Page 2 of Such a Grumpy Omega
“No, Everly. The one here. Grandpa’s home. Our father’s house.”
I took one look at my steak, its juices flowing all over the plate, and suddenly my stomach turned. Not because of the steak but because of her. How fucking dare she. “You sold the family house? What were you thinking?”
“I was thinking it would be easy to split the proceeds and move on with our lives. I’d get one check and split it between the family. Why are you so upset about this? Did you want to live in the house?”
“Of course, I did. It’s been our family home for generations.”
“So? No one has lived there since Dad passed. Not even you. We’ve all moved on. You love your apartment.”
I did, but that was far from the point. “Doesn’t matter. I thought…you know what? I’m calling the cousins. They have a stake in this too.”
Sadie sighed and rolled her eyes. “Don’t bother. They already know.”
That stung. “They do? You told them before you told me?”
“I told them the moment I put the house up for sale three weeks ago, Everly. Everyone knew. We also knew the absolute stink you would put up about me selling it. That’s why we decided to wait until it closed to tell you.”
“The fuck?” I yelled.
The uptight patrons gasped and dropped their forks all around us.
“It’s done, Everly. It’s all done. There’s nothing you can do about it now. Not a damned thing. Just let it go. Here.” She slid an envelope over. “Here’s your cut.”
“I don’t want a cut. I want the house.”
“Well, that’s too damned bad. Either you find a way to buy it back or reverse the sale, both of which are nearly impossible. Now, can we enjoy our lunch?”
“No. We absolutely cannot.”
I downed the glass of wine at the table, and that was where the slippery slope began. The sun had set a while ago, and I hadn’t stopped drinking yet.
I stood with a bottle of Jack in my hand and stared at the house that had once been the source of my joy and memories, where our alpha dad raised us. Our omega father died when Sadie was only five. He’d died in childbirth—with me. Deep in my heart, I thought she’d never forgiven him for that. And she certainly had never forgiven me.
The door to the club next door opened up and out walked the alpha of my dreams. Tall and lean. Chiseled jaw. Wearing an all-black suit, he paused outside the door and inhaled the night air.
Then he smiled, and my knees threatened to buckle.
What was he smiling at?
Something inside or something out here. Perhaps the change of seasons. The chillier weather in the air. He could be mated and thinking of his omega.
“Good evening,” he said, looking at me as though he’d heard my thoughts.
“What’s good about it?” Goddess, I hadn’t meant to be that snippy, but it came so easy when I was drunk. I was pretty sure I was drunk. Yeah, very.
The alpha nodded once and walked down the street, not giving me a second look.
My father’s beautiful house next to this tragedy of a club—such a juxtaposition. The house was regal and cozy. Everything about it screamed calm and safe. And then there was this club with its booming music and all kinds of riff-raff flowing in and out at all hours of the night.
“I’m going to ruin them,” I whispered my vow. “I’m going to find a way to get this house back and shut that damned club down if it’s the last thing I ever do.”
First, I needed to do some research. Despite the amount of alcohol I’d consumed, my resolve was as clear in my head as anything had ever been. Take down this club. Make them rue the day they moved in next door to my family’s home.
Chapter Three
Fraser
After the conversation with some of the owners, I was determined to make a change. Living simply, I’d done nothing but put money away for a rainy day that my inner child expected to come any day. Many of those I associated with spent their earnings on travel and designer clothing and every kind of splurge, but I couldn’t do that. I dressed well, of course. In order to do business, that was a requirement. And I liked looking good, but tried to be prudent in my choices as well.
