Page 91 of Why Cruise

“I mean, there’s nothing technically wrong with that. But what about her nest? What, is she going to nest under the stairs in the corner of the basement next to the laundry? Nesting space is super important for an omega.”

I didn’t bother listening to their response. It didn’t matter. What mattered was Mackenzie. Little wrinkles appeared on her forehead and she absolutely refused to look at me. Mackenzie wasn’t the gold digger type, but she was worried about money. The fact that she didn’t have any. That this douche left her with none. Just like this pack would.

These boys were all stuck in frat boy mode, like their auras had presented yesterday, and they were still trying to figure out how their knots worked. And they weren’t that much younger than me. That was the pathetic part. This kind of pack didn’t want an omega. They wanted a toy.

“So let’s just go over the finer details,” I continued. “I’m presuming you’re looking to add pack members who can bringwealth to the table? Help take care of your lovely new omega here… who still doesn’t have any bites?”

“We’re just reconnecting, actually,” Brock said stiffly. “Taking things slow.”

“I’m sure you’re all prepared with a bond price? Seeing as you’re traditional and all, you’re going to pay your omega for her bond, settle any debts she has and set up a pack dissolution trust so she’s financially cared for the rest of her life?”

“We… we’re just starting out and…” Brock stammered.

“So you want to be traditional but not follow tradition? It’s not technically law, but every pack has at least a bond dissolution fund set up for their omega. That’s what real alphas do. Care for people and provide.”

I practically willed Mackenzie to do the math.

“Well, good luck with that.”

I gave her one last searching look before letting the music carry me away. I rejoined Theo at his place at the bar.

“What was that about?” he asked.

“Just gave her some things to consider.”

Ren

I stacked my chips methodically, a habit born from years of knowing exactly how much I had to lose. The Casino Night crowd pressed in close around the tables in the added space just for poker. It was all sparkly dresses and overpriced watches. The tables had been hot too, with people very excited to lose money. I had my back to a wall, so I could watch the players at my table and the dealers in the room. They were much more relaxed than the casinos in the Floating District.

My fingers paused on a chip when I caught sight of Justice. Like the center of my universe, I’d always be able to find him in a crowd. Theo was with him. I cocked my head. Something had shifted between them. I smiled. I didn’t need to read auras to know those two got lucky and then some.

I tossed a $100 chip to the dealer. “Let me color up?” In less than a minute, she cashed out my neat chip stacks for two $1000 chips and change.

I circled the floor in the opposite direction. Justice leaned into Theo to point out something on the floor. It was either gossip orpoker lore. Like any nerdy kid, he had dabbled in online poker and chess, and no doubt in the circles he ran, he’d sat tables before.

He bent his head to Theo again. He caught something out of the corner of his eye that had him radiate bliss. And then he paused, straightened his head, and his entire persona changed.

Of course, it was Mackenzie. On the arm of that douche.

The little dickwad had better be thankful for the poker table between him and Justice.

Daryl pulled Mackenzie in closer and kissed her neck. His hand found the modest slit in her skirt and hiked it up so he could grab her ass. She pushed him back and shimmied her hips to put her dress back right.

Justice put his hand on Theo’s arm to keep the omega from launching across the table.

I covered the distance, leaned across the table and said, “Shall we play a game? Just?” counting on him to get the mutually assured destruction reference. He held my eyes and then put on his CEO face.

“Mackenzie, you look lovely. The flowers suit you,” he said smoothly.

“Thank you for buying them for me.”

“Theo bought them for you.”

“Theo picked them out. You paid.”

“Theo bought them for you,” he repeated.

Daryl cleared his throat and then smacked her ass. He smacked her ass like a public spanking.

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