Page 71 of Harley & Her Ferals

He helps me to pull my shorts back up. “Do you want to finish your tea? Sorry that it will be cold. Shall I make some more now?”

I shake my head. “I feel well enough to go back to the attic. I want to see Feral and check that he’s okay. You may need to treat his burns, if he was shocked. Also, you’ll get to meet Laurent that way.”

“Ah, the legendary Laurent. The Betas who were at the fight were fangirling over him all breakfast. Is he truly the mostbeautiful Omega in the world? Of course, not including you.”

Awkward, I look away.

How will River feel that Feral and I think that we’ve found the male Omega for our pack?

Will he feel rejected?Threatened?

River sits back on his haunches. “What’s wrong? Is he actually the most beautifuldick?”

“You’re definitely the sweet to his sharp.” Then I get out in a rush, “We haven’t had the time to discuss it with Laurent yet, but he’s my Omega soulmate. He’s also Feral’s scent match. But that doesn’t need to mean anything—”

“Amazing!” River bounces to his feet, lighting up like the sun. He gestures wildly like he can’t work out what to say or do first. “You’ve finally found our male Omega? Your soulmate? Feral’s scent match? This is brilliant. Our pack is complete, bella.”

I laugh in relief, caught up in his excitement.

I should have known that a kind and pack orientated man like River would react like this, rather than be jealous.

River grabs me by the shoulders and drags me to my feet. I laugh again, when he twirls me around like he needs to express his joy.

His grin is infectious.

“This is the best news.” He kisses me. “The best day of my life. We should be celebrating…”

“We should at least introduce you first.” I push a stray curl behind River’s ear. What will my cool black cat male Omega make of my golden retriever Beta? “You’ll both love each other though, I’m sure.”

I mean, I think.

Hope.

Fifty-fifty.

“Love, bella?”

The tips of my ears redden. I open my mouth and then close it, unsure what to say.

River takes a deep breath of my scent, pulling me close against his neck.

His voice becomes low and dangerously smooth. “I can’t wait to meet the man who can make my beautiful Omega speechless.”

I clear my throat. Then I wince, remembering why I shouldn’t do that.

“Laurent is still a prize in Dad’s Championship Special,” I explain. “He’s not part of our pack, until Fer and I win him. And we just lost the last match. I failed to free Fer from the chains that bind him to Dad.”

“Can’t you claim Fer, if you become heir?” River’s brow furrows.

How do I tell River this?

I wrap my arms around River tighter, as if I’ll never have to let him go this way.

Like now I can remain forever in this rundown Eden that River created with its artificial sunlight that allows his flowers to survive.

“The only advantage that I have over my siblings is that I can fight. And I just lost,” I admit. “My brother guards Dad’s secrets as well as his books. My sister is the First Omega, the good one. If Allegra chooses the Hades, then she’ll also unite the strongest packs and heal the feud between them. She’ll make up for the fact that I rejected Vinnie publicly. So, why would Dad choose me as his heir?”

“Your Dad has reasons for everything he does, including turning all of you against each other in this cruel scramble for succession. He retains the control then. He’ll never give it up.” River’s blue eyes blaze. “He values ruthlessness and courage. We simply need to think of something shocking, spectacular, and unexpected that proves to him that you’re stronger than your siblings will ever be. You also have something that neither of them have: a found family.Fer and me. We’ll do anything to help make you heir and keep this pack together. But first, I need to bring you all breakfast. I’m also eager to meet the final member, Laurent. What’s the bet that the pretty playboy islounging lazily in a nest, ordering the servants about, and just waiting for a brave Beta like me to save him?”

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