Page 53 of Sawyer

“What the hell is that even supposed to mean, Freddy?” I frown. I knew he had an issue with other designations, but I didn’t think it was this bad.

“You could have chosen anyone, but you chose them,” he sneers. “The elite.”

“And what?” Sin crosses his arms. “You think she would have chosen you?”

“She could have,” Freddy retorts.

“Freddy, we’ve been down this road. You know I don’t see you like that.” I try to keep my voice gentle and even, so as not to startle him or evoke any more of his anger.

“But you didn’t have to run into a pack.” He runs his hands through his frizzy red hair. “A pack, Sawyer. They are just going to discard you when they find their omega,” he sneers. “They are using you.”

And just like that, he destroys any high I achieved only moments ago. He’s thrown all of my fears into the open, as though I’m not aware that although omegas and I share many of the same qualities, I will never be an omega.

Even worse, the guys say nothing, because we all know this is just for show. This arrangement is to keep me safe.

“Sawyer.” Freddy’s voice softens, and he grabs my wrist, trying to pull me toward him.

“You know, I think you’ve said enough.” Rumor pulls me away from Freddy and spins me right into Bryn’s arms. “You think I can’t smell your lust for her?”

“That isn’t what this is about,” Freddy argues darkly. Pointing to Sin, he pushes on. “And Sin Pearson? The heir? His daddy will never approve of a gamma in his pack. He’ll want an omega for his precious boy. And you…” Freddy pokes a finger into Rumor’s chest. “I know all about your kind. You need an omega bond to keep you sane. You can fuck with Sawyer all you want, but you know who will be there at the end of the day?” Freddy hooks a finger into his chest. “I will.” He spits at Rumor’s feet.

He isn’t wrong. An heir is like a celebrity in Terra. Sin’s father will have to approve of any pairing, and then he’ll need it to be signed off by the monarch.

Deltas are similar to alphas, but they don’t have a knot. They have thick barbs. They also lack an alpha’s control, and they can’t instigate a heat. Some tales say deltas are a biological accident, and because of that, many go insane.

“I think you need to go,” Bryn says, tugging me toward him. I let it happen, and then, like the bad bitch I am, I shove all of that emotion deep, deep down into the chasm of my soul and plaster on a smile.

Shrugging out of Bryn’s arms, I step closer to Freddy. “Listen, I understand your concern, and I appreciate it, but I’m okay.” I wink at him, then add, “Besides, maybe I’m the one using them.”

“You could have used me,” Freddy says pleadingly. Desperation leaks off of him, sending unease rippling through me.

He isn’t in the right frame of mind to tolerate an argument, so all I say is, “I know, and I appreciate you.” To appease him, I add, “You have my number, so you can call me anytime, okay?”

“All right.” Freddy leans in and hugs me. I damn near choke on his rotten apple scent before pulling away. His scent alone is enough for me to never eat apples again.

I barely hold my gag in. “I have to go.”

Nodding, he steps back and spins around, taking off down the street.

“I don’t like him,” Sin mutters.

“Agreed.” Bryn looks down at me. “Are you okay?”

“Are you asking if I’m okay because I know what we are doing is a ruse, or because of my interaction with Freddy?”

“A little bit of both, I suppose.”

“Freddy is harmless.” The words are the same ones I’ve always said, only this time, they taste like ash on my tongue. “Did you make that appointment at the other club?”

“That’s who called me back this time,” Rumor says. “We have to take a detour on the way.” There’s seriousness in his tone, one that hits me the wrong way.

“What is it?” Nerves flutter in my stomach.

“Come on.” He rubs a hand down his face.

“No, tell me right now.” I refuse to move until he tells me what it is, because my mind runs right into every worst-case scenario, and I hate it.

“My men just found more bodies,” Rumor replies. “More gammas.”

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