Fine. Just trying to save Slade and prevent a blood bath.
Slade glanced at her. She shook her head and hoped he read her thoughts. Go wolf now and our mission is over.
He slowly sat back down, while an omega dashed out of the kitchen and began cleaning the mess. Whatever had been on the platter must have really disgusted him. A chill coursed through her as she stared at a similar platter on her table. Cricket turned to an omega female next to her. “Is that what I think it is?”
The omega smiled and offered the plate. “Never tried human?”
Great! They may be werewolves, but human enough to be considered cannibals. Bile threatened to escape her throat. Cricket lifted her hands and shuddered. “No way.”
The others laughed and then returned to eating and drinking.
“Someday you might get used to it,” said the omega.
They’d broken innumerable oaths, but cannibalism ranked up there as the worse. Over the years, she’d mingled with humans and grown fond of them. Mia, her new best friend and Enforcer Dominic’s mate was human. “Why should I? It’s not like we don’t have plenty of meats to choose from.”
Another older male omega shook his head. “True. We raise cattle and other livestock. We eat human to assert our superiority.”
Cricket lost her appetite and, for once in her wolfish life, considered becoming a vegan.
The doors opened. Henrik, followed by three guards and his human pup, Jack, entered. “Prince Slade, how are you enjoying your stay?”
Slade narrowed his eyes at Jack. “Touch Cricket and you die.”
Everyone turned to stare at her. Geez, thanks for making me a target.
Henrik grinned. “What will you do? Attack us all at once?” He turned to Jack. “Return to your quarters.”
He smiled as if he’d won something. “Yes, master.”
Did he not know they ate his kind? Maybe Wolfstrom’s humans didn’t give a shit, knowing they’d be spared from the dinner menu. Or was cannibalism an additional initiation requirement? Donner party meets man-eating werewolves.
Henrik scowled at the pack. “Go back to your meal!”
Dinner and conversations resumed.
He grinned at Slade, leaned in, and whispered something in Slade’s ear. So close, she worried Henrik might bite off his ear to even the score.
Slade lowered his head.
What could he say to cause Slade to act like a reprimanded pup? Me? He probably threatened to kill her on the spot. No other way to control her alpha protector.
The omegas at her table talked amongst themselves, but didn’t include her. Oh, brother. You are a bunch of brainwashed mean-bitches anyway. Not that she wanted to make small talk with some weird creepy cannibalistic pack members, but more intel would have been nice. She glanced at Slade.
“Good evening, Cricket,” said Jack in his gray “I am human” coveralls. He no longer looked like a biker dude. More of a military want-to-be. An omega growled at him, but Jack ignored him.
“No humans allowed,” Cricket snarked. “Unless you’re on the menu.”
He chuckled, apparently not shocked by the revelation. “Henrik said you can come with me.”
“Why?”
“You are staying in my quarters.”
She smirked. “I’ll stay in the doggy kennel, but thanks anyway.” Before Slade has a change in heart about cannibalism and orders Jack sautéed in steak sauce.
“That’s an order.”
The guard standing behind Jack nodded. “Leave with him, now.”