Chapter Eight
My eyes narrow on Viktor as we all sit in the game room. Because of the week-long delay, we’ve gotten the chance to get to know the day one suitors fairly well. They all agree that there’s something off about Viktor. The only one who seems willing to speak to him is Dustin, and I don’t even know how he convinced the beta to be friends with him.
I know Evangeline said she forgave Viktor and that she believes it was an accident, but I don’t. There’s no part of me that thinks it was an accident. I don’t know what Viktor would have to gain from hurting Evangeline, but I know he did it on purpose. I have no proof and no reason to be so sure of it, and yet, I can’t shake the feeling that I’m right.
“You’ve got to stop glaring at him,” Jagger says as he sits beside me.
I scoff. “I really don’t.”
Someone steps in front of me, cutting off my line of sight to Viktor. I have to bite back my growl as I see it’s Koda.
“Do you mind if I sit beside you?”
I sigh, knowing there’s no way I can say no to the omega—something he is well aware of. I haven’t been with many men before, and definitely not a male omega, but he’s definitely hot as sin—especially with all of those tattoos.
Fuck.
I shake my head, gesturing for him to go ahead. When he sits, he sits closer than he has to, but I don’t mind all that much. I just need to remember that I’m here for Evangeline, not Koda—no matter how tempting he is.
“Now, where am I supposed to sit?” Lillian asks with a laugh as she walks over to us. The three of us are seated on one of the couches with Viktor and Dustin sitting on the one across from us. Cora and Skylar sit on the loveseat that makes up the rest of the U-shape that the furniture has been arranged in for the interview that we’re about to do with Bree. “There’s no way I’m sitting with him.”
Koda grabs her hand and pulls her down into his lap. “You can sit with me. We’d never make you sit beside him.”
Lillian giggles as she moves around, trying to get comfortable in his lap. With a laugh, I grab her legs and spin her around until she’s sitting with her back to the arm of the sofa with her legs draped across me. She kicks her foot out and nudges Jagger, who shakes his head at her.
“Behave, Lillian,” he says, a bit of a growl to his words.
“You can call me Lily, Jagger. I actually prefer it.”
He frowns. “Then why did you introduce yourself as Lillian?”
“And why didn’t you tell Evangeline that?” I ask, confused.
“I don’t know. I’ve spent more time with you all, so I feel more comfortable. Evangeline makes me nervous.” She ducks her head. “She’s just so…”
“Perfect?” Koda sighs as Lillian giggles, nodding her head. “And hot as hell.”
Jagger chuckles. “On that, we can definitely agree.”
“I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t choose me,” Koda says quietly as if he doesn’t want the others to hear. “What I feel for her? I’ll never find that again. She’s it for me. She’s my future.”
“Damn, man.” I reach over and ruffle his hair. “Maybe don’t let her hear that?”
He laughs as he flushes. “I’m aware it’s a little too soon to start spouting off about forever. I can’t help what I feel, though.”
Lillian wraps her arms around his neck and pulls him into a hug. “Of course, you can’t. I think it’s amazing that you feel that way. I really like her, but I’m definitely not there yet.”
“I don’t think anyone but Koda is,” Jagger says with a laugh.
“Okay, everyone. It’s time to start the interview.” Bree claps her hands, eyes moving around the room to look at each of us.
It doesn’t take long for the conversations around us to die down, which makes Bree happy.
“Okay, things are obviously a bit different this week. Usually, the interview would’ve happened a week ago after the date with the day two suitors, but that obviously didn’t happen. You’ve all had more time to get to know one another than usual, so I’m interested to see how the interview goes.” She glances between the eight of us, and I wonder if she notices the divide as much as I did. “Let’s start with our day two suitors. Who wants to go first?”
Glancing at Lillian, I don’t bother to turn my attention to Viktor and Dustin. She wrinkles her nose, and I sigh. I guess I’m up first.
“I’m not going to lie,” I say, turning my attention to Bree and the camera she stands beside. “That date was terrifying. I’m not sure I’ve ever been so terrified in my life when Evangeline went into the water and when the kayak hit her on the head. Then, having another week of not being able to see her or really know how she was doing? It sucked.”
“It really did,” Lillian adds before biting her lip. “When I signed on, I knew there would be a few days where we wouldn’t see her, but this was so much different. Though, it’s been nice having time to get to know the other suitors… I would’ve preferred spending that time getting to know Evangeline. Getting to have that time with her today before she meets the next set of suitors helped, though.”
Viktor clears his throat, drawing my attention to him, and I have to fight to keep from scowling at him. I really don’t like him, and I don’t believe his story that the kayak incident was an accident. I don’t know what he would gain from hurting her, but I’m damn well going to keep my eye on him to make sure he doesn’t get another chance to hurt her. He’s clearly an asshole who thinks too highly of himself, but that’s not reason enough for him to be sent home. I have no doubt that he’ll show his true colors before too long.
