Page 52 of Unbonded (Pack’s Companion #3)
Suzanna sucks in a furious breath, then points one of her heavily ringed fingers in my face.
I’m pretty sure it’s just to give me an up-close view of my old bonding ring on her bony finger.
“I will sue you to within an inch of your life! When I’m finished with you, your Brooklyn house will be mine, and you’ll be living in a cardboard box under a bridge. ”
Smug satisfaction tightens her features, and I stare at her in disgust. I know she has zero interest in the house for herself.
It’s just more evidence that she only wants what other people have, and all the better if they’ll suffer at the loss.
How that makes her feel better about herself is beyond me.
“You’re a sad, unimaginative woman, Suzanna,” I say, looking down my nose at her from my extra inch of height.
But it wouldn’t matter if I was down on my knees and she was on a pedestal high above me - this woman will never be my equal.
“Even your mates are interchangeable.” I look at Lee, who’s finally struggling to his feet – unaided – and mimic her pointed finger.
“Talk about running off with my sloppy seconds.”
“You little bitch! If you think you can talk to me like that…” Suzanna’s words falter suddenly, her gaze locked on my hand. The flare of avarice in her eyes would be kind of amusing if it wasn’t trained on the opal ring Corbus gave me. “What are you wearing?”
“Looks like the newest Janssen Jewel,” a helpful voice says behind me, and I turn to see Grace Rose smiling at me on the arm of the most dominant alpha I’ve ever seen.
It only takes my stunned brain a moment to connect the dots and realize that he’s Garth Rose, the CEO of the House of Omega.
He’s as big as Bram, with steely dark eyes and a formidable jaw, and although he’s dressed in an exquisite pinstripe suit, there’s no missing the aura of power that surrounds him.
Of course, Grace gives him a smile like he’s the world’s biggest teddy bear and says, “Garth, this is Kate Valentine who I’ve been telling you about.
She’s a fabulous designer who’s just opened her own fashion salon next to Paragon. ”
Technically, it’s inside the Paragon offices, but I’m not about to quibble, especially when Lee’s head snaps my way so fast, he probably gives himself whiplash to go along with his broken nose.
I take great pleasure in ignoring him as I focus on shaking Garth’s hand.
Because this is Garth Rose , the legend who turned his great-grandfather’s Brooklyn business into the most desirable luxury goods brand in the world.
He can probably sense the hero worship leaking from my pores, but he just gives me a kind smile and turns my hand over to study my ring.
“I believe Corbus had it cut from the same seam that gave us the famous Aurora Australis .” He looks at me and his smile grows.
“Once again, Janssen has displayed stunning good taste.”
If he wasn’t holding my hand, I’d probably levitate off the floor. Somehow, I manage to find my voice to say, “I think Corbus prefers pink diamonds, but I’ve always loved black opals.”
“I like to think of them as caged lightning.” Garth smirks, as if he knows that’s exactly how I’d describe his scent.
Like a bolt of lightning wrapped in a very nice pair of bespoke suspenders.
“Once you’ve settled into your salon, we should talk about a collaboration.
” He leans in, his voice a teasing rumble in my ear.
“Especially if we can get Paragon gems at pack rates.”
I laugh, but Suzanna is staring at us like she wants to claw my eyes out – or bite the ring off my finger. I’m tempted to flip her off, but Grace steps between us and clicks her tongue at the other omega. “Isn’t it fabulous, Suzanna? I love seeing someone get everything they deserve.”
With Lee still sniveling into a bloody Kleenex, it’s clear to everyone she’s not just talking about the rings on our fingers.
Suzanna takes a step towards me, but before she can say whatever is brewing behind her rage-filled gaze, Bram appears at my back.
I sense him before I see him, but there’s no mistaking the impact he has as he slides a comforting arm around my waist. Lee’s eyes bug out of his head, while Suzanna stops in her tracks.
Even Garth Rose stiffens before he turns all the way around and takes in Bram’s face.
“Ah, Webber.” He looks him over carefully.
“I never thought I’d see the day you’d wear Valentino. ”
“ Valentine ,” I correct him, smoothing down Bram’s lapel. “He’s wearing me. I mean… my designs. He’s wearing one of my jackets.”
Grace is openly laughing at my flub, but Bram’s chest seems to have puffed out another couple of inches, so I can’t completely regret it.
“Well, if you can make Webber look that good, we should definitely drop by your salon,” Garth says, drawing Grace back on his arm. “And now we all should return to the party.”
There’s just enough authority in his voice to get people moving, but before Grace departs, she winks at me with all the glee of the girl who just bested the playground bully.
Bram is less amused, tucking me tight to his side as he glares at the LaGrange pack.
I can feel his heat through the fabric of his jacket, along with something that might be the very angry thumping of his heart.
“The next time you even think about speaking to Kate, you better have your lawyers on speed dial.”
“That’s ridiculous,” Suzanna huffs, glaring at me. “Her mutt of a beta hit my mate! Unprovoked.”
Oh, lady. If you only knew…
But Bram seems to swell up another whole clothes size, his dominance leaking into the hallway like a smothering mist. Instead of his familiar leather and ink scent, some of that trapped lightning Garth was talking about dances across my tongue.
And for a moment he doesn’t sound like the Bram I know at all when he says, “Then think what her alphas will do if you insult her again.”
Suzanna’s mouth shuts with a snap, but a cold voice says at my shoulder, “And never underestimate the vengeance of a pissed-off omega.”
I turn to find Dash and Corbus stepping up behind me.
While I didn’t get a chance to see Dash’s jacket make its grand entrance into the party, the look of horror in Suzanna’s eyes almost makes up for it.
And Dash looks every inch the principal danseur as he lifts his chin and glares at the other omega.
“If you need it spelled out, this is me uninviting you to the party.”
“But Mr. Devereux! Mr. Janssen!” Suzanna is all trembling lips and beseeching eyes, but my pack is an impenetrable wall at my back, their silence speaking volumes.
Since her packmates don’t seem to be offering much help, Suzanna flicks a disgusted hand at Lee, who’s still groaning into his bloody Kleenex.
“For God’s sake, stop whimpering, would you? ”
I just shake my head, but as I turn to go, I can hear him struggling to get to his feet. “Kate! Don’t forget, we built that house together. I deserve my share.”
Self-serving to the very end.
There are a lot of things I could accuse him of, but what’s the point in wasting my breath? Dash’s hand tightens in mine, and I cast the LaGrange pack a fleeting backwards glance. “You made your nest, Lee. For all I care, you can suffocate in it.”