Work gossip shifted to family drama, which shifted to another round of chastising Vitor. With each fresh glass of wine, Grayson glanced over his shoulder. It was definitely Keld. His long, auburn hair was pulled back in a messy bun today. Loriun was sitting opposite him, though the Alpha didn’t seem to have noticed him yet.
Grayson slurred for a fifth glass and twisted his body around once again. This time, he wasn’t met with the back of Keld’shead. Instead, eyes like flame locked with his. Grayson gasped and spun back to the bartop.
“Shit, did he see you?” Jenna stage-whispered.
Grayson nodded miserably.
“Nowdo you want me to kill him?”
“No!”
“Why? He was a complete asshole for no reason! He deserves to have his ass handed to him. Or… tail.” Jenna giggled, her face as flushed as Jaeyong’s.
“Not only are you drunk, but you are ahuman Omega,” Grayson said, exasperated. “You can’t kick his ass.”
“I’m tall!” Jenna protested.
“Yeah, for ahuman Omega,” Aureli said.
“My dad’s Okinawan!”
“What the fuck does that have to do with anything?” Tara laughed.
“Weinventedmartial arts.”
“Somehow, I feel like that’s not genetic.” Grayson huffed. “No, you know what, you’re right. He was a complete dick. I’m going over there.”
His four sloshed friends cheered.
“You tell him!”
“Make him cry!”
Undeservedly emboldened, Grayson swung his legs around and slid off the barstool. Now that he was upright, the room tilted under his feet, just a bit. He stumbled a few times making his way to the table of Mer, giving Loriun time to spot him and shoot Keld a look of alarm.
Grayson’s palms hit the Mer’s table with a crash. The female Alpha jumped.
“Agthi’asi salki—”
Grayson cut through her stream of presumable Loaish curses. “Keld. I need to talk to you.”
Keld’s expression was impassive as he rose to his feet. He was wearing a beige collared shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and the top button undone.
Stop staring.Grayson chastised himself.We’re pissed at him.
Without a word, Keld led the way through the crowded pub, to a side door Grayson had never noticed before.
He threw a glance at his friends, who were starting to look worried. Aureli was already half out of his seat.
Grayson shook his head and waved him off. Keld wouldn’t hurt him. The protection laws in place for human Omegas were unforgiving.
The door led into a back alley, shared by several other businesses. It was empty, save for a few seagulls inspecting the dumpsters.
Keld turned and folded his arms. “Talk.”
The single word was enough to fan the flames of Grayson’s rage. “You’re an asshole, you know that?”
Keld didn’t so much as blink, which only made Grayson angrier. He jabbed a finger into the Alpha’s chest.
