Chapter 61

Logan’s POV

Harper left after slapping her father, and as I look around, I notice Lucas has also disappeared. A sense of satisfaction fills me just before a bitter jealousy also comes up. I shove the feeling away, knowing that if I’m going to be with Sierra, I have to get Lucas and Harper together.

However, when I make my way outside to find them staring into each other’s eyes and to find Harper leaning into Lucas’s chest, that sour feeling bubbles up again.

Again, I try to ignore the feeling and watch as Lucas leads Harper over to a tree. She follows him willingly, only pausing when he sits on the ground. Then, he pulls her down, settles her in his lap, and wraps his arms around her.

Anyone passing by would think they’re a mated couple, which, if you think about it, they should be. They are fated mates, and it seems that their bond is starting to seep through the fake bonds Sierra and I have put on the two of them.

“If you don’t want your family to bother you, tell me, and I’ll take care of things for you,” I hear Lucas say. Harper leans into him, resting her cheek on his chest. She curls into him as he whispers in her ear and hugs her.

Logically, I know I shouldn’t be angry at this development, since it’s what I wanted, but I can’t ignore the anger and resentment that grows in my chest. Should I let go of Sierra? She rejected me and even after all my attempts, she doesn’t give me the time of day.

Harper may not be my mate, but she likes me.

Also, she hasn’t rejected me even when she’s been upset with me before. I like how kind Harper is and that she actually cares for people. Sierra is the opposite of Harper, treating people with distrust and disrespect.

The more I think about losing Harper to Lucas, the more upset I become. It makes me wonder, have my feelings for Sierra faded?

A soft laugh pulls my attention back to Harper, and I find her smiling up at Lucas. She now straddles his lap, facing him with her hands on his shoulders. His arms are snaked around Harper’s waist as they talk quietly.

Wanting to hear what he’s saying, I focus my hearing.

“I won’t let you suffer because of anyone in this pack,” Lucas says.

“You can’t stop everyone from hurting me,” Harper tells him, looking down. “Why would you want to, anyway? I’m not your mate. In fact, you shouldn’t even be out here with me.”

Angry, I pull my phone out and start recording. Maybe I could convince Harper to stay with me. If I can force them apart, instead of forcing them together, I could keep her for myself.

Lucas takes Harper’s chin between his fingers and tilts her face up. They’re so close that I grind my teeth together and force myself to stay hidden.

“I’m starting to think that Sierra isn’t who I’m meant to be with,” Lucas whispers before leaning in and kissing Harper. Their lips move together, and she leans in, wrapping her arms around Lucas’s neck.

If the pack sees this, they will surely be angry enough to demand that Harper and Lucas stay away from each other.

Then, Harper freezes. Her body goes tense, and she pushes away from Lucas.

“I… I… need to go,” Harper stutters and looks around, and I duck back behind the large shrub. A moment later, Harper runs past me and back toward the banquet hall. I stop the video, an idea coming to mind as I follow Harper back inside.

If I want to keep her to myself, I have to expose them.

Lucas’s POV

I shouldn’t have kissed her. I know that. We both have mates waiting for us inside, but there’s this pull. Something about Harper just feels right. When I’m with her, everything else fades away; the people, the exhaustion of running a pack, the fear that we won’t be ready if there’s another attack, the hesitation I feel about my future with Sierra.

There’s this odd, yet alluring connection between us. I thought Harper felt it too, but with how she bolted away from me, I’m not so sure.

Sighing, I rake my hand through my hair and make my way back to the banquet hall. Should I apologize?

Would she listen if I explain my recent thoughts and feelings? Honestly, lately, I’ve had more feelings for Harper than I’ve had for Sierra. It’s brought up doubts and questions in my mind, and I think it’s time to bring my thoughts into the light.

Kissing Harper cleared my mind enough to let me know I don’t want Sierra. I shouldn’t let this failed mating draw out any longer.

My phone buzzes in my pocket as I walk back into the banquet hall, but I don’t bother with it. I try to find Harper, but she’s standing with Logan and Jenna. As if she senses my presence, Harper looks up, but the contact doesn’t last. She immediately averts her eyes, turning back to the conversation she was having.

Dings and notifications echo through the room, and one after the other, the pack members all through the room begin watching something on their phones. Eyes turn on me and Harper, whispers roll through the room like a wave, and Mason rushes to my side.

“You need to see this,” he says, lifting his phone for me to see. I pull my eyes off of Harper long enough to take Mason’s phone and glare at the screen.

A video of me and Harper kissing plays on the small screen, clear as day. The video cuts off just before Harper pulled away. Turning, I scan the room. Everyone has their phones out, and my stomach sinks. Are they all seeing the same thing as us?

Shoving Mason’s phone back into his hand, I pull my phone out to find the same video in my text messages. I play it again, and again, anger fills me.

“Where did this come from?” I ask, looking at Mason. Just from the video, I can’t tell who it came from.

“I’m not sure, but it doesn’t look good, man,” he says, pointing to the angry faces around us. “You have a mate—”

“I fucking know that,” I growl. “I… this isn’t…”

Groaning, I look around for Harper. There’s a lot that could happen right now, and I don’t want her to take the brunt of the pack’s anger. I know they won’t like what happened, and neither will Sierra.

I try not to think about how this is my fault and focus on searching for Sierra.

Across the room, she bolts out of her chair. Her face is a mask of fury, red and pinched. She pins her eyes on Harper and screams, “Harper!”

Shit.

Sierra bares her teeth and shoves people aside, stalking toward Harper, seething, “I told you to stay away from my mate!”