Chapter 5 Iris
Chapter five
Iris
The blocking and lighting over the last hour have gone well enough.
I held my breath nearly the entire time while Wilder directed us, Mateo and his team did slight adjustments, and Jett and I did what they asked of us, thankfully with no touching yet.
I even managed to keep my nose from scrunching if I breathed in too hard.
I still hate the smell, but I’m glad it’s working along with the de-scenter spray and deodorant.
Honestly, it’s a small miracle, because being on set with Pack Quinn is intense.
When I was introduced to them, it was more difficult than I thought it would be to stand together, all of them staring at me in close proximity.
Not only are they all more attractive in person, their energy as a pack is electric.
It’s not often that I’m surrounded by members of the same pack, unless you count my dads and mom when I drop in for visits to Seattle.
I forgot how intense it can be, and Pack Quinn, they’re as intense as it gets.
Wilder especially. He’s massively tall, to the point my five-foot-ten frame felt small next to his, and that’s rare for me.
His dark eyes and growly voice had more than my toes curling, and I’m blessed my Omega stayed calm.
Which is odd. I expected after the way she acted when Mateo touched me to go feral.
I felt her a little when Augie, who’s hotter than Clark Kent by far, and I touched, but the pain of bonking our heads together stopped me from truly processing the spark I swear I felt.
Then there’s Jett. I’ve never had an issue keeping it professional with costars, but if I let myself cross any lines, I would for him.
His dark blond hair, the shade of wet sand, faded tight at the sides with curls left loose on top—messy, yet far too sexy to be an accident—makes me want to run my fingers through it.
I didn’t realize he had a southern twang to his voice. He did in a cowboy film once but otherwise I’ve never heard it. I won’t lie and say I didn’t almost imagine him calling me darlin’, but I’ll imagine that later when I’m in the comfort of my nest and after the shoot is done.
Geeze. If this is where my mind is traveling to now, I can’t even imagine what would have happened if I was able to scent them.
No actually, I do know. It would have been bad, especially since I’m already thinking of them in ways I shouldn’t when I’m literally on set with them and I’m here to do my job.
Professional, Iris. We’re going to be professional and we’re not going to have any Omega biology mishaps.
“Do you two feel good?” Wilder asks Jett and I as Mateo walks off to grab another quick cup of “go-go” juice while Augie watches on with his laptop on his lap in Video Village where Sadie is patiently sitting and texting on her phone.
The few times I’ve looked over at him, sometimes I catch his eye and he blushes.
It’s sweet and endearing, and I wonder if he has a crush on me like I have on him.
“I feel good. Iris?” Jett asks, his accent nowhere to be found now.
I dip my chin, ignoring how disappointed I am that he didn’t use it. I want to ask him why he actively tries to hide it, because it sounded natural before. But now’s not the time.
“Yep, I’m solid,” I say.
Jett’s blue gaze studies me. When our eyes lock, my skin prickles and the sounds of the people milling about on set fade into the distance as I become entranced by him like I did with Mateo earlier.
A tugging sensation in the middle of my stomach appears out of nowhere and it takes everything in me not to step closer to him or inhale long and hard in hopes I can scent him.
My chest tightens on a whimper at the same time the clearing of Wilder’s throat cuts through my haze. I swallow hard and will the abrupt appearance of my Omega down again before I embarrass myself. I went the entire time while we lit and blocked without incident, and now this?
I exhale a shallow breath as Jett and I turn to Wilder, the big Alpha’s eyes slightly narrowed as he observes us.
His lips part like he’s going to say something but then he clears his throat again before speaking. “Quick rehearsal for the first shot and then we’ll roll right into the first take.”
“Great,” Jett and I echo at the same time.
Wilder darts his focus between us once more before he says something about alerting the crew and to take our marks that we blocked out.
In this scene, Hugh enters Juliette’s bookshop for the first time and begins to browse.
He picks up a book that’s particularly bad and she stops him from reading it.
They end up flirting a bit and getting close to kissing before he finally leaves the shop.
I’m both excited and terrified about being that close to his mouth, but I’m going to have to get used to it considering we have a kissing scene tomorrow that I need to prepare both myself and my demon Omega for.
In a week’s time it will only get more intense when we have a sex scene, but I’ll cross that bridge when we come to it.
There’s a light sensation on my arm and look down to where Jett’s masculine fingers are touching my bicep. While Mateo’s touch felt like fire, and Augie’s felt like an electric spark, Jett’s is like jumping into refreshing ocean water.
My body reacts immediately, goosebumps breaking out over my flesh. I bite the inside of my cheek and breathe slowly so I don’t scrunch my nose and get called a bunny by him too before I finally look back into his eyes.
“Iris,” Jett says.
