Page 84 of Small Town Shy Omega
The officiant looked out at the audience.
“Okay, if anyone has any objections to this bonding ceremony, speak now or can it.”
I rose.
I shouldn’t have, and it was absolutely in poor taste, but…
“The Alphas are gossiping about my amazing stepsister, Jasmine,” I said, saving my poor stepsister from a terrible fate.
Dreydon rose beside me. “We can hear them saying terrible things. We’d hate for Jasmine to go through with the bonding.”
My stepparents gasped, turning to me with daggers in their eyes. Now, they weren’t exactly in my life—my grandfather took me in after my parents passed away. Know why? My stepparents, these See You Next Tuesday’s that I was currently staring at, rejected me.
They rejected the Omega who had no place to turn after her parents died.
My grandfather took me in, and that’s probably why I was inadequately socialized.
Jasmine fumed at me. “Layla,” she snipped, fingers clenching. “How dare you?”
“Sis,” I said softly, trying to contain the shrapnel… of the war crime of a bullet I was firing at her. “You’re too good for this pack, babe. I mean, look—the Alpha on the left just clearly kicked your dog, and imagine how they’ll treat you after you’re married?”
“Did you kick Charlie?” Jasmine gasped at her Alpha.
The Alpha whose leg was attached by the dress-wearing poodle lifted his hands in self-defense. “I just kicked him off,” he protested, trying to claim innocence, “he was humping my leg!”
Jasmine threw off her veil.
“I cannot deal with this pack,” she snapped, her voice loud and hysterical. “They don’t respect my inner queen. They spend more time… with each other in their own private bedroom, than they do with me!”
Gasps rang out, and I grinned as I nudged Josh’s ribs.
“I heard the same,” I lied confidently.
God, I was a basket case… But this was my stepsister who did nothing but rub her popularity, success, and superiority over me.
It was time I put my foot down, and stick up for myself.
Jasmine crossed her arms. “This wedding is over!”
Attendees filed out,and to everyone but Jasmine’s pack, I was persona non grata.
“Thank you,” the pack members said, relief plastered on their faces.
“I’m so sorry you’re related to her,” another Alpha said, tugging Charlie on a leash. He’d ripped the bridesmaids dress off at the altar.
I smiled, leaning against Dreydon’s shoulder. “Step,” I corrected. “We’re not related by blood. After today, I’m not sure I’ll ever talk to her again.”
Unfortunately I was wrong.
Jasmine came up to me with tears in her eyes. “Thank you for saving me from that terrible pack, Layla. They really were… into each other also, and I just…bleh,” she cursed out, ringing out her hands. “I mean, how could I have been so blind??”
“Is that like, a dealbreaker?” I asked.
“I mean, yes! Ew!” Jasmine stomped off, but not before giving me a hug. “I almost disinvited you today, but I’m so glad you came. I owe you won.”
“Ughhh,” I said to Josh when she left, trying to shake her aura off me. I probably looked like one of those dancing white inflatables at a tire dealership. “I can’t deal with her.”
“You’re popular again, Layla. Back in your evil stepsister’s good graces.”
