Chapter 25
Elliot
Get along for Claire's sake I tell myself as I stand in the blazing sun waiting for this pickleball game to start.
She wasn't in my bed last night because she didn't want to hurt the big Alpha's feelings, and maybe I'm sulking.
I haven't gotten to sleep next to Claire and he has, it's frustrating. Deep down I know I only have myself to blame and that at the end of the day I need to do whatever it is I need to in order for Claire to be happy.
Somehow this massive man with an attitude makes her happy.
"What are you staring at?" Forrest says, his arms crossed over his chest.
I don't respond and Wells seems to have the urge to fill the silence.
"What’s taking them so long to get the tournament started?" Wells asks, completely avoiding the elephant on the ship.
Forrest and I don't like each other and I'm not sure if that will ever change. Could I bear a lifetime of living under the same roof of someone I don't like?
"You could always just get off the ship if you have a problem," Forrest says, ignoring Wells’ attempt at changing the subject.
"I'm not going anywhere. Fucking deal with it," I snap back.
"I really hope you two figure out your shit before Claire goes into heat. Which if you haven't noticed is probably any day now."
"I noticed," I grumble. "I've known Claire for a long time, she's not completely herself right now."
"Obviously we noticed too," Forrest combatively adds.
I take a step away from him, trying to keep my cool.
Think of Claire, I remind myself. I'm here for Claire.
"My money is on Megan. I can't believe I got her to not only sign us up for her heat but approve bonding during heat," a man next to me says and I glance at him.
He looks back at me and I click my tongue. "My money is on Claire, if you want to make it interesting."
"Me too," Wells adds next to me.
"You're on. If you want we could make it even more interesting and discuss an agreement with our Omegas," the Alpha says wiggling his eyebrows.
"You want to die today?" Forrest says behind me and the other Alpha raises his hands in surrender.
"God, everyone is so fucking boring on this ship," the other Alpha complains, our bet completely forfeit as both Forrest and I stare him down.
At least we have one thing in common. When it comes to Claire, we're ready to do whatever it takes to keep her safe and protect her honor.
"Prick," Forrest spits out, taking his spot a good five feet away from me.
The sun is getting brutal as we wait for the games to start.
Luckily, Claire is finally stepping out on the deck with the pickleball courts.
She looks unreal. Her dark raven hair in a bouncy ponytail, a tight pink workout shirt that covers her chest like a second skin, but my favorite part is the white skirt that swishes around her thighs.
What I don't like is all the other Alphas currently quaking at my Omega right now. Especially that dickhead who suggested I should put her up as part of a bet.
I glare at every single one of them. There's a need for violence thundering under my skin that I don't know how to explain as the games start.
I cheer for my Omega and watch as she plays her heart out, but something doesn't feel right, something is off in the air.
When it happens, all chaos ensues.