Page 94 of Hard Knot

It helps ground me as Phillips continues.

"There are always Alphas deemed...unsuitable for regular society. They need Omegas too, even if they can only come out at night and with certain conditions put in place. You know…restraints…and such."

"So," Felix's voice cuts through the air like a blade, "you're telling me this academy actively encourages the slaughter or sexual exploitation of its students?" A harsh laugh follows. "You're literally admitting to facilitating murder and sex trafficking."

Phillips makes a dismissive sound.

"That's rather dramatic. It's simply how the system works. If she'd found a suitable pack earlier, it wouldn't have come to this point."

"We're here," Felix counters, his tone sharp. "We're interested. So what exactly is the problem? Because we've made it clear we're not accepting Victoria."

"Ah, Ms. Sinclair." Phillips's voice takes on an almost reverent quality. "Now there's an Omega who knows how to perform. Her credentials are impeccable, her family connections are valuable, and her...enthusiasm for the position is admirable."

"Perform?" Holmes questions, something deadly lurking beneath his casual tone. "Define that."

Phillips chuckles — a wet, ugly sound that makes my skin crawl.

"Well, you know how it is. A girl like that, so...eager to please. She knows exactly when to speak and when to use her mouth for...other purposes."

You got to be kidding me.

Just the idea of her daring to do anything “sexual” for Advisor Phillips makes me want to puke. Where’s the form of commitment when you’re willing to suck anyone who will give you what you want.

That rubs me the wrong way.

"Let me get this straight," Felix says, and I can hear the barely contained rage in his voice. Truthfully, I wasn’t expecting him to be mad.I mean, we’ve barely had time with one another aside from me giving him a drunken lap dance."You want us to accept some bitch who dropped to her knees and did whatever it took to orchestrate this setup?"

Carter's free hand curls into a fist at his side.

I can feel him trembling with the effort it takes not to burst through the door.

"Ms. Sinclair understands what it takes to succeed in our society," Phillips replies smoothly. "Unlike some of our more...rebellious students, she appreciates the natural order of things. The hierarchy that keeps our world functioning."

"The hierarchy," Felix repeats flatly. "You mean the system that lets you abuse your position to extort sexual favors from desperate Omegas?"

"Now, now," Phillips says, his tone patronizing. "There's no need to be crude. Ms. Sinclair simply showed proper appreciation for my assistance in her application process. She's very...grateful for opportunities."

The implication hangs heavy in the air, making bile rise in my throat.

Carter's entire body has gone rigid beside me, his breathing shallow and controlled the way it gets right before he's about to do something violent.

"And Abercrombie?" Holmes asks suddenly. "Has she shown any such...appreciation?"

My heart stops for a moment. The mere thought makes me want to throw up and never walk near this office again.The idea Holmes would even suggest such makes me even angrier.I have to mentally convince myself that he still doesn’t know me. He has no clue about my past or my level of commitment. I’ve proven nothing to him.Well, aside from being good at sucking his cock just to make his “ex” jealous.

Phillips’ laugh cuts through my internal turmoil.

"That one? No, she's always been too proud for her own good. Thinks she's above the natural order just because she can dance pretty and quote Shakespeare." His voice hardens. "But they all learn eventually. One way or another."

"Is that a threat?" Felix's voice has dropped to that dangerous register that I’m positive usually precedes to someone getting hurt.

"Simply an observation," Phillips replies smoothly. "The system exists for a reason. Those who refuse to adapt...well, they tend to disappear. One might even say it's natural selection at work."

The casual way he discusses my potential fate —as if he's talking about culling livestock rather than sentencing someone to death or worse— makes something snap inside me.

We’re nothing but ticket numbers. When our time is up and our number is drawn, we’re thrown into the trash…where we belong.

All in the name of “natural” order.

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