“No,” I lied through my teeth as I flung my phone at Myriam’s head across the room. “No, who—what were we—”
“You’re lucky my reflexes are that good,” Myriam hissed. “I barely grabbed it before it went into a vase that looks worth more than my life, Sagan.”
“Well, don’t give me stuff like that during meetings,” I growled.
“Well, learn to use Bluetooth better, you idiot,” she threw right back. “You have to put the earbuds in thecaseor they disconnect. Hit pause first next time.”
“I’m really going to be the first wolf who gets heartburn,” Treena grumbled. “I just—break the rule and import the wine we like or I quit, Sagan. I can’t—we need the good wine.”
“Oh yeah, that helps,” I drawled. “The fact you three keep pressing me to break our embargo and you just announced it in front of six Alphas.”
“I could have it here tomorrow and you would have nothing to do with it,” Myriam reminded me.
“You could have the severed hands of her cheating…” Velle started to say but then winced. “Oh, my bad. I really need to sit with Raquel and learn who everyone is. One of them is his dad, right?”
Vex glanced between us like he didn’t know what to do or how to even react before he gave a half-assed bow to me and Treena and went for the door.
“Okay, that was actually funny,” one of the Alphas muttered. “And he deserves it.”
I was glad when the others agreed because I did too.
“So you and Onyx?” Dray asked me.
“We’re not friends, Dray,” I warned, my amusement gone and my voice cold. “You’re not braiding my hair and we’re not talking boys. Ever. Savvy?”
The four remaining Alphas glanced at each other and burst out laughing. Like fall into each other laughing and at least Dray had the good grace to look a bit embarrassed.
“Onyx says if Andra wants to quickly put something together for him to wear for your dinner intro tomorrow since you’ll be photographed and it will be good PR for your deal to have hermeasure Dray since they’re about the same size and Vex is too small,” Myriam called over.
“I’m so glad he wasn’t here to hear that,” I muttered as all the Alphas laughed this time. “Though I think it’s a good idea that all the Alphas get at least one outfit they’re seen in from her since proceeds are going to charityandshe’s pledged to pay her employees double the minimum wage instead of like the fashion sweatshops.”
“Keeping them all in Thovudin instead of having factories out of the country to get around that?” one of the Alphas asked, looking impressed when we said Darren put it in the contract. “He was a smart choice for advisor but well done.”
“It was my idea,” Treena purred, accepting the praise but giving Darren the credit for the ironclad wording.
I was glad when the Alphas all agreed to support it and would make sure others would as well. There was no reasonnot tobesides being petty or they wanted more power.
So everything that was bad for Thovudin and was stupid of them given I was dedicated to making Thovudin better.
Vex was less than thrilled when the Alphas ribbed him when he got back and Andra was called to fit Dray. He made a comment about the Alpha Heirs getting involved, and faster than anyone could track, I was dragging the man out of the room, completely over his shit.
“Apparently, I have not been clear enough and my feelings mean nothing to you,” I bit out, letting him see just how close I was to blowing my temper. “Keep your son out of my affairs and away from everything to do with me—including physically near me if you don’t want him harmed, savvy? My dragon wants himdead. He cheated the whole relationship and abused me.”
“Yes, well, that’s—” he started to stutter.
“I won’t confirm him, Vex,” I warned him. “I’m not kidding. Stop trying to clean up his mess and focus on making him abetter man instead of thetrashhe is. He told so many lies and made messes for me—keep him away from me. You’re lucky I didn’t take his head that night and controlled the others when I walked in on him screwing someone in myhouse!”
He cleared his throat.
“And you never even thanked me for how I handled it. You made this all worse by ignoring it. I’m with Treena. You ignored Father who tried to handle it quietly. You ignored Darren when he tried—I’m done with you too, Vex. We’re not allies anymore. You’re involved because you got one of the elders to investigate because wewereallies. That’s it.
“I have no goodwill for your family anymore. Onyx has made it clear he’s separate from you all and practically done with you too after—I don’t even know. He won’t tell me, but it must bebadbecause he seems pretty easygoing.” I ignored when Vex snorted. “Fine, but he undoubtedly would put up with a lot for family and has.”
That noticeably landed and Vex flinched.
“Stop pushing or I will keep pushingbackand I’m in the right.” I turned to leave. “Or I’ll stop holding Onyx back because he is at my request since I don’t want a bigger mess. I’m tired of holding all the bags of…”
Shit. Obviously, that was what I meant.
