Avery lurched forward, his fist landing square on Parker’s nose.
“Fuck!” he shouted, reeling back and clutching at his nose. That was going to hurt tomorrow, that was for sure. “For fuck’s sake!
Part of me regretted not being the bigger person, but a much larger part waspissedthat I was being reduced to nothing more than what was between my legs. What in the patriarchal bullshit was that?
Shooting Parker a death glare, I rounded on him as he stared at me in abject shock.
“Parker, I’m going to give you a piece of advice that clearly got missed in your upbringing.Allomegas are expensive.Peopleare expensive. If you want to have a partnership and give the people you love a good life, then you need toshutup andponyup. You’re not one of those guys who would put an omega on an allowance, are you?”
I knew from the panic in his eyes that he probably was.
“W-well…”
“Because I have to say, that’s pretty fucked up. An omega is your partner, not your child. You’re supposed to share your life, and that includes finances. If you don’t love them enough to do that, then you shouldn’t be with them.”
I pushed against his chest, but he didn’t budge, so I dipped around the side of him instead. He caught my wrist, desperation painting his face. “Wait. I didn’t—I didn’t think of it like that.”
I understood where Parker was coming from, but that didn’t mean he was right. Money made people weird, whether they had it or not, and Parker had probably grown up in an echo chamber. Luckily for him, I had a spectacular talent for sledgehammering stupid-ass world views.
Logan and Avery were watching us, their mouths open in shock.
“You’d better start, or I won’t be the only omega who crosses your path and fucks the rest of your pack but not you. Now, I’ve got to get home and shower, so you’re going to let go of me and I’m going to walk out of here.”
“You’re just leaving them?” he choked out, not removing his hand until I stared pointedly at it.
“Wait, angel!” Avery whined. I shot him a look and shook my head. Thankfully, he got the message and pouted but did nothing to stop me. “I put my number in your phone while you were sleeping, so even if you’re mad at Parker, we can still hang out.”
“Wha—” I sighed and focused back on Parker. “Never mind. I didn’t come here to pack up, Parker. I came to get laid, and now I’m going home.”
“So you don’t?—”
“Want your pack’s money? No, I fucking don’t. I can get by fine without it, thanks. Spend some time pulling your head out of your ass about me and omegas in general. I think your life will be better for it.”
Panic wafted off him in waves when I took my first step away, and he followed after, clutching my shoulders with shaking hands. “I’m sorry. You’re right. My brain went to a shit place, and even if itwastrue, it’s not polite to say it out loud.”
“I’m gonna give you about five seconds to walk that back before my fist meets your balls.”
He knew that threat was genuine now. The left side of his face was bright red and a bruise was already forming on the bridge of his nose. Violence was never the answer, but there was something weirdly attractive about having an alpha punch another to defend my honor.
It was fucked up, but I was too pissed to question it.
“No, I mean—Fuck. I’m not good at this.”
“I see that.” I planted the heels of the shoes in my hands against his chest. “Still going home.”
“Let me call you a ride. Please, just…”
“I promise I’m a big girl. I can get home without your help.”
He shared a desperate look with the others, and the last thing I expected him to say came out of his mouth. “Let me make it up to you. ”
“What?”
“For their sake. Let me fix this.”
“How?”
Parker obviously didn’t have an answer at the ready. “Let me take you out. We can talk like reasonable adults, and I promise to be less of an asshole.”
