Page 82 of The Alpha's Arrangement

“You’ll go feral out here without a pack to care for. Without family. You’ll become a danger. They’ll hunt you down like a dog and shoot you.” Lionel sneers.

I want to roll my eyes at his ridiculous beliefs, but then I remember the possessiveness and the ruts.

“We’re trying to help you,” Phil says quietly. “We’ve been friends for so many years. We’re offering you a place with us.”

“But not as an actual pack member. More as like your personal slave, right?”

Phil mutters. “You’re being selfish. For years, I sheltered you, protected you, took care of you.”

I laugh. “Did you?”

“No one wants a female alpha in their pack. You’re a freak. Something that shouldn’t exist. Something wrong.” Tabby hisses, Rick and Lionel whisper frantically in her ear, but she shakes them off. “No, I can’t do it. I can’t have her in my pack. Near us. Find another way to get the money.”

“There is no other way, Tabby. We talked about this.” Tabby lifts her hand and strikes Rick across the face. I’m stunned speechless.

“I don’t want that thing anywhere near us. Look at her. She’s ugly and wrong. Whoever birthed her should have shot her the moment she presented.”

I stare at her, letting the smile fall from my face. “Wish granted. Have a pleasant life.”

I stand up and slide away from the table when Phil grabs me. He grips my upper arm hard, veins in his neck standing out, and I realise he’s about three seconds from losing control.

“Don’t make me do it, Phil.” I say under my breath. “Just let me go.”

He lets out a roar. “We need you!”

“Sit the fuck down.” I boom out. Alpha strength rolling like a tidal wave in my tones. He drops my arm like it burned him and thumps his ass hard on the seat.

“I’m not a pet. A cleaner. A cook. Your employee or your pack. I would rather be alone, turn feral, and be shot like a dog than ever come back. Go home, and leave me alone. I don’t want to see any of you again.”

I turn then and freeze. Bar is standing there, his chest heaving. There’s a dangerous look in his eyes, but he’s being held back by Taylor, who has his ice cold mask on. Gold trembles, that’s all he does, just trembles. Acton is still, but his eyes are narrowed dangerously, and Jet…he looks at me, and it breaks my heart. Shock. Horror. Pity.

Be the wolf, Scarlet.

I lick my lips and lift my chin, daring them to judge me, daring them to think less of me. “I don’t have a pack.” I admit softly. “I’m a lone alpha. But don’t worry, it changes nothing.”

I stare at them, and then I turn and walk out of the restaurant by the back door. Fuck this shit.

I dash through the crowd and disappear straight into the treeline. My heel sinks into the mud, and my ankle rolls. I pull them off and throw them, letting out a furious scream.

The words go around in my mind, but I keep walking. Until I realise I’m running. I don’t stop moving until I find myself leaning over the rock, looking out on the view. Back here again.

I pant and wipe at my eyes, surprised to find them wet. Did the words hurt? Yes, a bit. But what hurt more was seeing them witness it.

“You keep running away.”

I jerk back away from the rock, warily walking backwards.

“Taylor.”

He smiles with amusement. “Scarlet.”

“I, uh…”

“It's not natural for Alphas to run.”

“I don’t consider this running. This is a strategic retreat.” I snap.

He steps closer. I sidestep around the rock, keeping it between us.

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