Page 8 of Daisy

I can't see the nest from here, but I can hear thepainin Harley's voice when she says, "It's fine."There's a possessive edge to it, she's defending something that's hers.

"No, this is not fine. There are rules, Harley."

And that's when everything changes.

I hear Harley's sharp intake of breath, then Veronica's awful yelp.A commotion stirs, and I peer through the doorway to see what's happened.

"She attacked me!" Veronica shrieks, looking around the room for support. "That's not an accident, Mr. Bentley."

I step forward, drawn by the scene.I've never heard of an omega attacking a beta.Veronica must be confused.

"She attacked you?"

But there's something else pulling at my attention.A scent, sickly sweet and thick with pre-heat hormones.I've only encountered omega scent a few times before. Storm, mostly, when she'd refuse her blockers and I could catch traces of her defiance even from outside the Omega House walls.

But this is different. Harley's going into heat, which explains her protective behavior.

Harley drops her eyes to the floor, making herself appear smaller. "I am sorry, Veronica. I felt a need to protect my mates when you got too close. I don't know what came over me. I'm in pre-heat and I don't feel fully myself. You must understand, it's my biology. I couldn't help it. I didn't mean to hurt you."

She looks up through her lashes, and I watch, as Ace watches her with something like admiration. Not disappointment or anger that she stepped out of line. Admiration.

Veronica cocks an eyebrow in obvious disbelief, and I find myself clearing my throat.

"It is true," I hear myself saying. "I learned about it in alpha and omega studies. It happens when an omega goes into heat and perceives a threat to her alphas. You need to sign off so she can be taken care of by her pack."

I nod to Ace, and I can see Harley holding her breath.It's not a complete lie, but I have bent the truth a little.

"No!" Veronica screeches. "I will not sign off. This is far from over."

Harley puts her hand up, stopping Veronica from approaching her alphas. "Maybe it's best you don't get too close to my alphas. I'm very hormonal right now and I don't want to harm you, Veronica."

The threat is subtle but unmistakable. This omega isn't backing down.

I watch emotions flicker across Veronica's face,frustration, disbelief, a desperate search for control she's rapidly losing.There's no one here to back her up. No one playing by her rules.

Finally, she exhales sharply. "Well, I'm done for today. I'll see you all tomorrow."

She spins toward me, and I realize I've been watching the entire interaction with professional detachment.There's something about Harley's defiance, her complete refusal to be diminished, that reminds me of something I can't quite place.

Then Veronica slaps my arm, hard. "This is exactly why you're not allowed near the omegas. It clouds your alpha heads, and you stop thinking straight."

The moment the door closes behind us, Veronica's voice rises to a shrill pitch. "Did you see that? The complete disrespect? The total breakdown of omega behavior?"

I don't respond as we walk back to the car.Through the window, I can hear laughter.Actual laughter. The sound of people who genuinely care about each other celebrating a small victory.

"She thinks she's won," Veronica continues, jabbing her keys at the car. "They all think their little rebellion has changed everything."

I look at her, waiting.

"Pack Bentley wasn't even on our registry list. They were never in that lottery." Her eyes gleam with cold satisfaction. "They cheated somehow, and I'm going to prove it."

It all makes sense now.That's why Veronica is so determined to find fault with Harley's placement. It's not just about reasserting control, she suspects the lottery was rigged.

"But they're wrong," she continues as we get in the car. "The system exists for a reason. Order must be maintained."Her eyes grow distant, almost dreamy."Which is why Governor Crane's approach with his niece is so brilliant. So elegant."

The way she says his name makes my skin crawl.There's something in her voice, a breathless admiration that goes beyond professional respect.

"Private presentations only," she continues, her voice taking on an almost reverent tone. "No messy lotteries, no opportunities for chaos. Just careful, controlled selection by the most powerful man in the state. He's so... decisive. So strong."She sighs softly."Daisy will be the perfect example of how the system should work."