Chapter 92
Chapter Ninety-Two
~Harlow~
My heart sputters frantically in my chest. My eyes instantly search for another exit, yet find none. Thane pulls his hands from his pockets, holding them up in surrender.
"I won't hurt you," he says, and I can feel the guilt emanating from him, loud and clear. I won’t let it sway me.
He felt guilt when he had me locked down in that Den, but it didn't stop him from doing it.
I am not foolish enough to go running back there on some false promise of him having a change of heart.
He still believes I killed his mother; still believes I ran from them.
And I did stab him. Surely, he hasn't forgiven that.
"Just hear me out. I can't make things right if you don't let me speak," he tries to reason, but I am far from reasonable right now.
"No!" I tell him. My voice is more of a savage growl, warning him to back off. Even I am shocked by the ferociousness of it. I am not going back to that Den, and I will die before I allow him to take our daughter from me.
"I get that you're angry—"
My eyebrow raises at his words. Anger does not describe the feeling I hold for this man.
"I never wanted this life. I never wanted to be used as an object for someone else's pleasure or as a broodmare to create heirs for Alphas.
Certainly did not want to have my voice taken away or my choices; did not want to be commanded to do things against my will or be constantly called a whore just because I was born an Omega, which is outside of my control.
I was treated worse than an abused dog for weeks! " I spit at him.
My words taste like venom on my tongue. Fury, like never before, wraps around my limbs, and I have to fight the urge to shift, knowing it will hurt our child.
Raidon glances at me nervously as fur spreads across my arms, and I shut my eyes, trying to control my anger. Shifting is dangerous right now.
"Harlow, you need to calm down," Thane says.
My eyes snap open, my vision changing as my anger rises; my canines slip free, jabbing into my bottom lip as I try to anchor myself and not give in to the urge to rip him apart, an instinct so unnatural and purely driven by my anger for him.
But if he thinks I will roll over and be his little bitch, he is very mistaken.
"Calm down? I should calm down? I was held prisoner and deprived of basic human rights! Then you threatened to have my daughter taken from me, only to be left with the choice of death or being whored out in rotation.
"I will not go back to endure that again. I would rather die fighting, to ensure my daughter never has to go through the hell you all put me through!" I scream at him, pointing an accusing finger at him, only to realize my nails have turned to claws.
Raidon steps closer. I snarl at him when his Calling slips out. I will not be sedated, especially not by them. Raidon backs closer to Thane, and I don't miss how Jake's mates step closer to the guest house outside the windows.
"We know you didn't do it, Harlow. I know you didn't kill my mother," Thane tells me.
"What do you want, a pat on the back? Forgiveness? You won't get that from me, not after what you did. I told you I was innocent, and still, you refused to believe me," I tell him. Raidon hesitantly steps closer, and my eyes dart to him.
"Don't!" I warn him when he reaches for me. Calm down, pull yourself together, I think, trying to calm the blistering hot rage coursing through me.
"I'm glad you all finally realized that I’ve been telling the truth this whole time. Although, it is a little too late to repair the damage done."
“It’s not too late, Harlow. We can fix this,” Thane says moving toward me when a growl comes from outside. He freezes, growling back at them.
"I never want to see any of you, ever again. There is nothing further to discuss, so leave. Don’t ever come looking for me or my daughter ever again. Your next visit might not be so welcoming," I tell them. Raidon swallows, glancing at Thane while I glare at him.
"Harlow, you don't mean that," Raidon says, and I turn my face to look at him.
"I am not letting you take my daughter. How do I know this isn't some ploy? Just for you to take her from me as soon as she’s born?" I ask him.
"It's not," Thane says. My eyes move back to him as he steps further inside.
"I’ll scream. Sam won't miss," I warn him.
"I am not here to hurt you or to drag you back. I want you to come back, willingly and on your own terms," he says.
"My terms are 'get the fuck out'. I am not going anywhere with you.
You'll just command me to do whatever you want ," I tell him, taking a step back.
"So, leave," I swallow, hearing my words resonate back at me, knowing he could just order me.
