Chapter 24 Forrest
Forrest
Claire doesn’t message us for a long time and it has my nerves on edge.
Wells has a calming hand on my back rubbing circles as we sit on the pool deck.
“She trusts him. She wants him. This isn’t a bad thing, Forrest. We came on this ship to find a pack, remember? An Omega who is at the center and this is what she needs.”
Doesn’t mean I have to like it. Or like that it’s him of all people.
He could have had Claire for years and now he shows up and takes her away from me?
I’m not bonded to her. She’s said I’m her Alpha, that I’m in her future, but what if he ruins all of that?
The fucker is too damn good looking, likely exceedingly rich, and from the same circles as she is in New York.
“You need to try to like him, to get to know him,” Wells chastises me, somehow able to read my thoughts.
“I didn’t say anything.”
“You’re sitting there nearly growling, counting each second she’s alone with him. We’re not losing her, we’re getting another pack mate. If you want to be pack lead, then you need to set an example and try with him.”
That has me blinking over at Wells. I hadn’t considered pack lead, and the idea of it being him and not me has me ready to hurt someone.
“Okay, so that clearly wasn’t the right thing to say.
” Wells sighs, removing his hand as he lies down on the lounge chair, soaking up the sun.
“I know you haven’t had many people you could depend on and that everyone is pretty much your enemy until proven otherwise.
Just please give him a chance. If not for me, for Claire.
She needs more than one Alpha for her heats, and she clearly has deep feelings for him. ”
None of that really makes me feel better, only more inadequate that I can’t rise to the challenge of being less selfish along with the thought that she may like him more than she likes me.
“Claire comes first, that’s what it means to have an Omega,” he states plainly.
It’s a language I can understand as I give him a nod and lean back in my seat. I’ll be polite, I’ll hear him out, but there’s no promise that I’ll like the guy or ever be okay with sharing him with Claire. But for her? I’ll try anything.
We finally get a message on where to meet her for dinner and I know it’s going to be the true test to see how things are going to go moving forward.
Wells smiles at the other Alpha, shaking his hand before we sit down.
Claire sits tensely between me and Elliot. She smells like him and it pisses me off. My leg shakes under the table so frantically that Wells grabs my thigh and squeezes hard.
“So. You and Claire go way back?” Wells asks the man in a friendly tone.
“Our families have always been close. I’m three years older than her, the same age as her brother Axel, so I spent a lot of time at the S?rensen’s growing up,” Elliot replies and Claire smiles.
“Elliot’s mom and mine go way back. My mom was the biggest Deja Fox fan and my dad knew his dad from hiring his security agency in the past. He scored her some backstage passes, and they became best friends,” Claire says easily and Wells gapes at Elliot in a new light.
“Hold on, your mom is Deja Fox?”
“And his sister is Sophie Smith,” Claire says and Wells leans back into his seat.
Am I supposed to know who these people are?
“Knot Thot,” Wells says to me, “and House of Alpha and Omega.”
Those things I do know, and when I glance over at the Alpha, I suppose I see a resemblance to his sister, the woman who plays the main character on the huge hit show about ancient designations and kingdoms.
“Soph is a good friend of mine, too. It’s just been really hard to keep in touch with her schedule. She’s been in New Zealand for a few years now working on the show,” Claire says, and I can tell there’s a sadness there that she isn’t as close to her friend anymore.
Elliot and I both put our hands on the back of her chair at the same time, shooting each other glares.
“What took you so long to realize you wanted to be with Claire?” I ask bluntly.
My Omega shifts in her seat and I can feel Wells’ disapproving gaze.
Elliot adjusts himself in his seat, but he doesn’t back down, doesn’t look away from me as he speaks.
“I didn’t think I could handle pack life, and I knew that was non-negotiable for Claire,” he says.
“So then, what changed your mind? You had years to pursue her. The first night I met her, I knew she was special. You can’t blame me for questioning your motives. No sane man would let Claire pass them by,” I say and Claire grimaces between us, however she doesn’t intervene, and neither does Wells.
Elliot leans forward, steepling his fingers on the table staring at me.
“I decided that my love for Claire was more important than my discomfort of being in a pack.” The way he says it feels like a challenge.
“The power of an Omega. Should we get some garlic bread?” Wells says, trying to break the tension, giving Claire a wide smile.
“Yes. Garlic bread,” she replies happily.
“What about you? Claire’s only known you for what, a week? How do we know what your motives are?” Elliot retorts, ignoring the garlic bread conversation entirely.
I tilt my head at this man, assessing him, wondering if he wants to get a rise out of me. Likely, because I also want to see him squirm.
“We paid a premium price to come on this trip, planned for months knowing we were coming aboard to find an Omega,” I tell him.
We don’t need to mention my hesitation about coming on this trip.
“Have you met some of the Alphas on board this sailing nightmare? Booking a cruise proves nothing about your motivation, or what type of person you are. Claire has known me my whole life. She knows what kind of man I am, but what does she know about you?”
