Chapter 9 #2
I edge closer, not liking how upset the male omega is. Just because Felix is strong and independent doesn’t mean he doesn’t need the same omega things as the rest of us.
“Hey.”
“Hey,” he says flatly. Felix very rarely shows emotion. Asher is the more emotional of the two of them and the more aggressive.
“Is that your alpha?”
“Temporarily,” Felix says in a frigid tone that lets me know that this alpha will never find a warm welcome here. “He’s here for his five minutes,” Felix says in a low voice that only I can hear.
My curiosity sinks and dies as I glare at the alpha.
“Does Lorelei know?”
Felix shakes his head. “Not yet. I’m sure she’ll find out soon. He’s taking photos and planning a social media campaign, hoping to get picked up by some TV show.”
I wrinkle my nose in disgust.
Fox clears his throat.
“Oh, this is Felix, who is Sebastian’s younger brother. Felix, Fox, and Katsu.”
Fox makes an ‘eep’ sound and pulls a startled Felix into a massive hug. “I’ve always wanted a brother.”
Sebastian chuckles. “I have a whole lot of sisters, too, I can share.”
I don’t get a chance to witness anymore of the hilarious interaction because Asher barrels into me, growling deep in her throat.
“What’s up?” I ask with concern.
“That evil person paired me with him again.”
“Him?”
“Zaire! He’s horrid. He doesn’t smile; he’s got no sense of humour. He just glares at me like everything I do is wrong or offensive.”
She grabs her twin and pulls him away from my alphas. “Let’s get out of here.”
Felix shakes his head. “No, I promised Pops. And so did you. This is important to Mum. She’s got a lot of people watching her, and they want to see another success.”
“It’s not going to be me,” Asher hisses. “Not with that troglodyte.”
Felix chuckles. “Four dates. Suck it up, princess.”
Asher glares at him mutinously. “I’ll stay if you help me. One promise that I can use whenever I want, no questions asked.”
Felix studies her for a long minute. “Okay, deal.”
They spit on their hands and slap them together. Fox laughs.
“I like these two!”
Felix’s date gags. “Why would you even do that? Do you know how unsanitary that is?”
The twins ignore him, staring into each other’s eyes, doing that silent communication thing that they do so well.
“Welcome to the first date of Light Knot Night!” Kylie Frame calls out. She’s wearing heart-shaped glasses and a massive pink dress with a white faux-fur jacket. As one of the four Pack Makers, it’s clear as day that she is having a blast.
Betty Houstan waves to the crowd, while Sara Vine watches with a satisfied smile. All of them are dressed in a similar way and look toasty warm.
“You are going to love tonight's date. We’ve got the most perfect moments that will create lifelong memories.”
“Sounds ominous,” Felix mutters. He glances at his date, who is live-streaming.
“Sounds like a nightmare,” Asher mutters wrathfully, glaring at Zaire.
“Has everyone found their dates?”
Devon sidles up to Asher. “Hey, I’m standing in for you.”
Asher’s eyes flare with rage, but then she relaxes. “Whatever would Sofia say?”
“She said, and I quote, ‘get your ass over there and help my sister, or you’re sleeping on the floor’.”
Fox bursts into laughter, while Sebastian slaps Devon’s shoulder.
“Now, make sure she’s home before ten,” Sebastian teases and ruffles Devon’s hair.
Devon glowers at Sebastian, but his eyes travel to me, and something cunning grows there. “How are things going in paradise?”
Sebastian’s mood shifts, and he growls at his best friend of forever. “Keep your eyes off my omega.” The tone is so violently aggressive and possessive that it takes my breath away.
The seven of us freeze. I find it hard to look at him, but I can’t look away either.
“I’m not yours,” I say before I can stop myself.
Sebastian’s expression turns sour, and he glares at me as if everyone else has disappeared. Hmm, maybe I shouldn’t have said that.
“I mean,” I blush, it’s infuriating. “Well, not yet.”
His frown disappears, and he searches my face while I literally squirm on the spot, hoping everyone will stop looking at me.
“Not yet,” Sebastian murmurs, agreeing with me. “I can work with that.”
“Go enjoy your dates.”
We all startle, looking up to where Lorelei is glaring at us.
“Uh, did anyone hear what we are supposed to be doing?” Fox asks anxiously.
“I’ll text Sofia,” Devon says and does just that. “She has a habit of paying attention.”
“My date is leaving,” Felix mutters and lifts a hand in misery before he turns and follows the unwelcome alpha.
“Come on, brat,” Devon says to Asher. “Let’s go find something fun to do.”
“Oh, sounds like a plan, Big Bro.”
“Hey!” Seb snarls.
“Don’t be jealous, Seb, you’re still the oldest,” Asher says with a mocking smile and leaves us standing there.
“Come on, my darlings,” Katsu purrs. He tucks me into Sebastian’s arms, ignoring the way half the town is watching with their mouths hanging open, then he shepherds us down to the beach.
