Page 33 of Harley

“Night, Zayd,” she whispers.

There is no way I'm going to be able to sleep. I have the little omega in my bed, and I feel an overwhelming need to protect her. I didn't think it would be like this. But I’ll lie here for as long as she wants, holding her hand and listening to her soft breathing.

It doesn't take long before she's asleep. I can tell by the way her hand falls slack in mine. But I don't let it go; I hold it a little tighter, so it won't slip away.

I take the chance to really look at her. Her dark chestnut hair is splayed out on my pillow. It's dark and looks soft to the touch. Her lips are parted, and I hold myself back from tracing them with my finger, wondering how it would feel to be kissed by those lips. Has she ever been kissed? I haven’t.

I know she's in love with that beta, the one who helped us get her here. I want to tell her that I've been saving all my kisses just for her. I hate that I can't tell her that.

Harley lets out a deep sigh and snuggles in close to me, her face pressed up against my shoulder and her body pressing against mine. Her bare leg touches mine, and the purring in my chest grows louder. It hasn't stopped.

It surprises me. I never thought it would be possible to have a pack—a family—and an omega. Harley is everything I’d only ever dreamed of. I’d been lost in the foster system for so many years. Always told I’m useless. But look at me now.

I’m so grateful for everything that has led me to this moment.

When I aged out of the system, I had nowhere to go. I found a room to rent, and it just so happened to be here, with Ace and Jax.

They didn’t question why I couldn’t speak. They accepted me as one of the pack almost instantly. At first, I thought they were playing me. Even though I felt a connection with them, I’d been told so many times that a pack wouldn’t ever want me. So, why would they want me? They wouldn’t want to jeopardize their chances at an omega with a defective alpha like me.

They didn’t care. They took me in and even learned sign language to speak with me. I found my family with Ace and Jax. Knight and Dash. I know they have my back, and that’s why I have theirs. I wanted to leave the pack, so they could have an omega. I was worried I would be found out.

But nowhere on my medical records does it say I’m mute. In the foster system, you get lost and go under the radar. So, that works in our favor.

At least, for now, it does.

Tomorrow? That’s another day.

CHAPTER 16

HARLEY

I hear a commotion outside the room—what the hell is going on? I wanted to sleep in for the first time in years. Somehow, I have ended up on my side, facing away from Zayd, who is also on his side, spooning me. His back is to the door, and his arm is draped over my waist as he softly snores.

Despite being woken too early, this was the best night’s sleep I’ve had in forever. Being in here with Zayd wasn’t what I’d been going for when I came to his door last night. I’d wanted his scent to put in my nest, but the source was so much better.

I felt safe with him. I thought his size might frighten me. And, yeah, I’m sure his cock will terrify me. But not him. There’s just something about Zayd that makes me feel comfortable and safe. Like with him by my side, I will be safe from the world.

I shift under him a little, and he grunts, holding me closer to his chest. I let out a sigh as he starts purring again, and I can feel his now hard cock nudging against my ass. I freeze, unsure of what I’m supposed to do. He tenses under me, like he just realized what he did.

I remember from sex ed that guys get morning wood. But is that a teenager thing or every guy thing? Hell, how old is Zayd? Oh...how old are they all? I never thought to ask them.

I guess there was just so much happening last night, it slipped my mind just to ask them the most basic questions. And I already ended in bed with one of them… and got a free sex show of sorts… well I got to hear it. I wish I could have seen it.

There’s a banging sound and someone yells, and I start to wonder if this is a normal morning, and that’s why Zayd is so content to just lie here. Or if he just doesn’t want to let me go. I don’t want to get up. I want to stay in his arms all day.

That is, until he suddenly stops purring and pushes himself up onto his elbow and looks at the door. I hear a growl in his chest, and now I’m scared.

I sit up and stare at the door. Oh, god. Are they coming to take me back? Did they see how I cheated in the lottery? I look up to Zayd. Bite me...claim me, I want to scream out to him. If I’m claimed, they can’t take me back, right? Or maybe I should hide... my heart is racing.

Yeah, right. Like I could hide with how much I perfumed in his room last night. You can tell we shared this room last night. I shrink down into the bed. Oh, God. It hasn’t even been a day, and they’re going to take me away.

There’s a knock at the door, but they don’t wait for a reply as it bangs against the wall. I flinch and try to hide farther into Zayd’s chest, and he holds me tight, ready to protect me from whoever is at the door.

“Zayd, wake up. She’s gone.”

It’s Dash. I peer up and see his face. He looks stricken. The pain on his face is so upsetting, I want to comfort him. What is gone? Do they have a pet? A cat? Their house and yard don’t seem big enough for a dog.

“Do you have a cat?” One can only hope. I’ve always wanted one, but my dad is allergic.

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