Page 78 of Curvy Quirky Omega

Normally, an alpha never let their omega stand in front of them so that if there was any danger, it had to go through the alpha first but Lucy was fully capable of taking care of herself.

She gave us a weird look before taking stock of the room.

Nicolette was still holding her throat and it occurred to me then she might be reacting to Lucy’s pheromones, not Liam’s. “You gave me the answer I needed,” the Valor alpha gritted out, coughing as she tried to breathe through the thick pheromones.

Our omega crossed her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes. “You were testing me, weren’t you?”

“If you can’t handle him, people will die.” Nicolette cleared her throat and glanced over at Liam. “And if he killed you, he would end up just as dead. I had to see what you were for myself. I’m very glad Dr. Humphries was right.”

Wow. She knew Lucy was a dominant omega and that’s why she’d purposefully provoked Liam? To see what Lucy was capable of? I knew Nicolette could be just as reckless as her son, but this was something else.

And she had the audacity to wonder where Liam got it from.

“Are you going to take him off the family registry?”

I hadn’t expected Lucy to ask that, but Nicolette had if her pleased smile was any indication.

“I was hoping I wouldn’t have to,” Nicolette admitted. “If you’re smart enough to understand you will never be able to avoid the spotlight while you’re bonded to a legacy alpha, I’m sure you’re smart enough to figure out how much easier it would be to preserve your privacy if you accepted our resources.”

Liam tensed, but Lucy was amused so I settled my hand on his waist to remind him he needed to calm the fuck down and let her handle this.

“I was supposed to tell Francisco who I would let escort me to the next legacy event,” Lucy stated. She dropped her gaze to the table I’d shoved to the side and contemplated her options. “He wants me to choose Frankie, but I’m bonded to Liam and Cas. It would be rude to let someone else take me.”

Did we really have to go to that?

Lucy leaned back into me and her weight settled the nervous energy any mention of those events gave me. “If Frankie and I can solve this case by then, I’ll consider joining the Valor pack.”

Francisco growled and Lucy seemed shocked he’d react like that which didn’t make any sense to me. Couldn’t she see he was jealous?

“Frankie isn’t my bond mate,” Lucy told him, giving him this adorable little frown she got whenever she was confused. “She needs to keep her options open, doesn’t she?”

“Yes of course,” Francisco agreed. “But if you’re going to join a legacy pack, you have to join mine first. Let me officially adopt you.”

The way she raised her eyebrow at him was too fucking cute. “I’m a whole-ass adult. Why would I do that?”

Why did I think she wouldn’t torture him even after she already told Frankie she would?

“Obviously so I can give you away at your wedding.” Francisco stood and gently took her chin between his thumb and index finger so he could get a good look at her eyes. “Whether you become Valor or Valentine, I want the world to know you’re under my care as well. It would make things easier for you, especially if you decide to start a new legacy pack.”

Liam and his goddamn eyes. If I didn’t know he’d pluck them from his skull if she asked, I would do it myself.

At least they were pretty to look at.

Lucy shoved Francisco’s hand off of her which only made the old alpha smile. “Let me finish my work and then I’ll decide. In the meantime, you two should prove to me why I would even bother considering you as an option when I already have a pack.”

The way she turned on her heel to leave without waiting for permission or approval made me fucking feral. Lucy gave a room full of legacy alphas her back and I wanted to eat her alive.

Frankie followed after her and gave her father a two-finger salute, her blue eyes sparkling.

“Feisty,” Nicolette murmured.

I couldn’t believe how affectionate she sounded. It felt like I’d entered an alternate reality or maybe I was finally going insane.

Then the alpha of the Valor pack raised an eyebrow at Liam as she massaged her throat. “She’s got you by the balls.”

His stupid grin was infectious. “And?”

Nicolette actually laughed. “Shameless, as always.”