Chapter Sixteen
Riley
W atching Tessa and Bree lead Remington into his suite, I can’t help wishing it was me.
I want to be the one who carries him to his room when he’s too tired. I want to do everything for him that he’ll allow—which tells me just how badly I’ve already fallen for the omega after being around him for less than a day.
“You like him,” Carter says as we follow Taylor and Ian up the stairs.
I shrug. It’s not like I can deny his words. Not only because it’s true, but because he can feel it in our bond. I’m not a good enough liar to fool my pack mate. Not that I want to. I made Carter mine because I love him, and I want him to feel what I’m feeling. I want to know what he’s feeling.
Claiming him just before coming on Heated the first time had been a mistake—that’s easy to admit now. After all, hindsight is 20/20. I’ve also had a lot of time to think about why I made the decisions I did.
I allowed my uncertainty and my fear to rush our bond. Carter and I would’ve been just fine coming on as an unbonded pack, but I just had to push it.
I was such a cocky little shit. I was so sure I knew everything and that my way was the right way.
That’s not to say I regret biting him because I don’t, but I do regret the circumstances in which I claimed him. I hate that I allowed my insecurities to sully something beautiful between the two of us. That it ruined what could’ve been with Bree.
Not that Bree was meant for us, but she could’ve been, and I would’ve ruined it for both of us. It’s a little too soon to see if Remington will be the right fit for us, but damn, I really hope he is.
It took her sending us home for me to realize just how selfish I was—how selfish I’ve been my entire life.
Now, I’m determined to be a better man. A better alpha.
I like to think I’ve been doing pretty well. No, I know I have been because Carter learned a thing or two about himself during the show as well. He’s much more assertive when letting me know if he doesn’t agree with a decision I’ve made or am making.
He makes me a better man by expecting more from me than anyone ever has before, and I want to be the best man I can be for him.
“You know I do, but so do you,” I finally respond, and he nods with a grin.
“I really do. I like that he has a job that he cares about as much as I care about mine. He’s hot as hell, and he’s easy to get along with. I know the information said he deals with anxiety, but I haven’t really seen that since we met him.”
I hum. “Anxiety isn’t always visible. He might just be very good at hiding it. I’m glad it was mentioned, though, so we can keep an eye out for it.”
I pause as we reach the third floor, hearing sounds coming from the game room as Taylor and Ian step inside. Carter and I ran into one guy last night when we were heading into our suite, but we didn’t speak to him. Bree told us we’d be doing our interview in an hour so everyone could get dinner before the rose ceremony and still leave us with enough time to get ready.
“Do you want to stick our heads in there now and meet whoever’s in there? Or do you want to wait?” I ask Carter. I’ll leave it up to him because if I have my choice, I’ll just head back to our suite.
It’s not that I don’t like people, I just prefer for it to be me and Carter most of the time. But as he’s pointed out on more than one occasion, we can’t find the rest of our pack from the comfort of our living room—no matter how much I wish we could.
“We’re already out here,” he says, and I sigh. I guess we’re meeting the other suitors now.
Intertwining my fingers with Carter’s, I pull him into the game room to find what I’m guessing is all the other suitors. There are so many people inside the room. I’d almost forgotten what it was like to be surrounded by eighteen strangers.
I do approve of the changes they’ve put into place since the first season. Having the omega only meet four suitors at a time and then going on a date has allowed us to get to know Remy much better than we initially got to know Bree.
“Oh, good, you’re all here.” An entirely too attractive beta male pops up in front of us with a smile, causing us to come to a stop. “I just introduced myself to Taylor and Ian. I’m Milo.”
What is it with the betas on this show? I swear, there’s always a beta who takes the lead and introduces themselves to everyone. During the first season, it was Emmett. He’s a good guy and perfect for Bree.
“Hi, I’m Riley,” I tell him, offering him my hand as his orange, cedar, and clove scent settles around me and Carter. “This is my beta, Carter.”
Milo’s smile grows wider. “Oh, I know. You were both on the first season. This is exciting.” His eyes zero in on the bond mark on Carter’s neck. “Oh, you’re bonded as well? Me too!”
He pulls his tee to the side, revealing a mark on his neck and another on his chest. “I have two alphas. I can introduce you to them if you’d like. I guess you need to meet everyone, really.”
“We do,” I agree. “But why don’t we start with your alphas? We need somewhere to start, anyway.”
My eyes trail across the room as we follow Milo, seeing Taylor and Ian chatting with two women, a man, and a set of twins. At least, I think they’re twins. They look way too much like one another to not be, right?
“Alphas,” Milo sing-songs. “I have a pack for you to meet. This is Riley and Carter. You might recognize them from Bree’s season. These are my alphas, Victoria and Eric Hawthorne.”
As soon as my eyes land on the female alpha, I lose myself in her forest-green eyes. She’s fucking gorgeous—like mind-blowingly and breathtakingly beautiful.
Damn.
“It’s nice to meet you both,” Carter says, but I can’t tear my eyes away from the woman in front of me. At least not until Carter’s elbow digs into my side harder than necessary.
