Chapter Fifteen
Finally, it’s time to meet the last four suitors. I’ve enjoyed having a day to get to know just four suitors at a time, but it’ll be nice to get to see all of them together after tomorrow’s date. Part of me hasn’t been able to stop thinking about Koda, wondering how he’s doing being surrounded by all the suitors. What would it be like to be an omega suitor? It’s something I’ll never know, but I can’t imagine it being the same experience as the betas and alphas.
I know Paisley is also an omega, but she also has her pack with her. Koda doesn’t have anyone with him.
Get it together, Evangeline. You need to focus on the suitors you’re meeting now, not one from day one—or day four.
My mind runs back to the date from earlier today. I really enjoyed spending time with all four of them.
Damn it!
I’m doing it again. I need to focus.
Shaking my head, I give myself the once over in the mirror. Today’s dress is a personal favorite. The champagne-colored dress sparkles beneath the lights as I move from side to side. It’s an asymmetrical dress with one sleeve falling to my wrist, while the other shoulder and arm are bare. Along the right sleeve, two thin straps attach to the top of the bodice to make sure it remains in place. A sheer V-panel in the center reveals the curve of my breasts down to my waist before cinching in. It hugs my hips, flaring down in the back and to the sides, but the front is also asymmetrical—the right side stops high on my thigh before gradually growing longer.
I’ve left my hair down in full waves, the front pinned back to keep it from falling into my face. My makeup is subtle, drawing attention to my eyes. I smile to myself as I move to the door of my suite, proud that Bree hasn’t come to drag me from my room tonight. When I swing the door open, I find Bree there with her hand lifted to knock.
“You’re ready,” she says, clearly shocked. “Wow. This dress is amazing.”
I preen under her words. Getting compliments on my clothing designs always brings me pride. With the number of people who have told me I would never amount to anything when I was just starting—that an omega can’t be a clothing designer—it’s always good to hear just how wrong they were.
“Thank you. It’s a favorite of mine.”
“Please tell me it comes in other colors. I’m going to need one in all the colors.”
We laugh together as we head outside. “I don’t think you need it in more than one color, but it definitely comes in more than one color. It comes in a shade of red that I think would look amazing on you. After the show is over, I’ll have it sent to you.”
“I knew having a fashion designer on the show was a good idea,” she says with a laugh. “The clothes alone are going to be the talk of the internet, not to mention you and the suitors.”
“I wouldn’t have it any other way.” I couldn’t wipe away my smile even if I wanted to, and spoiler alert, I don’t want to. It’s been so easy getting along with Bree. Even though a lot of our interactions have been about the show, they haven’t all been. I think the two of us will continue our friendship once my season is done and over with. Just another thing to look forward to at the end of this.
Fifteen minutes later, the first limo rolls up.
The man who steps out is tall and slender, but I can see the muscles beneath his tux. His unbound brown hair spills over his shoulders, giving him a dangerous look even in his formalwear. The crooked grin that splits his face tells of a different kind of danger—the fun kind. As he approaches, I see the scruff on his face and smile. A brave move to wear a tux and not shave, but it’s a good look on him.
There’s laughter in his eyes as he bows at the waist, lifting my hand to his lips. “Good evening, Evangeline. I’m Evander, and I’m here to sweep you off your feet.”
“Is that so?” A giggle spills from my lips as his dark chocolate, chocolate cake, and cherries scent hits my nose. Oh, yum. Now I want dessert. “I look forward to finding out how you plan to do that. In the meantime, why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
“Evander Nelson, age twenty-five, and an alpha. I’m a sign language interpreter. My younger brother was born deaf, so I learned it from an early age. I saw how hard life was for him when there wasn’t an interpreter available and vowed to do what I could to make it better for him.” The crooked smile finds its way to his lips once more. “I spent a lot of my childhood acting as his interpreter, so it was easy enough to move into doing it professionally. And honestly, it has to be one of the most fulfilling careers, knowing that I’m helping make someone’s life easier.”
