Page 153 of Heat & Deceit
“I don’t think that matters to them.” Javi sighs and looks at the alpha. “What are you doing here, Todd?”
Oh, right. Todd.
“Figured I’d come to congratulate you on getting exactly what you deserve.” Todd sneers at me, something rude on the tip of his tongue.
This asshole isn’t going to talk shit to me again.
“Before you try to insult me, Todd, I think I should mention that, while Javi was dragging you out of Tranquility, it was pretty apparent to me you’re rocking small-alpha energy. Is the knot giving you a hard time? Is that why you settled for a beta?”
Normally, I wouldn’t go so low. There’s nothing wrong with betas and alphas falling in love, but the pair in front of me are a bunch of assholes, so I’m not pulling my punches.
“You little—”
“I think you’ve overstayed your welcome,” Rome says, stepping into Todd’s space. “Or would you like me to reintroduce you to my fist?”
My mouth drops open. Reintroduce?
“You took everything from me,” Todd hisses, face turning red.
“I took what was owed for insulting my pack and our omega.” Rome leans closer. “I’m giving you one chance to leave before I embarrass you in front of half the city.”
That’s an obvious exaggeration, but it does make Todd pause. He glances around, noticing that people are staring in our direction. His nostrils flare, and he grabs Tabitha’s arm a little too roughly and tries to pull her away. I advance and step in his path.
“Another thing,” I say, side-eyeing Tabitha. “She may be a cunt, but don’t alpha-handle her.”
“I don’t need your help!” Tabitha rips her arm out of Todd’s grasp all the same and stomps away.
I watch her go, then turn to look at Todd. “Go.”
And he does. He storms away, and I shake my head, heaving out a breath.
Javi wraps his arms around me from behind. “Maybe it’s time to head to the dance floor.”
I haven’t danced for fun in so long, I only hesitate for one second. The promise of the guys being with me gives me enough assurance to move without worrying someone will try to join in. As if knowing exactly what I’m thinking, they form a circle around me, and for the first time, we dance together.
* * *
I push through the doors that lead to the veranda, breathing in fresh air and waving my hands in front of my face. All the dancing. All the introductions. All the very public displays of affection. It’s all so much. Is it wrong that I’m loving the spotlight when I’d sworn to never be on a stage again? Granted, the ballroom is nothing like the strip club, but the way people are watching me tonight is all too similar to how it used to be at the club.
“Found yourself some rich fuckers, huh?” a voice like acid says from behind me.
My spine stiffens and my hackles rise. Spinning around, I find my old pack before me in threadbare clothes. Each of them takes a turn leering at me, scoffing at my dress or my hair or my makeup. Someone says something that sounds likewhore, but I can’t hear anything over the blood rushing through my ears.
They’re here.
How did they find me?
And then, as though Ricky can read my mind, he reaches into his back pocket and pulls out a magazine. He tosses it at my feet, but I don’t need to open it and find the close-up image of me and Ly to realize that this stupid tabloid led them to me.
“I thought the little gift we left would’ve warned you away from them.”
“What gift?” I snap.
“The nest,” Ricky drawls. “We left it as a little reminder of who owned your first heat.” He sneers at me. “You really think these royal alphas are going to stick it out with a low-pack cunt like you?”
“Looks like they already claimed her,” Mikey mutters. “Their fucking loss.”
“You know they only want you for one thing, right?” Jimmy’s lips pull into a cruel smile. “They put a little baby alpha inside you yet?”
