Chapter 19
Chapter nineteen
Iris
Jett was gone from the nest when I finally came out of the bathroom, and in his place were my clothes laid out with a note.
Augie washed these for you. Come downstairs for food when you’re ready. — Jett
Not only did they take care of me during my heat for six full days plus an extra day of sleep, but they washed my clothes and now they want to feed me? There was even a new pair of underwear folded in the pile in my correct size. What the hell?
It’s because they’re our mates. They’re kind.
Yeah, yeah. My Omega is very pleased with them and I would be too if they were my pack.
But I’m still convinced this is about to go south, and I’m not going to pretend like when we talk this is all going to end up like a fairytale.
Real life isn’t that way. I learned a long time ago that everything comes with work and time put in.
That’s how I even got as far as I did in Hollywood.
Sure, the scent match part feels magical, but the rest of the story is not.
I reach the end of the hallway and find a staircase.
Now that I’m no longer in heat, I can appreciate the home.
I have no idea what part of Los Angeles we’re in, but the house is large and modern in the style that reminds me of the Hollywood Hills.
Despite the openness and sleek lines, it feels homey, decorated with modern paintings on the walls.
Looking closer at one, it looks like a graffiti artist did them with broad lines of sprayed paint in all different colors and shapes.
When I reach the bottom of the steps, I hear voices and smell bacon, eggs, and something sweet cooking, along with the notes of mint, lemon, honey, and the undertone of basil. My mouth waters and my feet carry me toward the scents, my stomach growling and my Omega perking up.
I warn her that this isn’t going to turn into some post-heat fuckfest which makes my strawberry scent sour. I roll my shoulders back to get control of her and keep my feet moving toward the masculine voices that become louder with each step.
A large kitchen comes into view as I turn the corner, and in the back the sunshine of morning fills the space with natural light.
Wilder is standing with his broad back to me, washing his hands at a sink while the other pack members sit at a dining table in front of him.
They don’t notice me as I approach, their conversation continuing.
“I don’t think keeping her on is a good idea,” Mateo says.
Jett sighs. “Yeah, I will say the chemistry was a bit off to begin with,” Jett says. “And things have changed now.”
“Augie?” Wilder asks.
The Beta pushes his glasses up his nose. “I have to agree, things have changed. I don’t think it’s a good idea to go with her now.”
Wilder shuts off the water and leans on the sink. “I agree. She’s a great actor, but Iris is—
A whine bursts from my throat before I can stop it. Four sets of eyes snap in my direction and I debate between running away or curling into a ball on the floor right here and dying.
I told you. I told you. I told you, I chant to my Omega. I should have just left and cut my losses. Had my lawyer and agent be my point of contact with them from here on out.
“Iris.” Augie darts up from the table and heads my way.
I hold my hands up to keep him at a distance. “No, it’s okay. Don’t comfort me. I’ll call a ride and go.” The words feel sticky on my tongue and my stomach bubbles at the idea of leaving. Which is ridiculous since they just said they’re going to replace me. That Jett doesn’t have chemistry with me.
There’s a chorus of growls, the loudest coming from Wilder. I know because it’s deep and powerful, the same kind of growl I heard while he chased me in his rut.
“Go?” Augie looks genuinely confused. “We made a big breakfast.”
The sadness in his voice is laughable. I want to question it, tell him how ridiculous it is that I heard them all speaking of me like I’m yesterday’s news and then offering me food, but I don’t want to cry.
“It’s best I leave.”
The Alpha’s approach, Mateo next to Augie, and Wilder and Jett on his other side. It reminds me of when we met on set, their pack standing in a semi-circle looking at me. It feels like yesterday, even though it was a week ago now.
“We don’t want you to go,” Mateo says.
“You should get some food in your stomach and then we can talk,” Wilder adds.
I can’t hold in the half laugh, half sob that comes out of me.
“You want me to do all that after I just heard you talk about replacing me?” I look at Jett.
“After you said we don’t have chemistry?
” My voice nearly breaks on the question, and Jett has the audacity to look like I just ripped his heart out.
“No, Iris. We weren’t—”
I hold up my hand to cut Jett off. “It’s okay. I get it. I shouldn’t be upset. You all were gracious enough to help me through my heat, a heat that never should have happened in the first place.”
