Page 8 of Billy and Cord (Omega Hearts #1)

Morgan was the type of omega that made Cord grind his teeth. He was beautiful, he knew it, and he flaunted those looks to anyone who was watching. In Cord’s opinion, it was omegas like Morgan who relied on their looks because their personality was sadly lacking.

As was evidenced when Morgan sidled up to his side of the table, eying him coyly from under his bangs. “A new alpha in town, how delicious. Feel free to have a sniff in my direction.”

“You’re the server, yes?” Cord indicated Morgan’s apron and note pad. “Can you take an order for me and my date please?”

“You’re feeding that one first?” Morgan’s laughter had a solid, cruel edge. “That must be a step up for you, Billy. Word on the street is you’ll give away alpha favors for a cup of coffee.”

Billy’s gasp was filled with pain, and Cord’s wolf was ready to strike. It was only due to his years of training that he managed to say between gritted teeth, “Would you care to explain that insulting statement?”

Morgan didn’t appear to be fazed. If anything, his butt wiggled, and he seemed almost happy with the attention.

“Of course, you wouldn’t know, being new in town.

Clearly, Billy knows this and has taken advantage of your good nature.

But I’ll bet you the price of your meal, you didn’t make this ‘date,’ as you call it, through Billy’s parents. ”

He leaned even closer, making Cord want to curl his lip.

“They threw him out of the house, you know. His poor alpha mother was distraught, but what could she do when Billy was running wild and not following her guidance? And I mean, how else could Billy be caring for himself now when he hasn’t had his parents in his life for years? He has to be playing for alpha favors.”

It was Billy’s sob that caught Cord’s attention, and he pressed his hand more firmly on his mate’s shoulder. While he hated Billy had to hear the shit coming out of the smug omega’s mouth, he could not risk his mate running away from him because his wolf would go ballistic.

And to make it worse, Morgan still wouldn’t shut up.

“Honestly, alpha, you’d be better to pick your companions with a bit more care.

Being seen with Billy in town could seriously dent your chances with a decent omega when you find one that catches your sexy eye.

You don’t want your reputation to suffer. ”

“Could I speak to your father, please? I assume he’s here.” Cord was hanging onto his temper by a thread.

“Of course, alpha.” Morgan did a little bob.

“But if it’s about dating me, please don’t worry about asking for formal permission.

My parents keep an excellent eye on me here, and if you’re worried about getting rid of Billy, don’t be.

Just tell the little reject to go. I would do it myself, but I refuse to associate with him in any way. I have my standards.”

“Get your father, now!”

“Yes, alpha. I’ll get him now.” Morgan ran off.

“You should just let me go.” Tears were pouring down Billy’s face. “How dare he… he… alpha favors? I’ve spent five years completely supporting myself.”

“It’s okay,” Cord soothed, or at least he tried to, but it was difficult because his temper and wolf were just under his skin. “I could smell he was lying. Trust me for one moment, please, my mate,” he added as Morgan came scuttling back, an older version of himself beside him.

“You wanted to see me, alpha?” The man leaned forward and held out his hand. “My name is Rufus Paradox. This is my establishment.” He flicked a glance between Cord and Billy when Cord refused to take his hand. “Has Billy been causing a problem here?”

“The name is Cord, friend and teammate of Bullet,” Cord stood up and flexed his shoulders.

“Verified and vouched for by Tristan’s brother, Anthony, and Cece’s parents, seeing as both young men are here this afternoon in their capacity as Billy’s chaperone.

Would you like to explain to me how you can let your son get away with insulting your customers? ”

“Morgan? He’s a decent young man,” Rufus protested. “If he’s said anything out of order, then of course, I apologize, but I can hardly see how anything he might say could cause offense.”

“Then why is my mate crying?”

“Billy? Your date? I swear, I have no idea, but I am confident his upset has nothing to do with my Morgan. Morgan has been raised right, whereas Billy… well, let’s just say if I’d known he was coming here this afternoon, I would have had a quiet word in your ear about it.”

“Are you hard of hearing?” Cord growled, his lip curling for real this time.

“I said Billy is my MATE, and this thing you’ve got hiding behind your shoulder has basically called him a hooker, lied about Billy sustaining himself giving out alpha favors for the price of a coffee, and warned me that my reputation – the one I earned keeping scum like your son safe at nights - would be negatively impacted if I was seen with him. Explain that.”

Rufus was sweating now. “Thank you for your service, sir. Morgan might have been a bit over eager, meeting a new alpha in town, but I can assure you if he said anything you misconstrued, it was taken out of context.”

“He was lying to me. I demand restitution for my mate.”

“Stop. Please stop.” Billy stumbled as he got out of his seat, moving away from Cord and Rufus.

“Maybe Morgan was right, I don’t know. Is it considered an alpha favor when Anthony helped me get my rental and loaned me the money for the first and last months?

I paid him back within three months, but is that considered a favor?

