“Iam in charge at this compound, and I’m ordering you to return to your post immediately. You can expect a performance review in the next 24 hours where we’ll be discussing your future employment. I’ll also be speaking to your father about this, believe me. The pilot was not an open invitation for sexual abuse.Get out of my sight.”
Jason stays where he is for a moment, his beady eyes focused firmly on the omega. For a moment, I think it’s going to come down to a fight. The idea excites me. Part of me hopes he stays put. This dickhead needs a taste of his own medicine.
Devlin cracks his knuckles threateningly and the sound makes Jason’s head turn to us, scowling. Alpha or not, we’re two highly dominant males. We’d break this little rat in a second and he knows it. Swallowing, he backs away and spins to storm out of the room without another word, slamming the door shut behind him.
ChapterNine
Harper
The door bangs shut, but I stay where I am. I don’t trust that this isn’t another trick in Jason’s endless toolbox. Heat creeps up my neck, embarrassment at being exposed like this in front of these men lighting my cheeks on fire. I bite down a whimper.
The silence in the room stretches, and my breathing slows. I can feel the gaze of the two new alphas on me. Rather than making my skin crawl, I feel warm. Their scents are comforting rather than jarring, like Jason’s acidic tang. Something is pushing me to look up, to move closer, but I snap it back.
Breathing deeply, I make the most of it while I wait for orders. I expect that someone will be in shortly and they’ll hand me over to another trainer. I pray that whoever it is, they’re better than who I’ve spent the last fortnight with.
I shudder and another growl creeps through the room. I really want to look up and get a better look. I saw one of the alphas briefly when I first came in, but I didn’t have a chance to see him properly. His eyes were beautiful though. A deep, emerald green framed with long, light lashes.
Footsteps thud into the carpet, and I tense as the Director comes to a stop in front of me. His hand curls around my chin and it’s unexpectedly gentle as he nudges me to look up.
“It’s alright, Harper, you’re free to look around. Just relax for a moment,” he says quietly. Looking up at him, I’m surprised to see sadness on his face. His eyes look haunted now, rather than empty.
Letting go of my face, he turns to the alphas.
The green-eyed alpha watches the Director with a frown, his face holding a familiarity I recognize as I glance between him and the older man. I think they’re related. Similar noses, similar bone structure in their faces.
The rest of him is as attractive as his eyes. A black curl falls lazily across his eye, and he pushes it away from his face impatiently. My eyes trace his hawkish nose and mouth. It tilts up at the corners, as though he’s used to laughing.
The second alpha clears his throat and I whip my gaze to him. Russet brown hair, short at the sides but longer on top. It’s his eyes that grab my attention though. So dark they’re almost black, he watches me with an intensity that I’m not sure is a good thing. His face is expressionless, arms crossed. He looks like he’d rather be anywhere else than here.
Just to make this awkward situation even better, my core clenches, another wave of cinnamon perfume rising up in the air. I can’t stop it, and I push my legs together tightly. The two alphas inhale deeply, nostrils flaring as my cheeks flush in mortification. I could blame it on the scent blockers wearing off, but there’s something about these two that makes me want to roll over and freakingbegfor their knot.
I’veneverbeen attracted to an alpha before. I could definitely make an exception for these two, though. Flicking my gaze between them, I nickname themGreenandBrown. Not the most imaginative names, but they’ll do.
The dark-eyed alpha, Brown, shifts. Breathing deeply, he holds my eyes for a moment more before turning to the discussion happening between father and son. A whine reverberates in my throat when he looks away, but I manage to reign it in. My omega instincts are all over the place. I don’t want to make things any worse than they already are.
A wave of dizziness hits me hard, and my eyes start to flutter. I dig my nails into my hands, willing myself to stay conscious. The last two weeks are finally starting to catch up to me, the aches and pains in every inch of my body making me want to curl up in a ball and push the world away.
I’ve been surviving on pure adrenaline. With Jason nowhere to be seen, I feel safe for the first time in days.
I’m not sure what makes me think that when I’m going to be handed to someone similar, but I have a feeling it’s the alphas. I force my eyes open wide as scents fill the room, a smoky leather aroma entwined with the fresh scent of cut grass swirling in a heavenly mix that makes my mouth water.
Just for a moment, I wish things were different. I wish I could stay with them.
I’ve stupidly ignored the discussion and when they turn to me expectantly, all I can do is blankly stare at them and hope not to pass out. Wouldn’t that just be the cherry on top of a shit sundae?
Brown steps forward. “She’s going to pass out.”
“’M not,” I mutter. My voice sounds slurred. I hear a curse as I slump to the side, and suddenly I’m engulfed in warmth, scented leather surrounding me. Letting out a small moan, I can’t help but bury into it, rubbing my nose into a soft shirt as my eyes drift shut.
ChapterTen
Devlin
Fuck.
The omega – no,Harper, nuzzles into my chest again, and something tugs at my chest. My scent rises up in waves, leather and woodsmoke filling the room. I can’t help but respond to her. She feels ice cold to the touch, and I pull her a little more tightly against me as I run my hand up and down her arm. Turning, I face Rogue and Christian. They both look a little shellshocked at how quickly I caught her.
I haven’t taken my eyes off her since she crawled through the door, and I know a stress reaction when I see one. She’s light as a feather, the edges of her ribs protruding underneath my fingers. She needs food, warmth. My instincts start to take over and I growl at Rogue when he reaches out to take her from me, a deep warning sound echoing through the office and making his eyes fly wide in shock. He raises his hands in surrender but growls back at me, and my head drops slightly in a show of submission. I don’t let go of her though. I’m not sure I can.