“Iris—” Wilder tries to interject but I shake my head.
“It’s fine, really. I mean, it’s not fine. I was reckless coming on set when I did, and I put not only all of you at risk but your crew.”
“How were you reckless? You met your scent-matched pack. These things happen,” Mateo says.
I blink at him. “These things don’t just happen.”
“Not often but you couldn’t have predicted this. It wasn’t your fault,” he adds, the sincerity in his voice killing me.
“But it was,” I retort.
“Iris—”
“No, it is. I tried to tell you and Augie in the car but my heat took over. I wasn’t on suppressants anymore when I saw you all that first day. My new doctor wouldn’t fill my prescription like he said he would.”
A low growl builds in Wilder’s chest. “And why wouldn’t he?”
My eyes move to his. He looks scary, like he’s about ready to strangle someone. I want to say he’s mad at me but my Omega isn’t afraid of him.
“Because I’ve been on them for a year.”
Tension clouds thick around us like humidity in the summer. The scent of the males in front of me turning acrid. Mateo swears under his breath and Augie rubs his back, his own features pinched.
“A year?” Wilder repeats.
I nod. “Like I said. This was all my fault. This job meant a lot to me and I fucked it up. Not only my career and my reputation but I ruined your movie and probably pissed off your investors. We’ll be lucky if it’s not leaked to the tabloids by a crew member.
Or I should say, I’ll be lucky. They won’t eat your pack alive like they will me. ”
“Iris—” Jett tries but I can’t let them attempt to make me feel better.
“Really, you guys are better off finding someone else who won’t screw things up. I’ll be okay, at least I hope. So like I said, I should go. You don’t have any responsibility to me now. You all did your duty to an Omega in need.”
Pack Quinn stares back at me, their scents still tinged with anger and something else. If I was listening to my gut I’d say pain, but that would be ridiculous.
You’re being ridiculous.
I want to growl at my Omega but I don’t. I know she’s grown attached to this pack.
You have, too.
I haven’t, have I? I grip my fists at my sides.
There’s no way I’m attached to them. I can’t be.
Six days of wild and hot sex does not equal a lifetime relationship.
I remember telling them not to bite me, and like the good pack they are, they honored my wishes even when my Omega begged.
But at the end of the day, I’m not part of their pack, and now they don’t want me on their film. Which is understandable.
I ring my hands in front of me and avoid their eyes. “Okay, then. I’ll see you around.”
I’ll see you around? Why the hell would I say that? I really do need to get out of here.
No, please, my Omega whines, the sound almost escaping from my throat. They’re mine.
It takes all my strength to move my body in an effort to turn around and leave. I’m almost looking away from them when Wilder’s voice curls around me like a hand on the nape of my neck, firm and unyielding.
“Where do you think you’re going, Omega?”
There’s no bark in his question, but the cool and possessive way he says it reminds me of how he was in his rut. The way his arm banded around my chest when he caught me and everything that followed.
My scent goes from sour to welcoming, the sweet scent rising around me. I clear my throat and attempt to focus, putting as much dominance as I can find into my own eyes before I look into Wilder’s strong gaze.
“I told you.”
“You didn’t say where you were going.”
I huff. “If I need to be specific, to my nest.”
“Your nest is upstairs.”
My heart stops in my chest and damn it to hell, my nipples pull tight. The reaction brings forth a memory of Wilder talking about piercing them while Jett fucked me. I’d never thought about it before, and now I have a feeling I’m going to think about it every time I look at them.
My cheeks warm and I force myself to stand firm. “That’s not my nest.”
“It isn’t? I clearly remember you calling it yours.”
“I didn’t mean it. I was in heat.”
He steps closer, and when I stupidly don’t retreat, he takes another one, our bodies close enough I smell his minty scent and feel the delightful power of his Alpha.
I’m only a day out from the end of my cycle, and if I didn’t know any better, my body feels like it might be gearing up to go again.
Which is absolutely not going to happen.
Wilder cocks his head to the side, eyes softening. “I don’t want to believe that to be true, Iris.”
His answer surprises me. I thought he would have said something cocky back, trying to make me believe that I did. But there’s a sadness in his tone that both confuses me and makes my Omega want to comfort him.
“Is it only because I’m your scent match?” I swallow hard to keep from crying.