Chapter 67
Chapter Sixty-Seven
~Leon~
I am pissed! Thane hired a new assistant, and she starts tomorrow. The thought of anyone but Harlow sitting at that desk irritates me.
"Thane, this doesn't feel right, having another female here. Harlow will be able to smell her on us," Rhen tries to explain to him.
I have a feeling that is exactly his intention. He is beyond pissed that we are staying with her, and he’s trying to drive a wedge between us. Having a new assistant, and a female one at that, will only cause problems for us with Harlow. Omegas are possessive, sometimes even more so than Alphas.
"I don't care. We need an assistant," Thane says.
"Then let Harlow work here or get Leila to!" I snarl at him. Thane says nothing. He just ignores me and walks off. I curse, shaking my head.
When Thane drops us back at the hotel after work, guilt gnaws at me as I step into the room, which is ridiculous, because I’ve done nothing to feel guilty about.
When I walk in, I’m shocked that she isn't in bed, but in the shower.
She hadn't moved out of the small Den she’s created in days.
Yet, today the bed is made, and she isn't in it.
Rhen's brows furrow worriedly, as do mine.
We both peer over to the bathroom door where we can hear the shower running.
It cuts off, and she emerges in nothing but a towel, looking delicious.
She jumps, startled, not having heard us come in before her usual blank expression settles across her features.
Well, that hasn't changed then. She clearly isn't talking to us still. Rhen sighs, falling onto the made bed. He sniffs the pillows and his face scrunches up. I know what he’s upset about.
They don't smell like her anymore. It feels wrong in here.
And who opened the damn windows? I move, slamming both of them shut.
Harlow moves about the room getting her pajamas on, not saying a word before she climbs into bed beside Rhen, who rolls and moves to encase her in his arms. She doesn't fight him or try to wiggle out of his grasp.
As much as she may hate us, we know she still craves her Alphas.
She needs us, just like we need her. Rhen melts against her back, burying his face in her wet hair.
I wait for him to break the news to her about the new assistant, but he doesn't, so we fall into the same routine we’ve had every night. Silence, TV, eating, and then bed.
Climbing in beside her, I tug the blankets back before tugging her closer. She sighs, offering me her neck, just like she does every night. I sink my teeth in, and she moans before clamping her mouth shut, not wanting me to know the effect my bite has on her.
I feed on her for a few seconds before pulling away. Her blood tastes different tonight, stronger. Licking my lips, I brush the pad of my thumb over the bite mark, trying to figure out what is different about it. I suck the blood drops from my thumb, swishing it around in my mouth.
"What is it?" Rhen asks, looking at me over her shoulder.
"Nothing. She just tastes a little different."
"Maybe she needs vitamins?" he offers, and I shrug, unsure, but I will let Raidon know. She’s been under the weather the last couple of days, but there’s nothing to indicate she’s getting sick.
It could also just be because of stress.
Thane's blood always tastes different when he’s angry or stressed.
* * *
~Harlow~
The next morning, I get up as soon as they leave and haul ass to get dressed before racing to the other side of town for work.
The moment I step inside, Bree yanks me toward the back before giving me a change of clothes.
I slip on the slutty looking outfit while she covers the marks on my neck and douses me with so much spray-on pheromones it makes me gag.
She does a sniff test and gives me the thumbs up.
I work behind the bar all day. Today is actually on the busy side, maybe because of the construction going on across the street, but I make almost $150 in tips. So at least I can catch a cab to work for the rest of the week and still have some money to stash away.
"Hopefully, that construction lasts a while. It might get this place out of the red with all their workers spending their lunch breaks here," Bree laughs, waving a wad of cash in my face. I chuckle, making and pouring drinks. By the time my shift ends, I am exhausted.
My feet throb, and my lower back aches as I climb into the cab.
The fake pheromones are making me feel queasy the whole ride home.
So queasy, I chuck the money at the driver and rush out of the car to spew in the garden out front of the hotel.
Shame washes over me as people stare, but I don't want to throw up in the man's cab.
When I regain myself, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand.
Big mistake, as it is covered in pheromones, making me gag.
I run for my room. Jamming the key in the door before rushing to shower.
The smell is terrible. I shower quickly, knowing I still have to take my clothes downstairs to wash so they don't smell like pheromones by the time the guys get back.
I open all the windows and air the place out.
I make sure to wash every bit of makeup off my face.
Once finished, I take my clothes to the small dry cleaner attached to the hotel.
I hand the clothes to the girl behind the counter and give her my room number.
She scrunches her face up at the smell of them but doesn't comment.
Great, she probably thinks I’m a hooker.
Once back in my room, I find a place to stash the cash I made today, leaving only a twenty in the bottom of my shoe for the cab tomorrow morning.
I really need to get my handbag and wallet back so I can keep them on me.
It feels weird stuffing my tips into my bra all damn day.
I mind-link Leon and ask if he can pick them up for me, but he says he is already on his way here.
I groan. He asks if I want or need anything, but I don't bother replying, instead, just curl up in bed.
My belly rumbles hungrily, and I reach for the phone, ordering room service for myself and ordering them the usual meals they seemed to get every night.
Sitting back, I wait for them to arrive.
Only when they do, instinct has me sniffing the air as the breeze from the open windows waft their scents to me.
They smell wrong, and before I can stop myself, I launch myself off the bed at them.
My legs wrap around Rhen, who curses as he catches me, stumbling back out the door and into Leon.
They both hit the concrete, and as embarrassing as it is, I can't seem to stop as I search for the source of the scent on them. My claws slip out, tearing the buttons on Rhen’s jacket and popping the buttons on his shirt.
I bury my nose in the flesh of his chest, sniffing to see what he did, but the smell is only on his clothes, not him.
A feral, crazed growl leaves me when I realize it’s the scent of another Omega on them.
Tears burn my eyes as Rhen tries to soothe me, his hands in my hair, uncaring that he’s lying on the dirty ground.
My hands reach for Leon. I need to check that he didn't touch her; I need to know.
My bond screams and wails. My heart feels like it is going to tear out of my chest. When an arm wraps around my waist to drag me off them, my bond reacts irrationally.
I want to kill her; kill the woman whose scent is on them.
Only seconds pass as I thrash in my captor's arms, while Leon and Rhen get back to their feet.
Raidon's scent smashes into me, and he purrs. The same sickly sweet Omega scent covers his clothes too.
"Shh, I know. I know, Harlow. We never touched her," he murmurs.
I bury my face in his neck as he turns me in his arms. He turns back to the room, and as he does, I spot Thane standing beside his car, his arms folded across his chest.
Did he stay just to watch my reaction to them?
Is this some sick game to him? He’s trying to hurt me, and that startling realization hits me like a slap in the face.
How far will he take this? I struggle in Raidon's grip, wanting to be put down.
Anger courses through me that he would do this, and that they would let him.
Raidon sets me on my feet in the hotel room as rage engulfs me.
"Get out!" I snarl at them.
They stop, looking at me. "I said, GET OUT!" I scream, turning breathless. They glance at me warily, and only then do I realize my claws are out, and so are my canines. Blistering hot anger courses through me. I can't bear to even look at them.
"Harlow," Leon murmurs.
"Get the fuck out!" I scream, pointing at the door. They look at each other before quickly leaving, and I follow, slamming the door behind them, along with all the windows.
"Harlow?" I hear Raidon whisper on the other side of the door, but I don't answer—instead, I fall into a heap on the floor as the bond pulses through me, broken and screaming out for them.
They eventually leave. I hear them argue with Thane in the parking lot. It’s clear this is his doing, but they went along with it. I feel betrayed, sickened that I am so replaceable.