Page 69 of Scent of Home

Oh? What the fuck does ‘Oh’ mean? Can I punch kids in the face and get away with it?

The boy turns back to Finn, talking to him with so much animation that I almost dismiss his strange reaction to me and Bray.

“Bray, I need to talk to you.” A painfully thin man snarls. He looks to be about our age, and though he’s dwarfed by Brayson, his attitude makes my hackles rise. I take in the pale skin, his muddy brown eyes, the thin blond hair, and dismiss him as anything but an annoyance.

Bray reluctantly lets go of my hand. “I’ll be right back.”

I turn, keeping him in sight while he goes towards the edge of the hall.

“My car’s not fixed yet? You said it would be fixed yesterday.”

“I can’t fix the car without the part, Rooster.”

“Fuck, I need the car, Bray. I’m not paying for it. You’re taking advantage of my good nature.”

What a douche.

Bray opens his mouth, then shuts it. “Sure, I’ll have it for you by tomorrow.”

I let out a snarl that startles Finn, but I ignore him and stalk towards Bray.

“Hi, I’m Bray’s date today,” I purr and hold out my hand.

This pitiful excuse for a man looks me up and down and then puts on a smolder. “Forget about Bray, sweetheart, come hang out with a real alpha.”

I bristle, but Bray gets homicidal.

I manage to step in between them before he kills the idiot, but only just. I catch Finn watching with concern, but he’s been surrounded by tiny old ladies. No help coming from that quarter.

“Sweetheart,” I say with a snap of my teeth. “You couldn’t handle me. Bray speaks my language.”

“Bray? He’s a piece of shit-”

“You going to finish that sentence, Robins?” Shane snarls with so much menace Rooster, or Robins, quakes in his shoes.

“No, Shane, I was just-”

“Fuck. Off.”

“Sure, I’m going.”

“Oh, and make sure you pay Bray everything you owe, or I’ll be coming to pay a visit.”

“You didn’t have to do that!” Bray hisses.

Shane blinks. “He was ripping you off and being rude to you and Erin. What kind of alpha would I be if I stood by?”

Bray folds his arms over his chest, but he’s breathing hard. I reach out to touch him, but he recoils and shakes his head.

He storms out of the building, leaving me feeling helpless.

“Is this normal?”

“What?”

“This town and the way it treats Bray?”

“Yes. Sadly. It is normal. Though I’m not sure if they even realise they are doing it.”

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