3. Kash #2
Thankfully, I’m saved from analyzing my response to her when the waitstaff enters.
Throughout the next sixty minutes, course after course of a delicious meal is served.
We talk about mundane things like the current state of affairs in Darling, who’s cheating on who—because apparently Hudson and Rose are in on all the town lore— and their thoughts on the upcoming Rose Festival that kicks off tomorrow, named in honor of the lovely woman currently sipping chardonnay from a Tiffany fluted glass.
Darling exists because the Callahans and Fords settled here long ago. Our family’s history is long, celebrated, and unfortunately still intertwined despite the black cloud that’s hung over our respective estates ever since Mason and Jack ruined everything their ancestors spent years building.
“The festival should be a lovely event this year,” Rose says, scooping out a bite of chocolate soufflé. “How long will you and your pack be in town, Kash?”
“I believe we’ll be here through early next week as we finish up some business. We saw the signs for the festival, and my packmates are eager to get a real sense of what Darling has to offer.”
“Oh! That’s lovely.” She claps her hands, shooting my grandpa a conspiratorial look. “Maybe you all could take Juliette and Cha?—”
“Gran, I was already invited by Pack Latham. I’ll be attending with them.”
Pack Latham? Aren’t they the pack who used to run in our fathers’ circles back in the day? They’ve got to be almost double her age. But they’re also very wealthy and influential. Why am I not surprised?
My gut clenches as my heart pangs. I ignore them both.
“Hmph. Nonsense. Your old friend is in town, and I think you should accompany him and his pack. Show them around. Help them get reacquainted with the area.”
“He is not my?—”
“Tell me, Kash…” Rose’s stare is as tough as granite, and when she turns it on me, I’m forced to swallow harshly. “You do plan on following through with the agreement to marry my granddaughter, do you not?”
“Gran!” Juliette exclaims, her perfectly unbothered appearance faltering under the weight of her grandmother’s meddling.
A member of the staff comes in to fill our glasses with water, giving me a welcome reprieve to gather my thoughts as Rose continues to eye me expectantly.
“Mrs. Call—” I clear my throat when her eyes narrow, her scent becoming harshly cloying.
“My apologies. Gran , that agreement was made a very long time ago. I haven’t seen or talked to Juliette in at least a dozen years.
I’m sure I speak for us both when I say, with the utmost respect, that a marriage between us just isn’t going to happen. ”
The silence that follows is so thick it’s becoming hard to breathe.
Gramps' deep pine scent has grown thick and muddled. “Kash, I thought we agreed that you’d withhold any final decision until you and Juliette had a chance to reconnect. Let’s not be so hasty.”
Juliette shakes her head. “I’m afraid he’s correct, Grandpa Hudson. A marriage reuniting the Callahans and Fords, while lovely in theory, is just a fairy tale. I’ve got my sights set elsewhere, with a pack that holds the highest pedigree and can provide a solid foundation for my future.”
Highest pedigree and fat wallet, no doubt. It shouldn’t hurt, yet it does. Just like it did all those years ago.
“But just take a look at the original agreement. It’s right here.
” Gramps pulls out his wallet, flips it open, and gently removes a worn cocktail napkin with faded black ink scrawled across the weathered paper, then sets it down in front of Rose.
“You young kids have no concept of how things were done back in our day. We believed in family first, and I’m sure if we give you both some time?—”
I’m interrupting before I can think better of it.
“Look, let me just lay it out. My pack and I don’t have any plans to court anyone at this time, especially not someone without any relevant qualifications.
We’re very focused on furthering our careers and can’t afford to be distracted by a needy, pampered Omega. ”
A low growl sneaks across the table, Juliette’s scent taking on a spicy smoked edge.
“While I object to being described as unqualified, needy , and pampered, I am in agreement with the pretentious Alpha across from me about one thing. My career is also priority number one. Pack Latham is priority number two. Anything else is simply not in the cards.”
