Page 31 of In Control

“My best friend is a pack omega and she would rather kill her alphas than let them look at another person. Not that they ever would. They’re obsessed with her.”

A slight pang of something unpleasant twinges in my chest. I ignore it, taking another gulp of my coffee.

“Every pack is different and this pack has been happy with how we do things for the last ten years.” I swim my hand through the air. “So if you want to continue screwing Liam, be my guest.”

I take a step towards her, offering up my coffee. Those blue eyes of hers dart up to mine and then her lips open and I pour a little coffee into her mouth. “Screw all of us if you want, pretty little thing.”

She’s smothered in my packmate’s scent, and it smells good on her skin.

When I remove the cup, she licks her lips. I could lift her up onto the counter and take her right here in the kitchen. An even better hangover cure than the coffee and the toying.

“Do I … do I know you?” she asks, her gaze searching my face.

“I think I’d remember a pretty little thing like you.”

The crease on her forehead twitches and then realisation dawns across her face.

“You're Gabriel Manchetti?”

I take a long gulp of my coffee. “I am.”

Her face softens. “Wow!”

I chuckle, shrugging my shoulders. “A reaction I usually prefer afterwards, but …”

“I saw you in Giselle.”

I nod. “You liked it?”

“It was incredible. You were incredible.”

I shrug again. Long past are the days when gushing praise like this did anything for me. I’m good at my job. Fuck it, I’m more than good, I’m one of the best. Everybody’s been telling me that for more years than I can remember.

“This old dog can still move.”

“You’re not old.”

I am for a dancer. I probably only have another couple of years left. My body is creaking at the seams.

I roll my neck, letting the vertebrae crack as I do.

“And what is it you do, pretty little thing?”

Her nose crinkles. “I’m a student.” Shit, she’s younger than I thought. “A PhD student,” she clarifies, reading the misunderstanding on my face.

“A clever little thing too, huh? Now I understand why you’ve caught Liam’s attention. He likes them smart and sexy.”

“Them?” she asks, there’s a little tease in her voice.

“Oh, don’t worry, sweetie. There aren’t that many. Not like some of those in the pack,” I roll my eyes, “Liam is quite particular. Likes to hang on to his discoveries once he finds them too, so I imagine we’ll be seeing more of each other.” I let my gaze roll down her body and soak in those bare thighs of hers. Just as biteable as her arse. “I look forward to it.”

She smiles at me. “We’ll see. I might not want to be hung on to.”

“Oh dear,” I pout at her, “did Liam not give you his best last night? I can make up for any of his shortcomings if you like?” I wink at her.

She laughs. “Oh no, he was good.”

I take another sip of my coffee, eyeing her above the rim of my cup. “He is, isn't he? All my alphas are.”

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