Page 79 of Alpha’s Possession

I sigh as the bond washes over me, giving in to him. Lips press to my shoulder, and hands grip my hips, making my eyes open. I pull away with a startled gasp as they touch me.

This is too much, too much all at once. I’m still trying to wrap my head around being marked, let alone jumping right into a fuck fest, which I can feel is their intention through the bond.

"Can I have a minute?" I ask, pulling away. It’s overwhelming feeling them so clearly. I am struggling to differentiate between my feelings and theirs.

Thane growls, tapping my thigh, and everyone moves back from me.

"We won't hurt you, Zara," Thane says, and I blink at him.

This is a sham. Everything is a lie, and mate bonds shouldn't be based on a lie. I want to tell them. I open my mouth to tell them, but then the fear of Thane's deep-rooted anger resurfaces, and I close my mouth.

They will find out, and when they do, I fear their reaction. Thane's, I know, will not be pleasant.

"I need to shower," I whisper, climbing off him and over Leon. As I enter Thane's bathroom, I feel their curious gazes on my back. I shut the door before gripping the sink. What the hell have I done?

More importantly, what happens when they find out? Thane made his intentions for Harlow very clear, if they ever find her. Newsflash. They found her, and it is only a matter of time before they realize that.

Will they go ahead with their original plan to breed me and then kill me? Is that still an option now that they know me, or sort of know me? I cannot imagine hurting them, but would Thane still want the vengeance that blackens his heart when he learns the woman he is chasing is right under his nose and has been living in his house all this time?

A knock sounds at the door, and I jump, turning my gaze away from my reflection.

"Zara?" Rhen calls out.

"Yep."

"I thought you were showering?" he asks. The curiosity lacing his voice is apparent, and I quickly rush to turn the shower on before hearing him move away from the door. I let out a breath. Stepping into the shower, I linger far longer than necessary as I contemplate what will happen next and how things will play out.

Chapter Sixty-Three

~Harlow~

The next few days go by without a complaint. Everyone seems settled with the idea of Thane accepting me; well, everyone except me. No, worry gnaws at me every day. I wait for that dreaded email to come through, saying there are no records under the fake name I gave. Thankfully, Raidon’s parent have been called away since his grandfather fell ill unexpectedly, and they haven't had a chance send the results of my blood test.

Raidon is beside himself with worry and has daily phone calls with his parents. It is strange seeing how close all of their families are.

Except for Thane.

Like me, he is on the outside looking in, though it’s clear he adores his in-laws, including Leila, who is constantly harassing him about nieces and nephews. She isn't shy about her demands, even with me sitting right across from her as we all eat lunch in the conference room.

"Have you set up a nursery? What about a color scheme? I can help," Leila asks.

Thane sighs, setting his fork down and stretching his arms above his head before draping his arm across the back of Leon's chair.

"Leila, just stop. You know, we still have the old nursery that we set up for Harlow. Give Zara a chance to settle in before we start talking about babies."

I choke on my food hearing that, accidentally inhaling it as I gasp. Death by fried rice. I retch and heave, trying to suck in air when Rhen pats my back, and Raidon rushes over to me with a glass of water.

"You alright?" He worries as I gulp down the water. I nod my head before swallowing the food that just tried to kill me.

"Yep, went down the wrong pipe," I rasp out, and he lets out a breath, going back to his seat.

"Have you showed Zara? What did she think of it?" Leila continues talking about me as if I’m not here.

I shrink in my chair, glancing around to see Thane watching me.

"She'll see it when she’s ready," Thane tells her.

When she begins to shoot out more questions, Leon growls, his hand smacking the table and causing Leila to jump.