Page 86 of Alpha’s Possession

I work behind the bar all day. Today is actually on the busy side, maybe because of the construction going on across the street, but I make almost $150 in tips. So at least I can catch a cab to work for the rest of the week and still have some money to stash away.

"Hopefully, that construction lasts a while. It might get this place out of the red with all their workers spending their lunch breaks here," Bree laughs, waving a wad of cash in my face. I chuckle, making and pouring drinks. By the time my shift ends, I am exhausted.

My feet throb, and my lower back aches as I climb into the cab. The fake pheromones are making me feel queasy the whole ride home. So queasy, I chuck the money at the driver and rush out of the car to spew in the garden out front of the hotel. Shame washes over me as people stare, but I don't want to throw up in the man's cab.

When I regain myself, I wipe my mouth with the back of my hand. Big mistake, as it is covered in pheromones, making me gag. I run for my room. Jamming the key in the door before rushing to shower. The smell is terrible. I shower quickly, knowing I still have to take my clothes downstairs to wash so they don't smell like pheromones by the time the guys get back.

I open all the windows and air the place out. I make sure to wash every bit of makeup off my face. Once finished, I take my clothes to the small dry cleaner attached to the hotel. I hand the clothes to the girl behind the counter and give her my room number. She scrunches her face up at the smell of them but doesn't comment.

Great, she probably thinks I’m a hooker. Once back in my room, I find a place to stash the cash I made today, leaving only a twenty in the bottom of my shoe for the cab tomorrow morning. I really need to get my handbag and wallet back so I can keep them on me. It feels weird stuffing my tips into my bra all damn day.

I mind-link Leon and ask if he can pick them up for me, but he says he is already on his way here. I groan. He asks if I want or need anything, but I don't bother replying, instead, just curl up in bed. My belly rumbles hungrily, and I reach for the phone, ordering room service for myself and ordering them the usual meals they seemed to get every night.

Sitting back, I wait for them to arrive. Only when they do, instinct has me sniffing the air as the breeze from the open windows waft their scents to me. They smell wrong, and before I can stop myself, I launch myself off the bed at them. My legs wrap around Rhen, who curses as he catches me, stumbling back out the door and into Leon.

They both hit the concrete, and as embarrassing as it is, I can't seem to stop as I search for the source of the scent on them. My claws slip out, tearing the buttons on Rhen’s jacket and popping the buttons on his shirt. I bury my nose in the flesh of his chest, sniffing to see what he did, but the smell is only on his clothes, not him. A feral, crazed growl leaves me when I realize it’s the scent of another Omega on them.

Tears burn my eyes as Rhen tries to soothe me, his hands in my hair, uncaring that he’s lying on the dirty ground. My hands reach for Leon. I need to check that he didn't touch her; I need to know. My bond screams and wails. My heart feels like it is going to tear out of my chest. When an arm wraps around my waist to drag me off them, my bond reacts irrationally. I want to kill her; kill the woman whose scent is on them. Only seconds pass as I thrash in my captor's arms, while Leon and Rhen get back to their feet.

Raidon's scent smashes into me, and he purrs. The same sickly sweet Omega scent covers his clothes too.

"Shh, I know. I know, Harlow. We never touched her," he murmurs.

I bury my face in his neck as he turns me in his arms. He turns back to the room, and as he does, I spot Thane standing beside his car, his arms folded across his chest.

Did he stay just to watch my reaction to them? Is this some sick game to him? He’s trying to hurt me, and that startling realization hits me like a slap in the face. How far will he take this? I struggle in Raidon's grip, wanting to be put down. Anger courses through me that he would do this, and that they would let him. Raidon sets me on my feet in the hotel room as rage engulfs me.

"Get out!" I snarl at them.

They stop, looking at me. "I said, GET OUT!" I scream, turning breathless. They glance at me warily, and only then do I realize my claws are out, and so are my canines. Blistering hot anger courses through me. I can't bear to even look at them.

"Harlow," Leon murmurs.

"Get the fuck out!" I scream, pointing at the door. They look at each other before quickly leaving, and I follow, slamming the door behind them, along with all the windows.

"Harlow?" I hear Raidon whisper on the other side of the door, but I don't answer—instead, I fall into a heap on the floor as the bond pulses through me, broken and screaming out for them.

They eventually leave. I hear them argue with Thane in the parking lot. It’s clear this is his doing, but they went along with it. I feel betrayed, sickened that I am so replaceable.

Chapter Sixty-Eight

~Harlow~

Later that night, my bond nags and screams at me until I finally contact Leon, needing him to come over. It is 1 a.m., and I’m still awake. My body feels wired, feral. But Leon doesn't come. Instead, it’s Raidon who knocks on my door. I stare at him as he stands in the doorway. He doesn't smell of the strange Omega anymore, which I am thankful for. I don't think my bond could handle smelling her again tonight. We stand there awkwardly. Today is the first time I’ve seen him since Thane kicked me out.

"Thane wouldn't let Leon or Rhen come, so…" he shrugs as if he’s some sort of offering to replace them. I say nothing, just step aside, allowing him to enter. He looks at the torn sheets on the bed and sighs. My mini Den is ruined, destroyed, and so is the mattress.

"I will have the hotel replace the mattress tomorrow, and linens," Raidon tells me as he climbs into the ruined Den I made. His presence soothes my aching bond as the room becomes flooded with his scent.

When sleep does take me, it is only because his scent invades my every sense as I lay on him, but his movements wake me early in the morning, and so does the knock on the door. I roll off him as he climbs out of bed, covered in goose feathers from the torn-apart comforter.

The simple motion of me rolling off him has me racing for the bathroom. I barely make it to the toilet in time. I heave and retch as I lose the contents of my stomach, which thankfully isn't much. I couldn't bring myself to eat any food last night, not after smelling that Omega's scent on them.

Fingers brush my neck as someone grabs my hair, tugging it back away from my face.

"See, I told you something is up with her," comes Leon's voice.

"Probably just the crap from yesterday. She was quite distressed when I got here last night," Raidon says.