“That’s not what’s happening.” Roni sighed tiredly. “There’s no agenda. No manipulation. No conspiracy.”
“Yes, there is, sweetheart.” Greta’s tone didn’t invite argument. “You just can’t see it yet. I’ve warned Shaya and Nick, but have they listened to me? Noooo. She’s still here. You’ve all got enough trouble to deal with right now. This little hussy will make that worse!”
“Hussy?” echoed Ally. Should she be entertained by this? She figured she should be offended, but instead Ally strangely found herself wanting to laugh.
Ignoring her, Greta went on, “In my opinion, you’re all mad to let her stay. You don’t owe her anything just because she healed you and had some visions. I’ll bet she’s made no other contribution to the pack.”
“That’s not true. She makes the best chocolate cake ever,” stressed Roni.
An exasperated flush crept up Greta’s neck and face. “She’s a Seer!”
“Who makes the best chocolate cake ever,” repeated Roni. “You’re missing what’s important.” Marcus and Dominic chuckled.
“You didn’t even tell me you had one staying with you! How could you keep this from me, Roni?”
Dante spoke then, his voice dry. “I think Roni was worried you’d overreact; clearly it was a pointless concern.” Tao snickered.
Marching up to Derren, Greta told him, after shooting a withering scowl at Ally, “She doesn’t belong here! And I don’t want her around my Roni!”
“And I just don’t care, Greta.” Derren’s tone wasn’t harsh, but it was firm. “Ally’s staying. That’s it. Now stop with all this, because she’s done nothing to deserve it.”
“He’s right,” said Jaime, but Greta ignored her and spoke again to Derren.
“I’m not surprised you’re defending her. I can smell her on you. I thought you had more sense than to get involved with a Seer.”
Ally smiled, leaning into Derren. “Once you’ve had a Seer, you’ll never go back.” There was an amused snort that might have come from Dominic.
“No wonder Taryn likes you.” Wearing a superior look, Greta studied Ally from head to toe. “You’re just like her—common, disrespectful, slutty.”
“They’re some of my best qualities.” It was taking everything Ally had not to laugh her ass off. The old dragon was priceless.
Greta humphed. “Well, Taryn, Jaime, and my Roni might like you, but I don’t.”
“And that’s supposed to make me feel, what? Devastated?”
Eyes practically swirling with anger, Greta turned back to Derren. “See, she has no respect for her elders!”
“Respect has to be earned,” he said simply. “And it’s not like you’re being respectful to her, is it?”
“Why would I respect her? She’s a Seer!”
“And she’s staying. Let it go,” Derren ordered.
Straightening, Greta inhaled deeply—her chest seemed to puff up. “If you want to have her here, fine. But mark my words, you’re making a mistake.” Her face twisted into a fierce scowl that locked on Ally as she continued, “You might have them fooled, hussy, but I can see right through you. So I’ll warn you now, your cards are marked.”
Ally smiled. “So happy we’re not letting this fester.” With another humph, the old dragon stormed out of the lodge. Looking at Jaime, Ally raised her brows. “Wow.”
The Beta female sighed. “Yeah.”
Derren spoke to Dante. “I’m surprised you left your territory.”
“We caught her trying to sneak out to see for herself that Roni was fine.” Dante shook his head in exasperation. “It was either bring her here or watch her attempt to sneak away again. If she’d gone out alone, she could have been hurt or taken.”
“They’d have brought her back within the hour,” mumbled Jaime. “She’d have made them crazy.”
Dominic took a step toward Ally with a roguish smile—only to be halted when Tao grabbed him and Derren released a warning growl. “What?” the blond asked innocently.
“Dom, no,” said Dante.
“I was just going to—”
“No.”
Catching Ally’s confused expression, Tao explained, “He was going to use a cheesy line on you.”
“I was not.” Dominic sounded appropriately offended. “I was just going to—”
“No,” Dante again burst out.
The blond enforcer sighed. “Fine, Jaime, I’ll ask you.”
Dante got in his face. “You will fucking not.” Dominic just laughed, looking delighted by his Beta’s frustration.
“So, basically, he just likes to drive his friends insane?” guessed Ally.
Smiling, Jaime nodded. “Trick, another of our enforcers, is the worst tease ever. But Dominic takes supreme joy in winding up males—especially mated ones—by flirting with their females. So, either he has the IQ of a Cheerio or some kind of death wish. We’re not yet sure.”
“We’d better go, we shouldn’t stay away from our territory too long.” Jaime gave Ally a tight hug. “Take care, sweetie.”
Ally patted her back gently. “You too.” She thought Derren was going to lunge at Dominic when the blond stepped forward to hug her. “Ignore him,” Ally advised Derren, chuckling.