With each word, I find myself melting more and more. “That’s amazing, and what a reason to get into it. I’m sure your brother appreciated your help growing up.”
He shrugs. “For the most part, but we’re brothers, so sometimes he just wanted me to leave him alone. It’s definitely easier now that we’re adults.”
“I would imagine that was the case with most siblings. I wouldn’t know since I’m an only child.” It’s my turn to shrug. I would’ve loved having a sibling growing up, but like so many people in our world, my mom just couldn’t get pregnant again.
“Growing up, I probably would’ve loved to switch places with you—for at least a day. After that, I probably would’ve missed my brother, but don’t tell him that.”
A laugh escapes me. “I don’t have to tell him—you just did. Assuming he watches the show.”
He wrinkles his nose as he chuckles. “Oh, well. I guess it’s okay if he knows I love him.”
We laugh together, chatting for a few minutes about his hobbies—photography and hiking—before it’s time for the next suitor. I’m still smiling when Evander goes to join Bree behind me. Reginald winks at me as the next limo comes to a stop, and I hope the rest of the night continues in the same manner.
When the door opens, I get a flash of a long leg and red hair before the woman exits completely. My eyes go wide, disbelief filling me.
I might have thought to myself on more than one occasion that I’d love to have Tessa Hanson as one of my suitors, but I never thought it would become a reality. As she walks toward me, a smile on her lips, all I can do is stare at her in disbelief.
“Tessa? What? How?” I shake my head. “Bree said you’d be joining us later, but she definitely didn’t make it seem like you’d be joining as a suitor.”
Tessa’s smile is tight. “We weren’t sure I was going to be able to, but how could I not when we have a beautiful bisexual omega? Plus, you approved of my scent. If that isn’t a sign, I don’t know what is.”
Her pear, lavender, and sandalwood scent settles around me, and I sigh. I love her scent—it’s relaxing and invigorating all at once.
“Well, I’m glad you’re here, and one of my suitors,” I say with a smile. “Obviously, I saw you here and there in the first two seasons, but why don’t you tell me a little about yourself?”
Her smile brightens. “You know my name, that I’m an alpha, and that I run Fated Industries with Bree. Heated is our baby, but it’s not the only pan we have in the fire—with more coming on the horizon. I’m thirty-six, and watching Bree find her pack on the first season showed me just what I was missing. I actually tried out our dating app, Mated shortly after, but didn’t have any luck. I’m hoping that being here as a suitor will be my chance—just like the other nineteen suitors.”
I laugh with her, still barely believing that Tessa is one of my suitors. Does that mean she’s meant to be my alpha? Absolutely not, but I’m excited to get to know her.
Even as I have that thought, my mind goes back to the end of season two. While not everything was shown, season two was cut short at Sophia’s insistence due to something that happened with Tessa. As if she knows exactly where my thoughts have gone, the smile falls away from her face.
“I promise I’ll tell you what happened last season—everything, no secrets—just not tonight. If I make it past the first date with you, I’ll sit down and explain what happened. Just give me some time for you to get to know me first, okay?” The confident alpha that was before me just moments before had faded as she drops her head, her shoulders folding in. “I’m not trying to keep secrets. It’s just hard to talk about.”
Reaching out, I take her hand in mine and squeeze. “Of course. I would never force you to talk about something that clearly makes you so uncomfortable. I’m happy to wait until you’re ready to talk about it. Now, chin up. This dress wasn’t meant to be worn by someone meek but by a powerful, confident alpha.”
A smile peeks out as Tessa lifts her head to meet my eyes. “It is a damn good dress.”
“Hell, yes, it is. And trust me, I know the type of person I had in mind when I designed it. It’s perfect for you.”
