Page 56 of The Beta: Part One

There is no misunderstanding about what he's asking about. Danielle has always been a little shit, I remember her from the omega training I had but never needed. She ran with the girls who went out of their way to make me miserable after I didn't have a heat cycle when I was supposed to. I guess she's still attached to the idea of her superiority and now she's going to attempt to embarrass me. Joke's on her because I have no clue what anybody's dick looks like but Jasper's.

“The most blessed member of the pack I'm currently trying on is Jasper.”

Jasper barks out a short laugh and grins at me, “I am absolutely blessed.”

His cheeks are a nice pink and he's grinning lopsidedly at me. Oh my, Jasper appears to be getting drunk off of what amounts to two shots. I would love to be taking him home right now, I get the distinct feeling that drunk Jasper would be a whole lot of fun in bed.

Danielle looks a little disappointed with my answer, but I can't do anything for that. I gave the truth I have.

The next round goes to Alpha Pratchett. I expect the worst from him. He was very offended when I refused to stay with his piece of shit son's pack, and even more offended when I told him why. He's a piece of shit, too.

He looks at me a little too hard long enough that I see Kaleb shooting him a glare of his own before he finally asks that Pratchett take his turn. I'm expecting a truth but he gives me a dare, “I dare Talia to come sit in my lap,” he says, pushing back from the table and patting his thigh.

Jasper's lips press into a thin line and Kaleb doesn't look any happier about it, but I can let this asshole pay two thousand dollars for me to sit in his lap. I smile at him and stand up to move into his lap,

“Hands on the table,” I tell him blandly, “You don't have enough money to put them on my body.”

He growls at me, causing Trent to suddenly appear behind his chair, “Little girl, you should watch your tone. I want you closer than the seat next to me for my next turn.”

Phenomenal.

“I see you're settling in just fine if Trent here is jumping to your defense,” he says just loud enough for me to hear.

“Not at all,” I reply, “His omega is at this table and an aggressive alpha is a threat, so you should probably watch your own tone. Actually, don't. I would love to see Alpha Lancaster adjust your sense of entitlement.”

I am speaking loud enough for Trent to hear, I want him to understand the threat and how I'm handling it. I also want Pratchett to understand that Trent gets the privilege of me calling him by his title, and that the same respect will never be extended to him.

He chuckles, placing his hands on the table, and because I might be a bigger asshole than he is as I wriggle into a more secure position on his lap, noting the beginnings of an erection against my thigh.

He hisses into my ear, “Did you entice my son with your plump little ass like that?”

I didn't and he fucking knows it. “If you want an answer to that question you'll have to pay for it,” I say in my most sing-song voice so the whole table can hear.

All of the alphas seated on the platform know some, if not all of the bullshit history around Seth Pratchett's pack and myself, and half of them have the decency to look uncomfortable with the lap sitting.

“My turn!” Alpha Flores calls out in his deep, baritone. His pack is like Jasper's, all male. I know he enjoys the company of women, he's invited me for a weekend of fun often enough, but they have no omega as of yet. “Since all this money goes to charity, like Corso mentioned, and I enjoy giving mine away, I want to ask Talia a truth.”

I smile and nod at him.

“Talia,” he starts, “Who is the most handsome alpha in the room?”

I almost snort.

Of course that's his question, either he thinks it's him or he wants to cause a bit of friendly friction. “The most handsome alpha in this room right now is Alpha Graves,” my voice rings out and I beam at my father.

A few people chuckle but Jasper looks a little sour; he definitely doesn't know that Alpha Graves is my father. My mother is smirking at me from where she stands beside the platform and my father is trying hard not to laugh or puff out his chest too much.

“Ah, I see,” Alpha Flores says, “Can I add to my question for another grand?”

He's asking me, but I'm waiting for Kaleb's nod.

When he gives it I pass it on to Alpha Flores.

“Which alpha in the room, under the age of fifty, do you find the most attractive?”

He probably thinks I'll choose him now that he's giving me a more direct opportunity to stroke his ego. Not likely, his ego is already through the roof as it is.

“Alpha Daniel Graves,” I say, and wink at my brother who laughs loudly. My brother is easily the most handsome alpha in the room under fifty, even if my opinion is a little biased.

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