Page 42 of The Alpha Option
“You should know better than to try to rise above your station.”
Oh, how delightful, Cassidy thought. One of the bitches was Emma.
Straight-on attack or sweep their feet out from under them?What a delicious choice.
Cassidy went for the kill. “Hi, Sophie. I’m so glad you’re here.”
She stopped beside the other woman and wrapped an arm around her shoulders as if they were best friends forever. She glanced at the other two women and sniffed the air. “Oh. Sorry. Didn’t see you there.”
Beside her, Sophie swayed slightly then straightened her shoulders. “Hi, Cassidy. Dixie and I were very excited to come visit.”
“Dixie already said hello. She’s with my friend,” Cassidy assured her before eyeing the other two women with distaste. “Emma, I know. And you are?”
“Don’t even think—” Emma started.
Cassidy held up a hand. “You need to listen better. First, I wasn’t talking to you. Second, there’s not much you have to say that I want to hear.” She looked at the other woman and all but demanded an answer. “Your name.”
“Jessica.”
Both Jessica and Emma instinctively stepped back as Cassidy moved forward. “Jessica. Emma. I invited the pack to a fun event today, and I assume, as pack members, you want to be included. But if you can’t behave, I will rescind your invitation and you can leave.”
Emma snorted. “You and what army are going to make that happen?”
Oh, the woman had such a short memory. Ignoring both Jessica and Emma, Cassidy turned her back on them and faced Sophie. “Tell me if I’m wrong, but were these two harassing you?”
Sophie straightened her shoulders again. “They were. It’s partly my fault because I need to learn to stand up for myself.”
“Well, standing up for yourself is a good thing, but if people weren’t jerks, you wouldn’t have to,” Cassidy pointed out.
Behind her, Emma took the opening Cassidy had left. She laid a hand on Cassidy’s shoulder.
It was a simple matter of sliding back one arm, adjusting her balance, and using her hip. Emma flew before smacking on the ground, gasping for breath.
This time Cassidy stepped on Emma’s wrist to pin her in place. Then Cassidy glanced at Jessica. “Your choice. Pick better friends to hang out with, or get the hell off my property.”
The other woman ran. Right across the beach and into a different group of pack mates.
A prickling sensation at the back of Cassidy’s neck made her glance in the opposite direction. A warm glow lit inside her as Jace and Blue wandered toward her.
“Hey, guys,” Cassidy said in greeting. Emma squirmed, but Cassidy only stepped down a little heavier. “Is this something you’re supposed to deal with?”
Jace stopped and looked down at the woman on the ground glaring daggers at them. “You look as if you’re dealing with it just fine.”
“I wanted to make sure I don’t cross any lines if I kick Emma out.”
Blue stepped in and offered Sophie a hug. “You okay, sugar?”
She nodded. She squeezed him back and then smiled at Jace. “Congratulations.”
He held up a hand then gave a little cough. “Nothing to say about that yet.”
“But there will be. I know it.” Sophie stepped over Emma and gave Cassidy a hug. “Thank you. Oh, and Dixie wants to swim with you later if that works.”
“I look forward to it.” As strange as it seemed, it also felt immensely right. Cassidy pressed a kiss to Sophie’s temple then sent her off toward where Stephanie was building a sandcastle while an enthusiastic little wolf pounced on the turrets.
Meanwhile, Blue had lifted Emma to her feet and now stood beside her like a lazy yet alert watchdog. “Come on, Emma. I’ll walk you to your car.”
For a moment it seemed Emma would argue.