“I felt terrible after everything that happened—that I hurt Evangeline. I’m an alpha. I never want to hurt anyone, but especially not an omega.” He shakes his head, the remorseful look on his face not quite reaching his eyes. I can’t be the only one who notices that, can I? “I don’t think there’s anything in my life that I’ve regretted more than that. Thankfully, because Evangeline is an angel, she’s forgiven me. She understands that it was an accident.”
I can hear the words he doesn’t say as his eyes meet mine—unlike some people. My lips curl up at the edges. He doesn’t like that I suspect him of having done it on purpose. Something tells me he’s very good at getting people to believe what he wants them to believe, and I’m not falling for it.
“Of course, it was an accident,” Dustin says, his voice shaky as he glances between me and Viktor. “What else would it have been?”
I lift my eyebrows as I turn my attention to the beta. “Of course, it was an accident. No one would ever intentionally hurt an omega—especially not one who they were trying to win over. I’m sure no one ever thought otherwise.”
When my eyes flash back to Viktor, I find his eyes narrowed. For just a moment, his mask drops and rage flashes across his face. It’s gone in the blink of an eye, that smarmy smile finding its way to his lips once more.
“Obviously,” he says, winking at me before turning his attention back to Bree. “But that didn’t make the guilt any less. Seeing her today and seeing that she’s healing well helped set my mind at ease.”
Koda leans forward, looking around Lillian, who is still perched on his lap. “It’s been hard for me to go all week without seeing her. Being an omega, I want to take care of the people that I care about, and not being allowed near her has been driving me crazy.”
“I can attest to that,” Jagger says with a chuckle. “He’s like a puppy with the zoomies most days. Except worse because he can talk. He might seem nice and chill now, but he would not shut up all week. Honestly, it’s adorable.”
Koda turns to him with a glare, even as a blush colors his cheek and his scent fills the room. “I’m not a damn puppy.”
“I don’t know,” Lillian says with a giggle. “You seem pretty puppy-like to me.”
Koda murmurs something under his breath that I don’t quite catch, but I’m pretty sure he just threatened to spank her ass. Now, that’s a show I’m all for seeing. It would only be made better if Evangeline was there for it.
Cora giggles as she leans forward. “I would have to agree with Jagger and Lillian. Sorry, Koda. You definitely have that puppy vibe.”
Skylar looks uncomfortable as she shuffles on the loveseat. She tugs on Cora’s hand until she leans back against her. Of the two betas, she’s been the more withdrawn. Jagger said they’d had a moment during their date, but she hasn’t really talked with him either. I’ve tried to get to know her, but she doesn’t seem overly interested. I’m not sure why, though. Maybe I should try harder?
Cora has made it perfectly clear that she has no interest in men, but she’s still been taking the time to get to know all of us. I just don’t understand why Skylar hasn’t? I guess I could just ask.
“What about you, Skylar?” Bree presses. “Do you think Koda has puppy dog energy, too?”
She shrugs. “I don’t know. I haven’t really spent much time with him.”
Bree hums. “So, who have you spent time with over the last week?”
Of course Bree would’ve noticed that Skylar wasn’t putting in much effort to get to know the other suitors. I am surprised that she’s calling her out on it, though.
“Mostly just Cora,” she says with a shrug as she glances at the couch Viktor and Dustin sit on before turning to us. “It’s clear that there’s been a divide in the suitors, which I know is likely to happen numerous times, but there’s been a lot of tension. It’s not really something I wanted to get myself involved in.”
Now I feel like an ass. I didn’t realize that the clear division would make her uncomfortable. Confrontation may not come easily to her. I know some people avoid it at all costs—just not me.
“What tension?” Dustin asks as he glances around, and my eyes go wide. Is this guy for real? Certainly, he’s joking right now. But as our eyes meet, I realize he’s serious. He has no clue what’s been going on around him. That’s crazy to me.
When no one responds to him, his face falls as he leans back and wrings his hands in his lap.
Now, I doubly feel like an asshole.
Bree hums as she glances between us. “And is there a reason there’s so much tension?”
“Some personalities just don’t play well together,” Jagger offers. “I’ll never be someone who forces any type of relationship. If I don’t like someone, then there’s no reason for me to bother, you know?”
“And what if your omega chooses someone you don’t like? What will you do then?” Bree asks, eyebrows raised as she stares down the alpha beside me. I’m glad that look is aimed at him and not me—even if I feel the same way he does.
Jagger shrugs. “Then I guess I’ll have to figure out a way to move past any animosity, but that’s not really the case here, is it? At least, not yet.”