Jake and his mates will be none the wiser if I suddenly volunteer to go back with them. My heart races faster.
"Thane, let's just go," Raidon says, stepping in front of him.
Thane watches me for a second, and I suddenly find myself caught, like a deer in headlights, waiting to see what he will do. Thane glances over his shoulder to where Zara's mates are now on the path in front of the guest house, before looking back at me.
"I'll give you my serum," he says finally.
"I already have your serum."
"My new serum, Harlow. I won't be able to command you. We will be equal," he says, pushing his hand into his pocket. He pulls out a vial, holding it up to show me. The silver and red liquid swirling through it glistens.
"I can't take that while pregnant. And, how do I know it isn't one of theirs?"
"It's not. It is my blood and my venom," he says, holding it out to me. "Take it. You'll be able to tell as soon as you open it," he says. I hesitantly step forward before snatching it and stepping back.
I unscrew the cap and sniff it, finding Thane's potent scent. Not just his scent, but all of their scents mixed with his, proving this is his new serum, one that would make me equal to him. I look at Raidon, who is watching me, and I can feel his shock at what Thane is giving me.
"I can ask my mother—" Raidon says before I cut him off.
"Your mother’s not coming anywhere near me," I tell him. He swallows, but nods. She’s just as bad as Thane. Maybe even worse because she’s an Omega and should have some empathy for other Omegas.
"Come home," Thane says, but I shake my head.
"You have the vial. Use it. It won't hurt you or our daughter; it will just strengthen you and her. I already checked," Thane says.
"I'm not coming home," I say.
"Then at least come back to the city. You can choose where you stay. Fuck, I will give you the house and stay at a hotel until you trust me." He’s almost begging at this point
"No, I don't trust you," I tell him.
"How do you expect me to earn it back if you don't give me a chance," Thane argues.
"You want me to trust you? Then leave, and let me choose if I want to come back. I am not getting in that car with you," I tell him, not trusting him not to lock me in the trunk and force me back into the Den.
"Then go back with Raidon; I will find my own way back," Thane says, looking at Raidon.
"I can take him home," Jake says behind Thane, who glances at him and nods. "You take that, and he has no power over you," Jake tells me, nodding to the vial in my hand. I stare at it.
"He won’t be able to command me, but it doesn't stop him from hurting me, Jake."
Jake sighs and nods his head.
"I'll give you whatever you want; just come home," Thane tells me.
"Will you void the Omega contract?" I ask him. Thane swallows, folding his arms across his chest. "This stops me from being commanded, but by council law, you’ll still own me. I’ll have no say if you decide to take my daughter and chuck me in rotation."
"If I void the contract, you're fair game for any Alpha, Harlow. I can't do that; it would put you at too much risk," Thane tells me. I shake my head; I would rather take my chances.
"Pick one of them then. I won't void the contract I have with the Omega Sanctuary or the council, but I can change the ownership title over," Thane says, and my eyes dart to his. "Pick one, Harlow. I am not leaving unless you come back to the city," Thane says, and Jake growls at him.
"I won't force her, so stand down, Jake. Sam might not miss, but I can kill you long before he takes his shot," Thane warns him confidently, without even glancing at the Alpha at his back.
"Harlow, please," Raidon whispers.
"I'm not leaving until the contract title is changed," I say.
"I can do it online. Jake just needs to lend me a computer."
My eyes darted to Jake, who nods his head, confirming what he says is true.
"Fine. Sign me over to Leon," I tell him. Thane nods. I don't miss the pang of hurt from Raidon at my not choosing him. Leon is the only one who believed me, and he attacked Thane for me while Rhen and Raidon would have let him drag me back to the Den.
"Pack your bags then," Thane says, turning toward Jake, who steps aside.
"I'm not leaving until I see the title change," I call out to him. Thane stops and nods once.
"Anything else?" he asks. I think for a second.
"Yeah, I'm taking your room. You get the fucking Den," I tell him. He presses his lips in a line but nods once before following Jake.