Page 174 of Harley & Her Ferals

But he’s never doubted me or my love.

After all, we’re bonded.

An Omega bond is a powerful, ancient thing. It’s forbidden amongst most packs. I feel connected on a primal level to Laurent.

Eventually, our heats will even align.

I can’t wait to be in rhythm with him like that. I’ve missed being around Omegas, and he’s the perfect one for me.

Yet he’s set to be the prize in the NPH.

What happens if another Alpha, aside from Feral or Harbinger, wins?

I shudder.

I can’t let myself think that we’ll lose one of our Alphas, let alone two.

I stroke my fingers through River’s silky curls to soothe myself.

Yet it’s become apparent over the last week that our grand plan can’t happen before the NPH without Dad finding us out.

Dad has Alpha security stationed outside the door. He’s monitoring us.

Trust me, Laurent has urged repeatedly.

I do.

It’s hard, however, when our lives hang in the balance.

I whine, taking deep breaths of River’s Sicilian lemon scent.

I try to imagine that I’m no longer in the dark, but instead, I’m hiking on Mount Etna with River like he described it to me. We’re surrounded by bright bursts of flowers.

I can feel the sun warm on my face.

“I wish that it wasn’t only a dream.” I lean to kiss River on the forehead.

All afternoon, Laurent and River were sitting together on the floor, talking together in hushed voices. Their heads were so close together that their black and blond hair mingled.

I do trust Laurent. Possibly more than I’ve trusted anyone.

I have to because our lives and futures are in his hands. In the same way, when he was first dragged here, he trustedme. He made the deal with me, despite my being his enemy’s daughter.

Yet this has been the tensest week of my life, and I’ve grown up around the most volatile mafia boss in the Underworld.

River has become our strongest asset. I should have known that he’d be excellent at both spying and acting as an undercover agent.

He’s been secretly doing both from the moment that he was brought into the Battle pack.

Laurent and he have grown not only close as lovers, but also, as family. They are inseparable in their plotting.

River is a proud Lieutenant for Laurent.

Laurent rolls his eyes, when River salutes him.

But I can tell how much he loves it.

River’s advantage is that he knows Battle House so well and that he has been able to slip in and out of the suite throughsecurity on the excuse that he needs to make our meals or retrieve drinks and snacks for us.

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