Page 131 of Alpha’s Possession

“I’ll manage,” I tell him, not wanting to admit I have been sleeping down there anyway, unable to bear not having her scent around. Although not a speck of it lingers down there anymore.

“Leon?” we all hear from the living room. All of our heads snap in her direction, and I drop the hand towel on the counter before wandering down the hall to let her know he is showering, when she rushes out of the room. Harlow stops in her tracks when she spots me.

“He’s showering, he’ll be back down soon,” I tell her, and she nods her head. Her eyes dart to the staircase when Rhen and Raidon come out of the kitchen behind me. I listen to her heart rate pick up, and I curse them. Her heart was beating fast when it was just me, now it’s worse. I see every muscle in her body tense, and I know she is about to run for the stairs.

In the blink of an eye, she’s off. I reach for her, seeing the panic on her face. I curse, knowing it is because I am standing near the basement door. She runs for the steps, missing the bottom one as I go to grab her, only to trip on the second. My heart damn near stops in my chest as I watch her throw her hands out to brace herself.

My hand fists the back of her shirt, pulling her back before she hits the stairs. Harlow screams the most blood curdling scream I have ever heard—the sound visceral—making my stomach sink wondering if I hurt her.

“You’re—Argh!”

She bites my arm as it wraps around her chest, holding her steady, before she tosses her head back, catching me on the chin. I shake my head as pain ricochets along my jaw, and my arm tightens around her chest, above her breasts, when something hits the floor at my feet.

“Shh, stop. I am not going to hurt you,” I tell her before flooding her with my Calling. Raidon leans down, picking up whatever fell. It is the vial of my serum. He holds it up, and I take it from him as his eyes dart back to Rhen. She hasn’t taken it. Why didn't she take it?

She melts against me, leaning back as she is forced to surrender to my Calling. Pounding footsteps sound on the floor above, and Leon comes rushing out in a panic, sliding into the wall and nearly down the stairs. I pocket the vial and sigh, feeling his blatant fear through the bond.

My other hand smooths over her belly. I rub it before scooping her legs out from under her. I tuck her to my chest and walk up the steps to Leon’s room. Leon glares at me but says nothing as he opens his door.

“I swear, Thane, I will fucking kill you if you hurt her,” he growls at me, and I glare at him.

“She tripped, I grabbed her, and she freaked out,” I tell him, setting her on the bed. The moment my Calling releases her, she snaps out of her daze and shuffles away from me. I fish the vial out of my pocket and hold it out to her. Her eyes widen as she feels her bra, which must have been where she had it.

She stares at me before leaning forward hesitantly.

“Take it; it’s yours,” I tell her, and she quickly snatches it before moving closer to the wall.

“Goodnight, Harlow,” I tell her before walking out of the room and back down the stairs. The bond has me wanting to run back to her and beg for forgiveness at her feet. I shake off the urge, knowing I would probably just scare her more, and I walk down to the Den.

Chapter Ninety-Five

ONE WEEK LATER

~Harlow~

Leon and I return home from an ultrasound and are walking through the door when his phone starts ringing. He answers it as I walk into the house, only to find that Thane is home and sitting at the counter reading a newspaper. He sets it down as I make my way to the fridge, and I can hear Leon arguing with whoever is on the phone, still in the foyer.

“How did your ultrasound go?” Thane asks.

I glance at him over my shoulder. We hardly speak, and I prefer it that way. It is easier to just stay away from him than deal with his moodiness.

“Harlow?” he says, and I continue to ignore him, grabbing a bottle of water and moving toward the foyer to find out what has Leon so upset. As I pass Thane, however, he reaches out and grips my wrist, stopping me. I jerk my hand from his grip and glare at him.

“Can you answer me, please? All you do is ignore me,” Thane sighs, wiping a hand down his face before scratching the back of his neck. “You can’t just ignore me. You are pregnant with our child. We have to at least co-parent.”

“Our daughter has three other fathers. I don’t have to do shit with you,” I tell him. I’m about to turn away when he stops me again, making me growl at him. I was locked in that damn Den for a month, and he expects me to just forget it. Without even a fucking apology?

“Fine. Just go,” he sighs as Leon walks in. He grabs a bottle of Coke from the fridge.

“Everything alright?” Thane asks him.

“No, I need to go see Talon. He is having issues with one of his vendors.”

“I can go,” Thane says, standing up, but Leon shakes his head.

“No, stay. I will deal with it. Watch Harlow for me,” Leon says, and I sputter.

“Why can’t I come?” I ask, not wanting to be stuck at home with Thane.