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I don’t care if he does. trusting my limits right now means everything.

Sasha shows up and there’s a tense meeting between the alphas. Since she’s the one who reviewed the pre-bond, my lawyer is aware I’m courting a new pack, but I worried she’d be upset. Instead, she gives me the broadest grin. “He’s perfect for you.”

I feel Nate’s smugness the entire way up the stairs.

Inside the courtroom, I’m not surprised to find my mother fawning all over Pack Parker. My father is another story. Outside his own deposition where he lied about my exes’ abuse, he hasn’t stepped foot in Pacifica in years. Yet, he glares at me from the other side of the aisle. I’m almost shocked the bastard flew in from another state just to sit through this inane hearing.

“You look ridiculous,” Mother hisses as we pass her.

“Don’t speak to my client,” Sasha snaps.

She squeezes my wrist, careful to keep her touch to the fabric while helping me to my chair. The whole time she keeps her body between Pack Parker and I, but even with her hiding me, I feel their glares, taste their putrid scents on my tongue. There’s something strange about their smell, but I think it’s because I hate them a little more every day.

The bailiff calls our case, and we stand as a very annoyed Judge Harris arrives. “What do we have today, counselors?”

Sasha’s got her professional smile on and dialed up to eleven. “Your Honor, we’re asking for a recess.”

“Of course you are,” Kefling scoffs, crossing his arms. “Your Honor, they’re trying to drag the proceedings out so?—”

“Actually, that would be your clients,” Sasha growls back.

“Enough,” the judge snaps before turning to my lawyer. “Why do you need a recess?”

This is the one thing I didn’t want to share, but Sasha insisted it was the only way to get time we desperately need to find the contract my parents signed and end this ridiculous dissolution for good.

“My client went into heat after our last court hearing and was unavailable for any strategy meetings or conversations until recently. We haven’t had a chance to organize our affairs.”

My body goes on high alert, waiting for my exes to say something shitty. Lance and Corey whisper furiously to their lawyer while Jacob’s glare heats the side of my face. From thecorner of my eye, I see he looks unhinged, but different. There’s a pale stain on his dark blue suit. Probably the foam from his twice daily nonfat extra dry cappuccino.

It brings me so much joy to know perfect Jacob Parker is walking around less than pristine.

He turns to Mother, who looks pale and shaky. Did she not tell them? Now that I think about it, how did she find out about my heat in the first place? Fuck, what if they’re having me followed? What if they already have a plan for Pack Morgan?

The pre-bond will protect my men, but it doesn’t mean I want them dragged through the mud too.

Suddenly, all the reasons I had for not letting him in here vanish. I want Nate. I want my alpha. My fingers clench gently around the chain at my neck, taking strength from my pack even though they’re not beside me.

After a small argument on the other side of the aisle, Kefling clears his throat, looking uncomfortable. “Your Honor, my clients would like to know where Ms. Barnes spent her heat, since she didn’t come home to nest with her alphas.”

Sasha’s red in the face, fingers clenched so tight they leech color as she whirls on Kefling. “How dare you.”

If looks could kill, he’d be dead three times over, and so would my ex-pack. Even the judge snarls at the disrespect of the question.

“Ms. Barnes, you don’t have to answer that because it’s no one else’s business what you did during your heat.”

“She’s our omega!” Jacob’s voice cuts through the room, an angry, sharp thing.

“Not by choice,” Sasha snaps back.

It takes both of his packmates and Kefling to get Jacob back in his seat and I flinch at the violence in every move.

The judge folds his hands, giving me this inscrutable look. “Considering the circumstances, I’ll allow a recess. My nextavailable court date isn’t for four months, but if I may, Ms. Barnes, I suggest settling. I’m not sure that pursuing this case would be in your best interest. Especially considering thededicationyour former pack has shown toward getting you back.”

He means, if I keep going the risk of Pack Parker getting crazier goes up. I appreciate the warning, but I can’t stop even if I wanted to. Letting them win won’t remove them from my life, it’ll only give them more leverage to hold over me. If I want to move on for good, I need to fight for myself and for my future. Thankfully, this time, I’m not doing it alone. I have a pack of alphas ready and willing to stand at my side.

“Maybe not, Your Honor, but I won’t give up my company willingly. If they want to drag this out, then that’s what we’ll do, but they don’t deserve my surrender.”

Judge Harris seems pleased, though he hides it. I don’t imagine he’s enjoyed the last year of bullshit either, but I think this is the first time I’ve really shown my backbone.