Page 147 of Harley & Her Ferals

I flinch, when Dad slaps River.

I know that it’s only a warning, however, because it’s with an open palm. It’s more to humiliate and remind River of his place, than to hurt.

River struggles to remain standing. His hands ball into fists.

“And may Iorderyou to fucking tell me what’s wrong with my daughter?” Dad bellows.

I shake, unable to cope in my fevered state with Dad’s rage.

“Please, you’re scaring me, Head Alpha,” Laurent soothes in the sweet voice that he saves only for my dad.

Dad flicks a glance over River’s shoulder at Laurent, and his oppressive Alpha pheromones lighten.

I take a relieved breath, as Laurent combs his fingers through my hair.

“It’s all right, tesoruccio,” Dad reassures. “I’m not angry atyou. But wipe that shit off your face. You’re a pure,cleanelite. You should know better. Don’t let anyone paint you up like a whore again.”

Something deadly flashes in Laurent’s eyes, before he gives a smile with too many teeth. “Whatever you say, Head Alpha.”

He’s drawing the attention onto himself to distract from both River and me.

He does that a lot —sacrifice himself.

In this, he’s similar to Harbinger.

My Alpha.

My core throbs. I moan.

My Alphas.

Laurent kisses my head, attempting to calm me. “Hang on. I’ve got you.”

Yet I desperately need my two Alphas.

“She’s in heat,” River quietly replies.

For a moment, Dad simply stares at him.

Then he snarls and grabs River by the throat, dragging him up onto his toes. “Say that again, little Beta. We both know that it should be impossible, hmm?”

Shocked, I struggle to push myself out of bed to help River, but Laurent holds onto my shoulder to stop me.

“Dad,” I plead. “Let Riv go.”

“You did this.” Dad’s eyes are snapping with fury. When he tightens his hand around River’s throat, River struggles. “I knew that letting you live was a mistake. My son begged for mercy for you because you were a kid. I thought that Lionzio and you simply got on as friends when you first met. Maybe my son had a pathetic crush on you even then. I should have wiped out your entire family, when I had the chance. Letting the baby viper live to grow up to bite its venom into you as an adult is a mistake. But I’ll cut off your head now.”

What does Dad mean?

“It wasn’t me,” River rasps.

My eyes are misty with tears. “Don’t touch him. Riv is my promised bonded Beta. Whatever you think he’s done, you swore that I could choose my pack.Riv is mine.”

“What he’s done,” Dad shakes River, “is swap out your heat suppressants for fake ones. He’s the one who delivers the medicines on the Battle estate. How else would you have fallen into a heat in the middle of the ball, where I’m announcing you as heir…andhimas your bonded?”

I freeze.

I feel chilled.

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