Page 42 of Knot the One They Want

Before I can form a scathing retort, Lake chimes in, his tone dripping with mock sympathy. "I never thought I'd see the day the great Damien Blackwood gets alpha'd."

Cole snorts, his grey eyes glinting with barely suppressed mirth. "Especially by an omega."

Red hot rage surges through my veins, my alpha instincts roaring beneath my skin. How dare they take her side? After everything we've been through, everything we've lost, they're just going to roll over and let her walk all over us?

"Fuck off, all of you," I growl, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. I can feel my instincts desperate to lash out, to assert my dominance. But I won't give them the satisfaction of seeing me lose control.

I turn on my heel and storm out of the room. I don't know where I'm going, just that I need to put as much distance between myself and that infuriating omega as possible.

My mind races as I stalk through the halls, replaying every moment of our confrontation in excruciating detail. The way she stood up to me, the challenge in her eyes, the infuriating curve of her lips. She may have won this battle, but she won't win the war.

I'll just have to try harder to make her life a living hell. To break her down until she's begging to leave, until she realizes that she's nothing more than a pawn in a game she can't possibly understand.

Game on, little omega.

Game on.

CHAPTER 20

EVIE

Ienter the dining room with my head held high, a small, satisfied smile playing at my lips as I take in the scene before me. The alphas are already seated, Damien at the head of the table, his piercing blue eyes immediately locking onto me. A shiver runs down my spine, but I refuse to let it show.

Instead, I announce proudly as the servants carry in the steaming dishes, "Dinner is served."

The scent of perfectly roasted lamb wafts through the air, mingling with the fragrant herbs and spices I hand-selected for each dish. I glide over to my empty seat, acutely aware of every alpha's gaze following me.

Asher, seated nearest to me, catches my eye. I hold his stare, a silent challenge, until he hastily rises from his chair, apologizing profusely as he pulls out my seat. "Where are my manners?"

I feel Damien's glare burning into us, but I simply smile demurely and thank Asher as I settle into my chair, smoothing my skirt and folding my hands in my lap. "I do hope the meal is to your liking, gentlemen."

Damien's jaw clenches, his knuckles white as he grips his fork. The others shift uncomfortably in their seats, exchangingnervous glances. I fight back a smirk, wondering if they fear I've laced their food with poison. It's almost amusing, the way they squirm under my gaze.

And they say alphas have all the power.

Lake, the more intuitive of the twins, confirms my suspicions as he hesitantly asks, "Will you not be eating with us?"

I widen my eyes innocently. "Oh, it would be improper for an omega to eat before her alphas." I gesture to their untouched plates. It's complete bullshit. There's no etiquette saying omegas can't eat first, but these jerks clearly don't keep up on that sort of thing, and I'm not going to pass up the opportunity to use it to my advantage. "Please, do enjoy."

Grudgingly, they each take a bite of the food, their eyes never leaving me as if they expect to keel over at any moment. I maintain my composure, pressing my lips into a firm line so they won't wobble, and waiting patiently until they've all sampled their food.

It's Cole who breaks the tense silence, a low groan escaping his lips as he savors the lamb. "Damn, this is the best thing I've ever tasted."

Damien's head snaps up in Cole's direction, his glare so icy it could freeze hell itself. But Cole seems oblivious, too lost in the flavors dancing on his tongue to notice the other alpha's displeasure.

Even Damien reluctantly takes another bite. He says nothing, of course, but I can tell from the way his glare intensifies he enjoys it.

I hope you choke on it, asshole,I think to myself, taking a dainty sip of my wine.

I allow myself a small, victorious smile as I finally pick up my own fork, spearing a delicate bite of perfectly pink lamb. The tender meat practically melts in my mouth, the rich flavors bursting on my tongue. It's divine, if I do say so myself.

As the meal progresses and the alphas realize I haven't poisoned them, I can feel the tension in the room slowly dissipating, replaced by grudging appreciation for the feast I've prepared. Even Damien seems to be enjoying himself, though he'd probably rather drink actual poison than admit it.

The alphas attempt to engage in light conversation, but it's painfully clear they have no idea how to talk around an omega. Their words are stilted, their smiles forced. I can practically see the gears turning in their heads as they try to come up with something, anything, to say.

Good. Let them be as uncomfortable as I am.

I take another bite of my lamb, savoring the rich flavors as I watch them squirm. Their discomfort is even more delicious than the meal. It's almost comical, the way they avoid eye contact, their gazes darting around the room like trapped animals.

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