Page 8 of Callum

Yet, now she found herself trapped in the kitchen with Hara, and she considered it just as bad as being with Benjamin.

In the past, she’d been kind to Hara one too many times. A mistake on her part. Showing kindness to an omega could be dangerous, and now Hara seemed to think she should belong to him.

She knew he saw her as an easy target. Someone who was kind and gentle, who he could easily gain a mating with, but she wasn’t interested. Mating with him would leave her exposed to alphas and betas who didn’t consider him a threat. She’d be easy pickings and more vulnerable to getting raped.

Right now, if someone attacked her, her father would be furious. It would be an attack on his honor, and indirectly on Thatcher as well, because of her father’s position. They would discipline her attacker and may even sentence them to death. But if Hara was her defense…

She shuddered.

Not to mention she had no interest in him. He was a manipulative worm. She suspected he’d use underhanded methods to get what he wanted. He was smarter than Benjamin, and that made him more dangerous, as far as she was concerned.

“I have plans with some friends.”

Hara nodded. “Have fun.” He stuck his hands in his pockets and looked at the ground. “I’ll see you around.”

Vivian exited the room with a non-committal “yeah” and headed for the door.

Blissfully, Felix, Benjamin and all the other dumbasses left her alone as she hurried to put on her shoes, grabbed her bag and absconded from the house.

Benjamin was right about one thing. They would mate her off soon, and like chattel, she’d played right into what they wanted.

Her father would get what he’d always wanted. A daughter whose mating would be beneficial to him.

She was even-tempered, docile, a wonderful cook and house-keeper. She would make an excellent hostess, and she was a virgin.

Any man in this pack would happily accept the package that was Vivian Conners, and her father would use that to his advantage.

At least she didn’t have to run in that damn Curusm.

CHAPTER THREE

“We’re here.”

Resentful that he had to open his eyes, Callum glanced around, confused by what he saw. A big log building. Lots of lights.

Wiping at his mouth, he tried to make sense of whereherewas.

“Your cabin?”

“Thatcher’s lodge.”

He swallowed and examined the structure with fresh eyes. Lights were on inside and out. The parking lot was well lit, but empty aside from a few trucks. “It’s the middle of the night.”

“It’s just after eleven. You should see him now. Disrespectful not to.”

“He deserves respect?” Callum’s grumbled thoughts weren’t quiet enough.

“If this was any other pack, you’d search out and acknowledge the alpha before doing anything else. This is no different.”

Damn. He had a point.

Grabbing the silver handle, he swung open the door.

Before they could enter the lodge, a man approached the truck. His jean jacket lay open, along with a plaid shirt that was unbuttoned, revealing a white muscle shirt pulled tight over a toned stomach. A chain hung around his neck with some kind of pendant, but it was too dark for Callum to make out what exactly it was that hung around the man’s neck.

“You might want to wait until morning.”

Elliot frowned. “Why?”

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