Time slows down and I can’t blink, can’t look away. Once again I’m captivated by him and the masculine planes of his bearded face. I could try to blame it on his natural hot actor charm that draws me, but this feels like more for whatever reason.
“Yes?” I manage to ask, though my voice sounds an octave higher than it usually is.
I expect him to drop his hand, but he doesn’t. “I wanted to say before we start shooting that I’m glad you’re playing my Juliette.”
My Juliette. It’s my character's name but my Omega who’s decided to make herself known, again, preens as if he said I’m his Omega.
I quietly remind her that I was the second choice but she doesn’t care; she only cares that she has the attention and touch of a very beguiling Alpha who doesn’t have an Omega.
When I don’t immediately say anything he continues, “You’re an incredible actor. I’ve seen your work, and I think we’re going to be great together on screen.”
And off screen.
Goddamn, Omega brain! I ignore the voice and smile, attempting to also ignore his touch still on my arm, one that’s starting to heat my skin the longer it stays connected to me. Like a pot of water slowly coming to a boil.
“Thank you, Jett. I’m really happy to be here.”
I brush at the bangs on my forehead as he drops his hand from my arm.
Before I can miss his touch, he places his finger under my chin and turns my head toward his, brushing my bangs away like I just did.
A frown mars his masculine features and my fingers itch to reach out and take him in my arms, to comfort him until he’s no longer frowning.
“You’re getting a bruise.” A sound akin to a growl rumbles from his strong chest and two things happen inside me at once—I shiver and heat pools low in my belly. The kind of heat that could very much get me in trouble if I let it build.
The big, tattooed Alpha growled like this earlier, too, my Omega so lovingly reminds me.
Yeah, I know, but like Wilder’s presence, his growl felt calming and protective more than anything else. Either way, any kind of growls and the way they make me feel are not acceptable right now and I can’t think about how they make me feel at all.
I grit my teeth and step back from Jett so his hand is forced to drop down.
“It’s okay.” I touch my forehead. It’s a tiny bit tender but if there’s a bruise it should be gone by tomorrow.
Omegas and Alphas heal quickly, a perk of biology and especially useful for Omegas when in heats or during childbirth.
Jett slides his tongue over his front teeth. “It’s not okay. Augie!”
The Beta’s head snaps up toward us from his laptop, his spine straightening from the bite of Jett’s bark. My spine also stiffens, even though his anger isn’t directed at me.
“Get hair and makeup for Iris and some ice.”
Augie gets up from his chair and leaves without looking at me. I take a second to glance at Sadie and she’s eyeing me with questions and concern, but I just shrug. I have no idea why Jett’s acting this way. He went from being sweet to an Alphahole in two seconds flat.
I turn my attention back to Jett. His pupils are slightly dilated, the blue of them more like stormy seas rather than a calm blue ocean. His fists are clenched and he’s staring at my forehead in anger. Jett’s growl slowly intensifies and I debate what to do.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been around an angry Alpha, or at least one that looks on the brink of losing control.
It’s odd because we just met, and while I haven’t seen it, I’m sure the bruise is hardly there and can be covered by makeup and my hair.
He shouldn’t be reacting like this. But it’s like some weird switch flipped in his brain.
“Jett?” I try, but his only answer is to get closer to me and inhale.
Oh no, that’s not good.
I tell my body to take a step back but I can’t move, my Omega doesn’t want me to move. I guess I have to use my voice instead.
“Jett, I swear I’m fine.” My voice is calm and easy. “It doesn’t even hurt.”
The muscles beneath the shirt he’s wearing flex, and the veins in his throat bulge.
His head dips down and his nostrils flare as he tries to scent me again.
When he can’t, the growl in his throat deepens, and his Alpha’s frustration seeps out of him along with it.
I go to say his name again, maybe even try addressing his Alpha, but thankfully I don’t have to.
“Jett!” Wilder’s bark is loud and the whole set goes quiet. “Come here.”
At first the Alpha next to me doesn’t move, but after a long moment of staring between the packmates, he gives me one last long pained glance before he stalks off with Wilder, Augie, and Mateo following behind them.
My body moves to follow like a puppy after its owners, but thankfully I’m stopped by hair and makeup.
Shit, what was that?
Alphas, my Omega pouts. Yeah, I know. They’re Alphas.
But they aren’t my Alphas, and they can’t be my Alphas.
I pop my shoulders back and collect myself, following a Beta makeup artist to a chair.
I let her cover the bruise Jett freaked out about and another Beta touch up my hair.
Sadie approaches me once they’re out of sight and I tug her to the bathroom a PA pointed out to us since the Alpha’s aren’t back yet.
“What was that?” she asks when the door is closed and I make sure nobody is inside with us. “I thought Jett was going to go all caveman for a second there and Wilder—he’s scary.”
“I don’t know,” I huff. “But I think I should refresh the neutralizer and put on more of that deodorant. The more, the better.”