Page 138 of Mercy & Her Devils

As a kid, Thomas and I were desperate for his attention and approval.

Even a small pat on the head, smile over the dinner table, or praise for our school report card would be enough to keep either of us happy and swapping stories about it for months.

Sometimes, for a year.

But now, Raylan looks small.

I don’t mean only next to Kai’s giant size, although that too.

But the place that he holds in my heart.

I no longer care whether he notices me.

I have an entire pack who have made me the center of their world.

Raylan wouldn’t even take me back, after I became a Brok.

I always knew that his ambition mattered more to him than Thomas and me. Every weekend that he spent in his study working or talking to VIPs from Washington, while Thomas and I were shut lonely in our room, I’d known that.

But it’s only now that I feel it viscerally in my gut.

I used to feel small, standing next to those ambitions.

Small next to the St Clair name.

Small in the shadow of my godlike Dad.

Now, I know that he was always the small one to begin with.

Something strengthens within me.

I glance at Lark, and he appears to understand.

Together, we both push ourselves to our feet and stand side by side.

I won’t kneel or sit at the feet of Alphas again.

“Stop talking about things that don’t matter,” Raylan barks. “Either shoot the terrorist or arrest him. Or have you forgotten how to use your handcuffs? After all, it’s been so long since you took your wimpy ass into the field and actually got your hands dirty.”

Fletcher flinches.

Shit, is this how Raylan has always spoken to Fletcher?

Is that how he speaks to Thomas now?

Kai crosses his arms. “Do I get a say in whether I’m murdered?”

“Executed,” Raylan snaps.

I’m trembling.

My gaze darts between the barrel of the gun and the trigger.

I can’t look away.

Please…

Fletcher’s mouth tightens. “I’m not shooting him. Only Lucifer has a kill order over his head. This is clearly a Scottish agitator from that ridiculous Omegacracy. Plus, there are two Omegas here. I won’t have them witness something like that.”

---