Page 202 of Harley & Her Ferals

“You’re now in the perfect position to take down this entire cage fighting and kidnapping operation.” Laurent’s voice is precise and sharp.

He’s been planning this from the start, as much as I’ve dreamed about it.

“How?” I ask.

Laurent holds up the wooden king chess piece. “Your Dad always has to be seen as the king in any situation. It’s his weakness. He manipulates each situation, to make sure that he looks like the most dominant, powerful person in the Underworld, even in a world of deadly fighters. It’s why he tears your brother down and has that collar around Feral’s neck. It’swhy he sets you siblings against each other in contests for his love or the succession. It’s also why he set up the celebration of the new heir to actually be death matches, which would weaken the main packs who could challenge him.”

River furrows his brow. “How does this help us?”

“The point is that it doesn’t help Don Battle. How many people are grieving for their dead or injured fighters? How many more have grudges against him? Don thinks that he just made himself look strong. In fact, he has only made himself appear a bloodthirsty tyrant. On the other hand, you…?” Laurent points at me with a smirk. “You’re now the respected first ever Omega heir with astunningelite Omega at your side, a much loved Beta, and two Alpha Champions. You’ve the first viable opposition to Don that there’s been. A fresh new power in the Underworld. People would truly follow the Ferals because we have proved real strength.”

“People?” My heart is beating fast.

Laurent is painting a picture that I hope is true.

I’ve been dreaming that the packs would follow me against Dad for years.

We’ve been building, move by move, toward this point.

Are we truly there?

I bite my lip, trembling with excitement.

Laurent picks up the opposing rook to the king in his hand from the chess set. “One of my strengths is reading people. I’ve needed to in order to survive both the academy that I grew up in and at the events with elite Alphas, which Mom dragged me to. If I couldn’t read people, then I couldn’t know how to flirt without being violated, while I was being passed around like a pretty treat. I learned how to manipulate Alphas. The small set of wealthy and corrupt Alphas, who are using the Alpha fighters for their entertainment and bets, are like those revolting men and women from those events. But they don’t hold the power. Thereare more Betas in the Underworld than any other dynamic. Don’t you see?They hold the real power.And River is such a brave and kind man that most of them would follow him to war.”

River blushes. “I would follow every one of you, the Ferals.”

Laurent raises the rook. “This is the endgame, where I’m devastating. We have the king surrounded. River with his Betas. Romilly with the Alpha fighters. And most of the Omegas, as well as the majority of the packs, who would choose you over your tyrannical dad. Now, we are going to be the spark that gets them to rise up.”

“You’re talking about a full revolution.” Excitement rushes through me.

“I am.” Laurent gives a dangerous smile, dropping the king and kicking it as hard as he can to smash it against the far wall. “And we are going to win.”

Unexpectedly, Harbinger’s hoarse voice says, “Well, then it’s lucky that I’m also a member of the Omega resistance.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-SIX

Heir’s Suite, Battle House, The Alpha Underworld

“Wolf,” I say beneath my breath in wonder.

I stare down into Harbinger’s green eyes. They’ve never looked more beautiful to me.

I throw myself into Harbinger’s arms, hugging him.

“Careful, Kitten, still tender,” Harbinger grumbles. I can feel that he’s smiling, however, as he kisses my head. Feral possessively licks harder across his bond bite on Harbinger’s neck. Harbinger shivers. “And now I’m hard.”

Joy burns through the bond from River. “Amore mio,thank you.”

The two men’s gazes meet, at the same time that River clasps onto Harbinger’s hand.

He doesn’t need to say what he’s thanking Harbinger for. We all know.

River is shaking.

Harbinger is still weak but he tightens his hold on River’s hand. “I’ve got you, Sunshine. I always will. With a Devil Alpha and a badass one like me around, no one is going to hurt you again. If they try, I’ll cut off their balls and hang them over your bed as a decoration for you.”

Feral nods. “Use th-their cock as a candle.”

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