Page 4 of Harley

“Harley.”

I can see he’s worried. I am too. But I don’t care in this moment. This is ours. They can’t take this from me. From us. I choose Gage.

“Fuck, I always knew you were your trouble.” It’s all he says before his lips are on mine again. Only, they’re no longer soft. They’re harder, more demanding, as his tongue sweeps over my lips, and I gasp. I cling to him, not letting go as we say all the things we can’t with words.

Words would hurt so much more when I’m gone.

The radio on his hip turns on. The white noise is deafening as we jump apart. Pressing my fingers to my swollen lips, my heart races. Did they see us? Gage’s eyes widen as he takes a step back, shaking his head.

“Emmett, did you find her? Do we need to call in the alphas?”

We both look at his radio. He doesn’t move, and the only sound is our breathing as I wait for him to respond.

“Gage? Do you have Harley with you, or do we need to call it in?”

That snaps him out of it. He grabs the radio. “I have her. She was looking for a leaf, and her shoe got stuck in the mud. I’m bringing her out now.”

I look up at him once again, as he puts the radio back on his hip. They saw us, but at least they only saw us come in here. They don’t know about the kiss. This is ours. One kiss… one chance to tell him how much I have fallen for him and how I wish stars would align and we can be together.

Nothing hurts more than a forbidden love.

Gage steps closer and wraps his arms tenderly around me. “Harley,” he whispers into my hair. “You’re the best kind of trouble. And now that kiss...” He sighs. “I promise you, I will find a way to keep us together. Even after your Choosing Day.”

He pulls back slightly and runs his thumb along my lower lip to my chin. He tilts my head up and kisses me one last time before taking my hand and leading me out of the shrubs and canopy of trees. Out here we can’t be two lovers. We have to go back to guard and prisoner… because that’s really what I am here.

I look down to my shoes as soon as we get on the path. They’re not muddy, but I pretend to stomp off dirt as he lets go of my hand. I know they are watching us… always watching. So I cross my arms and make a mad face so it looks like I’m angry with him for pulling me out. The corner of his lip twitches and I know he wants to say something that will make me laugh. So he quickly looks away. As we start walking side by side back to the guard house.

I hold my hand over my mouth to stop myself from smiling. Because after that kiss I know I will be walking around with a permanent smile.

“Best first kiss ever,” I whisper under my breath so only he can hear.

He turns to me.

“I promise—it won’t be our last.”

If only the world wasn’t stacked against us.

CHAPTER 2

HARLEY

His pale blue eyes, such a contrast to his dark hair, meet mine. I can’t look away from his handsome face and those lips...those oh-so-kissable lips. As my alpha stalks toward me, Gage grips my hips.

“I promised you it wouldn’t be our last.” He kisses me, then turns me to my alpha. Blueberry pancakes and vanilla bean surround me, and my slick runs down my thighs in anticipation.

“Harley,” Veronica yells, and I jolt up in bed, my chest hammering. I can smell my perfume in the room. It’s strong. Fuck. No hiding that from anyone.

That was a new sex dream...I’ve never had one like that.

“Dahlia is preparing for her Choosing Day, Harley. You might want to see what goes into it. Or at least get ready, since your announcement is tonight after her ceremony.” Veronica opens my blinds, and the sunlight streams in. I’d almost forgotten I’m next. Almost.

I wish the house betas pampered the beta-born omegas as much as the pure omegas. But we get no such treatment.

It’s not like there’s anyone I can complain to. The head alpha of the Omega House—because having an omega as head of the omegas would be “such a waste.” His words, not mine, when I complained to him that he shouldn’t be in charge—is no help. He doesn’t like beta-born omegas. Even if he did, he really doesn’t like me, and not because of my complaint. His disdain is due to my multiple escape attempts. Apparently, I’m the only omega who “wants to be kidnapped by omega traffickers.”

I’m sure there are other people out there. The chances of me being kidnapped by traffickers are low. The risk of being taken by a desperate pack of alphas is much higher. The chance to not be in here… well as soon as I make it over that wall.

“No, I’m good,” I say as I roll over and grab my blankets, covering my face. Sulking the day away sounds better than watching a pure-blood Omega get ready for the day she doesn’t get to choose. Not that she likely feels that way. The pure omegas are bred for this. They are the elite. This is their families’ legacy. All elites stick together, so she’ll get herself an elite pack and have a heap of pure alpha and omega babies.

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