Chapter 6 Claire
Claire
When I wake up, Forrest is gone.
His scent that clings to my sheets is the only sign that last night wasn’t a dream.
Shockingly, I’m not plagued by nausea.
I regretfully take a shower, washing away some of the comfort that Forrest’s scent brought me. As soon as I’m done, I replace the patches behind my ears and get dressed for the day.
Part of me wants to get more room service and sulk in my cabin all day.
No, that’s not what I’m here for. I need someone to talk some sense into me.
Hiding away in my room isn’t who I am. Look what happened the last time I left my room—a very hot, shirtless Alpha carried me around the ship and took care of me.
Yet, there’s still fear there. Fear that if I put myself out there, I’ll face rejection again.
I know just the person to talk me out of this funk. Shiloh, my oldest brother Jonah’s Omega, has become one of my closest friends. Plus, she’s been nothing but supportive of me coming on the ship. If anyone can talk me off the ledge, it’s her.
I FaceTime her and she picks up on the second ring. Her and I basically communicate through extremely long voice memos or video chats. I love her dearly for it.
“Claire! Oh my God, how’s the cruise? Show me your room,” she says.
I start off with a tour and she gives the appropriate amount of oohs and ahs, when I plop down on my bed.
“This is harder than I thought it would be, Shy.”
“What do you mean? You’re the most outgoing person I know. You could talk to a monk for hours.”
“I didn’t even leave my room yesterday, except to go throw up on the side of the boat.”
She gasps. “Oh no, how are you feeling now?”
“Better, the ship isn’t moving as fast. I got some medicine. An Alpha carried me to the infirmary and took care of me. His scent made me feel better, like human Pepto. He stayed with me until I went to sleep.”
“He stayed in your bed? The first night? And wait, he smells like Pepto?”
“It wasn’t like that, and no, he smells like ginger and lemon, it was soothing. He probably thinks I’m some helpless Omega with no self-preservation. I wasn’t myself. I was quiet and needy.”
“There’s nothing wrong with being needy. What else do you know about him?”
I walk to the bathroom and set my phone up on the counter as I get ready for the day. I’m applying my sunscreen and light makeup as I talk.
“Just his name, Forrest. Which, in itself, is entirely fitting. He looked like he could just rip a tree in half with his bare hands. Besides that, I don’t know anything else.
God, Shy, it’s embarrassing. I was sniffing my sheets like some sort of feral cat this morning, and all I know is his name.
I’m not sure if I want to run into him, or if I should hide behind a plant if I see him by the pool. ”
“Honey, he took care of you when you needed it the most. He didn’t try anything, right?”
“No, of course not. He was the perfect gentleman, albeit a little bossy.”
“Did you like that?” Shiloh asks.
“You’re alone?” I confirm. The last thing I need is for my brother to be listening in and know anything about my mingling with Alphas.
“Yes, it’s just me,” she says, panning the phone around her bedroom.
“I really did an amazing job decorating that bedroom,” I note, before continuing on with my story. “Yes, okay, I liked it. I didn’t think I’d like that, but I did. I’m trying to pump myself up to leave the room.”
“Clarie S?rensen, you’re the coolest Omega I’ve ever met.
Every hot-blooded man on that ship is going to be panting over you.
There’s nothing to worry about there. The important thing is to be yourself and you find the pack that makes sense to you.
Follow your intuition. Maybe find Forrest and get to know him better, or talk to other Alphas and packs too.
You signed up for this trip because you know what you want.
Be your normal take-life-by-the-balls self and put yourself out there so you can find your dream pack. ”
I stare at one of my closest friends and smile. “This is why I love you. My brother is so lucky.”
“That’s for sure. But I’m pretty lucky too. Keep me posted, okay? I want to hear every part of your cruising for love saga.”
“I promise. Thanks, Shiloh, that was the talk I needed.”
“I’m always here for you. Love you and you’ve got this.”
“Love you too.”
I hang up the phone and look at myself in the mirror. She’s right. I’ve never been shy, and yeah, the ship is a new place and there’s a lot to get comfortable with, but in order to do that, I need to leave this room.
It’s a beautiful day, and I decide to challenge myself.
I’ll go to the pool for an hour, maybe talk with some people or just sit there and read a book, but at least I’ll have left my room.
