Page 211 of Claiming the Pack's Omega

"Oh, and is the reason you don't have to anymore because of your relationships with the Graylock Pack? Quite suspicious, don't you think? A star witness for such a high-profile case, sleeping with such a high-level Northside pack?"

"Objection, irrelevant," Theo growls, his voice low. His hands are clenched into fists that he's pressing down onto the table below him. If it weren't for Theo's high level of control, I think Theo would've thrown himself over the table to knock the defense lawyer down.

"Overruled," The judge says. "But Mr. Buckland, you will watch your dominance. I will not have you intimidating a witness in my courtroom."

Theo's jaw ticks as he seemingly fights the urge to argue back with the judge. I focus on singling out our bond and send my own wave of reassurance out to him.

He's my mate. It's his job to worry about me. But I have a job to do here and I'm going to do it well.

Now that this defense lawyer has toned down his dominance, though he's done it with a huff, I can finally take a breath.

"So, Ms. Carver, do you have an answer?"

"Well, those were an awful lot of questions you threw at me. If you're trying to insinuate that I've seduced the Graylock Pack to take care of me, then you're mistaken," I say.

The fact that I'm not cowering in front of him seems to frustrate the alpha, if his continued, aggressive pacing is any indication.

Welcome to the club. Seems we both piss each other off.

"Did they not help relocate, not only yourself, but your family to the Northside?"

"They did."

"Do you not have a sexual relationship with them?"

Theo's jaw clenches and I see that he's getting ready to object to the question, but I just send him another wave of reassurance through our bond.

I can handle this.

I may be new to Northside dynamics, but I do know one thing. They're the ones who actually believe in scent matches.

"Yes, I do," I nod.

Mr. Buckland grins maniacally like he's just won.

"Do you not see the issues here?" He asks, spreading his arms wide. I swear, he's fighting the urge to spin in a circle like he's a ring master at a circus and the audience here is here towatch a blood bath. "A Southside prostitute, whoring herself out to the most powerful pack on the prosecution's team, who we're expected to believe as a witness?"

"Objection, your honor, he's harassing the witness," Theo says, his voice deceptively even. I can feel the pulsing fury through our bond. It's coming from all of my mates.

"Sustained," the judge sighs, like he's already exhausted. "Mr. Buckland, you will rephrase your question."

"With all due respect, your honor, I don't feel I need to. I'm just saying the truth, nothing more, nothing le?—"

"I can answer the question," I say, interrupting him.

I'm so angry I can feel my heartbeat in my fingertips. There's a hot flush to my face that I feel pushing up to the tips of my ears. I can't parse where my anger begins and where my mates' anger ends.

"I don't see the issue, Mr. Buckland," I say, my voice saccharine sweet. "I think there's nothing wrong with my relationship with the Graylock Pack."

Mr. Buckland throws his head back laughing. There are a few quiet chuckles throughout the courtroom from people who seem to support the defense's side. I make it a point to try and memorize all their faces of the men and women who do.

"Are you serious?"

"Yes. I'm sure it's because you think I'm stupid. You've already written me off." They all have. The entire audience. They underestimate me just because of where I'm from. Just because of what I've done to survive. "It's obvious to me that based on your questions, your research on the Graylock Pack and me is outdated and shallow."

My gaze never drops from his. I let him see some of the anger I feel. The pulsing, unadulterated fury.

His eyes go wide.