Page 19 of The Beta's Bargain

It takes me a moment to realise he’s talking to me. “I did, Alpha.”

“Excellent. Tell me.” He cuts another piece and takes a bite calmly before pinning me with a glare.

I open my mouth, glance down at my food, and set my utensils down. “General tidying, making sure he arrives at the assignments, delivering messages and requests-”

“And the rules?”

“Be there but not seen or heard. We are not their friends.” My voice slows and stops as I stare at Silas, silently pleading for the humiliation to end. “We are forbidden from forming attachments or engaging in a sexual relationship. We may not threaten them with violence or blackmail, manipulation or-”

“That will do.” Falcon says sharply. “She understands her place.”

I flinch at the sharp command.

Silas sets his knife and fork down, having finished his crepes. “Very well. We have a meeting now, anyway. Come along, Miss Davies.”

I look down at my plate, still full of food, and sigh as I push to my feet. Dylan grips my wrist and stands slowly beside me.

“Really?” Silas growls. “She is an employee. My employee. Not yours. And she has a meeting.”

A silent battle rages between the four men, but it’s like I don’t understand the language. But the room feels dangerous.

“Oh, Silas, you are such a tyrant. Go terrorize someone else.” The feminine voice is full of amusement and teasing and familiarity.

I expect him to lash out, but he just closes his eyes and shakes his head.

“Hazel, what are you doing here?” Gray snaps.

“Oh, there was no way I was missing this shitshow. Hey, Dylan. How’s it going? Do I need to beat them up again? I did after you left. I made sure they suffered.”

I turn as she approaches, and my mind shorts. She is the most delicately beautiful person I’ve ever seen. Her features are elfin, her brown hair is shot with blonde highlights, and even with my dulled senses, her jasmine is a powerful hit. She’s smiling at us, and it’s kind and warm, and I don’t even know why. Who is she?

“Haze…we talked about your stalking.” Grayson says evenly. “It’s not cute anymore.”

“I know, but I’m bored, and I have to come and see what my big brother is fucking up.”

“We’re not fucking anything up,” Grayson growls and moves to her side. He puts an arm over her shoulder, and my stomach tightens uncomfortably. I look away from them and find Silas plucking at the cuffs of his dress shirt, completely unconcerned. Falcon has his eyes closed as if he’s praying.

“You could be watching a pack of your own,” Falcon says.

I watch the female omega reel back; her face going white. “Cold, Fal. Really cold.” Her tone is glacial. “You know perfectly well that I don’t get a happy ending, unlike some who squander their chances.”

He sighs, and his face contorts with regret. “I know. I apologise.”

She draws herself up and sniffs. “Go away. I want to talk to Nyxie and Dylan.”

“Now, Hazel,” Gray begins, but she turns on him and smiles slightly.

“I will cause a scene and recite every single one of your embarrassing moments out loud. Or you can just go away.”

Clarity is like a cloud breaking through. She’s a sister. A younger sister.

The alphas get up and leave.

“You need to teach me that,” I say to her.

She winks at me and flops into Falcons seat. “You’re really pretty.”

I frown. “Um, thank you.”

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