Page 143 of Rogue & Her Hunters
They look like a perfect Alpha and Omega match.
I can sense Bird’s serenity through the bond.
What place do I have?
Do I fit between them? Can I be Phantom’s Omega and Bird’s scent matched Alpha?
They’re both mine.
Is wanting them…wanting to be with them like this forever…love?
I shake my head, needing to clear my thoughts.
I skirt past them, marching out of the room.
To my surprise, however, I stumble over Joker, who is silently watching the scene as well from the shadows of the doorway.
He turns and rushes away, before I can talk to him.
Is he upset?
I growl, wishing that I was bonded to Joker and could simply feel his emotions like I can Bird’s.
I understand the point of pack bonds now. It is much simpler when you can sense someone’s emotions and don’t need to try and work them out.
Joker is as guarded and complicated as I am.
I dive after Joker down the dim corridor, grabbing his shoulder and twisting him to face me.
Joker is dressed in his training pants and sweat dampened t-shirt from his workout.
“Fancy meeting you here, baby.” Joker attempts and fails to smile.
“Drop the act,” I bark. “They were dancing. Why did that upset you?”
“Why did it upsetyou?”
“Nice deflection. But I’m not afraid to answer. Phantom can cherish my Omega in a way that I can’t because I was never an elite. I need time to process that. Your turn.”
“Pass.”
When Joker tries to hide behind his tumble of hair, I don’t allow him to.
Gripping his chin, I force his head up, until he meets my eyes. “He burned for you, and you’re the one who wanted us in the pack the most.”
“Phantom is falling for Bird. He’s been obsessed with you from the moment that he…stalked is a strong word.” Sadness ghosts across Joker’s expression. “Part of me has always wondered if I wasn’t enough. You know that I’ve loved Phantom for years, but I can’t help fearing that Phantom only bonded me out of duty.”
Confused, I let go of his chin. “Why would he do that?”
Joker’s lips thin. “It doesn’t matter.”
He starts to turn away, but I snatch his shoulder and slam him into the wall. “You ask me to trust you. But you’re keeping secrets.”
“I can’t…” Joker’s gaze becomes tormented.
He’s trembling.
Concerned, I loosen my grip and stroke his hair. “I’m sorry, Jokes. This being gentle shit is new to me.”
