Inside the restroom, Fina and her four cronies were touching up their makeup in front of the mirror.
That cheater saw me through the reflection and immediately spat out an insult.
I stepped back on instinct. I wasn't afraid of them—
I just didn't want to cause a scene. Not tonight, not during my first dinner with my long-lost family.
Unfortunately, those girls had mouths big enough to double as speaker orbs.
"Oscar was right. He leaves you for one second and you're already seducing another guy," Fina said self-righteously.
They followed me out of the restroom, and I could only stay still.
If we were near the VIP room or the main hall, people would definitely see us.
Even so, a few women exiting the restroom were already whispering.
Fina raised her chin. "I saw Larry Green tonight. You followed him here, didn't you?"
"Stop spewing nonsense, Fina. This is a luxury restaurant, but your attitude right now… is cheaper than my weekly allowance." I shot her a side-eye.
"Don't twist the story! Whatever I do, at least I come here with my own money—unlike you, you little gold digger!"
My palm curled into a tight fist. I held myself back with everything I had, imagining their faces as constipated monkeys.
Yes. They were nothing but bad jokes.
Seeing me look calm only irritated them further.
Fina signaled one of her cronies to grab me.
I dodged quickly. I'd learned from past experience.
Fina stomped her foot in frustration and signaled again.
This time, two of them came at me. I couldn't dodge.
"This isn't the academy. No one's going to protect you here," Fina strutted closer.
She patted my cheek. I tried to turn my face away, but Fina grabbed my hair—
The hair Nadia and I worked on for a whole hour!
Now I was truly angry!
"Let go before I make you regret it, Fina Sanders," I hissed, every word sharp with threat.
Fina burst out laughing. The makeup around her lips and eyes smudged and wrinkled, but I didn't bother telling her.
"Listen, defective omega. We're in Jade Restaurant—a place that bows only to money and power." She smirked.
"You, who have nothing, could never beat me here. There are no goody-two-shoes teachers to help you."
She finally released my hair. A few strands of my burgundy hair were in her hand.
I stared. My hair!!!
Ever since I became an omega, my heat made my body—including my scalp—burningly hot.
After each heat, some of my hair would fall out.
If this kept happening, I'd go bald someday.
And now this brat dared to yank my hair?!
I was beyond furious.
As Fina leaned in—
Bbak!
I slammed my forehead into hers. She stumbled back.
"What are you doing?!" one of her cronies shrieked.
"Be grateful it's only your forehead. If you piss me off again, I'll make that thin hair of yours go completely bald," I snapped.
They were stunned.
They probably only saw me as the defective omega who tricked boys with last name.
They didn't know I used to be number one in everything—up until my first heat.
Fina was still reeling, leaning on the wall. When she lifted her head, her eyes flashed with anger.
'So what? What can she do?'
Oops.
Turns out arrogance needs proper timing and target.
Because Fina —whose brain was clearly overfed with her parents' nonsense— grabbed a large vase and swung it at me.
'Okay. So we're having bloodshed tonight.
My blood, specifically.'
I reflexively shut my eyes. There was no way I could dodge—
Pranggg!
The sound rang painfully in my ears, yet my body didn't hurt. Instead, I heard Fina scream.
When I opened my eyes, I saw the side profile of a man I'd never seen before.
Striking, like a living statue.
Jet-black hair. Dark-red eyes. A high nose bridge. A sharp, firm jawline.
My heart hammered wildly as if it would burst out of my chest.
The man turned to me.
He was insanely handsome. Oscar didn't come close.
"Who are you?" he asked. His voice was deep, yet oddly melodic.
I blinked. My brain hadn't fully caught up with the situation when Fina's desperate shriek echoed,
"That girl is a liar! A deceiver! I was just teaching her a lesson! Richard Black, believe me!"
The vase she tried to hit me with was shattered beside us.
The man's hands weren't injured, meaning he didn't block it with his arms. He must've kicked it.
I finally realized who he was.
As Fina said, Richard Black.
The first son of Alpha from Black Pack.
I wasn't into gossip, but the Black brothers were common topics among West Region Academy students.
They had far too much influence as the "local lords."
Richard didn't even glance at Fina.
His gaze dropped to my wrist, still held by Fina's cronies.
They instantly let go.
And to my shock, Richard took my hand and pulled me behind him.
A big, rough, warm hand. A broad back that felt like it could block anything.
I quickly shook my head.
Even when I dated Oscar, I never felt the need to be protected. I was just happy to have someone beside me.
So why… why was I suddenly relying on this man I just met?
"Clarissa!"
I turned. Shannon and Larry were running toward me with panicked faces.
Great. I had definitely made a terrible impression. First family dinner, and I was already causing trouble.
"Shannon Green, thank goodness you're here," Fina limped toward Shannon, legs trembling.
She chattered nonstop.
"You have to tell your brother that this defective omega is trying to seduce him! She even tried seducing my fated mate, Oscar! I know exactly what kind of—"
"Enough." Larry's sharp voice cut through her words, instantly silencing her.
As an Alpha-blooded wolf, Larry could infuse power into his voice—a pressure that made anyone feel crushed.
I, a mere omega, almost collapsed if Richard hadn't caught me. Shannon nearly fell too, but Larry held her.
Even then, Fina still didn't give up. "W-why are you defending this bitch?!"
"Fina Sanders," Larry growled, "do you want the Sand Pack to cut ties with the Green Pack?"
Everyone stared at him.
I was shocked too. Larry defended me that strongly? I thought he'd be disgusted by me.
"W-why would you… I'm giving you advice! An Alpha's son would never be allowed to be with a defective omega!" Fina yelled, her face red.
"She is not a defective omega— Don't you ever call her that again with your filthy mouth.
She is my sister. Clarissa Green."
...