“Where are we going?”
“The first date rendezvous,” Katsu says. “I am excellent at multitasking, and I do pay attention.”
We walk down to the edge of the water where a lantern is sitting all alone on the sand. I kneel and find a laminate card.
“Welcome, Light Knot Night matches. In order to find the romance, you must first find the fun.”
Sebastian rubs his hand over his face. “Oh, no, this is not going to go well. Mum’s version of fun is often not what everyone else’s is.”
I stand up, looking around, and spot a rope that is going out into the dark water. Nope. Not happening. There is no way in hell I am walking out there.
“It’s all right, you can sit this one out,” Fox murmurs and kisses my cheek. I lift my hand to touch the spot, watching as he passes me and starts pulling on the rope.
The small wooden dinghy comes into view. It looks totally and completely unsafe.
“We have to get in,” Fox says and lifts another little card.
Sebastian climbs in. Fox does the same.
Explosions tear a scream from me. A light flashes, romantic music blares in the air. And a seagull squawks and then regurgitates a fish before taking off, shrieking in outrage.
“What the hell?” Katsu mutters.
“Surprise, lovers,” Mathew Wade cackles as he bounces out of the dark, thrusting a Polaroid photo at us.
I look at it, and I can’t help but laugh. My eyes are shut; I’m screaming. Fox is in Sebastian’s arms, looking terrified. Sebastian is clearly scared, but Katsu is impassive as ever, adjusting his collar, looking like a million dollars.
Sebastian and Fox peer over my shoulder. All three of us turn to Katsu, staring at him.
“How did you do that?” I ask and wave the photo in his face.
He grins. “Trade secrets.”
The music fades, and Mathew sets the trap up again and motions towards town. “Your next stop is the bookstore.”
“You are having too much fun, Mathew!”
He winks and waggles his fingers in a jaunty farewell.
I stomp into the bookstore, glaring. “You’re not going to get me twice!”
Nothing happens. The dim orange, cozy light flickers a little, but there’s no people, no trap to spring, no flashing lights. Fox takes my hand as we move inside.
The alphas walk down the aisles, but it’s not until we get to the counter and find another card that the disco ball, strobe lights, and music blares. A man in a beast mask jumps out and roars.
I squeal and fall back into the alphas.
Another flash, and I get yet another photo of three of us looking terrified, and a perfectly composed Katsu, his eyebrow arched in amusement. Sebastian is in Fox’s arms this time, looking like he might pass out.
“You were expecting it,” Katsu teases and strokes the hair back from my face.
He takes my hand and leads us out of the store. We’re walking along the street when I realise we have no idea where to go. I stop, ready to turn back and go and ask, but I’m caught up by Katsu, who reels me back in so I’m pressed up against his chest.
“It’s fun,” Katsu purrs. “We’ll just wander. Who needs a map?”
I glare at him, but just as I’m about to insist I need one, a masked man jumps out with a knife.
Three of us scream. I climb Katsu like a tree, clinging to him and burying my face in his neck.
A flash goes off, and a sheepish Liam Mosely pulls off his mask and hands me a picture to remember the night by.
“I’m really sorry. She made me do it. They have stories. I’m trying to court a girl from the next town over.”
“I’m going to kill her!” Sebastian says, but I start to giggle, and once I start, I can’t stop.
I peer at the photo and huff in amazement. I glance at Katsu and then step away from him.
“Are you human?”
He lets out this wondrous peal of laughter that has me smiling back unconsciously.
“How are you doing this!” I shout at Katsu two hours later and start laughing. I fan the Polaroids out and wave them in his direction.
Sebastian and Fox look over my shoulder at the photos. We have ten of them. In all ten, Sebastian, Fox, and I are scared, startled, or frightened. Katsu looks perfectly composed in all of them.
He looks like he’s having a great time, and his smile has grown in each photo. I giggle and shove him.
“I can’t help it,” he says and pulls me back in. “Oh, this one is my favourite.”
He snags the restaurant one and points out. Fox and Sebastian ended up on the tables, shrieking, as Danger, dressed as a giant spider, ran at them. Sofia almost wet herself laughing so hard. It’s a good thing Elijah got her hidden before Sebastian composed himself.
We get to the final spot and find a heart-shaped chair big enough for several people. It’s covered in stars and gold glitter.
Katsu takes my hand and leads me up, pulling me down onto his lap. Sebastian and Fox join us.
“Are you having fun?” Katsu asks.
“Yes,” I say reluctantly and with great surprise. “I really am. I won’t ever forget this night.”
A flash goes off.
This time, Lorelei herself hands me the Polaroid. And there’s a pleased, knowing smile on her lips as she bids us goodnight.
And when I look down at the photo…I think I can see why she’s smiling. Because all three alphas are staring at me, and we look happy.