Page 212 of Harley & Her Ferals

When Lionzio raises his head, his eyes are steely. “Have you ever had your entire world crash around you, Omega?”

“Firstly, I’m not an Omega, my name is Laurent.” Laurent flashes his teeth. “And yes, several times.”

Lionzio scrutinizes him, before nodding like he believes him. “Then you’ll understand that when Mom dressed me up in my best clothes and told me thattimes were hard, which was why my dad had agreed to let the same pack adopt me who had taken my little brother, I wanted to die. I fought against her, my Alpha Dad, and Vinnie who collected me. They had to tie me up and blindfold me. I lost my family. I was alone.Terrified.Amongst strangers. But then, I met you, Harley, and I realized that I had a new sis. Focusing on protecting Feral and you as much as I could, is the only thing that’s kept me alive.”

My heart breaks.

I drop to the floor, squirming as close as I can to the Alphas and Beta cuddle pile.

I nuzzle Lionzio and then Feral, before curling my arms around them both.

“As much as I enjoy watching this reunion and snugglefest, Kitten,” Harbinger says, “we’re still under pressure about this whole revolution thing.”

“Are you in?” Laurent arches his brow.

When Lionzio hesitates a moment too long, my pulse races.

What the hell do we do, if Lionzio refuses?

I don’t want to leave him behind. He’s Feral’s biological brother. He’s my adopted brother.

I won’t abandon him. I won’t allow anyone to harm him.

At the same time, it would be a death sentence, if Lionzio told Dad any of this.

Yet Lionzio has as much reason as any of us to want to escape the Underworld and take revenge on Dad.

“Fuck’s sake,” I hiss. “You can’t still be loyal to Dad. He keeps you like a kicked dog, begging for his scraps of approval. Surely…”

“I have a lot of contact with Alphas who go back and forth into the Above,” Lionzio finally replies. “Do you know how dangerous it is up there? I remember it from before I was sent down here as well. Your plan must include escaping from here, huh? What would be waiting for us, even if we rise up? You’re so rebellious that you’d be marked as a Reject. And me? I’d have no one. I’d be alone.”

“Idiot.” Laurent rolls his eyes. “You’re currently being held so tightly that it looks painful by your sister, brother, and best friend. You may have lived alone, painfully hiding the truth of your identity, but right now, you have a family.”

Lionzio’s face lights up with hope. “Will I, if your plan works?”

“Always,” I reply.

“Brother.” Feral raises their joined hands.

Lionzio’s expression becomes determined. “Then I truly will be the queen on your chessboard and end this game. And I’mnot a kicked dog or a puppy. I’m a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Dad thought that I wasn’t worth becoming his heir because I couldn’t fight. ButItrickedhim. So, fuck the knothead. Because I lost my Alphahood Test onpurposeto make sure that he’d put me in charge of his books. He willingly gave me access to every shady deal and sensitive piece of information. I’ve been tracking everything and keeping secret records for years. Why do you think I look so exhausted? I have the evidence to take down not only Dad’s cage fighting but also his trafficking across America. We just need to get out of here. Except, Dad won’t let us go without a fight.”

Laurent’s smile becomes dangerous. “Then we’ll give him a fight that he’ll never see coming.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

The Tunnels, The Alpha Underworld

Shaking, I stare up at the high, iron door.

It’s the main exit to the Underworld.

The only way to escape.

I ball my hands into fists. My mind is racing as fast as my pulse is.

I’ve imagined standing here for years.

Dreamed it.

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