Page 41 of Harley

And I used my bark to stop her from doing something ingrained in her, probably ruining what had only just begun between us. It’s amazing how, after one night, this little omega has already wormed her way into my chest.

“Go talk to her. I bet she needs to hear from you. Let her know that Knight is okay. That she can see him now.”

I look at Jax. He heard Knight. He made it very clear he didn’t want Harley to see him. But maybe it’s for the best. To get him back to the way he was. I have no idea what set him off, but I’m so glad that Veronica only smelled himand didn’t know it...that he held back for so long. Knight is the strongest alpha I know. And now that Harley is here, we need to get the Omega House off our back and claim her as our own.

I nod to Jax.

I’m not as good with emotions as he is. And around Harley...my mind gets clouded with her scent. God, the way she was perfuming this morning with Zayd and Knight, I’d been sporting the biggest hard-on...until Veronica knocked on the door.

Dash answers Zayd’s door, looking relieved to see me. He steps to the side, and I see my little omega crying on Zayd’s shoulder.

Okay, this is really a moment for Jax to shine. He knew what Zayd was feeling and sent me. I don’t want to alert her to my presence, so I sign to Zayd instead of talking.

“Crying? The whole time?” I sign.

I hope not, as it’s been almost an hour. He nods.

Fuck.

I watch the way Zayd strokes her back, and she shivers under his touch. I don’t know what to do here. I didn’t do alpha studies. Never thought I would need it. But fuck, I wish I had. Knight would know what to do now. Maybe I should have gone to him first, checked in on him again. I could go to him now...tell him that Harley is crying. But that would only upset him more.

“Harley?” I say softly as I approach the bed. I round it and see her blotchy red cheeks. God, I’ve really messed up.

“Harley, I’m so sorry. I never wanted to use my alpha bark on anyone. Especially you. I never meant to upset you.” I crouch down beside the bed; her scent is still as enticing as ever...honey and sweet.

I reach out and stroke her hair away from her face and brush away some tears. Her cheeks are soaked. I put those tears there. Me.

I want nothing more than to comfort her and make her happy again. I want the Harley from this morning back.

“You didn’t upset me.” She hiccups and she reaches for my hand. “You care for your pack. I understand why you used your bark.”

I sigh. She’s too good for me...for us.

“No, Harley. I never wanted that for you. I never wanted you to experience an alpha’s bark.”

“I’ve had it happen before—” she starts, and both Zayd and I let out a growl.

“Who?” I try and calm myself. I didn’t mean to scare her again.

“Jonathan Henley. He would bark at me when I did things... I wasn’t the best omega at the house. And he tried to get me to be.” She tries to shrug like it’s nothing, but it is. I can see it’s affected her. He never should have done that to her.

I never want her to think that’s okay. To have complete control over someone like that is wrong and never should have happened.

“I promise you, this day going forward, I will never use my bark on you.” And I do promise that.

“You are perfect just the way you are, Harley,” Jax says from the doorway, moving into the room. She turns to see him and smiles. God, what I would do for a smile like that.

“I love your sailor’s mouth, and I promise you, we won’t lock you away. We want you to have the same freedoms everyone else gets in this world. But with the uprising now in full swing...we need to wait before we take you out.”

I want to take her to the garage. To show her my shop and the bikes we work on. Maybe she can give me a hand...or I can bend her over one of the bikes and eat her pussy like it’s my last meal.

I shift my cock in my jeans. I need to stop letting my thoughts drift.

“The uprising is happening?” She sits up and shifts her feet off the edge. I smell her again...I want to reach out and kiss her, but I know now’s not the time.

“Yes, after your friend, Storm, picked the Henleys. That’s all they needed to tip the scales. The uprising is happening, and it’s not great out there. Not for anyone. There are a lot of angry alphas out there, demanding to have their mates. And Storm added fuel to the fire by choosing them. An elite pack.”

I can tell she’s thinking, taking in what I said, as her eyes flick around the room.

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