17. Chapter 17
Ash
I was starting to think that being on this show was more than I bargained for.
In my overly confident mind, I thought I’d come in here with a strategy, my incredible acting skills, and charm a pack and the audience until I won some money.
Instead, I’d been pleasured by the biggest former athlete I’d ever encountered, and to top it off, I’d gone ahead and kissed another omega. That was the biggest shock of my life.
I didn’t know when my feelings for her had started.
Maybe it was during the heat simulation, or when I realized her sweet tangy scent was more of a craving than a deterrent, like how most omegas smelled to me.
Somewhere along the way, I stopped seeing her as an adversary and started to feel something I wasn’t ready for.
I’m an omega. She’s an omega. This wasn’t supposed to happen. We’re not supposed to crave each other like this. But still, I wanted her - way more of her than I even realized . And it’s messing with everything I thought I knew about myself.
After that heated hot tub night that felt like a complete fantasy come to life, I’d been more and more comfortable with everyone. Our team was doing great on the show despite our rocky start, and I was actually having a good time. But as I should have expected, nothing good ever lasts.
I knew the party was over once the producers mentioned a surprise “Family Visit Week” the following morning. Something cold lodged itself in the pit of my stomach. I smiled along with the others, nodded when they asked if I was excited, but my chest had already begun to tighten.
Excited? Not in the slightest. The family week was limited to omegas only, so only Cassie and I would have our families come.
“Oh my gosh! I can’t wait for you to meet my sister!” Cassie exclaimed as she bounced around her room, elated to have her family come visit on set. I was actually really looking forward to meeting Cassie’s family, but tried to hide my own dread about what would happen with mine.
“Do you have siblings, Ash?” She asked, pulling out clothes as she decided on an outfit for today.
“I have an older brother and sister, yeah.” I replied, rubbing the back of my neck as I tried to dodge her questions.
My parents clearly preferred my siblings, as they were betas and not ‘such a drag on resources’.
I was sure my older siblings wouldn’t be showing up.
They looked down on reality TV. “Anyway, I have to go get ready.” I said, using any excuse possible to get away from answering more questions.
The show had scheduled everything as a surprise, and that’s how I ended up on set with the rest of the teams, cameras ready as the show prepared to introduce the families.
We weren’t able to reach the outside world, so I didn’t even know who the show would have invited.
The rest of the teams looked thrilled. I smiled, too, pretending I was excited for the cameras. But inside, I was sinking.
The truth was, I hadn’t spoken to my family in months.
Not that we were close anyway. Over the years, I stopped reaching out after too many unreturned calls and birthdays that passed without a word.
I knew my family didn’t think much of me, a male omega in a world that seemed built for betas and alphas.
I had hoped, somewhere in the back of my heart, that maybe, just maybe, being on this show would change that.
Maybe now they’d see me, be proud of me, and care even a little.
I felt the anxiety growing inside me. I knew my parents and siblings would probably not be kind or warm to anyone on my team, so that made things even worse.
I was told to line up with the rest of the cast while the cameras set up.
Everyone else seemed to be excited, with comments and laughter making the room feel warm, even though I felt ice cold.
“This week is Family Week!” the host Frank said, beaming as he looked at the camera.. “Our teams don’t know who’s about to walk through those doors, but we’ve got some surprises for you!”
The other omega contestants tightened their grips on each other in anticipation.
Several teams were hugging and cooing, already beaming at the thought of introducing their families to everyone.
Cassie reached for my hand, and I let her take it.
But my pulse was racing, drowning out her sweet voice when she whispered, “You okay?”
I nodded. But I was not okay. My entire persona that I’d crafted for myself would be shattered. My team, and the audience, would see where I’d come from, and all my time here would be wasted. Everyone would see that I didn’t belong here.
The host announced each contestant one by one, and then the doors opened and joy erupted.
All of the omegas were reunited with their families, everyone looking happy and thrilled.
Then, our team’s turn. The host announced Cassie’s family, and from behind the curtains, her sister appeared, running toward her.
They embraced, and held each other for several minutes.
I heard the alphas murmur in approval and adoration.
Her parents walked out next, looking a bit more reserved.
Cassie seemed to tense up at them, but they gave tight smiles and embraced her.
I started to sweat. What would happen with my family?
“...and now,” the host announced, “Ash, let’s bring out your family!” But as I turned to look, waiting with equal dread and hope, no one came through the door.
I waited. The cheers died down into a confused murmur. My team, and some of the other contestants, looked over at me in confusion. Still… nothing.
The host’s smile faltered for a fraction of a second before he recovered, looking toward the production booth. A producer finally stepped toward me, eyes down, headset crackling. “Ash… it looks like there was a scheduling conflict,” she said. “But we’re sure they’re cheering you on from home.”
I stood frozen, burning with humiliation. I could feel the cameras on me, recording my reaction. I gave a hollow laugh and looked away, pretending like it didn’t matter.
But the truth was, their absence felt like a sucker punch.
I’d half-prepared myself for disappointment, but the very public reality of being left hanging like that made the old wounds tear open.
Now, my team would see the real me. An omega, unwanted by even his own family.
Someone who wasn’t that special, who didn’t have much to offer.
I looked away, into the distance, trying to keep the tears from prickling in my eyes.
I couldn’t bear to see my team looking at me.
I didn’t want to see the disappointment, the let down, the looks on their faces when they realized they were paired with a loser.
I’d rather pretend I didn’t care. That way it would hurt less when I was inevitably voted off.
I was already preparing myself mentally for what I’d do when that happened when I felt her.
Cassie’s arms slid around me, holding me tight and covering me from the camera.
She didn’t say anything at first. It was just her and her warmth, pressed against my side.
Then I felt Leo’s hand gripping my shoulder, firm and grounding.
Jace stepped into my other side, his presence giving me strength.
And finally, Rys stood behind me, a silent protector.
Somehow, they all knew what happened. Why I was left without a single member to support me.
So they stepped in, circling around me and protecting me.
“You’re not alone,” Cassie whispered protectively, her cheek against mine.
“You have a family, right here.” Jace added, and with how he sounded, I almost believed him. The producers waved the cameras away, likely not wanting this filmed. It looked so bad that they didn’t even want to include it in the show - the unwanted omega.
I couldn’t hold it in anymore. My shoulders shook as I finally exhaled the pain I’d kept buried for years.
Not just from today, but from the aching of years of feeling like I was always too much or never enough.
After all of this, the people who really showed up and stood by my side were not my blood, but the strangers I’d been paired with, who somehow knew exactly what I needed in that moment.
My team didn’t say much, and I preferred that. They just stood by me, waiting until the contestants and families wandered off, leaving us on the now nearly empty set. Cassie’s family members gave us space, understanding that something was going on that my team needed to handle.
Cassie touched my arm gently, trying to break the silence.
“Well… look at it this way,” she said with a smile, her eyes warm even as she tried to make light of it.
“At least you won’t be embarrassed with old family stories broadcast to the nation.
I’m pretty sure mine’s going to tell the host all about how I used to practice kissing on my pillow. ”
I snorted despite myself, finally starting to feel better.
I didn’t need my family here for this show.
My team would do well no matter what. And with my thoughts now veering in a more confident direction, I started to realize something.
Maybe I would never have my family’s approval, no matter what I did.
But then again, maybe I didn’t need it. I was starting to realize I might actually have something so much better.