Page 72 of Mercy & Her Devils

“Why can’t you claim us?” Lark demands. “We’re right here.”

“I want to,” Antonio breathes. “But this isn’t a safe pack. I’m not allowed to put you at risk. Kai says that Omegas should claim us, and not the other way around. Plus, if you knew all our secrets, then you wouldn’t want us, anyway. You wouldn’t want me. Fuck, if only I could court you and make you mine—”

Lark stops his words with a kiss.

Antonio melts underneath the passionate onslaught.

My breath speeds up, and I tighten my hold on Antonio’s knee.

When Lark finally pulls back, leaving Antonio breathless and glassy eyed, I scoot even closer to him.

“I haven’t been safe in a long time,” I say.

“I’ve never been safe,” Lark adds, grimly. “Who says that we’d reject you?”

I push a curl behind Antonio’s ear. “We already know that you’re a stabby conman mafia hacker, and we haven’t stopped being your friend.”

Antonio’s expression brightens.

He’s back to being the sunshine, and it lifts my mood instantly.

I smile. “So, we can’t join your pack yet. We want you as part of our pack, Toni. You can become one of our Brok pack.”

His eyes widen. His breath hitches.

Lark tightens his hand on Antonio’s neck. “We’re claiming you. Of course we are. Fuck every Alpha who thinks that they can cage and control us. We’re rebelling. What more can anyone do? They took everything from me. They’ve even taken my daughter. But we’ve found each other.”

“We’ll get Millie back, I swear,” Antonio promises. He’s glowing with a devious wickedness that’s energizing him in a way that makes him even more gorgeous. It also means that he’s back to his sunny rambling. “That adorable kid is my pack too. Don’t worry, I’ve already worked out seven possible schemes. To be fair, I never truly stop plotting.” I believe him. “Of course, my Second Alpha may be the one to—”

“Woah, hold up.” Wide eyed, I flinch back. “Kai mentioned this scary other Alpha last night, and he didn’t sound as friendly as Kai.”

I look around myself wildly like this Second Alpha may appear from behind the drapes or under the bed.

Lark lets go of Antonio, paling.

“He hasn’t been here for a month,” Antonio reassures me. “He’s like one of those shadows that appear in the day and then disappears at night. You never know when the hottest — seriously hottest — Alpha will be tying you up with duct tape and fucking you like a rag doll through his rut for hours and then knotting you like you’re an Omega, and when he’ll be vanishing on a mission for months.”

“Duct tape?” My eyes widen, even if I’m admittedly wet at the image.

“Fucking like a rag doll?” Lark smirks. “Can Betas even be knotted?”

Well, that image has blown my mind.

So, Antonio has taken the place of an Omega within this pack.

Kudos.

“Only with the use of a lot — and I can’t stress this enough — a lot of lube and stretching.” Antonio pulls a face. “And it being hard to walk or sit down for days afterward. But seriously, worth it. On the other hand, my Second Alpha is the one who’s insistent about this pack not taking on an Omega. He’s ex-military, and I think that he’s suffered through a lot of shit. So, a Beta has to do what a Beta has to do. Who am I kidding? That man can make the earth fucking move.”

“Who is he?” Lark demands.

“I can’t tell you that. We are hunted outlaws, you know.” Lark points at his ass. “And I value this too much. In so many ways.”

“I thought that you didn’t get in trouble like that.” Lark narrows his eyes.

“That’s with my bear, Kai, who’s a cinnamon roll giant who you should seriously think about accepting as your Alpha,” Antonio replies. “My Second Alpha, on the other hand, isn’t.”

I wet my dry lips. “Is this far less cuddly Alpha with the kink for duct tape coming back soon?”

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