Page 15 of Harley

“Girl,” I whisper as I draw closer to her. “What the fuck?” I mutter under my breath. For the first time, I see a look on her face that’s never been there before. I don’t even think she knows what the hell just happened.

Then she shakes her head and pushes her hair behind her ears. “Let’s go, before he comes back.”

I nod in agreement, and Veronica comes up behind us, ushering us along.

“I should really take my blockers,” I hear Storm mutter to herself.

* * *

As we arrive at the meet and greet, the black town car does a loop around the block until we’re at the back entrance. I can see the alphas lining the streets, waiting to get in to meet me and Storm.

“Fuck, there’s more than yesterday.” Even though today’s the last day, why does it look like triple the alphas than the day before?

“That’s what happens when you don’t have fifty packs in that barrel, Harley,” Veronica chides. “You have all day to meet and greet, but if you don’t have names, I will put in the ones I see fit.”

I swallow the lump in my throat. What if they don’t come? What if I don’t find him? I will have to draw a name from the lottery, and that’s it. I haven’t even let any pack get their ticket yet. I have a list of my back-up choices, but there are only a handful of names there. Not the fifty needed.

Veronica laughs and shakes her head. “I can see the wheels ticking over now. You think you’re pretty smart, messing around with the way the Choosing Day works. But we have the last say. No matter what you think, you will have fifty names in there.”

I don’t answer her. I can put fifty names in there. As long as the one I want is in my hand come Choosing Day, it doesn’t matter.

I look out as we pass more alphas, searching for his dark hair, those pale blue eyes, and coming up short. Maybe he’s not from Crescent City? After all this time, he might be from Lakewood City. Shit. That might have been why they didn’t know Riverton was an alpha-free town and why they stopped.

“It’s okay. You’ll find the dream today.” Storm takes my hand and squeezes. “I can just feel it.”

“You too. I hope today brings your dream,” I reply with a small smile. I don’t know if I can feel as optimistic as Storm. I don’t know what I’ll do if he doesn’t come.

She winks over at me. “Oh, I’ve found my dream.”

* * *

He didn’t come. He wasn’t there. I now have fifty packs that I didn’t choose in the lottery for next Sunday. Veronica didn’t even add my back-ups said I was too late to give her the list. I have a whole week to prepare for the day I still don’t get to choose. It’s not fair. I had a way, but no pack to choose. But when has anything been fair since the day I found out I’m omega?

“I’m sorry, Harley.” Storm holds her breath and moves in to hug me.

At first, I’m confused, but I quickly hold my breath and return the hug. I’m hugging her... Holy crap. We can hug. I feel a tear slip down my face as I pull away and wipe it. I don’t want to cry.

“But you have found them. The ones you want,” I ask.

Storm wiggles her brows and nods. “I can’t wait for Choosing Day, it’s gonna be… wild.”

Oh no. What does that mean? Which pack she’s gonna choose.? I can’t ask her… we can’t be caught so I bite my lip to stop myself. But I really want to know.

She pokes her fingers into my jeans’ pocket and winks at me. “Just in case, I got you one too.”

I look down to my pocket and reach in, and she grabs my wrist just as my fingers hit the paper in there… the ticket.

“Don’t. You know what it is.” She winks and looks up at the camera watching us. Then she pokes out her tongue and skips over to where Frankie has set up a card game for the two of them.

I look up into the camera and wonder if he can see me. I don’t know if Gage has access to the cameras inside, but I feel my pocket to where my leaf is and now, beside it, sits a blank ticket for the Choosing Day lottery. If only Gage had a pack that I could put in there. At least then I know for sure I could keep him.

I turn to my room and grab my black denim jacket and reapply my red lipstick. I purse my lips and blow myself a kiss. Placing my lipstick on the side table, I walk right out of my bedroom door and march past the other guards and one omega—Jasmine—and out into the garden, slamming the door behind me. I don’t care now. They can see me out here; they’re always watching me. I’m never alone.

My nose is instantly cold, but I don’t care. I’m going to find my beta and kiss him under the leaves again. I skip my way to him, unable to wipe the smile from my face. I haven’t seen him in days, and I miss him. I’m so busy thinking about all the things I want to do to him, I don’t realize I can’t smell him until it’s too late and I’m hit with the scent of an alpha. I come to a sudden stop, and my smile drops from my face.

Jonathan is standing in the guardhouse. His suit jacket is gone, and his tight baby-blue shirt is stretched tight across his chest. Ugh this guy knows how to dress to show off his body. I hate the way he looks good in that shirt. When I meet his face, he doesn’t look happy to see me. Fuck. Where’s Gage? Shit, shit, shit.

Jonathan raises an eyebrow, and I relax my body and act like this was planned. I’m not out here looking for a beta who I have fallen for.

---