Page 59 of Alpha’s Possession

"She has a right to privacy."

"Not in my house, she doesn't," Thane says, his voice ice cold.

Rhen swallows and looks down at me. I shake my head, pleading with him not to hand it over.

"Choose Rhen: her or me," Thane snarls. Rhen sighs, handing him the diary.

"Sorry, Zara, he's my mate," Rhen says. I see Raidon place a hand on Rhen's shoulder, as if he is about to pull him back, worried Thane will attack him. Leon stands in the doorway, looking at everyone, horrified.

"Thane, please. It isn't yours," I murmur as a last-ditch attempt. He growls.

"You attacked me over this!" he roars. I flinch and drop my gaze to the floor.

"We know nothing about you. Your landlord knew nothing about you! Talon and Bree, also nothing. What are you hiding? Are the answers in here?" he asks. I look up, only for him to crouch down beside me, shaking the diary in my face. I blink back tears, knowing if he opens it, my real identity will no longer be that of a presumed dead girl, but a real one. I was so stupid to put my thoughts where anyone can read them.

"Answer me. Give us something, Zara. If not, I will read it," he growls, gripping my chin. His fingers dig into my cheeks.

"What are you running from?" he asks.

"Everyone," I whisper. His brows furrow before going to the photo in my hands.

"What is that?" he asks, letting go of my face. I look down at the photo clutched in my hand, now crumpled.

"A photo," I answer. The Omega facility didn’t take photos of us for their records. We were underage, and it wasn't allowed without either our permission or that of a parent. Omegas are rare, and the risk of any photos being leaked could result in our kidnapping. There are enough attacks on facilities. No way would they risk a photo circulating to the wrong types of people. It would put both the staff and the residents at risk.

It helps bring in more money at the auctions too. The bidders can't be too picky or judge us on our looks. Only our numbers matter. Still, a photo of me did leak: the grainy footage from the restaurant. So, technically Thane seeing this picture won't hurt, unless he knows the Omega he bought was a twin.

"Of whom?" Thane snatches it from me and turns it over. Zara and I are thirteen in the picture.

"You're a twin?" he asks, clearly shocked by that information. I nod when he hands the photo to Rhen. He looks down at the diary in his hand.

"Where is she now?"

"Dead," I tell him, and he bites the inside of his cheek.

"I'm sorry," Thane whispers. He holds his hand out for the photo. Rhen returns it to him, and he passes it back to me.

"And this?" Thane asks, holding the diary up.

"If I give this to you; then you need to give me something, Zara. Are you running from the authorities?"

I stare at him.

"Yes," I admit.

"For what? Robbery, murder, not registering? If I let you stay, I need assurances that you aren't a risk to my mates. Are you muddled up in that vamp business you used to work for?"

"No. I just didn't want to join a pack. I never have. So, I didn’t register, and I don’t have ID."

"And you can't afford the fines," he sighs, knowing full well what that means. Thane pinches the bridge of his nose and slowly exhales. I’ve given him enough information to stop his questions. I’m not going to add that I’m also running from him and the Obsidian Pack.

Thane hands me the diary, and I hesitantly take it back. "I'll fix your fines. Have you got a birth certificate?" I shake my head.

"Fine, we will order you one tomorrow at work, then we’ll get you registered."

"You can't register me. I have no pack links," I tell him. Once registered, every Alpha in the city will be aware of my existence, and I will be hounded relentlessly. All because of my DNA. I’ll be forced to hand it over to the council so they have my numbers.

Thane curses and looks over his shoulder before dropping his head, his shoulders slumping. He presses his lips in a line and rises to his feet.