Page 16 of Harley

“Hey, um...was just out for my usual nightly stroll. Not climbing over the wall.” Yet.

When he doesn’t say anything, I start to grow nervous. I scuff my boot over the gravel and look up to the stars. Only, the night is cloudy, and I can’t see them. I look back over to him, and he straightens.

“The guard who works tonight has been relieved from his duties,” he says as he shifts his weigh on his foot. Making himself look even larger.

My heart starts to race. I can’t breathe. What does that mean? Relieved? When I don’t answer he continues.

“I’m not a bad man, as much as you think I am, Harley. But I see it all. I have let it go unchecked, as there was nothing more. But after reviewing some tapes, I thought it would be best that we let Gage Emmott go. He wasn’t suited for the job.”

He saw...he knows. My throat closes, and I feel like I can’t breathe.

“What...what are you going to do to him?” I ask, my voice barely a whisper. God, please don’t let them kill him. I know that’s the law here… I just. No.

“I guess that depends on what you do at the Choosing Day. Your actions speak loud, Harley. To everyone. Everyone will be watching after your little improvised introduction. Don’t think I didn’t hear what you said. Love is love. You set some things into motion that shouldn’t have. And now my warning here tonight is clear. You behave, then Gage is free to come back to work.”

“And if I don’t?” I try and swallow the lump in my throat.

I need him to say it. Threaten him. It’s the only way I will pull a name out of that barrel on Sunday.

“Then, not only will he not have a job here, but he’ll also be arrested. And you know what they do to betas who fraternize with omegas.”

Death.

CHAPTER 7

GAGE

I haven’t been to a bar in so long on a Friday night, I almost forgot what it was like. Hell, I still wish I could forget. But Jonathan saw me...the leaf. I don’t know what possessed me to sneak into her room while she slept. I missed her. Her scent, her smile when she sees me. I have no idea what Harley sees in me, but she’s everything to me.

Fuck. I missed talking to her, and she had been meeting alphas all week, and I got jealous. I know I have no right to be. I know I can’t be hers. As much as we tended to skirt around the fact that we could be together, it’s not going to happen, and I need to come to terms with the fact that the woman I love will never be mine.

It was all a dream, a fantasy that we both lived in for too long.

I nod at the bartender for another shot of tequila. How much tequila do I need to forget about her? I think I’m gonna need the whole bottle at this rate.

I don’t have a pack. I don’t have anyone. My parents disowned me the moment I decided to come to Crescent city. They didn’t understand my need to get out of that beta only town. Where the prospects were love. We have a coal mine… I had a dream to be better than that. My father and brothers were content on being miners. That’s the life for them. But for me… I wanted it all. I wanted a pack with alphas and an omega at it centre. I wanted to experience love on a whole deeper level.

But now… I fucked it all up. I have no job. Jonathan can report me to the authorities, and what will happen then? It’s just a leaf...on the pillow of an omega in the Omega House, and I’m not permitted to be inside. Yeah, that looks bad.

“It’s fucking bullshit. They didn’t let half the packs in before they closed the lines,” an alpha yells loudly to another at the bar. I know what they’re talking about. Most of the alphas here went to the meet and greet and never got past the front doors. They issued more invitations than they normally do. It was bound to happen.

I wonder if Harley found the alpha with the pale blue eyes. Did he get to see her today? She spoke about him to me once, and the way she did...he meant something to her. Even though they didn’t say a word to each other in that diner, and it was just a chance encounter. He was important to her. I could tell by the way her scent changed when she spoke of him.

Her scent… oh god. I’m going to miss her. I shouldn’t have let her into my heart like that. I knew it was gonna hurt, but it’s killing me that I didn’t even get to say goodbye. But in some way maybe that’s better. She wouldn’t have let me go without a fight, and I know I would have kissed her. I would rather be dead then without her anyway.

Wait… What if I could find out who he is—the pale blue eyed alpha— and join his pack? They might not have a beta yet. Maybe they have their name in the lottery already, and by any luck, she’ll pull his name. Then we can be together.

Yeah, that’s a pipe dream.

I touch my lips in memory of that kiss. Her first kiss. I was her first...fuck. I slam my fist down on the bar. Why did I do that? Why did I put the leaf on her pillow? Why did I sneak into her room? I knew they could see me. There’s no getting past the guards in that place. I thought we were all friends. I guess not.

“Hey, you’re that omega’s guard.” An alpha rests his arms on the bar beside me. I look up at him; he’s got at least a foot on me. The guy is huge, with salt and pepper hair and a beard most betas would envy.

I shake my head. “You got the wrong guy, buddy.” I say and take my shot. It burns, but it warms my body and will help me forget about Harley. If only this alpha leaves me alone and stops reminding me who I was.

“No, I don’t. I’m not gonna say nothing loud, but I seen you. With her. Harley.” He whispers her name and I freeze. Fuck.

I look over at the guy again. He’s holding the neck of a beer as he signals the bartender.

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