“There are just some people who aren’t meant to get along,” Koda adds. “And trying to force a relationship when that’s the case can often be worse. I’m with Jagger on this. I won’t associate with someone I don’t get along with unless it becomes necessary, and I think most people feel that way. Unless they thrive on confrontation or whatever.”
I nod slowly, keeping my mouth shut as I turn back to Viktor, who is openly glaring at us now. I don’t bother hiding the smirk that finds home on my lips.
Yes, that’s right, asshole. None of us like you, and we don’t have a problem making it known. Better get used to it.
“Yeah, I see what you mean, Skylar.” Bree shakes her head. “I can’t blame you for avoiding the drama. Hopefully, now that we’re back on track, it’ll help relieve some of that tension.”
“Or make it worse as more people are added to the situation.” Lillian blushes as all eyes turn to her. Koda pulls her closer to him as if he can protect her from the attention she so desperately doesn’t want.
Bree nods slowly. “Yes, it could definitely do that. Is there anything else anyone would like to add?”
I shake my head as the others around me do the same or just remain silent.
“Excellent. The eight of you will be confined to the top two floors while Evangeline meets her next set of suitors. You’ll be able to place your order for dinner and do whatever you’d like as long as it takes place on these two floors. You might meet the day three suitors as they’re shown to their rooms, but you won’t see Evangeline. So no seeking her out. Any questions or concerns I should be able to address.” Her eyes are on Koda as she says this, and he flushes.
He admitted to us that Bree allowed him to see Evageline before our date so he could put himself at ease. I don’t fault him for it. I can’t imagine being a packless omega on Heated—at least not as a suitor. It has to be hard for him. We’ll need to see what we can do to make it easier for him.
Evangeline might be the omega we’re here to win over, but that doesn’t mean we can’t make things easier for Koda. In fact, I think that’s what she’d want. She might not know exactly how Koda feels about it—which feels insane because of how little time they’ve spent together—but I know she wouldn’t want him to suffer. Even if she doesn’t feel the same way as he does. It’ll be interesting to see the two of them interact with one another once she’s met all of her suitors. Honestly, I can’t wait.
“Awesome. Have a great night!” Bree’s gone before any of us can respond.
I snort, elbowing Jagger’s side. “Well, she certainly wasn’t hanging out to get more information, was she?”
“Can you blame her?” Lillian asks quietly, and all I can do is shake my head. I sure don’t.
The tension in the air is so thick, you could cut it with a knife.
“Let’s watch a movie,” Koda suggests. “Everyone is welcome to join.”
Viktor snorts as he stands up. “Nah, I know where I stand with you four. I won’t force you to spend time with me since it’s obviously so hard.”
Dustin climbs to his feet, watching as Viktor storms from the room, looking torn as he glances at us. “I’d love to join you for a movie if that invite is genuine.”
“Of course it is,” Koda assures him as he helps Lillian to her feet before standing himself. “Skylar? Cora?”
Not answering, Cora turns to Skylar, who shrugs. “Honestly, I have a migraine coming on. I think I’m going to lay down. Cora, you should join them.”
“Are you sure?” Cora bites her lip, obviously not wanting to leave her love.
“I’m sure. Go have fun. As much as I love your company, all I’m going to do is take meds and pass out. There’s no reason for you to be bored.” Skylar pulls her in for a quick kiss before pushing to her feet, looking our way. “The tension really is getting out of control. You’re going to want to get that under control before Evangeline joins the suitors. Something tells me she isn’t going to put up with that shit.”
Without another word, she pads away from us. I hate how much it seems to be affecting her, and she’s right. We can’t act like this when Evangeline is around, but I don’t think I can let this go. I have zero proof, but I know that Viktor is up to no good. But maybe I don’t have to be so antagonistic about it. I can at least pretend to play along, I think.
“You should definitely join us, Dustin,” I tell him as I push to my feet. “We really haven’t had enough of a chance to get to know you, and I think it’s time to remedy that.”
Which is how I find myself in the theater room with Lillian, Koda, Dustin, Jagger, and Cora watching some action film that Dustin was really excited to watch. It’s not terrible, but it’s certainly not good. I don’t need to pay a lot of attention to the story to keep up, which gives me time to think.
At this point, there’s no way Viktor would believe me if I suddenly started trying to be friends with him, but maybe there’s another way. Maybe there’s a way to coexist without raising his suspicions? Because, let’s be real, the only reason I’d be doing it is because I know he has to fuck up eventually. The moment that he does, I want to be there so I have proof to bring to Bree and Evangeline.
Until Viktor is gone, I don’t think I’ll truly be able to let my guard down.
A vague plan begins to form in my mind, and I nod to myself. Once the movie is over, I’ll talk to Jagger about it. Between the two of us, we should be able to work it out. I’ll do whatever it takes to keep Evangeline, and even Koda and Lillian, safe from him.