Page 106 of Hard Knot

Good.

"?????? ????? ???? ??? ????????? – ????? ??? ? ????? ?????," I continue, my voice hardening. "?? ???? ?? ??????????? ???? ???????? ? ?????????? ?????? ?????, ? ??????? ? ???? ???? ?????-?? ???????? ????? ?????????, ????? ?????? ???? ????????? ???? ? ????? ????????."

Want to act like a boy,do it on someone else's time. But if you're going to be a man and try to learn about the Omega you clearly have some weird hate fetish with, then gather your cowardly balls and start talking.

Holmes's response comes in equally fluid Russian, his accent heavier than mine.

"?? ??????, ? ???, ???? ??????, ???????????????"

Do you know who the fuck you're talking to?

I switch back to English, letting everyone hear my response.

"Oh, I know exactly who you are." My smile is all teeth as I continue, "But maybe you should do a quick Google search on the Morrisons. See who's really running the underground drug trade these days."

The silence that follows is deafening.

Even the Victoria bitch seems to be holding her breath as the implications of my words sink in.

The Morrison Empire isn't just about legitimate business ventures and academic institutions. Our reach extends into every dark corner of society, controlling supply lines and territories that make other crime families look like amateur street dealers.

A fact Holmes is clearly processing, given the way his jaw works silently.

"I rest my case," I say pleasantly, turning my attention back to Phillips, who looks like he might faint. "Now, about those dismissal papers..."

The way Phillips shrinks back in his chair is almost comical. His perfectly pressed suit is wrinkled from nervous fidgeting,and sweat stains are starting to show through the expensive fabric.

Let him squirm.

The power dynamics in the room have shifted irrevocably.

Holmes's silence now carries a different weight — not the calculated restraint of before, but something closer to genuine consideration. Felix's subtle adjustments to his glasses suggest he's already running background checks, confirming my claims with those special glasses of his. And Carter...

Carter's expression has shifted from hostile to thoughtful, his protective stance near Elizabeth unchanged but somehow less antagonistic.

They're starting to understand that this isn't just about pack politics or academic standings. This is about power —real power— and I've spent five years accumulating enough of it to ensure Elizabeth never has to feel powerless again.

Whether she wants my protection or not.

The thought brings a bitter edge to my satisfaction.

Elizabeth has always been fiercely independent, determined to fight her own battles. Will she see this display of power as protection or possession? Will she understand that everything I've built, every empire I've toppled and territory I've claimed, was all for her?

Does she even want it to be?

The questions swirl in my mind, but I push them aside.

Right now, what matters is dealing with the immediate threat to her safety and dignity. Everything else — our complicated past, our uncertain future, the way she still fits perfectly in my arms despite five years apart — can wait.

First, we clean house.

"One semester," I announce, turning back to Phillips with deliberate slowness. "Thefourof us," I emphasize the number, watching him flinch, "will prove to you blind fools that wehave chemistry with Elizabeth Abercrombie. If we make it to semester's end relatively intact, we leave Hard Knot Academy safely with our Omega."

I let my gaze sweep the room before continuing.

"The school's protection will still shield these Alphas from their bounties, and with our pack bond in motion, any harm brought to Elizabeth will have...severe consequences."

Moving to the desk, I place my palms flat on its surface, leaning forward.

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