Page 170 of Wanted Beta

He holds up his hands. “I’m not here for a fight.”

He looks at Arrow, and something passes between them that I don’t fully grasp.

“I deserve it,” he murmurs, when Arrow appears to hesitate. “Make it hurt.”

Arrow swings his arm and slaps him hard enough to make a cracking sound.

The handprint left behind is bright red.

Arrow rubs his hand, and stares at our intruder. “You should have told me.”

That asshole stretches his jaw and rubs at his cheek before he focuses on Arrow again.

He doesn’t curse him out like I expect.

The bastard looks regretful. “I’m sorry about that, truly and deeply. In my defence, I’ve never spent any time around Omegas before, and our connection took me by surprise.”

“That’s no excuse,” Arrow tells him, while I try to take in what they’re telling me through their conversation. “You knew I’d be upset. That’s why you didn’t tell me who you were.”

Arrow’s in heat, but he isn’t begging me to take him to bed.

And this guy is talking like he’s got a bond with my Omega.

Fucking hell. Arrow spoke about a fifth mate.

“Please tell me this isn’t your fifth mate?” I ask, already knowing the answer.

It’s staring me right in the face. The guy was half naked in here, and this room smells even more strongly of Arrow’s perfume than the kitchen did when he was running toward me.

“I wish I could,” Arrow admits. “We’re not off to a great start here.”

“Like your Alpha said, I’m an asshole.”

I stare at him. “You hurt Beth. She doesn’t want anything to do with you.”

He sighs. “I know.”

“You can’t just walk in here and claim our Omega as yours. We’re a pack.”

“I know that, too.”

“Then how the hell do you expect this to work?” I ask.

He doesn’t know how to answer that, I can see it in his eyes.

There’s guilt there, too, but he still snuck into our lives.

He didn’t try to find the right way to deal with this.

He looks at Arrow and then back at me.

“Considering I’m fated to two of your mates, I expect something will happen to make it work.” He shrugs. “I’ll leave if you want me to, but you’ll only be hurting Arrow and Beth if you force me to stay away for good.”

“Leave,” I tell him, opening the pantry door and getting ready to kick him out into the alley.

“Wait,” Arrow says, as he takes a step toward the door.

I take in a deep breath as I wait for my Omega to explain why he isn’t letting this guy leave.

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