“Owww.” I frown, rubbing at my side as I glare at him.
“As Carter said, it’s a pleasure to meet you.” I shake Eric’s hand first and then Victoria’s. “I’m sorry for staring.”
Milo snorts. “We’re used to it. We can’t take her anywhere without people staring at her.”
Victoria waves him off. “Stop it. This was the face and body I was born with. It’s just luck of the draw.”
“Like you don’t work to keep yourself in shape. Don’t go acting like it’s all genetics,” Eric argues, shaking his head. “It’s always like this with her. You can’t tell her she’s beautiful or how nice she looks without her reminding us that she had nothing to do with it.”
“Oh, so this is how it’s going to be? I see you two, and I’ll remember this later.” Victoria laughs. “Since you want to give me so much shit, I think I’ll take Carter and Riley around to meet the others. No, Milo, you’re not invited.”
The beta pouts and I’ll admit he looks adorable. Overall, the Hawthorne pack is one good looking pack. I offer her my arm, and she takes it with a small smile. We walk around from group to group, meeting each of the suitors.
One of the suitors, Santiago, is sitting away from the others, but he still joins in the conversation from time to time. It’s as if he wants to be a part of it but wants to keep himself separate at the same time.
I shrug, not understanding but knowing it won’t affect me. Or at least it shouldn’t.
It’s clear that some friendships, and maybe more than friendships, have been made. Gracie and Rhys can’t seem to tear themselves away from one another, even though Victoria tells us they just met a few days ago. The twins, who are actually twins, seem to follow around the Latina woman, Camila. She acts annoyed by their presence but doesn’t seem to actually mind them.
Everyone else seems to move from group to group with ease, and once we’ve met everyone, I find myself drawn into conversation with Camila and Quinn, who I recognize from his time during the second season and from his acting. It’s kind of surreal to think about the various different types of people here to become part of Remington’s pack.
We’re all likely from the Los Angeles area, but probably never would’ve met one another or Remy if it weren’t for Heated. It’s kind of crazy to think about.
“Okay, suitors, it’s time for the wrap-up interview.” Bree claps her hands as she steps into the game room with a few men at her back. “If you can all follow me downstairs, we have the living room set up already.”
It takes a few minutes for all nineteen of us to make it down the flight of stairs and into the living room where there are couches and loveseats set up in a U-shape. I find myself sitting next to a pretty redhead beta, Brooke, with Carter on my other side. As the last group of suitors to arrive, the four of us have had less time to get to know the other suitors.
Unlike last time, I plan to remedy that as soon as possible. Because I’ve already been on the show, I know it’s about more than just having a connection with Remington. Carter and I could have off-the-chart chemistry with him, but if we can’t get along with the other suitors, we don’t stand a chance of being chosen.
While being a part of a pack with an omega means we’re there for said omega, it’s about so much more than that. We have to be there for each member of the pack, whether we’re intimate with them or not. It’s building a family, and no one wants a family who doesn’t get along.
“So, how is everyone feeling?” Bree asks, eyes roving over us. “Remington has met all nineteen suitors and been on a date with you. Tonight is the very first rose ceremony. That has to be nerve-wracking for you.”
Glancing around at the others, I lean forward. “I guess there’s one upside to having been on the show before. I’ve already been through this. At this point, there is no reason for us to worry. We’ve done everything we can to ensure that Remington will choose to keep us around or not. Worrying ourselves about something we can’t change will just give us ulcers, and I don’t know about you all, but I don’t need that in my life.”
Laughter follows my words, and I smile as I sit back. What I said is true, and I hope at least someone can find comfort in them.
“I just hope it was enough,” Brooke says quietly. “There are so many of us. I can only imagine how overwhelmed Remington must be.”
There’s a hum of agreement as the others nod. Now that the conversation has started, it flows well. Bree tosses in a question here and there when it starts to slow, but overall, it feels more like a conversation between peers than an interview.
“During the first season, Riley and I missed out on a lot of the camaraderie because of the new bond. I’m really looking forward to getting to know each of the suitors as well as Remington,” Carter offers. “I want to do it right this time.”
“Me, too.” I lean over and kiss him softly.
Milo grins at us from his spot on the couch across from us. “Fates, the two of you are adorable together.”
Adorable? Me? I don’t think anyone has used those words about me since I was a child.
“Ummm…thank you?” I say as Carter laughs.
Bree snorts. “Oh, Riley, it’s going to be fun to watch you this season. I’m glad the two of you decided to come back. And Quinn, of course. That’s more than enough for now. All of you need to be in the ballroom at eight forty-five tonight. You have until then to eat dinner, hang out, and get ready. If Tessa or I have to come looking for you, you’re going to regret it. Am I understood?”
Then she’s gone, leaving us alone once more.
The living room is quiet for a moment before Milo claps his hands. “I say we go back to the game room until we need to get ready. I think I need a drink.”
“Or ten,” Camila says with a laugh.
As I pull Carter to his feet, I feel myself relaxing even more. I was right in saying there’s nothing more we can do right now. Everything is in Remy’s hands, but that doesn’t make it easy to let it all go. At least we’re all in this together.