Page 46 of Omega Forged (Hartlock Omegas #2)

Such a pathetic, needy omega, aren’t you pretty?

I gripped an arm around my stomach and whimpered at the memory of Chase’s body on mine. The last time I’d seen him and the unraveling of his carefully hidden anger. The way he had flipped a switch.

It simmered now under his skin while he stood in front of me. Lashed at me like a whip, but no one else seemed to notice. Chase cocked his head, reached out and tangled a finger around a lock of Seph’s hair.

Gods, how many times had he done that to me?

“Tully?” Lloyd said.

The four of them pressed in on me. There was comforting warmth to their combined bulk, but it wasn’t enough to stem the nausea that tossed in my stomach.

If I didn’t get out of here, I would lose the contents all over Chase’s shiny leather shoes.

Maybe I should do it. He deserved it for what he’d done to me.

“Friends is a stretch. Acquaintances, maybe.” My words slipped out, slick with the oily path of guilt, fear, and disgust.

How could he stand in front of me and claim we were friends ?

When he’d systematically broken me down and would have continued to do so, if I’d inherited the Hartlock fortune, like everyone thought.

Chase’s eye flashed with a sharp warning and my knees wobbled with the sudden need to apologize.

He hated when I spoke out of turn, or when I used a tone.

The room narrowed to a pinprick.

Chase laughed, good-natured, like I’d jostled him with a jibe rather than cut him with an insult.

“I suppose that’s true. You kind of dropped off the face of the world for a while there. We all wondered where you were hiding.”

How dare you hide from me? Was the implication.

He was too good at this, and I hated how easily he made me small again. The name Hartlock offered no protection against this alpha. Shivers racked my body, and numbness spread through me in a wave of pins and needles.

“I don’t feel good,” I gasped, mouth gaping like a fish.

My pack didn’t question my sudden change, acting with militant efficiency. Walden pulled me from Pan’s hold and hiked me up into his arms.

“Excuse us,” Walden explained with brisk efficiency.

Chase’s faux sympathy was abhorrent, and he sent me a quick wink as Walden carried me away.

I didn’t care that I looked like a baby.

I just wanted to be far, far away from Chase.

Pan appeared by our side as Walden pushed through a door, reading staff only.

We maneuvered through the corridor until we came to a small room with a desk, chair and sagging couch.

Walden deposited me on there, which was comfier than it looked.

Ajax and Lloyd squeezed in next to me. The latter picked up my hand.

Walden crouched in front of me. The concern in his eyes made me want to collapse all over again.

I was ruining their gala. Chase opened a chasm inside of me, one I slapped a bandage on and ignored.

Seeing his face again, hearing his thinly veiled threats, catapulted me back into a dark, musty closet.

Where I was a puppet and he was the master.

“What’s wrong? Tell me and we’ll make it better.” Walden asked with such seriousness.

It coaxed a watery sigh out of me. His forehead creased, my reaction concerning him deeper. I shook my head and forced my lungs to fill. I was going to pull it together. There was no way I was going to ruin this night. Chase was my past, and there he would stay.

The four men in front of me were here. They wanted me, loud and proud. Chase wouldn’t take any more of my life. I was strong; I was brave. Now I just had to believe it.

I filled my lungs with desperate air. “It’s a bigger crowd than I’m used to being around.”

How to break it to Pan that his bestie was my nightmare?

“Nobody can tell you’re nervous, Tully.” Ajax rubbed my shoulders.

Lloyd didn’t buy my story, pursing his lips and digging deeper. “So, this had nothing to do with Seph Campion? What aren’t you telling us?”

There was a small window, and I stared out at the star-studded slate sky while I considered my answer. An apologetic man poked his head out with a grimace, saving me from answering.

“Mr. Baylark, there is a situation that requires your immediate attention.”

Walden growled under his breath.

“Can this not wait five minutes? I have pack business to attend to.” He tried, but the man wrung his hands and shook his head.

“The High Prince of Astaly requested you. We also need your pack for the announcement.”

I almost sagged with relief, knowing Walden wouldn’t be able to turn away from a prince. Not for me, not for anyone. Walden’s head dropped before he met my eyes, regret deep in his gaze. The others swallowed their protests, but Pan wriggled close.

“They need you. I’ll watch over Tully and you can tell the pompous prince he can’t always get what he wants. You don’t need me right away.” Pan sounded the most reasonable he had all night and Walden reared back, his eyes flickering wide and with warmth.

“Tully? I’m sorry to do this. We’ll check in with the prince and come back.” He grimaced.

Anything that got me away from Chase would be a blessing.

I rose to shaky feet and kissed Lloyd and Ajax.

Walden, I saved for last, wrapping my arms around his solid form before planting my lips on his.

His back curved as he leaned down. Lingering like he wanted to stay but had no choice but to leave.

“I’m fine.” I smothered the crack in my voice. “Really. Pan will take good care of me. I’ll be out again in no time.”

Tension melted out of his shoulders, and Walden nodded. Lloyd wrapped his arms around me, smacking another, harder kiss on my lips. He searched my face, trying to find the true source of my discomfort.

“Don’t keep his highness waiting,” I urged them.

The others said their goodbyes. Fingers dragged across my skin.

I watched their backs go, mourning the loss of their solid protection, but I still had Pan.

He tossed an arm around my shoulder and settled onto the couch with a sigh.

Pan pressed his warm thigh against mine, leaning forward to mutter into the shell of my ear.

“You did so good getting us out of there, you naughty girl. Faking an illness? Genius.” Pan winked at me.

I froze, my forehead creased at his blithe words. There had been no games, but I also didn’t want to admit what had happened. I tucked the discomfort further down and attempted a husky laugh. Pan’s white teeth flashed, and he bounced with jittery energy.

“We can stay here as long as you want. Have our own private party.” Pan’s fingers tangled around mine and unease skittered inside my stomach.