It’s one of the more daring dresses I’ve designed—one I wouldn’t wear because of my curves—but it’s made for the alpha’s body. She’s only a bit taller than me, though she’s wearing higher heels than I do—she’s definitely standing at over six feet currently. The dress is a deep olive shade that looks amazing against her complexion and is a good choice with her dark red hair. The dress is strapless, with cups over her breasts and a deep V between them all the way to her waist. Beneath the cups, the material is mesh with green boning, giving it a sexy corset look. From there, the material drapes over the hips, making it look like it’s wrapped around her. The right side stops high on her hip before flowing to the floor, a floor-length swatch of silky material draped over the side, giving it a peek-a-boo look. It shows a lot of skin—both leg and torso—while still being elegant. Not just anyone could pull it off, but it looks like it was made for her.
“Damn, I wish I could wear this one. It looks amazing on you.” I give her a small smile as heat rushes through me. Based on the last few days, I know my perfume will still leak out despite my best efforts, and I can tell the moment Tessa gets a lungful. Her eyes fall shut, a quiet moan spilling from her lips.
“You smell amazing, omega,” she purrs, stepping closer. “What were you thinking about that made you smell so delectable?”
“I… uhhhh…” I gulp down a breath, immediately regretting it as I practically drown in her scent.
Tessa shakes her head as if to clear it before she takes a step back, clearing her throat. “Sorry about that, Evangeline. Sometimes our instincts get the better of us, don’t they?”
“Yes, that they do,” I manage to get out of my suddenly parched mouth. I rub my legs together, knowing there’s not a damn thing I can do about the heat in my core or the slick that Tessa’s words produced. After all, I still have two more suitors to meet before dinner. There won’t be any relief coming for me anytime soon.
“On that note,” Tessa says, glancing over her shoulder. “It looks like it’s time to wrap up our meeting.”
I bite my lip, trying so hard to not rub my thighs together. I don’t think I’ve ever responded to anyone in the way I have these suitors. I’m kind of loving it—well, mostly. Having drenched panties at all times isn’t the best thing, but I feel like I can really find my pack here. A smile forms as I realize I’m actually feeling very hopeful about what’s to come. I can’t wait to figure out who will be part of my pack.
Tessa returns my smile before leaning in to brush her lips against mine. It’s over before it really begins, but I forget how to breathe as she brushes her hand against mine. “Until later.”
“Yeah,” I murmur, lifting my hands to my lips as she walks away. Our lips barely touched, but I’m already perfuming like crazy. Holy shit.
My eyes are wide as they meet Reginald’s. He grins at me, shooting me a thumbs up. Before I can say anything, the limo turns onto the driveway. I guess I was lost in my thoughts for longer than I thought I’d been.
Steeling myself, I push back my shoulders and smile as the door opens. No one steps out at first, making me curious. A man steps out, a grin on his handsome face. He’s on the shorter side, probably closer to my height. Silver streaks through his chestnut brown hair that’s slicked back from his face and a pair of metal framed glasses perch on his nose. As he steps closer, the lights reflect off of his baby blue eyes.
He comes to a stop a few feet in front of me, ducking his head, but doesn’t say anything.
“Hi, there. I’m Evangeline.”
He takes a deep breath before lifting his head to meet my eyes. “I’m Bradley. Bradley Perceval.”
When he doesn’t say anything else, I hold my hand out to him. “It’s very nice to meet you.”
My eyes fall shut as his scent hits me. Oven baked bread, tomato leaf, and bay leaf. “Delicious.”
“Huh?”
I blink my eyes open, feeling the blood rushing to my face. “Your scent. It’s delicious.” It also tells me he’s a beta, which explains his smaller stature. Not that betas can’t be just as jacked as alphas, but most aren’t.
“Thank you, so is yours.” Bradley’s smile is shy. “I’m sure you’ll notice that I’m a little shy. It’s something I’m working on. Please be patient with me.”
“Of course. It’s really awesome that you’re pushing your boundaries like that.” I reach out to take his hand in mine, squeezing lightly. “Would it be easier if I asked questions?”
His smile grows as he nods. “Much easier.”
“Awesome. You’re a beta, right?” He nods at my question, his fingers tightening around mine. “Then let’s go with the next bit of information people usually give. How old are you? What do you do for work? Do you have any family?”
