was a conscious choice, or just the life of a celebrity who catered to humans. It was disgusting.
She wore a vibrant blue blouse, matched cowboy boots, and a pair of incredibly tight white jeans. These had rips all the way down, as if she’d clawed at them in her wolf form. She didn’t stand to greet them. In fact, she ignored them completely.
Judd took point. Kevin was in his sullen state, the one he sank into after bad breakups or losing at Fantasy Fangball. Colin lurked at the back, still in the living room. He looked like he was trying to sink into the floor. Judd could only hope he avoided the marble tub. Isaac was a reassuring presence at Judd’s side, observing everything. Technically, the Omega outranked Judd and should lead the conversation, but Isaac rarely worked bodyguard duty with them, so Judd got to negotiate. If Blanc proved very difficult, the Omega would interject. Isaac was a bartender by training – he could coax people into opening up but didn’t, as a rule, favor a direct approach.
Judd, on the other hand, defaulted to aggressive yet professional. It’s what he was good at. “Good evening, Ms Blanc. I’m Mr Day, this is Mr Mangnall, Mr Mercer, and Mr Mangnall. We’re from Heavy Lifting. You hired us for extra security this weekend. Can we talk with your existing team?”
A breezy laugh met Judd’s question.
“Did I say something funny, ma’am?”
“Don’t be silly, Mr Day. You are my team. I dismissed my previous bodyguards days ago.”
“You… dismissed them? Why is that, ma’am?”
She gave a contrived shrug. The silk of her top fell away to expose one creamy shoulder. “Things kept getting stolen and they couldn’t seem to find out who was doing it. I figured it must be one of them.”
“What kind of things?”
“Just little stuff, mostly. Like my favorite rhinestone sunglasses and the belt part of a costume. Things like that. Really only valuable to me and some creepy fan or whatever.”
“So you think you might have a stalker?”
“No, idiot. I just said, I think it was one of my previous bodyguards. It hasn’t happened again since I dismissed them. Honestly, I had hoped Xavier would send someone a bit smarter. Even Kevin must be smarter than you. And let’s be fair, no one would ever call him the sharpest pickle in the jar. Why are you in charge?” She turned in her chair and looked Judd full on for the first time.
Colin’s glorious eyes were staring at him out of a woman’s face.
“Oh, well, you are a fine specimen.” Her expression was eager, possessive, and Alpha. Judd wondered if she’d hired Heavy Lifting to see if she could steal the San Andreas enforcers to her pack. To guard her back and follow her lead. Bonus that one of them was her own son.
She licked her lips. “I suppose your Alpha’s not good enough to understand muscles don’t mean leadership ability. Still, you’re certainly stunning.”
Judd was insulted enough not to reply. Some fake-Southern white lady Alpha was sticking claws into him like it was her right? Like he was her personal appetizer? Hang the bloody contract. Alec would support him if he took her head off, right?
Isaac moved, fast. The Omega’s hand was on Judd’s arm. His gaze was firm on Judd’s face. His back was to the Alpha.
“She’s baiting you.” He didn’t try to lower his voice. “Don’t let her.”
Judd nodded. The roaring in his ears faded under Omega influence. But why? What tactical reason did Blanc have for winding him up? Was she trying to fissure them? Drive a wedge between Judd and her sons? Did she not realize whose side they fell on? Did she actually think she could still command Kevin’s loyalty in any way?
Kevin was red-faced, sputtering. He was also dealing with seeing his mother for the first time in years.
Surprising everyone, Colin moved fast through the doorway onto the patio. “You’re truly awful, Mother. I’m so glad you left before I had any idea what you were. You’re nothing but a…” words seemed to fail him, probably because he didn’t swear often so wasn’t particularly good at it. “…coprolite!”
Everyone blinked at him. No one else knew what a coprolite was. Colin seemed pleased with it, though. So it must be pretty bad.
“Now, now.” Blanc tossed a lock of hair back over her bare shoulder. “I thought we already had our little talk, baby-cakes. I am sadly not interested in anything you have to say. Now,