Page 50 of Into the Fire: Before

Officer Norton gave a slow nod, like he’d heard precisely what he expected to hear, but wished he wouldn’t hear. “Well, the thing is, Taryn Rose Lennox has a social security number and a birth ID…but she’s not Registered.”

And there it was. The fucking Census. The hill my mother and grandmother had died on, that I’d intended to as well. Even if it kept me from taking the name I’d chosen for myself.

Shit. I should've prepared for this. I should've thought about this before we were sittingright the fuckhere. No options. No cover stories. No nothing.

I crossed my arms. “I'm a conscientious objector.”

The officer shifted in his seat, clearly uncomfortable. “Be that as it may, unregistered omegas are ineligible for any legal services, including restraining orders and government assistance. And even setting that aside,” the officer continued, cutting Brea off before she could speak, a rarity for a beta, “now that I know you’re unregistered, I’m a mandatory reporter. You should know that it’s a five-hundred-dollar fine.”

An aghast breath burst from my lips. We had some decent savings between us, but that would still be a huge hit. Brea’s eyes shuttered, and she gave a little shake of her head. “Fine, we’ll pay—”

“A month.”

I gaped. “Five hundred bucksa month?”

“Until you Register, yes. Now, technically, I could also backdate that fine from the month of your delinquency, but considering everything else going on right now, I’m not gonna do that.” He looked between the two of us, eyes serious. “But as soon as I report you as an unregistered omega, it’ll work its way through the pipeline and you’ll eventually get a notice in themail. Refuse to pay, and they’ll garnish your wages for a while. When they can’t do that anymore, then they’ll issue the warrant for your arrest.” He sat forward in his chair. “I don’t want that to happen.”

Brea and I exchanged wary glances. Registering on the Census went against everything Gran had stood for,foughtfor. Registering now felt tantamount to spitting on her grave. If it were just me, I’d give this goon the middle finger, buy a paper shredder, and wait for the bills. But Brea was my mate. I couldn’t drag her into something like this. She was finally in a job she loved, finally looking at life like it had something to offer her. Snatching all that away from her for a principle would’ve been selfish beyond words.

I nodded quietly. “Fine. I’ll Register.”

“Teacup, no, you don’t—”

“It’s fine.”

Not entirely true.Needs mustwould’ve been more accurate. But I was too exhausted to correct myself or offer any further comfort. Especially now knowing I had a lengthy Census to fill out.

“Excellent,” the officer said as he clicked and typed on his computer, apparently pulling up the Registration form to go through with me. “We can get started now. I know it’s late, but sooner would be better than later.”

Brea swallowed hard, looking to me. By law, omegas had to be alone when they Registered in order to ensure their answers weren’t coerced. Decent notion in theory but crappy in practice.

She released a heavy sigh before leaning down to kiss my cheek. “I’m just down the hall,” she whispered before exiting the room, taking the miniscule bit of warmth that existed in this place with her.

Saturday,Breahadmorningsessions. And I was falling on my ass. A lot.

As I hit the ground yet again, the only thought going through my head was how much Brea would enjoy having been right. Because I’d been out in the sun for nearly an hour trying to get my footing on this stupid rolling board and all I had to show for it were two mild scrapes, three soon-to-be bruises, and a burgeoning headache. How the fuck did people balance on these things? I couldn’t stay on longer than a blink before it bucked me off like a damn mechanical bull.

Unfortunately for me, my ass was harder than the concrete currently bullying me. I loved Brea, truly. She was my world. But like hell would she get toI told you some. Not on this. Not right now.

So, fall after fall, I’d stood back up, stepped back on the death board, and resigned myself to my fate. I did the same after the most recent fall, stealing as surreptitious a glance to the roof as possible. Cainestill stood there. Even from three stories down, his brooding glare was more than clear.

I’d first noticed him up there half an hour ago, after one of my more spectacular involuntary dismounts. I’d laid on my back, staring at the clouds and questioning every life choice I’d ever made, when his shadow against the pale blue sky had caught my eye. I’d bet money Brea asked the guys to keep an eye on me until she came home.

Ignoring him brought me a rather perverse pleasure. Every time I landed on my ass, though, the embarrassment climbed up my face. At least I’d have someone to blame for my lack ofprogress today. Couldn’t possibly get my bearings with Judge Broody staring me down.

Another quarter hour slipped by. I’d finally managed to stay upright for the length of three whole seconds before the board quite literally sprinted out from under me and planted me flat on my back. Oxygen abandoned my lungs as the cursed devil-wood rolled innocently away. I lay there, gasping.

At least my broody gargoyle had flown the perch.

Okay, maybe it was time to call it a day. Or a wrap.

Some people just weren’t meant to shred asphalt. Maybe I was just destined tobeshredded.

Tears prickled the corners of my eyes.Stupid goddamn omega hormones.

Stupid alphas making me feel all small and inept.

Caine…Heath…the beta cop…even Brea, though she didn’t mean it. But she assumed, same as the others, that I was weak, breakable, better kept safe under lock and guard. I hated it. I could break my wrist skateboarding if I wanted to, thank you very much. And I wouldn’t just hole up in our apartment, in my still-as-yet-uncompleted nest, because some alphahole decided to try swinging his big dick around.

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