MACKENZIE
Mackenzie
“The lobster is divine.” I dabbed my lips with my napkin, heart racing with possibility. “Theo, weren’t you telling me about that lobster dish you just made?”
I kicked his ankle under the table, widening my eyes meaningfully at Justice. Come on, Theo. Eligible alpha. Tech mogul. Work with me here.
“Oh, um,” Theo said, catching on. “It wasn’t anything special. Just experimenting with different butter poaching techniques.”
“He’s being modest.” I touched Theo’s arm across the table. “And he’s teaching himself graphic design. He’s thinking about going back to school.”
Bob’s dismissive snort made my spine stiffen. “School? What does an omega need with more education? Seems like a waste of time and money when they should focus on finding a good alpha and starting a pack.”
Justice and Ren shared a look. Justice’s jaw tightened. Ren’s eyes went dangerous.
“I’d love to hear more about your designs,” Justice said, shifting to block Bob from the conversation. The way he looked at Theo was nothing like the way Daryl used to look at me. Daryl was possessive and controlling. Justice seemed genuinely interested.
“What kind of work do you do?” Ren’s voice was warm honey.
I watched Theo light up as he described his latest project, insisting it was just for fun. Both alphas asked thoughtful questions, drawing him out of his shell. Neither commented on how unusual it was for a male omega to have a career or go to school.
Their scents tangled together, Ren’s dark spice and Justice’s woodsy spring morning and then it mixed with Theo’s coconut, my head spun. When I took another bite of lobster, Justice’s eyes tracked the movement. Ren’s arm was still casually draped behind my chair, protective rather than possessive.
“An omega always defers to their alpha’s career choices,” Bob said to his mate. “My Samantha never…”
“Tell me more about this sushi class,” Ren spoke over him. “I do onigiri at home but rarely sushi.”
“Dabbling in the family business?” Justice snarked.
“Nah. To be a chef, you have to be an egomaniacal control freak. You’d do well if you need a career change.”
Their bickering felt almost… flirtatious? There was heat there, but not the aggressive dominance I’d come to expect from alphas. They seemed more interested in amusing each other by being only just slightly mean.
“More lobster? Or do you want to move on to something sweet?” Justice’s voice rolled over me, making my brain stutter. Before I could answer, he sat up straight and crooked two fingers at a nearby server. “Bring us one of every dessert and a giant bowl of whipped cream. Do you have a Moscato? Chrysanthemum Moon maybe? Great, a bottle for the table.”
“Whipped cream?” There was a note of sexy innuendo in Ren’s voice.
“Well, if the lady enjoys whipped cream with her French toast, I’m sure she’ll enjoy it with her dessert.”
French toast? How did he know?
“We don’t like Moscato.” Bob added from his side of the table.
Justice slowly turned to Bob with a look on his face that if it was directed at me? I’d be in a puddle of tears.
“No one asked you, Bob,” polite venom in his voice. “It’s not for you.”
Theo stared straight at me, doing everything in his power not to lose control of the giggle that was bubbling inside him.
Justice turned back to me. All the alpha aggro evaporated, leaving the most gorgeous smile. “I don’t want to seem like a creep. I saw you at breakfast, having whipped cream with your French toast. It made me smile.”
I blinked and struggled for tiny panting breaths. I swallowed hard, fearing I would turn into that puddle right this second. I wasn’t sure if it would be a puddle of tears or slick.
A rough hand grabbed my arm, yanking me right out of my chair and into a pudgy chest. The sliver-haired alpha from the pool deck swayed over me. Drunk still or again. And he had no control over his aura, it practically swallowed me, making my legs numb.
“Time for that drink, sweetheart. I’ve been thinking about you all day.”
The playful atmosphere at our table evaporated. Justice’s spring morning scent went sharp as pine needles. Ren’s spice turned acrid. But it was Theo who reached me first, his coconut scent wrapping around me like armor.
“I think,” I said, my voice shaking only a little, “you should invest in some impulse control classes.” The words came out wobbly, but I lifted my chin. “Very discreet these days, I hear.” I cringed at failing to pull off Theo’s classy verbal defense. He squeezed my hand hard.
The alpha’s face twisted. “Listen here, you little…”
“Take your hand off of what’s not yours.” Justice’s voice was winter frost.
“Before I remove it from your arm.” Ren’s growl wasn’t playful anymore.
Their combined auras pressed down like a thunderstorm. The drunk alpha’s grip loosened. I stumbled back into Theo’s steady embrace.
“Just trying to be friendly.” The alpha’s bravado crumbled as Justice and Ren both rose from their chairs. “No need to…”
“Leave.” One word from Justice, backed by Ren’s deadly smile, and the alpha practically tripped over himself, retreating. Every head in the dining room turned toward us. I glimpsed Rose and her mean girls whispering behind their hands.
I was trembling, but not from fear. Anger bubbled up, foreign and fierce. How dare he? How dare he try to…
“Well,” Justice said, his voice gentle again. He gathered a selection of plates in his giant hands. “I think dessert would be better on deck.” He nodded at the bottle of Chrysanthemum Moon. “Bring that. And glasses.”
Theo jumped, like he’d gotten an electric shock, and tucked the wine under his arm and threaded wine glass stems through his fingers.
“Bob, it’s been… educational.” Ren said as a stand in for a goodby.
“You did good.” Theo whispered in my ear, as he swept by to fall in with Justice. I followed and turned back for Ren.
He twirled the ring on his thumb. When his eyes met mine, there was deep pain and guilt that made my throat tight.
“Coming?” I held a hand out to him. He took it, his eyelids fluttering for a second.
“You lead, I’ll follow,” he said, the playful teasing back in his voice but seeming somehow hollow.
Ren held my fingertips lightly, tracing circles with his thumb. He dropped my hand once we made it onto the deck. I shivered from the chill. The chill from the ocean breeze. And absolutely not from losing contact with this alpha.