If it’s too much, I can simply leave. If I’m feeling up to it, maybe I’ll go check out the nests so I’m prepared in that regard.
Shiloh’s words repeat in my head, and I know she’s right. If I’m going to find the right pack, I need to be myself. Not only that, but my time on the ship is limited, and the sooner I weed out who I like and don’t like, the easier this whole process will be.
I skip breakfast. Even though I’m not nauseous, nothing truly sounds appetizing. In lieu of the buffet I head to the pool with my chin held high.
The scents aren’t bad on the pool deck. A light breeze helps make sure that the air isn’t stagnant.
But unfortunately, it seems like every lounge chair is taken.
I should have expected that. I’m ready to call it a fail and go back to my room when a dripping wet Alpha grabs his towel off a lounge chair and holds his arm out.
“You can sit here if you’d like,” he says.
“Thank you,” I say politely and take the lounge chair.
I’m not attracted to him, but it’s a lounge chair under an umbrella, I’m going to take it. I take off my kimono and beach pants and attempt to get comfortable on the chair.
“I’m Henry,” he says, and I’m grateful he doesn’t hold out a hand for me to shake. The idea of my hand smelling like some strange Alpha would drive me crazy all day.
Even as I think it, I hear the hypocrisy. A strange Alpha’s scent is currently embedded in my sheets and I couldn’t get enough of it.
“Claire. Thanks again for the chair.”
“Of course, I’m guessing as the cruise goes on it will be less crowded, then there’s port days too. Though I suppose you can’t get off the ship on port days, can you?”
I give him a tight-lipped smile. “There are excursions run by security that Omegas can go on, or I could leave the ship with a chaperone pack.”
The term chaperone pack sounds gross on my tongue. I may not like it, but I get the sentiment. Heat Haven is liable for us and the last thing they need is Omegas to go missing at ports of call. I haven’t signed up for any of the Omega excursions, but I might.
“Well, if you ever need a chap—”
“Hey there, I’m Pace,” a man says, taking the other seat opposite of me.
“Um, hello. I’m Claire,” I say, already disliking him for the way he barged into our conversation.
I internally grimace. I know a part of my issue with finding a pack is that my standards are probably impossible. My parents’ pack is a dream pack, and well, I won’t settle for anything less.
Don’t get me wrong, I want to be pursued, but I also don’t want to be treated like some Omega prize to be won, either.
“So, where are you coming from?” Pace asks, acting like Henry doesn’t exist.
I look between the two of them. “I was raised in Connecticut, but spend most of my time in New York right now. How about you?”
“Boston,” both of the men say at the same time, and they glare at each other. Some sort of pissing contest I don’t want to be a part of is going on between them.
I glance over at the pool, wondering if there’s some way out of this awkward conversation when I see him.
Forrest’s large form is sitting in the pool next to a beautiful man with dark blonde hair. He looks somewhat familiar, but I can’t place my finger on it.
“It was lovely meeting you both, but there’s actually someone I need to talk to,” I say to the men.
They bicker back and forth, but I ignore them as I approach Forrest and his companion. They seem to be having a whispered conversation when they both look up at me. I grin down at them and wave my hand.
I want to smack myself on the head. I’ve never been this way around a guy. Okay, that’s not true. Maybe I’ve been awkward around Elliot before, but that doesn’t count.
“If it isn’t my hero,” I say.
They’re both still staring at me and I can feel Henry and Pace’s stares against my back. It’s also incredibly odd to be staring down at them, so I decide to sit on the edge of the pool and put my feet in.
“Are you going to introduce me?” I ask Forrest when he says nothing about my hero comment.
God, did I read him all wrong? Was he just being helpful with no actual interest in me?
“I’m Wells,” the handsome Beta says, holding out his hand.
I shake it, knowing that he won’t have a scent I need to wash off later. I squint at him for a second and it clicks.
“Wells Torrin?” I ask.
He blinks at me a few times. “Yeah…have we met before? I think I’d recall meeting you.”
I blush, I freaking blush, and I hope that it just looks like it’s hot outside.
“No, we haven’t met. My brother watches the Olympics religiously, especially the winter games. Watching you win gold at the last games was huge. We were all rooting for you.”
