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.”

that you mention it,” Nancy began, smirking triumphantly as she lay her head on Tyler’s shoulder. “I’m perfectly happy with this

this when everyone else started to shower her with shameless flattery. “Nancy and Tyler are the

there’s Serena who is way out of her boyfriend’s league. She’s just

part of her body to the next as if deciding which he liked best. He had been drawn to her beauty since she walked through the door earlier, and Nancy, for all she was worth, suddenly felt like a sack of potatoes in his

he said with implication, “Nancy’s right. It’s crucial for women to choose men that complement their worth. Surely you wouldn’t want to be saddled with some pathetic deadbeat guy forever, knowing that he would never be able to make something 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

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

unemployed,” Nancy concluded snidely,

know why Serena has to stoop so low.

the ice princess herself is just a

this point, Tyler’s ego was so inflated that it was a wonder at all he did not burst at the seams. “Hey, kid, if you need a job, our company’s still hiring security. Sure, the pay isn’t much, but at least you wouldn’t have to

guard dog is better than

could finally walk all over Serena, and satisfaction swelled up in her. The crowd, on the other hand, were picking on Kingsley for his lack of accomplishments while kissing up to Tyler for his

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

the corners of her eyes as she caught her breath and said, “We were talking about how Serena’s

one side of Noah’s face was swollen, Emory asked, “What’s up with your face?

fine.” He would rather bury himself alive than have anyone here find out he was roughed

beckoned for him to take a seat as she asked enthusiastically, “You used to like Serena,