Page 139 of Trick Knot Treat

“We can talk at home.” He clicks his fingers, and the club forms a ring, keeping people out and away from us. Every person is a barrier between me and my pack. Desperation has me whirling around, watching them, trying to find someone who will help.

“Dad! Please!” I yank myself free and scowl at him. “Just listen to me! I’m not going. I want to stay with them. I want to be with them. Forever!” I shout.

“Oh, is that so, is it?” he says and snatches up my arm again.

“Yes.”

“You can come home, and we can discuss it. Harvest, let’s go.”

Harvest hesitates, and Dad turns on him, almost sending plumes of smoke out of his nostrils. Before he can rip into my best friend, a loud, shrill sound comes from behind us, and then a handbag smacks Dad across the back of the head.

White and silver, black and white dive-bomb the leather-wearing alphas, but they aren’t Sunshine Cove residents, and they don’t run from dive-bombing birds.

Dad whirls on the person attacking him, pulls up short, and cocks his head to the side, surprised.

“Excuse me, who the hell are you with your hands on my soon-to-be daughter?” Lorelei chooses the worst possible moment to come and claim me.

Dad turns on me, looking downright terrifying. His look is pure accusation, a demand for an explanation and a warning all in one.

“This is my daughter!” he snarls.

Lorelei, to her credit, doesn’t look impressed. “And that gives you license to hold her like that? Let her go, you brute.”

And then, she uses her elbow and jabs him hard in the ribs, and Dad actually lets me go. He oofs and grabs his side.

“Omega! What is wrong with you?” he bellows.

“You don’t manhandle an omega.”

“My daughter went on a gap year and was due back four days ago, and we are frantic. And now she’s saying she’s not bonding with Harvest but has found a pack.”

All around us, the world goes silent, his words falling and shattering what little trust I’d built with the people in this town.

Lorelei looks at me, her eyes wide. “Harvest?”

“I’m sorry,” I say, crying. “In my defense, everyone knew I was leaving. I never lied.”

“Bonding with Harvest?” a voice spits.

I look up and find the cold and furious expression of Gian. His eyes are almost blazing as he stares at Harvest.

“You want to explain?” he asks coldly.

Harvest swallows hard and shakes his head minutely. “No.”

“Fine.” He turns to me. “Have you told my brother yet?”

I wince.

“Come on, kids, we’re leaving.”

“Dad, I need to say goodbye!” I shout. “I’m not leaving until I say goodbye. Dad, please don’t do this!”

“We need to get you home and discuss this in private without all these people who seem to think they have permission to claim you.”

I whip around; I can see my pack in the café, but the bikers close in. A wall of them that blocks my view.

They are so close.