Page 198 of Harley & Her Ferals

Feral slams Harbinger’s head once more against the floor.

Harbinger’s eyes are dazed. He groans.

Feral leans over him, whispering something.

Harbinger’s eyes clear.

He nods.

Feral is in control. In any other match, he’d be declared the winner.

The only thing that remains is to kill the loser.

“Do it,” Dad commands.

I stiffen.

Don’t.

Please.

Don’t.

Feral pushes Harbinger’s hair out of the way, baring his neck.

River sobs. Lionzio pulls the Beta against his chest in comfort.

Feral bares his canines, licking across Harbinger’s exposed neck.

Harbinger shivers.

Then Feral bites.

I howl in distress.

Through my tears, however, I’m shocked to see that it’s not a savaging that tears out Harbinger’s throat.

It’s a claiming bite.

A bonding.

It’s primal and ancient. A conquered Alpha being bitten and bonded by a feral Alpha.

Back in ancient times, this is how warrior Alphas would battle each other to prove who was stronger and deserved to become Chief Alpha.

It’s deeper than any modern etiquette or rule.

No one will contest it, even in a death match.

I burst into surprised laughter through my tears. Laurent’s shoulders slump with relief.

“This was your hidden move, wasn’t it?” I pull Laurent closer. “You told Feral to use his nature as his strength and not a weakness.”

“It is a strength.” Laurent is still trembling. “I hoped that we’d never be driven to this point. Did you really think that your Dad could beat me at this game?”

Below me, River is hugging Lionzio.

The audience is going wild with cheers and an unexpected joy.

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