Page 140 of Harley & Her Ferals

“No,” Lionzio whispers in horror. “You can’t…I’mthe one who has been trained my entire life for this role. You can’t do this…”

My heart breaks at his pain.

Yet if Lionzio keeps defying Dad like this, then he’ll suffer more than humiliation.

“Dearest brother, shut up,” Allegra hisses.

I also try to hush Lionzio, but he shoots me a cold look that’s filled with hurt.

He’s never looked at me like that before.

I shrink back, but at the same time, I understand why he’s feeling like he is.

I don’t blame him.

Dad ignores Lionzio and Allegra like they’re now irrelevancies.

Like he’s always treated me before he decided that he’d use me as his puppet heir.

Dad rests his heavy hand on my shoulder, steering me to the front of the stage. “As a reward, Harley will now choose a bonded Beta to join her pack.”

A bonded Beta.

My heart is in my throat.

My gaze meets River’s shining one. Tears tremble on his eyelashes. He’s placed down his tray like the other waiters have, while he kneels. Unlike them, he’s raised his head.

Finally, I have a chance to claim River as mine.

To keep him safe from a forced bonding.

To protect him from my sister’s cruelty.

To stop him from being treated as a servant.

Dad squeezes my shoulder. “Go ahead. Pick any unbonded Beta.”

I take a breath.

But when my brother notices the direction of my gaze, his eyes become wild. “No…”

“River,” I say, resolutely.

River smiles like the sun coming up.

“Stop this,” Lionzio snarls, stalking in front of me to block my view of River. “Choose someone else.Anyone else.This is crazy. I’m meant to be the heir. Please, this is… Why are you doing this to me, Dad? I’ve done everything that you’ve asked of me. I showed you my plan for the pack. For the Underworld. I haven’t slept, since you announced this contest, because I’ve been working so hard. What more do you want from me? You adopted me to be your Alpha son. You fucking took everything from me to have an heir. How can you wreck my life again? I won’t lose Riv.”

Dread churns in my guts.

What the hell is Lionzio doing?

Dad will tear out his throat for defying him publicly.

Lionzio knows exactly what Dad does to him, when he talks back or disobeys.

Yet he appears to be unable to stop himself.

He’s shaking, running his hand desperately through his hair, as if to self-comfort himself.

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