Page 74 of The Packaged Deal

“Peculiar?” I ask with an edge to my voice. There is nothing peculiar about Adrian. He’s perfect. I resist the urge to snarl.

Antony Lovehard pulls at his jacket with self-importance dripping from his pores. His pack mates, Bernard and Henry, leer at me. I have an urge to pull my dress higher up my chest. They make me feel naked but not in the way Kandi makes me want to get naked. No, this is a skin-crawling sensation that I can honestly say I’d willingly roll in mud just to avoid them looking at me the way they’re doing.

“Your hair is unsightly. It’s such a peculiar shade, like an old woman’s hair. Not ladylike at all,” Antony whispers. “What would your mother think?”

“Strange, I don’t aspire to be a lady. I’m first and foremost a woman, and secondly an omega. Neither of those things requires me to have a particular hairstyle,” I say tightly.

“Or control over your vulgar vocabulary,” Bernard says with a snicker. He’s always looking to the others to validate his corny sayings and jokes. Or his cruelty. “What else can you say with that filthy mouth of yours, Omega?”

“If people have an issue with how I speak, then people can go jump in a river. Furthermore, I don’t perform on cue, Bernard,” I spit out venomously.

Antony shakes his head. “You haven’t changed a bit in all this time. You still think you’re better than us. Still think you’re going to be put up on a pedestal just because you’re an omega.”

“A whole year and a bit?” I scoff. “Yeah, I haven’t changed. I like who I am. I’m proud of who I am.”

“You’re still the same strange little omega your mother tried to palm off on us,” Henry says darkly. “But you can’t make a sow’s ear a silk purse.”

I wince, hating the reference to the nickname they gave me. Little Piggy. Apparently, I squeal when I’m accosted by unwanted alphas. Who knew?

I lift my chin. “I am who I am, and I’m proud of that person. Let me make this clear: I am not interested.”

“Rumors are going around that your own mother was so disgusted with you she cut ties.” Antony leans in conspiratorially. “We know all about it. Proud? I would not be proud if I were you. Now, you’re helpless. Now, you’re just a no-one. We can offer you help…for a price.”

Where is Adrian? I clench my hands into fists in the front of my dress as my anger starts to grow.

“No one here wants to speak to you. People are just watching you embarrass those poor alphas. Embarrass their friends and offend people with your presence. You’re all alone here, Omega. There are no bonds on you, no pack wants you. The doctor is just playing with you.”

Doubt seizes me for a moment. Am I embarrassing Adrian, Kandi, and Sven? I didn’t mean to embarrass them. Maybe I am, maybe I’m better off alone.

“You could just pretend I don’t exist,” I point out. But their words have hit true. Isn’t it true that my pack has been resisting me? Isn’t it true that I am, as yet, unbonded?

“We would, but you laugh too loud. Your hair stands out. Your presence is an offense. The fact that you have somehow conned your way here, into this world, is an affront. But we can help you.” Antony moves closer, his finger sliding across the back of my hand. I snatch it away.

“I’m not surprised you’re still unbonded,” Henry whispers evilly.

I get vivid flashbacks of his hands on my shoulders the last time we met. An excellently timed interruption by another omega had allowed me to escape.

“What does it matter if I’m here?” I ask with exhaustion. “How does it hurt you?”

“It doesn’t hurt, it’s just like seeing an overfull bin in a shop or a blowfly in a restaurant. It’s an offense to the perfection that is tonight.”

I wrap my arms around myself. His verbal blows are landing.

“There’s a place for you still, if you want it,” Antony whispers. He moves into my space, and I have to fight the urge to step back. I will never give into bullies, no matter how hard they turn my stomach. “Where we discussed.”

“So I can be a whore in one of your properties somewhere? Waiting until you show up and spread my legs and be grateful for what you offer?” I hiss, incensed. “I think fucking not.”

“No one is going to pack you up. All you can hope for is to be some alphas whore.”

“Is that right?”

I shudder at the ice in Kandi’s voice.

She puts a hand on the alpha’s shoulder and grips hard. He struggles, but her grip is merciless.

He opens his mouth, but Kandi does this move, and somehow, her elbow slams into his face.

“You weren’t about to use your bark on me, were you?” she snarls.