No one dared to stop me as I stalked through the crowd. A hush had fallen over the room, quiet enough that all I could hear was shuffling feet and soft growls.
“The deal was forprotection.” I stopped a few feet away from Dominic. Any closer, and I might be tempted to wrap my hands around his throat.
“The deal isn’t complete.” He held out a hand. “Surely you have it.”
I did. The key hadn’t left my pocket since I’d picked it up. I’d checked right before we left the room, but to check again right now would only give me away.
“I don’t,” I lied. “Still hidden. But you’ll get your proof tomorrow, as promised.”
“And I don’t want to wait?”
His lips curved in a smirk, and he gave me a once-over like he could see through my clothes. His attention lingered on my sweatpants pockets, like he knew exactly where I was hiding what he wanted.
I clenched my jaw.
How far would he push? If he really wanted that key, I might not be able to hold onto it until our appeal after all.
We needed the leverage now.
But if he kept his word, we should be protected until the appeal either way.
This single trip to the cafeteria had proven how much we needed that. Holden wouldn’t be able to summon the kind of allies if they knew the Redgraves had our backs.
The corpses of the last alphas to betray them were still rotting over the bars of one of the rut cages. They wouldn’t let anyone remove them—claimed it made the rut fights better. But it was much more a reminder, we all knew.
“Get this degenerate off our asses, and you’ll have your key tomorrow. Not justproof. The actual key.”
“All you had to do was ask.”
Oh, I wished I could punch that smirk right off his face.
Turning to the room at large, Dominic clapped his hands once with a playful smile flashing through his salt and pepper beard.
All eyes swung to him. “I hope no one is harassing my good friend Sin and his pack.”
Holden looked furious.
I watched in satisfaction as he glared at Dominic as if he might declare it was a joke. When silence dragged on, and tension with it, he took one small step back, a snarl on his face.
He was a new dweller, withoutcloseto the status of the Redgrave’s—and he’d never get there if he pushed his luck. Some of the out of pack alphas that had edged closer, clearly offering their muscle, drifted back a few paces, signalling they had no interest in a dweller feud. After that, it didn’t take long before his allies were slipping down side hallways until only his pack was left.
Fury radiated off them.
I wondered what his aura looked like? I’d have to ask Vandle. I’d put money on it being pitch fucking black.
I knew he wanted to stay, with his vengeful eyes still locked on me.
This wasn’t about Crescent.
They wantedme—for the fact I’d slighted them and stolen their rightful omega, twice over.
One of his packmates spoke into his ear in a low voice, then also backed up a pace.
It looked like he was going to crack a tooth with the clench to his jaw, but finally, he was leaving.
“I’ll see you tomorrow for the key.” Dominic’s words barely registered.
My shoulders relaxed as he left, and Crescent rushed across the room to wrap me in a hug. Tears streaked her cheeks. I held her close against my chest.