Page 43 of Nest Of Lies

And something is very wrong with our beta.

Chapter fifteen

Lia

I curl up onthe floor beside Ranger. It took a while to get control of myself, but after a few hours, I feel like normal.

“What is this place?” he asks with a smile. “I know it’s a panic room, but why is it like this?”

I glance around. I like black tulle, and I’ve covered the walls until you can’t see them anymore, then I hung fairy lights all around the inside. The floor is actually several really thin mattresses layered over each other until the entire space is claimed.

“It’s my place.”

Ranger holds up a hand, and I put mine in his instantly. “Its suits you.”

How does he know that? Why doesn’t he see what everyone else does?

“Everyone thinks the mansion suits me,” I admit.

“Oh, no, you don’t suit this horrible house. You’re a solid woods, deep colours, rich tapestries, secret doorways, and hidden attics kind of beta.”

I stare down at him. “Where did you grow up, Ranger? I don’t know anything about you guys.”

“Lay down with me, and I’ll tell you.”

I crawl down and lay my head on the pillow I brought down. He turns with a pained groan until we’re nose to nose.

“Story time,” Ranger teases and kisses the tip of my nose.

I kiss him back on the lips without thinking. We both still, and I pull back.

“Sorry.”

“Don’t be. All right. So, I grew up here in this city. I had a family until I was twelve, and then I lived in a couple of foster homes until this really tough beta took me in. I was a little brat, pick-pocketing, running all over the joint, furious and pissed off with the world.”

“Seriously?” I ask, shocked.

“Absolutely. I met Zaden when I tried to rob his dad. He brought me back to the clubroom and told Zaden to keep an eye on me because I’d make good pack and hired my foster mum. Oh, I tried to run away, I fought tooth and nail, I broke every rule. I pissed off all the high-ranking members, but at the end of the day, Zion was right. I was pack.”

“Zion?”

“Oh, that’s Zaden’s dad. You’ll meet him one day soon. He’s been setting up other chapters, but he drops in and out occasionally.”

“You guys hate it when I’m over there,” I point out.

Ranger winces as he lifts his arm and puts it over me. “I hate it so much I do everything possible to get you to come back.”

I frown, confused. “Ranger.”

“Lia,” he mimics me and kisses my nose again.

The silent alarm goes off, and the lights flash. I sit up, ignoring his gasp of pain.

“Oh, shit. Oh, no. Not now.”

“What’s wrong?”

“My mother is here,” I whisper in shock and fear. “She never comes here!” I scramble up and look back at him. “Don’t leave this room. Don’t make a sound. Just stay here and hide. She can’t find you here!”

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