"Are you not ashamed? Clinging to a man who does not want you?" Nikki's lip curled, eyes glittering. "The Alpha rejected you because he does not want anything to do with you."
Rhea didn't even blink. "No, I am not ashamed," she replied, tone light, almost conversational. "The Alpha and I rejected each other because of a misunderstanding, but we have made up. There is nothing shameful about that."
That was the moment Ellie lost the battle.
He burst out laughing, a full, uncontrollable bark that sent half-chewed food shooting from his mouth. A chunk splattered directly onto Ares's cheek. Ares froze, spoon hovering in the mid-air.
Ellie slapped a hand over his mouth, eyes watering as he tried to choke back the sound. "Sorry," he wheezed between dying snickers, waving a hand at Ares. "Sorry, sorry, sorry."
Ares turned his glare on him with deadly precision, wiping his face with stiff impatience regretting every decision that led him to this dinner table.
