Page 39 of Harley

To help pay for all the omega stuff she’s spouting off.

“I want you to leave.” My voice is shaky as I hold on to Ace tighter. I need her out. I have always hated the woman. For the past four years, she has done nothing but make me feel worthless and disposable. Like being beta-born is the worst thing that could have happened to me. I thought Choosing Day meant I didn’t have to see her again.

“You need to leave.” Ace’s voice is close to a bark, commanding and deep. The hairs on my arms raise as I watch Veronica waver for the first. Back at the Omega House, Jonathan and his pack were on her side. Here...

The alphas are on mine.

“Fine. I just need to speak to the last alpha, and I will be on my way.” She glances at her clipboard, and I know who she means. The one who is hiding in his room.

“Zayd. Where is he?” she asks.

I feel Ace stiffen a little, then he hides it behind a low growl. “This way.” He gently tugs me behind him as we all go to Zayd’s door. Ace knocks and we wait...and we wait.

“He is working right now. Can this wait?” Ace adds.

Veronica shakes her head.

“Zayd, the beta from the Omega House needs to see you,” Ace calls through the door.

I don’t know what Veronica needs to ask him, but I hope it’s just his name, so he can nod. If she knows he can’t talk...that will be a fail.

The door clicks as it opens, and my tall, gorgeous alpha appears. His dark eyes find mine, and I see his shoulders relax a little at the sight of me.

Veronica takes a step back, and I see fear in her eyes for the first time. Zayd grunts at Ace, then his eyes land on mine again. I smile up at him. I want him to know I think he’s perfect just the way he is. And I might like him a little bit extra for making Veronica scared.

She clears her throat. “Zayd Heart. You are twenty-nine and a programmer. And the third member to enter Pack Bentley?” she asks and he nods.

My heart races as she marks something off on her form.

“Very nice. Can you tell me how you did it?” she demands, and even I suck in a breath.

“Did what?” I yell at her. I don’t want her speaking to him anymore. I feel very protective of my alphas, especially Zayd. She can’t just come in here and demand answers from him like that.

“Cheat the system. Rig the draw. And now I can smell you in there...has he claimed you?” Her voice is raised, more like the Veronica I know. She looks to my throat, and my hand goes there to hide it from her. Not that I have anything to hide.

“It’s none of your business what I do with my alphas. Get out,” I yell again, pointing to the front door. She came in here and ruined the best morning. I had the best orgasms, and she’s just taken that from me.

Veronica gives Zayd a once-over and walks past us to the front door. “You cannot bond until I have signed off. So, yes, Harley. It is my business.” She stomps down to the front door and turns to me. “Someone just burned your breakfast, Harley. I’ll be back, and I will prove you cheated.”

And with that, she leaves, the front door slamming behind her, and Dash quickly locks it behind her. I let out a deep breath as soon as the lock clicks into place. Thank God she’s gone.

“Who burned my breakfast?” I call out to the kitchen.

Knight was in there, but he was doing dishes. I smile—was it Jax? I put my hand on my hip and smile over at Dash; he would know. I’ve seen his bite where Jax claimed him. But he has no smile in return. If anything, his face is pale.

Ace drops my hand and rushes past me. “Knight,” he yells, and there is fear in his voice.

Confusion swamps me. Knight was just in the kitchen, washing dishes. Was he supposed to watch the food?

As I move down the hall, I smell it...

Burned pancakes.

That’s when I see him. He’s hunched over on the floor, shaking and holding himself into a small ball. It finally dawns on me...Knight. He smells like burned pancakes.

“Oh, no,” I whisper, my hand covering my mouth as Knight turns to me. His eyes are so dark, it almost doesn’t look like him. He jumps up and launches toward me, and I stumble back over the rug and land on my ass as Ace and Jax try to hold him away from me. He snarls and growls.

“Mine,” he grits out. “Fuck, claim, bite.”

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