Page 93 of Harley & Her Ferals

“Come on.” I straighten my shoulders. “The assholes will need to make way for us. I’m not going to be intimidated by Vinnie. We have work to do.”

I grasp River’s hand and march toward the two men.

I don’t expect the way that Harbinger prowls forward to meet me.

He scans over the bruises on my neck. “Are you okay, Kitten?”

He raises his hand, before stopping himself and lowering it again.

I narrow my eyes. “No thanks to you,Wolf.”

Harbinger flinches.

He runs his hand through his hair, slicking it back like he doesn’t know how to deal with me outside the octagon.

His hair isn’t tied back by ribbon now. My stomach tightens at how much I like it this way.

Also, how much I like how he smells.

I can’t help taking in deep breaths of his vanilla bourbon scent.

It’s delicious.

It also holds a hint of unexpected sweetness that takes me by surprise.

I chase after it, desperately.

He’s also taking deep breaths and trying to hide it.

Is he chasing aftermyscent as well?

Is that what’s knocking him off his game?

Finally, Harbinger steadies himself, and his gaze becomes frosty. “I thought that we were playing. Don’t take it personally, Kitty. But I always win.”

“Is that why you’re the one who is leashed right now?”

“Stop talking to the Omega.” Vinnie viciously jerks Harbinger back. Harbinger grits his teeth. “You’re meant to be telling me which fighters are the weakest.”

“Why?” Harbinger demands, icily. “Are you intending to give them a nice break in Hawaii? A raise, if you paid them to start with? Because if it’s option three tocullthem, then I pass.”

“Fucker.” Vinnie yanks on the chain again, using the motion to slam Harbinger into the wall. I wince. “Fighters are disposable.”

Before I can hold him back, River is snatching the medical bag from my shoulder and surging forward to Harbinger’s side.

Harbinger’s eyes widen like he’s never been tended to gently before, as River carefully lifts Harbinger’s bruised wrist between his hands, testing it from side to side. “You shouldn’t keep pulling him about by this wrist, Mr. Hades. It’s injured. Plus, the chain is wound too tightly. You’re going to fracture the joint.”

I shake, remembering all the times that my brother has been yanked up by his wrist from the dining table by Dad.

All the times that I needed to wrap Lionzio’s wrist for him.

All the times that it was fractured.

Harbinger appears too shocked by River’s sudden attention that he allows the Beta to move him around, staring at River in wonder.

Vinnie, however, reddens with rage.

“How dare you talk back to me, Beta?” Vinnie bellows. “You’re nothing but a Companion orphan. Have you forgotten what happened to your parents? Do I need to remind you?Send you to visit them?”

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