Page 16 of Knot All that Glitters: Part 1

I nod. Jude grins. “‘Course she is. We’re here now.” He holds out a hand palm up in invitation, and I don’t hesitate to slip my fingers into his. His grip is warm and gentle as he pulls me—and by extension, Ren—away from the bar and the alpha.“We got a table in the VIP area,” he explains, tucking us between him and Atticus. “Quieter, fewer assholes.”

Atticus glances down at me. “Why don’t you head up there? Hale and Creed are waiting.”

My brow furrows as I look up at him. “What are you going to do?”

Jude slips an arm around my waist, cuddling me against his body. My mind whirls, my body heats. I’m not used to this kind of physical touching, casual, like he’s been holding me for days, weeks, months. Not like this is literally the first conversation we’ve had. But I can’t deny that it feels… really fucking right. Like this is where I’m meant to be. “We’re gonna make sure he understands that actions have consequences, bellybutton.”

Well, there’s no reason that should make my body light up, but apparently the threat of violence on my behalf does it for me. My mouth opens on a little pant, and I shift, my thighs rubbing together to ease the sudden ache between them.

At least I’m not perfuming. The suppressants my father has me on don’t allow for that. There’s no flood of my scent, just the faint acidic sweetness of pineapple and the bite of chili.

Jude chuckles and presses a kiss to my temple. “Naughty girl,” he purrs into my hair. And good lord, it’s a wonder I don’t strip off my panties and throw them at him.

Do notembarrass me, Haven.

My father’s command filters through my head, like it always does when I’m feeling the urge to do something that would undoubtedly bring embarrassment to him. Even if I look nothing like the Haven Bell that the world knows, all it would take is one person to recognize me, one person to sell a photo to the media and I would break the command.

So I shift away from Jude and straighten my spine. His brow furrows as he watches me do it, but he respects the boundary I’ve apparently put in place.

“Don’t bother,” I say, eyeing the alpha. “He’s not worth it.”

The drunk snarls, but doesn’t do anything more than that, blinking like an idiot and swaying on his feet. “I beg to differ, angel,” Atticus says from the other side of Ren. “He put his hands on you. He should at least lose a finger.”

Oh,Jesus.

“He should lose his tongue,” my best friend growls. “Hebarkedat us.”

Jude and Atticus stiffen and growl. “Oh, he’s losing his whole fucking hand now,” Tic rumbles.

Ren chuckles next to me, and laces her fingers through mine, giving them a squeeze of support. I don’t know if her nearness makes me bold or what, but I turn to the alpha next to her and say honestly, “I can’t be involved in a maiming, Atticus. What would my father’s supporters think?”

His brows drop as he looks back at me. I hold his gaze, letting him see as much of my truth as I dare. If they decide to do something to this man, just because he’s drunk at a bar and a bit of an asshole, I won’t be able to spend time with them. That’ll be it. I can’t risk breaking one of his commands because of something they’ve done.

“Image is everything to my father.”

Jude sighs. “Fine, button. Whatever you want.” He points a threatening finger at the still swaying man. “You’re so fucking lucky we’re not going to teach you a lesson. But touch what doesn’t belong to you again, and we fucking will. Clear?”

The drunk looks like he wants to say something, argue with them, start a fight, and I clamp my mouth shut to keep from begging with him to just let it go.

Apparently deciding she’s over the drama, Ren tugs me away from the three alphas, weaving through the crowd and heading toward the stairs that lead up to the VIP area, a balcony that overlooks the dance floor. There’s a security guard at the base of them, and I’m not sure how we’re going to get past him without Tic and Jude. Maybe they put us on a list?

I glance behind me to find Jude and Atticus still chatting with the alpha. Though chatting isn’t the right word, they’re crowding him, stares intense, clearly threatening him.

Ren chuckles again, pulling me into her side. “Damn, girl. You’ve worked some kind of voodoo on them.”

I give her a dazed look. “I’ve literally never spoken to either of them before. They just come to my father’s rallies or meetings or press conferences and stare at me.”

“Well, they obviously like what they see, babe.”

“Little mouse.” My gaze leaves my best friend to find Hale and Creed standing at the bottom of the stairs, just behind the security guard.

“Everything okay?” Creed asks, brows arched in question, though his gaze is focused on the three men still at the bar.

Ren nods and answers for me. “Oh, yeah, everything is just fine. Your pack mates are handling it.” She drags me past the big beta protecting the stairs and he does nothing to stop us. My best friend comes to a stop in front of the prime of the Calloway pack and holds out her hand. “I’m Florence—Ren—Karlin. Haven’s best friend.”

Hale eyes her fingers cautiously, like he’s not used to omegas being so forward with him. But that’s just Florence. Something I’ve always envied about her.

When she just stands there with her hand outstretched, waiting, an amused smile curves his mouth. He clasps her hand to shake. “Hale Calloway.”

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