Page 7 of Psycho Alphas: Part One

“Ladies and gentlemen, Thistle Maverick, scent match, and executioner of Ace Maverick.”

The world was backwards and upside down and I’d never understood it, because my beginning always started with endings.

Butthisending? It wasn’t as scary as some of the others.

Bright lights focused on me and burned my eyes, blocking the sea of onlookers, watching the cuffed, gagged, and chained Omega on the stage—the one about to be sold. But it wasmythroat circled by metal and my wrists chained together, marking a possession they could never truly have.

Not anymore.

It was okay—Iwould be okay. I knew that now. I’d learned so much since the first moment I’d met Ace. Since the moment I’d held that gun to my temple for him.

A mistake.

I’d been caught slipping from my hideout. Me and Bunny, we needed to get out of the city, but there were people tracking me that I had to shake first. I hadn’t known there was a bounty on my head—the scent match of the recently dead gang leader of the Brotherhood, which had fallen apart when he was found dead.

But then I’d been snatched by a pair of Betas, clutching Bunny to my chest before I was dragged to this horrible place. Bunny wasn’t with me. We’d been separated, but I knew he wasn’t far.

He wouldn’t leave me. Not ever.

I don’t know how long I’d been here.

A day, maybe?

Long enough to realise what they wanted—and the dull ache of bruising when I’d refused to give it.

“Do what you want with her—but if you get the truth of Maverick’s fate before she diced him up, we’re all dying to know.”

There was a laugh from the crowd, and I blinked into the lights, my lip curling at the words, but I settled my growl.

Everything would be okay.

What happened between me and Ace that night, it was mine, and these filthy Alphas would never have it.

I was being sold like a trophy, but no one here had any idea what I was. Not really. Something I could be proud of for the first time.Gladewould be proud of me… I think? She was like a sister. The only person in the world who’d given me a gift.

I’m pretty sure, Bunny, if she knew what we did, she’d definitely be proud.

One day she’d know. I smiled at the thought. She was the only Omega who hadn’t left me behind or forgotten me, even when she could have.

The Auctioneer was still speaking, but I was only half paying attention.

“…Not recommended for bonding—with three of her scent matches dead, I don’t imagine she’s even got the capacity left…”

My stomach twisted at those words, and I might have wrung my fingers if I wasn’t chained, but I clenched my jaw. He didn’t know what he was talking about.

Threescent matches?

That had always been a lie.

Just one.

Justhim.

Since the moment I’d met him, I’d known Ace’s was the only scent that would ever, ever,ever—I flinched.

Uh…

What was that?

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