“I’m forty-four, and I’m a high school teacher. As far as family, I’m an only child, as many people are. It’s just me and my dads—they’re a mix of alphas and betas. When they wanted to have a baby, they used a surrogate, and that’s where I came into the family. The woman who carried me was in my life, but she has a family of her own. She’s more like my aunt than a mom, but I didn’t suffer at all. I loved being raised by my dads.” A flush creeps up his neck, and I can tell he didn’t expect to speak so freely. “It’s actually really easy to talk to you.”
I grin. “Good. That’s what we like to hear.”
I continue to ask him questions about his family and work until Reginald gives me the signal to wrap it up.
“It was great meeting you, Bradley. We’ll keep working on that shyness.” I lean over and brush my lips against his cheek.
“Thank you, Evangeline—for being patient with me and for understanding. I won’t forget that.”
He walks away before I can respond, and I turn my attention back to Reginald and the driveway. Only one more suitor to meet and one more group date before I start making decisions. I’m not looking forward to that part, but I’ll deal with it when the time comes. There’s no point in worrying about it until then.
The final limo pulls into the drive, and I take a deep breath. I’m not going to lie—meeting twenty people, even over five days with an added week between, is exhausting. And I still have another seven weeks on the show. Seven weeks to choose a pack that I’ll spend the rest of my life with. No pressure or anything.
Before the limo has come to a complete stop, the door is opening. As soon as it stops, a man steps out with a smirk on his face. And what a face it is.
The man is only a few inches taller than me, his dirty blond hair longer on top and perfectly styled. His tux hugs his body, though he doesn’t wear a tie, and the top few buttons are open, revealing a hint of his chest. He has a neat beard that’s darker than his hair.
“Hello, Evangeline,” he calls out as he jogs over to me, seemingly unbothered by his fancy clothes. He stops much closer than most people would, and his scent hits me dead in the face—raspberry, pecan, and pralines. An interesting combination, but he’s also entirely too close for someone whose name I don’t know. Unsurprisingly, he’s an alpha. He wouldn’t be the first alpha I’d met who thought that he could do what he wants. Not that I know if that’s the case for this alpha. I remind myself that I have to keep an open mind.
I take a step back, keeping my smile firmly in place. “Hi, there.” I try to keep my voice steady, but I do not approve of him shoving himself into my space with no warning or permission. “Who might you be?”
At least he has the good grace to look abashed. “I guess I should’ve started with that. I might be a little excited. I’m sorry about that. My name is Sterling Palmer. I’m thirty-two, and as I’m sure you can tell from my scent, I’m an alpha and a game designer.”
It definitely makes me feel better that he apologized and seems to know I was uncomfortable. That’s a point in his favor. This is why no one should ever trust their first impressions because they’re often not one hundred percent accurate.
“What kind of games do you design?”
A smile lights up his face as he tells me about the video games he’s worked on. I’m not much of a gamer myself, but I do recognize some of the titles. One of my good friends is really into gaming, and he’s going to be so psyched to find out that I met one of the designers of his favorite games. I know just enough about the games for us to talk until Reginald signals for me to wrap it up.
“It appears to be time for dinner,” I tell him, taking his offered arm when we head to join the others standing with Bree.
My eyes meet Tessa’s as we approach, and I can’t seem to look away. She’s just so beautiful.
“Are you okay, Evangeline?” Sterling asks.
I turn my head to blink up at him, taking a moment to register his words. “Yeah, sorry. It’s just been a long twelve days, and I’m starving.”
As the five of us follow Bree up the walkway, I listen to my suitors chatting around me. I don’t think I fully realized just how tired I really was until right now. I hope I can make it through dinner before I crash.
Once again, I appreciate that no one else has mentioned the fact that we’re meeting a week later. I know that Conrad, Gavin, Natalie, and Ronan hadn’t mentioned it, but I’m surprised that no one did today. I guess I expected more of the suitors to be upset. Don’t get me wrong, I’m extremely happy they aren’t, but I guess I was expecting more blowback since I’ve had nothing but issues since I arrived on set.
Things might just be turning around for me—thank the gods.