Knot Far To Fall (Slate City Omegaverse #3)
Chapter 1
EVA
“Stop messing with it,” Jasmine said from across the car. “If you don’t get out of the car in the next two minutes, you’re going to miss your red carpet slot.”
I finished adjusting my lipstick in the little mirror she kept in her purse before I grinned. “I wouldn’t have to mess with it if they’d listen to me when I tell them my lip line is uneven.”
The rich color wasn’t one I normally wore, and I was savoring every second.
It matched my darker, plum-colored dress.
Plunging sweetheart neckline, a sky-high slit through delightful, flowing ruffles, and sparkly jewelry on my neck and thigh was both the result of fighting tooth and nail and the beginning of my rebellion.
The Designation Choice Awards was the award show that was the most casual and the most fun.
The awards weren’t as serious, but I liked them more because they were chosen by actual people voting rather than a stuffy bunch of industry insiders.
Plus, the rules were looser, and my team let me out of my wholesome box.
Not that I wasn’t grateful for the box. It got me where I was today. But I would kill for the chance to be looked at as an adult and not Eva May Williams, former child star.
It would happen. Eventually. I would make sure of it.
Jasmine sighed. “If you don’t like Jenny, we don’t have to keep using her.”
“Is there any way to do that without offending her or making me look like an asshole?”
She winced. “Not really.”
“Exactly. She does great with everything but this. It’s an easy fix.”
The car pulled up to the edge of the red carpet and slowed to a stop. Neil got out of the front seat and came to open the door. I put on my public smile. “Showtime.”
Stepping out of a car onto a red carpet was always dizzying. It was far brighter than anyone realized, and you had to stand there without squinting while people flashed a million shattering lights in your direction.
Cheers went up as I stepped onto the carpet, and I waved to both the crowd and the overwhelming number of reporters. At least it was easier to ignore their questions when they all blended into a wave of sound.
I felt Jasmine fix the back of my dress so it fell properly as I posed for the cameras.
“Eva, you’re still alone on the red carpet. When are you going to settle down?”
It was easier to ignore them, but that didn’t mean nothing could be heard. I said nothing. Because if my mother had her way, both Esme and I would be married or bonded already.
But neither my twin sister nor I were in that place yet. We wanted to be, but I wasn’t looking. If it happened, it happened. But like hell was I going to sit through pack interviews with people who only wanted to get close to me for my fame. And I would never hurt Esme like that. She wasn’t ready.
Her grief was still too close to the surface. Neither of us thought we’d be doing any of this without Dad. Now that we were… it was a whole new world. How did we handle that?
Esme had been closer to our father than I had been. Losing him hurt like hell, and it still hurt like hell every time I thought about it. But Esme…
I never thought I’d see her like that.
Now I’d do just about anything to make her smile, even if it meant sacrificing things. Because there weren’t many smiles anymore.
My thoughts slammed back into the present as I reached the end of the red carpet, Neil and Jasmine ushering me in and away from the lights.
“Phew.” I took the water bottle Jasmine held out and delicately drank through the straw. “Hardest part is over.”
I was nominated for an award and I still had to present one, so I couldn’t completely check out, but everything was a downhill slide from here.
She handed me my phone and my clutch. “I’ll be backstage when it’s time.”
“Thanks.”
My phone had a bunch of notifications that I ignored. Except the texts from my sister and friends.
Esme
They let you out of the house in that dress?
Eva
Barely. And only because it’s the DCAs.
Esme
Well, they should do it more often, cause it looks great.
Eva
Thanks. But I’m ready to be in comfy clothes and my house when my heat burns me alive.
Esme
Good luck with that.
While I was on set I took heat suppressants. Just to make sure the schedule didn’t get interrupted by something unexpected. Then, once I was home, I would stop them and let the heat hit where I could be comfortable, use all the toys I needed, and fuck myself to my heart’s content.
I would love to spend my heats the way they should be spent: with Alphas and real knots. But like hell could I just bring in someone to fuck me for a few days. Talk about a press field day.
We wrapped a couple days ago, but I got back to Slate City yesterday and stopped taking the suppressants. So by tomorrow, when I officially didn’t have anything on my schedule for the next few months, my heat would be here. I wanted it over with.
Sloane
How hungry are you right now?
I laughed as I made my way to my seat, Neil fading into the blend of other security. He would be there if I needed him.
Eva
Fucking starving.
There was rarely any time to eat on award show days. They started earlier than you wanted and ended later than you thought. And no one wanted to be in front of the cameras in a post-food coma.
Luckily, this award show had the best snacks, and my dress was loose enough for me not to care.
Sloane
If they have those cheese fries like last time, get them so I can live vicariously through you.
Sloane was a dancer with the Slate City Ballet. They’d been nominated for an award last year, so we came and had a great time. I should have brought one of my friends with me this time. Then maybe the paps wouldn’t ask me about my love life.
Who was I kidding? They’d still ask.
Eva
Done.
Petra was next. We’d known each other forever. Our parents had been friends, and we were often at functions together. I’d clung to her when Esme wasn’t there. Even we we were kids Esme hated the spotlight.
Petra
Good luck! Break a leg.
Eva
For which part of it?
Petra
All. Everything. This is universal good luck.
Eva
Dear Universe, I would pretty please like a pony, a change in style, and a pack that falls deeply in love with me.
Petra
I’ll speak to the universe and see what I can do.
Eva
Appreciate that.
Sloane was right. I needed some fucking cheese fries to make it through the show. This was the most fun of the award shows, but it was still an award show, and was ten times as boring when you weren’t watching it on television.
I made my way to where they had food for the guests, dodging acquaintances and everyone else. Fries first, then I’d worry about the rest of it.