in beta blood, but they needed a subject to test it on. And trust me, no woman out there would have volunteered for the job."
"Are you suggesting that now that they have proof the test works, they'll give it to every beta woman out there?" Ryder asked.
"Yes, and then they'll make sure those that test positive never get within a thousand miles of the border," Olivia confirmed.
The room was silent, absorbing what she'd said. It made sense—but it didn't answer all the open questions.
"If that's their plan," Gray asked her, "why bother with the scent-blockers? Why cut off our gas? Why interrupt trade at all?"
"Simple." Olivia's expression turned troubled. "Revenge. Betas live their whole lives knowing how fragile they are in comparison to alphas. They like to believe they're superior, that they'll always dominate the entire world, but the existence of alphas is a constant reminder that they're deluding themselves. Throw in the disappearance of beta women, spread a few rumors that you're stealing mates, and suddenly there's a groundswell of support for destroying you."
Ryder's face hardened. "So, knowing that they can never overpower us, they start cutting off our supplies, hoping that the winter will kill us."
"Not just the winter," Knox cut in, dropping his cocky tone. "They know that desperation will make us turn on each other. It's fucking brilliant, man."
"Yeah, I heard somebody talking about raiding the lowlands tonight," the alpha next to him agreed. "They won't even have to bother coming in and killing us themselves if we do their dirty work for them."
Shit.
As much as Gray hated to admit it, Knox and his friend were right. The speculation and conspiracy theories flying around the bar meant they were playing right into the beta's hands. They'd lit the fuse of unrest, and if no one stopped them, they'd coax it into a raging fire that could take them all down.
And Gray had been unknowingly throwing fuel on that fire.
He never would have known it if Olivia hadn't had found the backbone to stand up to him.
This omega was a hellcat, that was for certain—and she'd just proved to be a firebrand as well.
Gray could not have been prouder that she was his alone.
Chapter Fifteen
"It was a pleasure having you in the roadhouse tonight, Olivia."
Olivia turned to see who was speaking as Gray tightened his grip on her arm. When she saw that the cocky alpha called Knox was waiting for them out on the porch to see them off, she looked questioningly up at her alpha. There didn't seem to be much love lost between the two.
"Thank you," she said, figuring she ought to at least acknowledge the compliment. "I had a nice time."
Knox winked. "I hope that stuffy old man you've taken on will bring you back again. You liven the place up."
Olivia couldn't help smiling, realizing Knox meant no harm. He was just the type who led with his charm because he could—handsome, direct, and clearly a joker, he probably gave Gray a hard time precisely because other alphas looked up to him.
Gray grunted and pulled her closer, leaving his arm possessively wrapped around her waist. "Back off, Knox. I don't want to fight you for looking at my omega that way."
Strangely, Olivia wasn't annoyed by his posturing. If anything, his protectiveness made her heat up with a sense of pride.
The other alpha chuckled and leaned his hip against the rail, only adding to his wolfish charm. "What way is that, Gray? Like I might want to take her to the back of my truck and show her what it's like to be with an alpha who still remembers what it means to be wild?"
"You bastard, I'll—"
Knox held up his hands in mock surrender as Gray's face turned crimson with rage. "No need to get violent. I was just asking a question. I take it back."
"The hell you were." Gray scowled as he led Olivia down the steps to the parking lot. "You ask it again, and I'll rip your throat out. Got it?"
"Got it," Knox said with an exaggerated nod that made it clear that he wasn't put off by Gray's warning. "Though if you were serious about staking your claim on this omega, you should return that bite she gave you. As long as you don't, there will always be a bastard like me around, ready to finish what you won't."
Gray stopped in his tracks and spun around, tension coming off him in waves. "What the hell are you talking about, Knox?