I try to ignore him, continuing my set, but I just don’t want to be here. I want to be back in my nest where I’m safe; I want to be tucked away.
“Looks like Erin was right, she's a little attention whore. Couldn’t even find a pack in six months. She’s defective,” Lenny says.
I’m crying as he says the words. My mother, the men who were supposed to raise me, think so little of me. How…how could anyone else care about me if they don’t? The worst part of it all is there's a high chance Lenny could actually be my biological father.
Tears are staining my cheeks and I just can’t. There’s no way I can stand up here and take this humiliation. I want to burrow into a hole and never come out, I want to disappear, but my shame is completely on display.
“The fuck did you say to her?” Hayes says, getting in Lenny’s face as I’m trying to get down the stage stairs. He shouldn’t have to defend me. I’m sure he’s hearing all their words. Now he’ll know that I’m not good enough.
“Don’t concern yourself with pack issues, little Beta,” Clinton snorts, taking a swig of his beer.
I’m finally at the bottom of the stage, tugging on Hayes’ shirt.
“I’m not worth it, let’s get out of here,” I’m nearly begging him. He looks down at me with sadness written over his face.
Is it because he knows it’s the truth? That he built this beautiful nest for nothing?
“A Beta? That’s all you could find in the last six months. God, Erin is going to love this,” Clinton says.
“Pathetic,” Lenny chimes in.
The word hits like a dagger to my chest.
“Is she going to love that you’re at a strip club paying for scents because that old cunt has too many Alphas than she knows what to do with?” Hayes says, and my eyes widen.
“You little fucker,” Lenny spits, his hand already raised to strike Hayes.
“No!” I shout, and it makes Hayes look in my direction, Lenny’s fist connecting with his face. I’m not sure what noise comes out of me as I watch him hit the floor.
My hands are trembling, my vision is cloudy with tears and fuck, I just don’t feel good. My stomach aches, probably with all the anxiety of the night and watching Hayes get hurt.
Security is coming over, thank goodness. One of them grabs Lenny’s arm. “What’s going on here?”
“He disrespected my Omega, I had every right,” Lenny says.
Security arches a brow. Hayes is rubbing his face, fury in his eyes as he gets up and I stand in front of him.
“Cherry?” security questions me.
Clinton snorts at my stage name and I just feel so much shame, so much self-deprecating anger over the situation.
“They were taunting me, and Hayes didn’t retaliate. He was just protecting me. They need to be escorted out,” I say.
“Seriously, we’re here to spend a lot of money. Are you really going to let this Beta cause an issue?” Terrence tries to reason.
Security looks between both of us and sighs. “Has any harm happened to you, Cherry?”
“Emotionally,” I say, wrapping my arms around myself.
Lenny laughs at my words and security sighs. “We can’t have violence in the club. You all need to go.”
“Seriously, she’s a paid whor—” The word doesn’t get to leave Lenny’s mouth as Nate’s powerful fist lands across his cheek. My eyes widen, and then chaos ensues.
When did he even get here? How did they know what was going on?
I’m grabbed by the waist, and dragged out of the fray. The thick honey scent lets me know it’s Riley and I don’t panic. But as I watch them fight my mother’s pack there’s a desperate whine that slips out of me. The fact that they could get hurt all because of me has my heart racing and my stomach aching. Fuck, when did it get so hot in here?
I need to get out of this place. I need to be in my nest. That is, if they’ll still want me there.