“What career? Finding wealthy Alphas to support your laziness?” I snap. “And you dare call me pretentious? Look in the mirror, sweetheart.”
“Kash, Juliette is actually very well known throughout the rod?—”
“No, Gran. He doesn’t deserve any more of your words.”
The smug look she sends my way has me wanting to strangle her and kiss her at the same time. Shaking that thought out of my head, I focus on the way she pushes her shoulders back and folds her hands in her lap like she’s a real lady.
I know better.
“I’m sorry,” she simpers with an exaggerated pout like she’s talking to a kindergartner.
“Pretentious is probably a really big word for you, I bet. Let me break it down for you. How about pom-pous ? Taste-less ? Over-blown ? E-go-centric ? Any of those make it any clearer for you, or do you need me to grab a dictionary?”
Grabbing my linen napkin from my lap, I slam it down onto the table. “It’s no wonder you’re still without a pack. You haven’t changed at all. Seems I need to add lacking basic manners to my list of reasons I’d never consider marrying you, let alone bringing you into my pack.”
She throws herself to her feet, palms landing on the table as more of her Southern twang sneaks into her tone. “And I wouldn’t bond an Alpha who believes the sun comes up just to hear him crow.”
Her cheeks are flushed with anger and her chest heaving, which draws my attention to her very large, full breasts. Her scent is even spicier, the cinnamon heavy and intoxicating.
Fucking hell, Kash. This is your enemy. Do not imagine her naked right now, you weak fuck.
“Now, kids, let’s all settle down. While we understand the delicate nature of this contract, the simple fact of the matter is that it is a contract and this union was established to join our two families. It’s as important for our legacies as it is for the town as a whole.”
She turns her furious gaze on my grandpa, and I stand, ready to defend him if she so much as utters a single hateful word in his direction.
“Hudson, I have loved you like a grandfather since I was just a little girl, so I will simply ask for your forgiveness for what I’m about to do.”
Confusion rushes through me until I see her snatch the cocktail napkin from the table, pause for all of three seconds, then shove the entire thing into her mouth.
“Juliette Rosemary Callahan!” Rose screeches, a graceful hand raising to her chest in shock.
I stare in helpless wonder, and maybe a hint of admiration, at the fact that she apparently had more balls than I did to put an end to this whole sham once and for all.
Though I would’ve simply ripped it up into tiny pieces rather than try to eat it.
Regardless, it’s effective. She chews and chomps and grimaces until she finally grabs her glass of water and takes a few long, hard gulps.
“There. Guess that takes care of that. The contract is no longer valid.” She takes a deep breath, exhales, and wipes her wrist across her mouth, removing a tiny speck of errant paper. “Now, if y’all will excuse me, I have somewhere else I need to be.”
She calmly strides out with an elegance befitting royalty.
No one says a word.
Clearing my throat, I straighten my jacket sleeves. “Now that the issue at hand is settled, I need to go meet with my pack. Thank you for a lovely evening, Gran. I’ll be sure to stop by sometime this week to introduce you to Beck and Wyatt.”
My thoughts are all over the place as I make my way to the front door and out into dusky twilight.
Tonight, she was everything I expected, and yet somehow more .
I saw that carelessly blank facade crack, letting the tiniest glimmer of the little girl that I remember from way-back-when peek through.
I have no doubts it was just a temporary lapse in judgment, but even then, something about the Omega I’ve spent the last decade-plus hating speaks to the Alpha inside me with a strength that’s impossible to deny.
I pull out my phone and shoot off a text to our group chat, asking for a ride.
While I wait, I debate the logic of keeping tonight's shocking revelations—mostly the fact that I’m not nearly as immune to her as I claim to be—to myself.
I usually tell my packmates everything, but the hurt little boy inside who still misses his best friend remembers the shock and confusion and pain he felt the day she turned out to be the Omega his Alpha side went haywire for.
Maybe keeping this one tiny thing for himself isn’t such a big deal. It won’t hurt anybody. Right?