Page 2 of Heat & Deceit
I don’t love them—I haven’t been with them long enough, and they haven’t spent much time with me—but to laugh at me for wanting them to claim me? It hurts.
Jimmy glares at me. “Move.”
The command hits me, causing my spine to go rigid, and I do as I’m told, shuffling to the side. The light I was blocking spills across the table. He grunts, and then it’s as though they’ve forgotten about me. They return to the game. They all lay down their cards. There’s cursing and arguing, but the tears blurring my vision and the ringing in my ears make it hard to understand who won.
And then suddenly, I’m remembered.
“Is that my fucking shirt?” Ricky pushes away from the table so fast, his chair clatters to the ground. He closes the distance between us and grabs the hem of the top, yanking it off me. “Don’t touch my shit.”
This type of behavior isn’t new to me. My fathers weren’t good men. The only good in my life was my brother. He would lose it if he saw how these alphas were treating me, but he’s not here anymore. He can’t protect me from the grave.
I move my hands to cover my breasts, leaving the rest of me bared to them. “Why won’t you claim me?” I ask, unable to let it go. “I thought we agreed the bond would be completed with this heat.” After my first heat with the pack three months ago, I was so upset they hadn’t claimed me. We had an understanding, and I thought they’d honor that, seeing as I’m their omega.
Jimmy rolls his eyes and groans. Mikey shakes his head. But Ricky, Ricky takes a step closer, acid coating his scent.
“You’re not pretty enough for alphas like us. Even if you put on makeup, you’re just not good enough,” he hisses, spittle flying out of his mouth and hitting me in the face.
Not good enough? I was good enough for them to rut into. I don’t claim to understand alphas, but sometimes their anger gets the better of them, and they say things they don’t mean. My fathers did it all the time.
“You don’t mean that,” I whisper, searching his face. “I’m sorry for wearing your shirt.”
“This ain’t about the damn shirt, bitch. You think you deserve us?” Ricky chortles and pokes my chest hard enough to leave another bruise. “We’re the kings of this block. We have people to impress, and this—” He vaguely gestures in my direction. “Ain’t good enough.”
Those words stamp into my chest. Not. Good. Enough. Not good. Not enough. Not good enough.
“I’m your omega.” I don’t know why I’m arguing. But not good enough? We were matched. That has to count for something.
“No,” Mikey snaps. “We didn’t claim you.”
I shake my head. “That’s not how it works. We were matched. I’m your omega,” I say again, voice rising. They have to claim me. What other choice is there? The Omega Council doesn’t accept returns.
“Not for long.” Jimmy stands and stretches. “We found you a new home.”
The air is ripped from my lungs. “What?”
“Don’t worry. This is the type of place you belong in.”
“Place?” My face contorts. “What are you talking about? You’re my pack. You can’t find me a new home. I’m not a dog.”
“Is she serious right now?” Mikey laughs while looking at the other two. “You’rejustlike a dog. You’re here to be bred. You’re here for us. You don’t have a say. We don’t want you, so you’re leaving. Got it?” His eyes bore into me as tears slip down my cheek.
This isn’t how it’s supposed to be. Finding my pack meant my life would change. I was meant to escape the harsh words of my fathers and find alphas who would cherish me.
“Why are we bothering to talk to her at all?” Ricky growls, roughly grabbing my chin. “Shut up and stop crying,” he barks.
That demand slams into me, and my body reacts, eyes drying and mouth snapping shut. I suck in a tiny breath, afraid to move with him so close, but he shoves my face away and turns to face his pack.
“Call Curtis.”
Mikey whips out his phone and puts it on speaker, calling this Curtis.
“What?” a sharp voice snaps. Thumping music crackles down the line.
“We got an omega for you.” Mikey nods at Jimmy, who holds up both hands, displaying ten fingers.
There’s a pause. “Bullshit.”
“You think I’d lie to you?” Mikey growls.
