Page 18 of Harley

“Can you get us inside? Do you know a way?”

I can’t believe he’s her scent match. But what I can believe is that he never got to meet her. He’s right here—Pack Bentley—and she has no idea that he went back for her. Maybe this is my chance to find a pack… and get the girl.

“I know a way.” I smile over at them all. “But I need to meet Knight first.”

CHAPTER 8

HARLEY

“Just leave her,” I hear one of the guards say to the other. “She’s not going anywhere. She just sits there. It’s strange, but she’s a beta-born omega. Maybe this is normal for them?”

I hear the shuffling of feet as the guards change over for the evening. But I don’t care what they think of me. I don’t care if this is strange. This is the last place I saw him. The last place Gage and I were together...kissing. My first kiss was here, under these leaves, as I hid from everything Omega House. And now, it seems like the only way to ever be close to him again.

I shift on my blankets, the ones I stole from my bed and laid down here two days ago. I haven’t left, even for food. Storm has been bringing me snacks, and Veronica has yelled at me many times to get out from under the tree. She can’t touch me. None of them can. It’s the one rule they haven’t broken yet. But I know it’s coming. Come Choosing Day, Jonathan will use his alpha bark to drag me out of here.

But I will come willingly. If it protects Gage, I will do anything Jonathan says. I never meant for that to happen to him. I shouldn’t have kissed him. I know that, but I can’t stop thinking how, if I never had, I wouldn’t be able to leave here without knowing his taste on my lips.

I hear the first drop of rain, then another. The weather feels the same. I sniffle and wipe away a tear. How did all of this get messed up before I even had a chance to tell him my plan. I don’t know what pack I’m going to pull out on Sunday. But I have a feeling they won’t like the fact I kissed Gage, let alone agree to find him, so I can have him as part of their pack. I’m not supposed to kiss betas. It’s against the law. No one is going to want to break the law for me, in fear they might lose me if we are caught.

“Are you going to be okay in there?” one of the guards whispers. It’s Frankie, and I let out a sigh. At least he’s nice. I don’t mind him being here.

“Yes, the rain doesn’t matter. I won’t leave or jump the fence. I just want to be left alone until Choosing Day.”

There’s a moment of silence before he answers.

“I’m sorry about Gage,” he whispers. “I will leave you alone for a few hours, but then will you promise to come inside where it’s warm? With how cold the nights are, I’m worried you’re going to get sick.”

A drop of cold rain hits my nose and I shiver. It’s been cold and miserable out here the last two days. But it wasn’t raining, at least. I wrap my blankets around me tighter.

“Thank you, Frankie.” I hear his intake of breath.

“You know who I am? You can’t even see me,” he stutters, and it just makes me miss Gage even more. Frankie is so quiet and sweet as hell to Storm, which is a feat on its own. But she makes it easy on him. He’s similar to Gage, being the smallest of the beta guards. But Frankie is...innocent. At least he seems that way. The other omegas don’t acknowledge the guards. Hell, if you asked Daisy their names, I’m sure she wouldn’t know a single one.

“You are the sweetest beta here now, Frankie. I will never forget you.” It sounds like a goodbye, and in reality, it is. After Sunday, I won’t see him again. I won’t see Storm, either. My heart twists. I need to spend what little time I have left with her.

“Miss Harley,” he starts and make a sound in the back of my throat at the ‘Miss.’ “Sorry. Harley, I will never forget you either. It’s a pleasure being a guard for you. You are so kind, and I hope that, whatever happens on Sunday, your dream comes true.”

I freeze at his words. Dream? Oh my god. Why would he use that word if he doesn’t know what it means? Storm...Frankie. He knows. He knows about the ticket. Does Frankie have a pack? I’d always thought the I reach down into my pocket and hold the ticket between my fingers. The one still missing a pack name.

“Just a few hours, then I promise I’ll come inside.”

Frankie disappears and it’s just me...my leaves, trees, and the memory of him.

I just need to say one last goodbye to Gage. I didn’t get to do it in person. I didn’t get to tell him that I love him. Even though it’s forbidden, I fell for him. But love is love. I don’t care about any rules that say otherwise; I just love him.

In the past six months, he's made me feel more alive than I have in the last four years. He's what made me get up every day, made me believe there are good people out there. Betas who would treat me as more than my designation.

I close my eyes and remember the way my body felt against his...the way his lips devoured mine. Hearing a growl, I freeze. Then the scent of apple pie and strawberries hits me, and my eyes flash open. I look around me, but it’s so dark. The rain keeps coming, and my blankets are wet and heavy. I shiver a little in the cool breeze.

I must be imagining things. I thought I could smell an alpha. My clothes are now damp from the downpour, and I shake under the blanket, which isn’t doing much to keep me warm. I should go inside. But then I hear a branch on the tree groan, and I look up to see a large dark figure...falling.

“Fuck,” the figure grunts, landing with a thud on the end of my blanket. It pulls from my shoulder, and my scent reacts to the now close alpha’s. Holy shit.

My mouth hangs open as his deep green eyes shine in the low light. His large beard looks rough and curly, and I want to stroke it. His hair is up in a man bun, but I can tell it’s the same strawberry blond as his beard, curly and thick. As he licks his lips, I’m drawn to them. My heart starts to race as he holds up his hand.

“Harley,” he breathes out my name like it’s a sigh. My eyes widen. He knows who I am. His scent is dizzying, and I don’t know what I want to do first. Run away from this crazy alpha who has jumped the fence of the Omega House. Or run my hands under his black Henley and rub myself against his scent, so I can wear it forever.

“I’m Ace, from Pack Bentley. I’ve been trying to see you all week,” he starts, and I am a little surprised. Looking up into the tree, I can’t figure out how he got in here and that he seemed to know where to find me. Did he scent me? I haven’t taken my meds in two days. My blockers are well and truly not working right now, and the way he shifts toward me, I can tell it’s taking everything in him to not react to my scent. I know, because it’s taking everything in me not to react to his.

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