Jon made a disgusted sound. "This is pathetic. You're all acting like lovesick teenagers over some charity case."
That was apparently the last straw for Brent. He shot to his feet so fast his chair scraped against the hardwood floor. "Get out. Now."
"This is pack business," Jon protested, though he took a step back from Brent's advancing form. "As a Delta, I have a right to…"
"You have the right to shut your mouth and leave before I remove you myself," Alpha Maxwell's voice cut through the tension like a blade. The Alpha command in his tone was unmistakable, and I watched Jon's defiance crumble under its weight.
But he wasn't done yet. His eyes found mine across the room, and the hatred there was so pure it made me flinch.
"You think this changes anything?" he hissed. "You think becau
