As pissed as I am, I can’t help but like the sound of it.
“Don’t be cute right now when I’ve got limbs to break, baby,” I say.
Riley fake coughs to stifle a laugh.
“Please don’t break my legs,” the beta requests shakily.
“Get the fuck outta here,” I mutter, jerking my thumb toward the door.
“This is ridiculous,” Bailey says, “It’s not a big deal, Mal. It’s just dinner. There’s nothing wrong with two people hanging out while eating.”
He opens his mouth to speak, but nothing comes out.
“You meet her at Roxy’s at six thirty,or ever,and you and me got problems,” I warn, moving toward her.
She correctly picks up on my energy and wheels her chair backwards, to escape. But there’s no escape as she backs straight into a wall.
“Not cool, Bay,” I say, pointing.
“Back off,” she snaps with more sass than the sassiest I’ve ever seen her.
“Or what?” I grab the arms of her wheeled office chair and lean in closer.
“Or you’ll get your arrogant ass zapped, fool!” she spits.
“Jase,” Rye says from behind me. “Cool it, bro. You’re making things worse.”
“Didn’t ask for your advice, Riley,” I mutter. “Walk away.”
He continues. “And Bailey, don’t play these games. You’re above this shit.”
“This isn’t a game!” she denies, but everyone in this room knows she’s full of it right now. “What’s wrong with me wanting to go out on a date on a Saturday night like every other unattached female my age? Every alpha in this room, mated or not, does whatever the fuck he wants, right?”
I whirl around to face the beta who’s still here, looking about to piss himself. “Go.”
“I didn’t know,” he defends.
“Well, now you do,” Rye says, standing in the doorway holding it open for him. “Best be on your way.”
“I reject him as my mate,” Bailey says.
“An alpha can’t be rejected,” the beta educates her unnecessarily.
“Well… I’ll be petitioning with the SCC for a legal change before he has a chance to claim me. You and I going for dinner is absolutely fine, Mal.”
“No, thanks,” he says and carefully sets the book in his hand down on the table beside Rye. “Already managed to escape being killed by an angry alpha more than a few times with Wyatt. Don’t need to put my ass in front of a firing squad when my new alpha and my pack need me.” He walks out.
Grey says, “Not cool, baby sister.”
“Back. Off!” she demands at me, red-faced.
“Not a chance!” I shout. “Grey, would you please go get your cousins to turn this shit off so I can talk some sense into my mate? So I can claim her like I was supposed to do how many fucking days ago?”
“Last warning!” Bailey yells, face red. “Let go of this chair, Jason!”
“Or what?”
“I’ll show you what! Remember, you asked for it,” she says, jumping to her feet and shoving me with both hands.