Page 104 of Taken By the Pack

I bite back a sigh. “We can go to the diner.”

She stops walking, her heels clicking against the pavement as she turns to me with an expression of pure disdain. “Absolutely not.”

Liam makes a noise of agreement, wiping at the blood drying at the corner of his mouth. “I refuse to eat in a place that smells like fryer grease and disappointment.”

I clench my jaw. “It’s where I eat.”

My father waves a dismissive hand. “We’ll drive to the next town. There are proper restaurants there. Get in the car.”

I glance back at the market, at the stall Grace is still standing behind, shock still written across her face. The instinct to stay, to make sure she’s okay, pulls at me. But my father is already moving toward the car, and I know there’s no use arguing.

So I go.

* * *

The restaurantthey pick is a quiet, upscale place with white tablecloths and waiters who move like they’re gliding. It’s the kind of place my mother insists on, the kind of place where appearances matter more than the actual food.

As soon as we sit, Liam smirks at me, tilting his head. “You could have at least gotten cleaned up before breakfast.”

I exhale sharply. “Didn’t have time—I needed to cater to our mother’s restaurant standards.”

Liam chuckles, but my father just levels me with a look. “Watch your tone.”

I don’t respond. There’s no point.

A waiter appears, taking drink orders, and as soon as he leaves, I lean forward. “What are you doing in town?”

My father barely glances up from his menu. “I told you, handling business.”

“In Westbrook?”

His eyes flick to me. “You always were observant.”

“So, what’s the plan?” I ask, leaning back. “Swoop in, buy up the land, push out the locals, and build something no one here can afford?”

He tilts his head, as if considering my words. “If it makes money.”

I exhale, shaking my head. “And let me guess, you’ll claim it’s for the town’s ‘growth and development.’”

“You think I need to justify my investments?”

I don’t answer, because I already know how this goes. My father invests, makes his money, and leaves a trail of displaced families and overpriced real estate in his wake.

Before I can say more, Rachel leans forward, eyes sharp with something between amusement and malice. “Speaking of the town,” she drawls, “why did that Omega we met earlier smell like you?”

I still.

Rachel’s lips curl. “And other Alphas, for that matter. What is she, the town slut?”

Heat flares up my spine, fast and violent. “Watch your mouth.”

She blinks, feigning innocence. “I’m just curious?—”

“She is none of your concern,” I say, my voice cold.

My mother sighs. “There’s no need to get so touchy, Ashton.” She picks up her coffee cup, taking a delicate sip. “In fact, I think she should join us for dinner. I’d love to meet the woman who has you so enthralled.”

I scoff. “You never wanted to meet my last girlfriend.”

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