Page 14 of Harley & Her Ferals

Feral shakes his head at me.

My sister has the authority to discipline me, as much as the other Omegas and Betas in the household.

My brother is a hard man. My sister is worse.

I need to watch how I talk to both of them. Hierarchy and competition for status is everything within the Battle Pack.

Feral and I may win hundreds of fights within the octagon. But within this house, which isn’t a home, we’re bound by harsh rules that put us at the bottom of the pack.

I press closer to Feral, needing the solid feel of him to ground me. I take a deep breath of his spicy scent.

I hold tightly onto my self-control. “What’s going on, Lion? Where’s…?”

“Riv?” Feral adds.

Lionzio looks surprised. “Last I saw he was scrubbing the floors of his workshop, before he needs to do the chores in the training rooms. He’s excited about some new flower seeds and medicinal herbs that I did a deal for the Hades pack to bring back on their last kidnapping trip from Above. I heard that the Hades snatched some elite, billionaire Omega. Poor guy. You know how happy Riv’s flower collection makes him. I don’t get what he talks about most of the time, but hey, it’s good to see him smile.”

I shutter my expression.

Yet it hurts in a bittersweet way to see how my brother’s normally stoic expression brightens when he talks about River’s nature obsession.

I love that about River and normally, I also don’t understand half his sunny ramblings. They cheer me up anyway.

Yet it’s terrifying to see Lionzio’s devotion to his best friend.

His love, as if it’s mine reflected back at me.

Have I already lost River?

I swallow.

Feral and I exchange a glance.

Should I admit that River didn’t bring us breakfast? Will he be punished, if he’s simply forgotten his duty?

“Why?” Suspiciously, Allegra peers at me.

“No reason,” I say, quickly.

“Liar,” Allegra sneers, before nuzzling against Lionzio. Lionzio stiffens. “What sweet care for your little Beta nurse. Isn’t it thoughtful, dearest brother? Do you think that they’re covering for him because they’re frightened he’s earned a spanking? Will you punish him yourself? Or shall I tell Dad?”

Lionzio shakes Allegra off with a grimace, adjusting his tie. “Breathe one fucking word, and I’ll make you regret it. Do you think that I don’t know aboutyoursecret late night trips to the enemy Hades estate? Dad’s been promising to announce me as his official heir for months. Don’t you think that if I tell him aboutyourrule breaking, it will seal my succession?”

I chuckle.

Go Lionzio.

What’s Allegra scheming? Or is she trying to bond with the pack that I rejected because of Vinnie’s brutality?

The Hades pack is the center of the kidnappings and Omega trafficking. But perhaps, my sister doesn’t care about that, as long as she becomes First Omega to the second most powerful pack in the Underworld.

Allegra becomes ashen. “Y-y-ou wouldn’t.”

“Are you stuttering?” Lionzio brushes off imaginary lint from his suit jacket. “Be a good Omega and run along to breakfast. I’ll join you soon. Remember, don’t say anything about either River or Feral to Dad, or I may start to tell him everything that I know aboutyou.”

Allegra squeaks with alarm.

Fucking satisfying.

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