Page 78 of Pack Rivals, Part One

"Hello, sweetheart," I say, without looking her way.

"Really?" she says, and when I peer down at her, she's standing with both her hands on her hips – hips encased in skintight denim.

"What?"

"You can't follow me everywhere."

"We simply fancied a game of pool," Hardy says, taking a pool cue from my out-stretched hand and leaning over the table. He hits the white ball with a hard smack and the triangle of balls ping across the table, bouncing off the sides.

"In the bar where I happen to be hanging with my cousin and our friends."

"Didn't know you were in here," Hardy says. "Lining up the next shot."

"Oh come on."

"Would you like me to buy you a drink?" I ask her. "A sparkling water perhaps."

"I have a drink," she says. "A whole pitcher."

"What is it?" I ask, eyeing up the sludgy looking shit in the jugs.

"It's a tequila sunrise."

"How many have you had?"

She huffs through her teeth and switches her weight from one foot to the other, the swaying motion of those hips of hers making me giddy.

"Are you keeping a count of my drinks as well as where I am?"

"Yes," I say, twisting the cue in my fingers.

Hardy peers up from the table. "You want to join us for a game, Omega?"

"I wouldn't want to embarrass you," she says, arms still crossed.

"That sounds like a challenge," Hardy says with a glint in his eye.

For a moment, she looks severely tempted, and this is what I'm coming to love about this girl. It may be stupid to rock up to a bar like this smelling like she does, but how many other omegas do I know who would even consider a game of pool? Most wouldn't know how to hold a cue.

"Not tonight. I'm here with my friends. And you," she points at us both, "are not allowed to interfere."

"Wouldn't dream of it," I say.

"I can't believe you followed me again."

"You know I have my men watching you, Omega. Which, given the choices you keep making, seems entirely reasonable."

"What's wrong with coming out for a drink? I'm not alone."

I step towards her, lowering my voice. "This bar is a dive, Bea." My gaze flicks around the other patrons. There are a few groups of women taking advantage of the drinks deal, but mostly it's men here. I recognize several from the MC in this part of the city and I'm not loving the way most of them are eyeing up our omega. Not surprising; her scent, despite her attempt to disguise it with blockers, is like catnip and even in her dressed-down outfit, her curves are impossible to miss.

"I tried doing the whole omega event thing last week," she says, "and it wasn't for me. This is me." She sweeps her arm around the bar.

For a moment, I feel sorry for her. As shitty as this place is, I have to admit I'd rather hang here too than any of the stuck up alpha and omega events we're forced to attend. But I'm not sorry for caring about her safety.

"You're here without an alpha to protect you. I'm not prepared to take a risk with your safety."

"You need to start asking. I'm not your property."

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