Out of all of us, Axel took to skiing like a pro. It was something he and my dad, Dean, always did together during the winter. I usually stayed inside the resort with my mom; we always had the best time, watching movies, ordering room service, and going shopping.
Wells smiles at me easily, not ashamed of being recognized. He acts like he doesn’t have multiple brand deals to be recognised by either. Two years ago, Wells Torrin was on just about every other commercial when you were watching TV.
“It was one of the best moments of my life. Besides meeting Forrest, of course,” he says, putting his arm around the Alpha’s large shoulders.
“So one of you saves Omegas in distress and the other is a gold medalist, no big deal,” I say, and Forrest’s hand grips the side of the pool tighter.
“How are you feeling?” he asks, changing the conversation.
I swirl my feet in the pool water.
“Better than last night. Thank you again for taking care of me. If there’s anything I can do—”
“You don’t owe me anything,” Forrest says quickly.
“You could join us for dinner tonight,” Wells says at the same time.
“She doesn’t have—” Forest starts.
“I’d love to. Is there a particular restaurant on the ship you had in mind?” I ask.
Wells beams at me. “Do you like sushi?”
Internally, I grimace and I hope it doesn’t show on my face. The last thing I want these guys to think is that I’m some super high maintenance princess.
Shit. I am a high maintenance Omega princess, aren’t I? Shiloh’s pep talk to me earlier rings in the back of my head. I won’t find my pack here if I’m not being myself.
“I love sushi, it’s just my dad owns a few sushi restaurants, so I’m a little picky.”
Okay, I was honest, that’s not so bad, right? Neither of them looks at me like I’m stuck up.
Wells just smiles. “That’s fair. My mom owned a bagel spot growing up, and I swear no other bagel has ever compared. How about the seafood one? What’s it called?”
“Hammerheads Haven,” I say with a shrug. “I studied the map of the ship for weeks, and still seem to get turned around, but that sounds perfect. Let me just go grab my phone to make the reservation,” I say, about to slide out of the pool as Forrest’s massive hand grabs my calf.
He squeezes lightly. “We’ll take care of it. Seven thirty work for you?”
I clear my throat and look at his hand that still hasn’t moved. It’s almost like he’s holding my leg prisoner until I agree to his terms.
“Okay,” I agree and the Alpha smiles.
Holy mountain man Alpha. I thought he was hot shirtless, somewhat broody and bossy, but when he smiles, it softens him significantly and I’m not sure which version of him is more charming.
“Do you have enough sunscreen on?” Forrest asks and I nod.
A few more Alphas swim over to our side of the pool, another sitting right next to me, and instantly Forrest's grip on my leg tightens. He gives the guy next to him a glare, but Wells’ hand is squeezing Forrest’s biceps.
I like the idea of Wells keeping him centered, but also part of me kinda wants to see what Forrest is like when he’s unleashed.
The new men, who seriously have no idea of social awareness, introduce themselves. All the while Forrest is still holding on to me. It feels like a claim.
“It’s so nice to meet you all, but I actually have an appointment to look at nests,” I say to the other Alphas who are vying for my attention.
“Do you need an escort?” one of them says and I blink down at him. I don’t even remember his name.
I can only pretend to be a sweet little Omega for so long before I snap. Alphas who think they are the ultimate prize and that Omegas are incapable of taking even the slightest bit of autonomy for ourselves pisses me off.
“No, but I’d love some personal space,” I say with a smile.
“Why even come to the main pool if you want to be left alone? There’s an Omega only pool for that reason,” the man snaps back.
I’m about to open my mouth and let a bunch of colorful language slip out, but Forrest beats me to it.
There’s a rumble in his throat as he lets go of my leg and spins in the water standing in front of me.
“Back the fuck off,” Forrest says in his deep voice. It’s hot, and I can’t help it when I perfume.
Even though there’s a light breeze, it catches the attention of everyone in a twenty-foot radius.
Wells quickly pushes his body out of the pool, rivulets of water dripping down his muscular body. While Forrest is broad and large all over, Wells is lean and athletic from all his years of skiing.
“Come on, sweetheart, let’s go take you to the heat suites,” he says, holding out his hand.
Something about him feels safe. In a sea of all these Alphas measuring their dicks, Wells is level-headed and steadfast.
I take his hand as he helps me stand and I try to ignore all the eyes on us right now.