Page 38 of Mercy & Her Devils

I let out a laugh that may be a little hysterical. “Uh-huh, and to think that last month, my main concern was how to catch the dust bunnies underneath the bed or making sure that the rim was as sparkling as the rest of the toilet.”

Lark stiffens. “Quite, yes. Those evil, breeding bunnies and there are many ways to clean…lick rims…wait, what are we talking about?”

I splutter with laughter. “You’ve never cleaned anything in your life, have you?”

“That’s right, make fun of the pampered, City Omega. We had a legion of Beta servants at Blade House who did the cleaning. I lived there with Sydney’s brother, Cygnus, and his bonded pack. Cygnus was my only real friend. My role was to kneel for Sydney, worship her, and produce and care for her heirs. She never loved me, and since Millie’s an Omega, she never loved our daughter.”

“I wish that I could kick her ass.”

“Believe me, I’d never allow you near her. She was used to kicking other Alphas’ asses.”

“Hey,” I protest. “Let me at least enjoy the fantasy.”

“I’m an orphan.” Lark avoids my gaze. “Companion House here in the Institute was held over my head my entire life. My wealthy aunt, who reluctantly took me in, would threaten me at least once a week: if you don’t eat those greens, improve those grades, stop that backtalk, then I’ll be dropping you off at Companion House. It was terrifying to know that with one wrong move I could lose all my status, rights, and protection by becoming a Companion. Sydney knows that it’s my greatest fear: To end up here. For my daughter to. I took her mistreatment for years but I still never dreamed that she’d do this to me.”

My muscles are weak, but I roll myself on top of Lark, needing to feel as much of him as I can.

He blinks up at me, as I lie on top of him, in surprise. “This is definitely not like a date in the movies.”

I grip his cheeks, staring into his eyes. “I don’t care if she’s twice as tall as me. I’ll still kick her ass.”

Lark’s expression becomes soft with wonder. “Maybe you can set those scary sounding dust bunnies on her.”

I nod.

He probably thinks they’re some kind of savage creature.

“Why would Sydney break your bond though?” I ask.

Lark’s lips thin. “The irony is, I didn’t do anything. She and her corrupt father did. When I was chosen by Sydney, I was meant to be grateful and act the role of the dutiful Omega. All I could focus on, after Millie was born, was protecting my child. Then the ice hockey team got caught out in criminal activities that I don’t fully understand because Sydney snatched us and fled, leaving her dad to take the fall. He’s being punished in the Alpha Center now. We just traveled from hotel to hotel in secret. She became more and more paranoid and desperate…”

I draw in my breath.

Lark bares his teeth. “Finally, the press caught up with Sydney, cornering her. She snapped, turning feral. I only raised my arm to shield Millie, but Sydney was screaming that I was fighting her. The Beta receptionist called the cops, and that was it. I was pinned to the floor by three Alpha cops, while Sydney broke the bond.”

My heart breaks at the thought of Lark being encircled and held down, while something as intimate as that happened in public.

I understand now why he doesn’t want to be near Alphas.

“I never thought that she’d reject her own daughter as well,” he whispers. “But then, I hoped at least that it’d mean Millie would be safe with me.”

“May I accept Millie into my pack? Adopt her?” I meet Lark’s gaze, tracing down his jaw.

Lark’s breath catches. “You don’t need to feel like you have to.”

“I don’t. But while we still have a choice, I want to.”

“That’s a relief. Because she chose you days ago. She likes you.”

“She’s a good judge of character.”

“Don’t be too cocky. She also adopted the monster that lives in the shadows and a beetle that she named Raisin.”

“And are you adopting me?”

I hardly dare breathe.

Lark lifts his hand to wind it through my hair. “This is the best date that I’ve ever been on, and although it’s also the only one, the incredible thing is that for the first time in my life, I have a choice who I love, choose, or have in my pack.” He balls his hand into a fist, tightening his hold. “I choose you, Mercy. Let’s make a pact. Omegas only from now on. We make our own Omega found family, as long as we can.”

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