Page 19 of Harley & Her Ferals

Plus, he’s Head Alpha. The entire pack must submit to him.

How can you defend yourself in a family, when one person has power over everybody else?

How can you protect the people who you love?

“Easy, slow breaths,” Lionzio murmurs, hugging me closer. He darts a glance to our sister, checking that she isn’t watching and gloating. “I’m here, sis.”

I force myself to smile. “I wish that you weren’t.”

Hurt flashes across Lionzio’s face. “I know that I’ve been a shit brother recently but—”

“Because now I have you to worry about as well.”

Lionzio relaxes, before attempting to straighten and look taller, despite the fact that we’re about the same height (and we both know that in fact I could kick his ass in less than ten seconds). “You’re shivering.”

He pulls back from me. Then he slips off his suit jacket, draping it around my shoulders.

Happily, I burrow into the jacket, sniffing at the familiar coffee scent. It slows my heart, settling me.

“Thanks.” I smile.

Lionzio leads me further into the room, directing me to sit on the lefthand side of the table. Then he rounds the table, sitting opposite me.

I’ve always hated how large this table is. It isolates the three of us, even though we’re sitting together.

Dad enjoys us being alone in order that we can be competitive with each other.

Everything is a contest to him, simply something to make you stronger.

I swallow, glancing at the large, crimson seat that sits like a throne at the head of the table.

Then my gaze slips to the spot next to it, where Mum would kneel to be handfed by Dad.

Except, one day Dad decided to break his bond with Mom because she’d only produced two Omegas and no Alpha.

He broke his bond with her right there in front of me over breakfast.

As if he’d had nothing to do with Allegra and my birth.

It was the worst and most traumatizing day of my life.

Before then, I thought that family and pack was stable and safe.

I believed and trusted in them.

After that, I realized that they could be broken, taken away,lost.

The week after the birth of my sister, my childhood was over.

So was my belief in pack bonds.

Slowly, Feral and River are starting to give that belief back, but I know just how fragile and dangerous bonds still are.

I will never take family for granted again.

When I glance at Lionzio, however, I smile. He returns it, surprised.

He’s the only good thing that came out of that nightmare year.

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