Page 121 of Psycho Alphas: Part Two

Before either me or Ace could do a thing about it, she drew a little heart on the woman’s wrist in crimson marker, a strange surge of hope and possessiveness replacing the anxiety that had been there.

My heart tripped as I stared at it, but then Thistle let go, and the woman was gone.

I met Ace’s eyes for a moment, and for a flash, he looked as surprised as I felt. Thistle shrank into his chest like she was just curling up happily, but I caught the confused pinch to her brow, as if she didn’t even quite know why she’d done it.

I let my gaze slowly roam the room, hoping to find a distracted crowd. It was a small mark.

Hopefully, no one would notice.

The fight on the screen between the Alphas was finally over, and the guests had become drunk enough that the volume of talk meant no other entertainment was needed.

How long did we have to stay?

Not much longer, surely. We needed to make our point and go. If Ace had some trick up his sleeve on how to end this all tonight, it wasn’t coming together.

I noticed Thistle getting a little restless too, as if she’d noticed the same. “Where’s Bella?” I caught her whisper to Ace.

I looked around and realised I couldn’t see her.

Right as I searched, however, she re-entered from a side door. It was hard to miss that she seemed distinctly confident compared to her demeanor earlier. For the most part, she’d been sulky and quiet in her seat on the far end of the table.

I noticed a flurry of uncertainty from Thistle in the bond. She’d straightened on Ace’s lap and was watching Bella intently. Bella’s smile was glowing, and she was wiping her hands on a handkerchief before handing it back to Banner, who was flanking her.

Something was… off. I could feel it.

I glanced at Ace.

“I think we’ve stayed long enough,” I muttered.

He cocked his head, also watching Bella and not sparing me a glance. When he said nothing, I got to my feet, tugging on the chain so Knox would get the message.

Thistle’s discomfort was only rising, though, as Knox stood.

“Leaving so early?” Bella asked through a lull in the chatter at my movement. Instead of sitting, she made her way down the table toward us. “Without even giving me a chance to talk business?”

“Business?” I asked as Bella stopped before us.

At my side, Thistle slipped from Ace’s lap, on full alert.

“Since you’re not open to bids, I thought I could propose a… trade. You still have something that belongs to me, after all.”

Bella lifted a curled finger as if to brush Knox’s neck. My own instincts rose like a beast the same moment Thistle let out a growl, her panic stabbing through the bond. My fingers closed around Bella’s wrist, halting her in place.

“He’s mine.” The words came out before I could think about them, and…ah. They were… embarrassingly protective.

Well. Whatever.

Had been true since the day I claimed him from Bella all those years ago in that stupid arena. He just had to get over it.

The room, however, had gone still. Bella let out a hiss of indignation, eyes flashing in fury.

“Try again—” I pushed her back a pace into Banner. “—and I’ll snap your neck like a twig.”

“Alpha.” Thistle’s voice was tight as she ducked between us, violet eyes fixed on me. “I don’t want you to get icky Omega all over you,” she said, voice half a whine.

I heard a breath of a laugh from Knox at my side.

I dropped my hand but didn’t relax. Bella couldn’t take her eyes from Thistle, and there was something unhinged burning in them. She was on the brink of losing it, and we were supposed to be playing our cards right to get out of here safely—not pushing her to kill us all, consequences be damned.