The Established Siblings of the Pack

Serena glowered at Nancy icily as a murderous look registered on her features.

Meanwhile, Kingsley reached for her hand under the table and regarded Nancy impassively as he pointed out, “With a face like yours, it’s no wonder you try to put Serena down.”

“Excuse me?” Nancy shrieked. She grimaced menacingly at him and demanded, “Who the hell are you to speak to me that way?”

“He came as Serena’s plus-one, didn’t he? Maybe he’s her boyfriend.”

The guests had all brought along their own plus-ones, so they naturally overlooked Kingsley’s presence at first, especially while he was plainly-dressed.

Emory assessed Kingsley contemptuously and drawled, “Of course he’s her boyfriend. Will you look at the cheap counterfeits he’s wearing? He and Serena-the-orphan are a perfect match, if you ask me!”

Once again, everyone laughed in disdain. Nancy, in particular, was on a vicarious thrill when she saw that Serena was being made fun of. The crows’ feet near the ends of her eyes crinkled as she beamed. This was finally her chance to trounce Serena.

“Who would’ve thought you’d find yourself a boyfriend, Serena? I ought to go out and see if pigs are flying,” she mocked, clutching onto Tyler’s arm. “But I must say you have horrible taste in men. Why would you go out with someone dirt poor like him? I mean, there’s nothing wrong with being poor, but what’s with all that fake-nouveau riche get-up? I’m embarrassed for you!”

Serena stared at her witheringly. “I can date whoever I want, so keep your nose out of my business.”

as she lay her head on Tyler’s shoulder. “I’m perfectly happy with

with shameless flattery. “Nancy and Tyler are the real

out of her boyfriend’s league. She’s just dragging her self-worth through the mud by

he liked best. He had been drawn

of himself.” He had as good as told her that she ought to be with someone like him. Then, he glanced at Kingsley with a demoralizing air and asked, “What line of work are you in, anyway? Bet you can’t

his seat casually and replied, “I just retired from the army,

unemployed,” Nancy

to stoop so low. Must

the ice princess herself is just

kid, if you need a job, our company’s still hiring security. Sure,

Nancy squealed in amusement. “Being a guard dog is better than starving, right,

she could finally walk all over Serena, and satisfaction swelled up in her. The crowd, on the other hand, were picking on

Noah sauntered into the private dining room and asked in a voice that cut above the others’ rambunctious laughter. “What’s so funny, guys? Did I miss anything? I could hear the lot of you

how Serena’s boyfriend should become a security guard at

one side of Noah’s face was swollen, Emory asked,

direction. “Some rabid dog attacked me on the way here, but I’m fine.” He would rather bury himself alive than have anyone here find out

she asked enthusiastically, “You used to like Serena, didn’t you,