“We’ll meet you at your place,” Buckle shouts.
Why? Why?Why?
I push myself hard and fast. The chill in the air tries to shatter my resolve, but I force myself to keep going. If I get home in record time, I can shower and dress andjustmake it to work. Riley won’t have to know.
Just as I see my building in the distance, Buckle’s truck comes into view. Now my hawk wants to race.Great.
We push and push and land on the steps to the apartment building just as Buckle parks. I have a key on the roof, but it’s easier to wait for Buckle. He has my keys, phone, clothes, and shoes in his arms. I hop on the stairs. I need inside and I refuse to shift naked in public.
“We need to talk,” Perry says next to Buckle.
I make a noise and as soon as the outer door to the building opens I shift, snag my possessions and force the door closed again so they can’t follow me to my apartment.
“Can’t talk,” I shout and rush to my door. This is going to cut thingsso close. But I can make it.
The moment I open the door, I know something’s wrong. A scent I haven’t smelled in years fills the air.
My legs tremble.
“Ah, there you are,” Anya says, coming into view. Her long black hair is streaked with silver. It’s pulled into a low ponytail. She’s in her self-imposed uniform of a navy blue pantsuit with a pearl necklace and pearl earrings. The red lipstick makes her mouth look bigger than it is. She’s a raven and the only one I trust from Hawk Ridge.
I sag and catch myself on the wall. Notthem.
“Auntie.” I grin and launch myself at her, but she holds me at arm’s length. “Why are you here?” And why do you smell like my parents?
Her face goes stoney, and she crosses her arms. “You missed your check-in. We had an agreement, Abel. You text meevery dayat the same time. You’ve missedthreecheck-ins. You can’t miss another one.”
“I—I won’t! I never meant to slip. I’m sorry.” I drop to my knees and cling to her hand.
“Get up.” She snatches her hand back. “You’re still the Kettle heir even if you’re a pathetic Beta.”
I flinch. She’s never talked to me like that.
“And why do you smell like that?” She wipes at her nose. “You reek of AlphaandOmega.” She eyes me. “Are you some married couple’s whore now?”
“No! I’ve never even been kissed.” I can’t tell her about Buckle and Perry. The Kettle can’t know I have Fated mates that aren’t hawks. They can’t know they’re prey animals. I have to protect them.
“You don’t have to kiss to fuck.”
I flinch again.
“Your parents are going to be pissed if you’re not a virgin when they marry you off.”
I scoff as my face goes hot. “They want nothing to do with me. Otherwise, why did they send me away?”
“You’re still the Kettle heir. Even though you’re a pathetic Beta.”
I bite my tongue to keep from flinching yet again. “You were kind to me once,” I whisper.
“Kindness runs out when your hopes do.”
I fight off tears. “It’s not our fault the Kettle looks down on Betas. We’re… we’re not useless.”
“Youare useless. You can’t fuck a baby into anyone and you can’t carry a baby.Useless.At least Betas with cunts between their legscancarry babies.” She presses a palm to my cheek. “But Betas like you, are only good to act as servants for the rest of us. The fact thatyou’reKettle heir sickens me.” She pinches my cheek so hard I’m sure there’ll be a bruise. “But it doesn’t really matter. Your parents are finding you a suitable match, then you’ll be out of our hair.”
My stomach goes sour. I swallow over and over. I won’t be married off. “I’m already out of your hair. You don’t need to punish me.”
She sneers. “You’re lucky you have a hawk form. If you didn’t, you would have been pushed from the nest and killed a long time ago. You’re only alive because your parents have hope whoever they marry you off to pays well for the privilege.”
“Shut. Up. Please.”
Her eyes go wide and she pokes his chest. “You little shit.”
It takes everything in me not to flinch. “Leave. Please. I’ll be sure to make my check-in tomorrow.”
“Good.” And in a blink, she’s out of my apartment.
I collapse in a heap. As an enforcer, her magic is always overwhelming. I wish I’d never begged her for help when the Kettle kicked me out.