“Or maybe we should get the meatballs?” Claire squeaks. This time Wells doesn’t reply as he watches me and the other Alpha spar. Claire groans, taking a heavy sip of her drink.
“And you’ve known Claire your whole life, do you think she doesn’t have a good judge of character?”
“Ohhh kay. That’s enough chitchat about all that,” Claire says with faux happiness. “The pickleball tournament is tomorrow. Andie and I are going to kick ass. That private island cabana is going to be ours for sure.”
“I’m excited to see you in action, sweetheart,” Wells says as the server comes and takes our orders. “So, what do you do, Elliot?”
“My cousin and I have taken over our father’s security business,” Elliot tells him.
“They’ve expanded it greatly. They used to just offer personal security for whoever needed it, but they’ve added a branch of personal security where they’ll come to your home and give you an analysis on your weak points and install everything necessary,” Claire says proudly and I adjust myself uncomfortably in my chair.
Elliot gives her a soft smile and rubs her shoulder.
“I didn’t realize you were paying attention to all that.”
“Of course I was. Also, I’m Shiloh’s best friend and I know you installed all their security.”
“Who’s Shiloh?” Wells asks, and I swear to fuck Elliot’s chest puffs out. Like he’s so fucking special that he knows all this information about Claire that we don’t. I hate him and I’m not sure there’s anything that can change my mind.
“She’s my oldest brother, Jonah’s, Omega. They live in Philadelphia where Jonah operates part of S?rensen Enterprises.” Claire seems shy as she brings up her family’s business.
Wells isn’t deterred at all, as he nods. “And you’re close with Claire’s brothers?”
Something tells me my Beta knows a lot of this information already, but is trying to make Elliot comfortable. Meanwhile, I want to do the opposite. He let Claire get on this cruise—and even if it makes me a hypocrite, since this is where we met—I don’t have a ton of respect for the Alpha.
I know I need to be civil for Claire’s sake, so I sit there not contributing much to the conversation and wondering how the fuck I’m supposed to deal with another Alpha in the mix.
When the night comes to a close, I assume that Claire is going to go off with Elliot, so they have more time to connect.
She looks completely conflicted as we all stand there. It’s almost like a pathetic dating show and we’re hoping she doesn’t boot us off the island.
“Maybe…um. Maybe everyone just goes to their own rooms tonight so we can all process everything?” she suggests.
Elliot gives her a nod and I do my best to not glare at him even more. Before he got here, she was happy to cuddle up with us all night and now I have to spend a night away from my Omega because he’s complicated things.
“Of course, plus, you need plenty of rest to kick ass tomorrow,” Wells says, leaning forward and giving her a kiss. I do the same.
Elliot pauses, looking over at the two of us. Is he really contemplating kissing her after we did?
I roll my eyes, but he leans down and gives her a kiss as well. We walk her to the elevators and as soon as she leaves, I’m standing there with Wells and Elliot.
I’m ready to walk away when Wells clears his throat.
“Listen, you two were nearly choking us with your Alpha-dominant bullshit in there. If you want to make Claire happy—fuck—if you two want to be happy in this pack, you’re going to have to figure your shit out,” Wells says, waving a hand between us.
“Last night she was ready to get off this ship and have her heat in her dream nest. It’s what she deserves.
She’s not going to agree to that if you two are snapping at each other every chance you get. ”
“She said that?” I ask in surprise and Wells nods.
“She also said she was open to moving to New Hampshire,” Wells tells us, his gaze shifting to Elliot.
“I can work from anywhere,” the Alpha says easily and I want to hate him more, but I can’t even be pissed when he’s agreeing to that.
“I’ll do my best if he gets his fucking boot off my neck,” Elliot says, pointing his thumb at me.
Wells arches an eyebrow at me, and I sigh. There’s nothing I can do with him being the Alpha Claire wants. All I can do is work through my own reactions to it.
“Just know if you hurt her, my boot will be more than on your neck,” I say, my final parting words as I turn away.
Wells makes a noise in his throat of disapproval as he speeds up to catch up with me.
“That was not an olive branch,” Wells complains.
“I don’t trust him.”
“You don’t trust anyone right away. Please, just try to not be so antagonistic in front of Claire.
The stress isn’t good for her. You saw how she was last night and she came to dinner smelling like she was dipped in a whiskey bottle.
She’s probably closer to her heat than we think.
You know what? We should call Dirk and have Claire pick out some things for her nest now.
Maybe he could have most of it ready before we even get home,” my Beta rambles off.
It’s not a bad idea, and I know he’s not wrong. The amount of scent marking she’s been needing and how possessive she’s been are clear indicators. It could also just be the amount of competition of Omegas on the boat. Maybe we have more time than we think.
All I can do is hope, because I need more time to wrap my mind around that too-handsome smug prick being a permanent fixation in our lives.