15. Opal
Chapter fifteen
Opal
I ’m sitting cross-legged on the porch swing when the car pulls up out front, and Levi steps out.
My throat closes up the moment I catch a glimpse of him.
Damn. I always forget how handsome he is, and I pretend to read the same line in my book for the tenth time as he walks up to the porch.
Still, my eyes keep stealing glances at his approaching form.
The setting sun casts his face in shadow, and I map every dimple on his face as my heart thumps faster.
When he comes up the steps, he stops before me, and I meet his violet eyes.
“Yes, Levi?”
The Alpha drops to his knee before me, and my heart pounds harder.
Oh, my.
What has brought this on?
Levi takes my hand. My skin prickles where our fingers touch, and his peppermint scent overwhelms me.
“Opal, I apologize. I have been lax in my duties as your Alpha, and I promise to see to your needs from now on. You come first.”
His words take me by surprise, and then my lip fumbles as I search for the right words.
None come to me.
Levi has left me utterly speechless, and before I get all light-headed and giddy on Cloud Nine, I ground myself, remembering my mission.
No. I can’t let this handsome Alpha with his chin dimple get the best of me.
Even if he means well.
I am Rogue. I have a mission to complete.
I must kill his boss in order to appease mine, and now I school my features, playing the part of the love-struck Omega.
My hand reaches across, cupping his cheek, and now my thumb runs over the cleft in his chin.
“It’s okay, Levi. I understand. You have many duties after all.”
He shakes his head, thumb rubbing up and down my wrist, and is that relief I spy in his violet eyes?
His thumb caresses my pulse, and my bottom lip pricks beneath his gaze.
No matter what, I can’t let anyone discover my tattoo.
Or they will know what I am immediately.
Levi smiles. “No, it’s all about you from now on, Opal. Come. There is something I would like to discuss. I’m calling a pack meeting.”
My eyebrows rise as he guides me to my feet, and now he dwarfs me as my eyes reach his solid chest.
Sometimes being short has its perks as it allows me the best view of these Alphas.
Still. Zayden is just the right height for me as I reach his lower neck.
If I rise up on my toes, I could even bring his lips to mine.
The thought doesn’t leave my mind as Levi shouts out the others, and Zayden and Magnus soon arrive.
Zayden and Magnus, but not Reed.
Of course.
“Reed!” Levi calls up the stairs.
Feet shuffle somewhere above, and a growl soon follows as heavy footsteps reach my ears.
Soon, Reed joins us in the living room, and his eye goes to me immediately.
Or mine and Levi’s joined hands.
A low rumble sounds in his chest, but I keep my eyes on my feet as I don’t dare look his way.
“What is it?” Magnus asks, leaning down on the arm of a chair.
Reed doesn’t sit.
Zayden steps toward me with a smile on his face.
Levi matches his grin. “I just got back from the governor’s office. And we’ve been invited to another RR ball.”
RR, which stands for Rogue Rehabilitation , and my breathing stutters.
Luckily, Levi doesn’t notice.
Zayden’s eyebrows jump to his hairline, and there’s no missing his excitement.
He may be a soldier now, but he’s still an Omega, and there’s one thing that Omegas love above all else.
Getting dressed up.
“Oh, that so?” Zayden remarks, trying to act nonchalant, but I can tell he's eager for more.
“Yes,” Levi replies. “And it gives us a chance to showcase Opal to the world. Present her as our second Omega.”
Zayden’s grin widens, and I watch as the skin crinkles around his eyes as his gaze finds mine.
“It would be my honor to show off Opal. We can be the new hot Omega couple in town. Ha, take that, Brody and Ella.”
That’s if Ella has recovered from her heat.
At this very moment, the Omega is getting fucked and knotted by her Alphas and her Omega, and I won’t deny that I’m jealous.
Very jealous.
Magnus chuckles. “It’s not a competition, Zayden.”
Zayden doesn’t look away from me as he takes my other hand, placing his lips on my knuckles. “Oh, but I think it is. We’ll be the envy of the whole world when they get a look at Opal.”
My cheeks heat up, and I have to peer away from Zayden before my pussy betrays me.
If he keeps looking at me that way, I may just climb him like a tree.
Fuck.
I suddenly have an urge to rub my scent all over Zayden.
Ella did the same with Belle.
In the absence of her Alphas and Brody, she used Belle as a substitute, marking her with her scent, and I just hope Rian and the rest of Belle’s pack aren’t too offended.
Now that I think about it, she rubbed her scent on me, too.
Her body was hot in that bed store, and I can still smell a little of her watermelon.
That's when my own skin flushes, but I don’t have any cramps.
Nor does my scent spike.
So, I guess I’m fine then?
I am not approaching heat.
Thank God.
I don’t need the distraction.
My priority is to kill the governor, and this RR Ball provides the perfect opportunity.
A plan formulates in my head, and I suck in a breath.
I will worry about escaping after I kill the governor. I just need to get past the city lines, and then I will be safe.
Zayden takes my hand now, cupping my face with his other. “I guess we should start finding you a dress, Opal.”
A dress? It’s all too much, and I start to sway.
No, Opal. Remember your mission.
Still, a pretty new dress…
Zayden’s eyes find Reed's, and all the softness leaves his gaze. “You’re not missing this one out, Reed.”
Reed grumbles, showing his teeth. “Yes. I am.”
Zayden crosses his arms. “You’re going, even if I have to drag you kicking and screaming. We’re a pack.”
Reed mutters under his breath, and I get why he doesn’t want to go.
It’s not just because of me.
The smells will overwhelm him.
“They will have desensitizers at the event, Reed. So, no excuses,” Magnus chimes in.
“Makes no difference. I will still be able to smell all the traitors,” Reed whispers, eyes snapping to mine.
Is that directed at me?
“They’re right, Reed. No excuses. At the end of the day, you are a part of this pack. So start acting like it,” Levi commands.
Reed growls, storming back upstairs. Before he departs, he looks my way.
His eyes narrow, and there’s no missing the threat.
I’m on to you, Omega.
I don’t breathe again until he's vanished, and I hope none of the others notice the sweat on my brow.
What is it about Reed that makes me so nervous?
It's like he sees right through me.
Shit. With Reed at the ball, it’s going to be hard to sneak off and find Gryphon, and I really have got my work cut out.
Still, I will do it.
Because I have no choice in the matter.
I’m a puppet.
And puppets always bend to the wills of their masters.