Page 37 of Glitterati Omega

“So you have it then, and Moose knows where you are. Mustafa!” Charli bellowed, and Rupert pulled the phone away from his ear.

“My God,” Rupert muttered, “it doesn’t matter! I’m an adult and I can make my own decisions, Charli. You needn’t hunt me down like I’m some wayward child anymore, I’m—”

“With Morgan Warwick?” Charli accused suddenly. “Moose says he was told you’ve gone intoheat.”

“No,” Rupert huffed back. “I’m perfectly fine and safe—”

“If you’re anywhere near Warwick, I’ll hunt that—”

“I’m not with Morgan!” He sighed, then slumped across the table. “Can’t you just leave it alone?”

“Rupert, Moose has just told me you’re in heat and you’ve just said you’re not with the one alpha you know—”

“Would you let it alone if I told you I was at Alina’s?”

“Don’t lie to me,” Charli snarled.

“How do you know I’m lying!”

“You just admitted it!”

“Oh—for heaven’s sake, let me live, you old witch! I’m twenty-eight years old, I’ve just come out of a terrible divorce and a worse marriage, and I’ve decided to see someone for the first time in God-knows how long and—”

“You’re seeing someone,” Charli crowed.

“Oh! Leave mealone.”

“Not until I’m satisfied you’re safe.” Worry invaded her tone, and he felt inexorably guilty.

“I’m with an alpha,” he admitted, then glanced at Winston, feeling very much like a naughty child who’d been caught.

“An alpha …”

Rupert huffed. “I went out with him last night and—no, don’t start, Charli, he’s been a perfect gentlealpha to me, I am perfectly safe and fine. I’ll come home when I’m ready. Goodbye.”

He hung up, then tossed the mobile on the table with a sigh. He glared when it immediately started ringing again.

“What are the chances she’s going to track you down?” Winston asked.

“Oh,” Rupert huffed, shaking his head. “None. Charli talks a lot, but she wouldn’t go that far.” He frowned. “At least, I don’t think she would.”

“Charli,” Winston echoed. “Your mother?”

“No,” Rupert said. “My mother is dead. Charli’s been with me since I was a child.”

Winston considered. “She seems like a mother,” he said. “She worries about you like one.”

Rupert considered the alpha for a long moment. “Yes, well.”

“Dinner?” Winston asked, clearly sensing the need for a change in subject.

“Would be amenable. What were you thinking?”

“I thought I’d let you choose, since I don’t know your preferences.”

“Oh—that’s unfair. I don’t know anything aboutyourpreferences either.” He gave the alpha a coy smile.

“Mm,” Winston said, glancing down at his phone. “Perhaps we’ll consider our options.”