Page 1 of Mercy & Her Devils

CHAPTER ONE

Ace Hall, Haven

Mercy

“My Alpha threatened to break our bond again this morning,” I whisper.

My eyes gleam with tears.

My heart is beating like a hummingbird in my chest. I pull up my legs to rest underneath me on the hard, antique couch.

The lounge on the second floor of Ace Hall is elegant, luxurious, but drab. It’s perfectly neat and clean.

The marble floor and fireplace gleam.

The walls are lined with gold-gilt portraits, which show generations of stern Alphas who have ruled this pack and town.

My Traditional Alpha, Fletcher, doesn’t believe in Omegas having access to books, television, or the Internet.

I’m meant to keep the house clean, while cooking, baking, and hosting other society Omegas.

My most important job is waiting for his return from work and loving him.

I’ve never loved him.

Yet I’ve been trying because I long to be happy in my bond. I’m desperate for my Alpha to hold me like I’m precious.

I follow the Alpha’s rules and orders.

I try to be content, even in this lonely life.

But I’m not.

I’m shattering inside.

Silver drapes hang at the barred, domed window that looks out over the roofs of Haven.

Haven is a small town in Virginia, which stands in the shadows of mountains and is buried in lush forests.

I haven’t been allowed to walk its streets for a year now, not since I was bonded.

Fletcher says that by keeping me inside, he’s keeping me safe.

Bullshit.

He’s controlling me.

I’m a pretty Omega in a cage.

I push my wavy red hair out of my eyes but can’t stop the tears spilling from my aquamarine eyes.

My brother, Thomas, grits his teeth to hold back his growl. He clenches his hand around his mug of cooling tea.

I wince at the crack.

He never remembers his own strength.

Once as a kid, Thomas snapped the head off his own superhero toy because he was too enthusiastically acting out the role of the villain.

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