanks you. I don’t want to end up over my Second Alpha’s knee for telling you too much.” Then his face lights up. “Come on, this is your first morning in my home. You’re free, mia amata. Okay, I fucked up my undercover gig, revealed my identity, and blew the entire mission. But on the other hand, you’re not auctioned to some shady pack. You’re alive and you’re living it up on the wrong side of the law like good little renegades. Let’s celebrate!”

“Meaning…?” Lark asks with the same wariness that I’m feeling.

Antonio is so volatile that I never know what he’s going to do next.

Antonio dives off the bed to the wall and presses a switch.

To my shock, music bursts from hidden speakers in the walls. It’s a punk-infused Scottish rock cry for freedom vs control, the Snuts’ “Burn The Empire”.

My eyes widen in shock.

This type of rebellious music from a country that is an Omegacracy is banned in most countries.

The world fears their influence.

An Omegacracy is a country where instead of Alphas being the head of households, Omegas have the positions of authority both within the household and in government.

Nests and heats are worshiped, rather than knots and ruts.

Alphas are often warriors and valued for their strength.

Yet they’re not dominant.

What would it be like to be born in a country like that?

I hear that there’s both an Omega king and prince.

There are only a couple of small countries that are run with such systems, however, and they’re relentlessly mocked by the American press and social media.

Although, the government tries to suppress as much real information about them as possible.

The most popular meme shows an Omega with a crown riding on the back of a crawling Alpha who’s collared and leashed with the words: SCOTTISH ALPHA LOSES HIS AUTHORITY, LOSES HIS KNOT.

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