2. Harrison

2

Harrison

I drive like a madman. Fast. Reckless. My alpha side is in full control. Rules don't matter. Speed limits are suggestions. I need to get to my omega, and nothing is going to get in my way.

"Turn there!" Oz yells just before I miss the turn. We skid along the pavement, almost spinning out as I crank the steering wheel, curb the tires, and take out a hydrangea bush before getting the car back on the road.

We can't be that far behind them. Meggie was only missing from the house for a short time before we figured it out. We drove fast when we were looking for her and even faster once we figured out where she'd gone.

"Emily said it's the house with the red garage." Dante leans forward from the back seat and points at a house just up ahead. There's a car in the driveway, but that's not what draws my attention.

My gaze zeros in on the woman sprinting across the yard. Brown hair wild as she runs with everything she has. Meggie .

There's a man I can only guess is her ex-boyfriend, Daniel Teague, just behind her. He lunges forward and grabs her ankle, sending her to the grass. I roar, enraged that another man is touching my girl.

Slamming on the brakes, throwing the car into park, I jump out and run. My ears ring. My vision tunnels. Meggie's scent slams into me. Sour and full of fear. I growl as my body collides with Daniel's, shoving him away from Meggie. My Meggie.

We roll, tumbling until I'm straddling the man. My fists collide with his face and it feels damn good. I do it again. Over and over. He tries to fight. Kicks. Bucks. Punches my kidneys. I barely feel it. My alpha bark could subdue him in seconds, but he doesn't deserve to get off that easy.

I've never been a violent man. But I want to kill him for touching my omega.

Someone pulls on my arm, but I don't stop. Not until an alpha barks at me.

" Stop! " Oz barks a second time.

It's not as strong as my bark. Not strong enough to stop me, but it's enough to break through the ruthless, possessive anger I'm feeling. My fist stops mid-strike. I shake my head, blink, and look up at Oz, who lets go of my arm. "You okay?"

My throat feels as tight as my fists. I shake them out and nod my head.

"Don't do that shit again," Oz says. "We don't need you getting arrested! You hear me?"

I look down at the unconscious man beneath me, then at my bloody knuckles, then at my pack mates. They're all here now. Meggie is crying softly into Dante's chest, surrounded by Ellis, Nils, and McQuinn.

Oz offers me his hand, and I accept it.

"What are we going to do now?" He's looking at the unconscious man on the grass, contempt written all over his face.

"Drop the bastard off a cliff," Dante suggests. I can't tell if he's serious or not, but Meggie gives a watery laugh.

I keep my eyes down, too afraid of what I might find in Meggie's gaze after I lost control right in front of her. The woman turns me completely rabid. She has to be terrified of me. First, I almost bite her. And now, I nearly kill a man over her. Not that he doesn't deserve it, but I still took things too far.

Lost in my thoughts, I don't realize she's stood up and come towards me until her arms are around me, her scent encompassing me.

"I'm okay, Harrison." She squeezes me a little tighter and my arms ache with how badly I want to hold her. But she deserves better than me. She deserves a man who can control himself, not one who nearly beat a man to death on his own front lawn.

I take her shoulders and gently peel her away.

Hurt flashes across her beautiful features before she wraps her arms around herself. "Thank you for getting here when you did. For protecting me."

"I did a shit job." This never should have happened. I should have been more aware of where she was and where she was going. I should have realized she was gone sooner and gotten to her faster.

"Stop that," she says, cupping my face with one of her delicate hands.

I look away and step back. The rest of my pack surrounds her as I put more distance between us.

"What now?" Ellis asks.

"Am I right in assuming we're all in agreement about Paris?"

Firm nods from Ellis, Dante, and Oz follow my question. Nils looks at McQuinn and says, "She's our best chance at winning."

McQuinn only pauses a moment before he dips his chin in a silent agreement.

"Good. Meggie, you're on the team."

"But… Are you sure?"

"Yes." I've never been so sure about anything.

"I don't want you to say that just because of the… emotions right now."

"If anything, all of this should make me say no." My laugh is dark and tinged with bitterness. "It proves I was right about the danger of being around so many alphas. And Daniel knowing what you are complicates things. It puts us all at greater risk."

"Then why aren't you saying no?"

I sigh and look her straight on. "Because you're mine."

"Ours," Nils corrects.

"I want to give you the world, Meggie." Unable to resist, I step closer. "I'll fight any battle you want to fight. And I know this one matters to you. So, let's take on the IOC. Let's go to the Olympics. Let's keep your secret. Let's win gold. And let's throw it in their faces that an omega won. I'm in. All the way in. Whatever you want, however you want to do this."

"What about him?" Oz motions to the bastard stirring on the ground.

"Get him inside." I crack my knuckles and glare. "I think we need to have a little chat."