Page 77 of Ruled By The Alpha

"Good candidate," I scoffed, finally finding my voice. "You mean likely to become an omega?"

His eyes swept over me from head to toe, like my words reminded him an omega was standing before him.

"Sure, we want more omegas, but that's not what the decision is about, not wholly anyway. Rather, we want alphas, but strong alphas with high mental acumen. Not sure if you've ever seen a community go through the change unchecked, but it's not pretty. A low intelligence thug is still a thug when he or she is an alpha, they are just a thug with muscle and excess aggression. Taylor doesn't need that in his ranks. Similarly, and whatever their intelligence, people with certain skills or disposition don't take well to the change. We have learned over time what makes the best candidate for either alpha or omega. Assessments will be made, and any identified will be encouraged to make the change in a controlled environment."

"Encouraged?"

He shrugged. "Taylor is a very persuasive man. He also has a clear mandate of allowing people the freedom to leave. Before you make a bolt for the door and persuade your community to do the same, you should know that he doesn't change his mind. Once a person leaves, they're gone. He also won't give up yourstrategic and defensible location, at the risk of it falling into enemy hands. And which our intelligence suggests is imminent."

"You were waiting for us to fail?" I accused, feeling sick to my core. "You could have warned us."

He shrugged his big shoulders. "It was obvious Grimm would make a move at some point. We don't have enough resources to protect our own people; we definitely don't have enough to watch over every independent community. Taylor has a policy of non-interference."

"And you always do what Taylor says?"

A smile ghosted his lips. "An alpha always knows his place." His gaze shifted to my alphas, who were still openly petting me between them. "Do I agree with every decision Taylor makes? No. Did I advise him to approach you for negotiation sooner? Yes, I did. In hindsight, do I think you would have come to the table under less compelling circumstances? No, I do not."

God, that voice, his rich accent, the surprising softness of his tone, and the insightfulness with which he spoke were potent aphrodisiacs. He was right on all counts, which meant he was also right to follow Taylor's orders.

It still pissed me off.

"We have children. They could have been hurt."

"I know, and believe me, I have no wish for that. But this isn't a civilized world anymore, Imogen. This is the fucking apocalypse, and we are merely passengers traveling through it. Taylor didn't become the ruler of significant territory by offering intel to small communities."

His blunt word choice shocked me, and more so that it revealed another facet of him.

"Taylor learned the hard way that he either takes them or someone else does. Invariably, that outcome is inconvenient for Taylor and disastrous for the community involved. Unless youwant to become another sheep in Grimm's Law, kept docile on drugs, Taylor is always going to be the better choice."

My lips betrayed me by trembling. I didn't have any avenues left to negotiate. With a few careful words, Rowan had reminded me of our vulnerability, how we needed Taylor more than Taylor needed us. I was still determined to fight for concessions where necessary. "Tell me the terms."

"We need a base at Rivervale. Some community members may be asked to stay and support it. Most will be assessed and assimilated into Taylor's city, where jobs will be found suitable for their skills. Accommodation will be provided along with necessary basics. They will be treated fairly."

"Will they be kept together?"

"Where possible. Family units and ownership will be respected."

"We don't have ownership in Rivervale." Ownership. The word was foreign to my tongue and left a bitter aftertaste.

"Taylor does." Not a bit of compromise entered his eyes. They hardened.

"Will I be able to see them afterward?"

"Unlikely."

Well, damn.

"And what about my family unit?"

"You are not mated, Imogen," he whispered.

My nostrils flared as I sucked air into my lungs.

"Brands are essential," he continued. "Women, especially omegas, must be allocated an appropriately ranked owner."

"What the fuck does that mean?" Aiden grunted. "Appropriately ranked?"

Rowan smiled, and I was not prepared for how utterly ruthless it appeared, nor for its impact on my wayward libido. My subconscious recognized the benefits of aligning with a powerful male, of how his willingness to make the hard callswould ultimately keep me safe. His lack of compromise was both infuriating and fucking hot.

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