“And then there were Cece’s parents. They’re alphas. They loaned me money for groceries when I was kicked out of my parents’ house. I paid them back by mowing their lawns for three months rather than be beholden to them, but maybe that’s considered an alpha favor, too?

“And what about my clients? I’m sure some of them are alphas, although I wouldn’t know because I get all my coding work online. But is it considered a favor when they pay me for the twelve to eighteen hour days I work, completing their projects in a satisfactory manner? I wouldn’t know that either.

“I do know that you, Morgan, have ruined my first-ever date with my mate. Ruined it with your lies because you’re jealous. You’ve always been jealous of me and the way Cece and Tristan stayed my friends when you dropped me like a hot potato the moment I was homeless.

“I was never a wild child. My alpha mother threw me out of the house the moment I was eighteen because she couldn’t abide having a gay son in her house.

She called me a useless abomination, hell-spawn, fit for nothing but a life in the gutter because, in her eyes, all I was fit for was taking an alpha’s knot up my ass.

My existence disgusted her, and that’s the gods’ honest truth of it all.

You can scent that, and so can anyone here.

So I hope you’re happy. I hope you’re satisfied that you’ve ruined what could’ve been the start of a happy life for me, Morgan, but I swear, I will never forgive you.

” Billy was yelling loud enough for everyone to hear. “I will never come back here…”

“Neither will I or any of my family.” Cece appeared by his side, taking Billy’s arm.

“And Anthony won’t come here again, either,” Tristan said, standing on Billy’s other side.

“Nor me with any of my dates. I’m reporting your behavior, Morgan, to the Omega Hearts Foundation, and you won’t be allowed there again either, you just wait and see.

We’ve put up with your lies for years, but to hear your father try to make this Billy’s problem, when anyone with a nose could smell the lies coming out of your mouth when you were talking to Cord is unforgivable. Unforgivable.”

“Guys, come on.” Rufus was looking really worried now, and Cord wondered how much influence Cece and Tristan’s family had in town. “So my son got a bit mouthy. It’s an omega spat, a bit of jealousy, maybe, but this reaction is extreme.”

“No, no, it’s not.” Cord took off his jacket and draped it over his chair.

“From what I hear, this is an established pattern of behavior, blaming Billy for the sins of his parents when all he’s done is hold his head high and lead a decent life.

Your son, on the other hand, blatantly lied to an alpha he didn’t know about an omega he’s known all his life, and for what?

To make himself look better? To lie his way into my pants?

Billy, mate, I apologize for this, but would you mind stepping outside for a moment with your friends?

I’ll be there shortly to take you somewhere decent for lunch. Bullet…”

“What do you need?” Of course, his teammate would have his back.

“Call the commander. I’m about to level this place to the ground.”

“I’d help you, but don’t waste your energy just yet.” Bullet nudged his shoulder. “Billy has finally spoken his truth, and the town has listened. This place is done for. Take a look for yourself.”

Looking over to the door, Cord saw Billy with Cece and Tristan leaving, but it was as if they’d started a parade.

One by one, every single customer, alpha, omega, and betas alike, got up, threw their napkins on the table, and followed them out the door.

Three of the server staff left, too, and then the chef came out from the kitchen, throwing his apron on the ground as he made for the door.

Within two minutes, the only people left were Rufus, Morgan, Bullet, and Cord.

“Well, that’s a mating lunch that’ll go down in the history books.” Bullet slapped his shoulder. “Shall I give you a hand with Billy’s gifts? You didn’t even get a chance to give them to him yet.”

“No I didn’t, and all because some mouthy little upstart couldn’t be bothered to take my order.

” Cord looked at Rufus, who was alternating between glaring at his son and looking around at his empty tables.

“Omegas are meant to be cherished and cared for – there’s nothing wrong with doing that.

But that ruling applies to all omegas, not just the ones you’re related to.

What you did to Billy, your attitude and assumption that it was him that was causing trouble, was, as I believe Tristan said, unforgivable.

I hope you get a good price for this restaurant because I will be suing you for a sizeable restitution for my mate.

From the looks of things…” he followed Rufus’s glance around the empty room, “selling this place might be the only way you can raise the money.”

“Everyone knew about Billy. There’s been rumors about him for years…” Rufus tried one last time.

“Rumors started and carried on by people like you and your son. Or maybe it was the stories told by his parents, who, rather than be honest about their lack of parental skills and homophobia, told lies instead. I don’t know.

They’d better pray I never meet them.” Cord scowled.

“But you can take this to the bank, Rufus. You and your son, both. Billy has a protector now – in fact, he has my whole team behind him - and if I hear one word against him again, it’s you and your son I’m coming after.

I’m warning you now. You do not want to meet up with me on a dark night.

And no, that’s not a threat, it’s a promise.

Maybe if your son had the same work ethic Billy has, none of this would’ve happened today.

Let’s go, Bullet. My mate still needs lunch. ”

“You’ve left me with all the parcels,” Bullet grumbled.

“I need my arms free. I have a mate to cuddle.”